SM Structures

We are famers from Limpopo who required the construction of a new shed to help us run our farm more effectively. We requested a quote from SM Structures in January 2021 and in good faith paid the full invoice (R R371 764) on the 21st of January 2021. More than 2 years later SM Structures has failed to complete/reimburse us. A summary of our interaction with SM Structures during this time based on the detailed communication records we have on file: • 24-02-2021: We received the drawings for the shed from the director of SM Structures Mr SJ. • 07-04-2021: We received an e-mail from Me K to say the team will be on site 10 May 2021. • 06-05-2021: We were notified that they will now only arrive on the 28th May 2021. • 11-05-2021: Arrival date postponed to 31 May 2021. • 13-05-2021: Arrival date postponed again to 4 June 2021. • 25-06-2021: Arrival date postponed for the third time to 5 July 2021. • August 2021: SM Structures delivered some of the material and planted the foundation plates - we provided the concrete then they left. • 01-09-2021: We were notified that they will not return in September 2021 but will provide a new date. • 25-10-2021: We got legal assistance and had our lawyer send a letter to SM Structures as no new date or further communication had been received from SM Structures. • 15-12-2021: We sent a second letter to SM Structures, our lawyer and were notified that their offices are closed from 15 December 2021 till 10 January 2022. • 04-04-2022: SM structures advised that they were behind schedule on their projects and a new date of 6 June 2022 was provided. • 13-04-2022: Our legal team requested the agreement to be cancelled with immediate effect and repayment to be made. • 15-10-2022: We submitted a request to the High Court in Pretoria, SM Structures were provided with 20 days to defend themselves during which they denied almost all the allegations against them. They pleaded that SM Structures acted within a reasonable time under the circumstances and blamed the NUMSA strike in October 2021.They offered a repayment of R153 953,40. • 20-04-2023: The offered repayment has not been received and no communication from SM Structures. After commenting on their Facebook page, we did receive a letter from Mr J that was allegedly sent to our legal team, however the details in the email did not include the correct email address of our lawyer. At present they have offered to repay the outstanding amount in 6 equal instalments over the next six months. We are optimistic that SM Structures will adhere to their commitment to repay us and will hopefully be able to update this review with such good news in the near future.