Amathole district municipality (ADM) mayor Nomasikizi Khonza has admitted its multimillion-rand toilet project has had a shaky start, but said ADM was committed to meeting the deadline.
More than R600-million was set aside to provide toilets to 60000 homes across the district municipality by June this year.
The controversial tender was awarded to the Siyenza Group.
Khonza spoke at KwaTuba village in Kwelerha near East London on Tuesday, where she launched the project. Present were the owner and director of Siyenza Group, Bongani Mpeluza and Vuyani Gaga.
More than 250 toilets in the Kwelerha area replace structures that collapsed a few weeks ago during heavy rains that wreaked havoc in parts of the province.
Khonza confirmed Concretex, the company involved in the first phase of the project, had been “asked to take a break”.
Two new companies had been hired to help speed up the project.
“When you deal with a project that is as big as this one, you are prone to meet with challenges. Challenges that will be very much unintentional,” said Khonza.
“When you meet them you are forced to take a risk. All we want is to be in a good position to fix whatever problem we identify.”
The Daily Dispatch reported on what residents described as “unsafe” toilets in KwaTuba. A physically-challenged man said his toilet had been erected in February, but he would not risk using it.
Two weeks ago, the newspaper again reported on the state of toilets after heavy rains caused structures to cave in. The service provider has since dismantled all the structures in the village.
Sydney Gavini from KwaJongilanga attended Tuesday’s launch. His first toilet structure was also dismantled, and a new one erected.
“The new toilets are stronger as they seem to have aproperly constructed foundation, unlike the first one. I’m glad they replaced the initial ones,” said Gavini.
Khonza said when they came to investigate what was happening with the KwaTuba toilets, her officials received a report revealing 250 structures were defective.
“We met with those commissioned by the municipality to do the work to correct the wrongs, to find fact; that is why Concretex had to take a break so they can have time to fix the quality of their structures as specified by the required standards.”
Khonza said during site visits in the past few week problems were also reported in Middledrift and at a Peddie village.
“We understand there are problems, that is why we are calling on the beneficiaries to report anything directly to us, so we can fix them.
“We don’t want to extend that June deadline. We are still committed... we will meet that June deadline because we believe the issue of these toilets, such as the delays, are there.” — zineg@dispatch.co.za
VIDEO: Collapsed toilets to be replaced
More than R600-million was set aside to provide toilets to 60000 homes across the district municipality by June this year.
The controversial tender was awarded to the Siyenza Group.
Khonza spoke at KwaTuba village in Kwelerha near East London on Tuesday, where she launched the project. Present were the owner and director of Siyenza Group, Bongani Mpeluza and Vuyani Gaga.
More than 250 toilets in the Kwelerha area replace structures that collapsed a few weeks ago during heavy rains that wreaked havoc in parts of the province.
Khonza confirmed Concretex, the company involved in the first phase of the project, had been “asked to take a break”.
Two new companies had been hired to help speed up the project.
“When you deal with a project that is as big as this one, you are prone to meet with challenges. Challenges that will be very much unintentional,” said Khonza.
“When you meet them you are forced to take a risk. All we want is to be in a good position to fix whatever problem we identify.”
The Daily Dispatch reported on what residents described as “unsafe” toilets in KwaTuba. A physically-challenged man said his toilet had been erected in February, but he would not risk using it.
Two weeks ago, the newspaper again reported on the state of toilets after heavy rains caused structures to cave in. The service provider has since dismantled all the structures in the village.
Sydney Gavini from KwaJongilanga attended Tuesday’s launch. His first toilet structure was also dismantled, and a new one erected.
“The new toilets are stronger as they seem to have aproperly constructed foundation, unlike the first one. I’m glad they replaced the initial ones,” said Gavini.
Khonza said when they came to investigate what was happening with the KwaTuba toilets, her officials received a report revealing 250 structures were defective.
“We met with those commissioned by the municipality to do the work to correct the wrongs, to find fact; that is why Concretex had to take a break so they can have time to fix the quality of their structures as specified by the required standards.”
Khonza said during site visits in the past few week problems were also reported in Middledrift and at a Peddie village.
“We understand there are problems, that is why we are calling on the beneficiaries to report anything directly to us, so we can fix them.
“We don’t want to extend that June deadline. We are still committed... we will meet that June deadline because we believe the issue of these toilets, such as the delays, are there.” — zineg@dispatch.co.za
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