The Democratic Alliance has accused KwaZulu-Natal contractor Philani Mavundla of importing unskilled Chinese labourers to work at Ingula, Eskom's underground pumping storage facility construction site in Ladysmith.

DA KwaZulu-Natal MPL Tom Stokes said on Friday he had been told that about 30 unskilled Chinese labourers had been brought onto the site.

He also alleged that R200-million worth of steel, which should have been sourced within South Africa, had been procured from overseas.

Mavundla, who is a prominent African National Congress leader, was not immediately available for comment.

Flouted tender regulations

The facility was being built by a joint venture group comprising Italian company CMC, and PG Mavundla.

Stokes said the joint venture group had flouted tender regulations by importing workers and steel from overseas.

"The allegations point to tender regulations being flouted in the worst possible way.

"CMC and PG Mavundla were contracted by Eskom on the basis that they would use local content and local labour during the construction of Ingula," he said.

3000 tonnes of steel waiting

Stokes said he had been informed that 3000 tonnes of steel were apparently waiting to be off-loaded at the Durban harbour.

He said Mavundla had originally approached Murray and Roberts to supply the steel directly from its Gauteng mill and that he had suddenly changed his mind and decided to import steel.

"Murray and Roberts were contracted to supply 17 000 tons of steel worth some R200-million.

"They have since been advised that CMC/Mavundla will be importing the steel since it is cheaper ? this is despite assurances from Murray and Roberts that they will match the import price," Stokes said.