The multimillion-rand upgrade of the Mdantsane main access road was halted on Friday when local SMEs blocked workers from going on site.
These companies claim Buffalo City Metro has breached an agreement reached in May that 30% of the work would be subcontracted to local SMEs. They claim they have not been doing any work on the project.
Kwanele Group of SMEs chairperson Phumelele Phoswa said the metro had gone back on its word that it would consult on how the project would be implemented. He said the group had met with the municipality in May to raise their concerns and expectations.
“What we’re demanding from the municipality is not anything outside of what is legislated and stipulated by national treasury but we’re met with lack of will to implement what is correct. A lot of processes were flouted by the municipality. The majority of those are processes that have to do with the stakeholder management,” said Phoswa.
Phase 7 of the major Qumza Highway upgrade will see the currently congested Mdantsane City Mall road to Golden Highway expanded to four lanes at a cost of R117m. Residents should brace themselves for more than a year of closures on the busy road.
The road, which is now 6.8m wide, will be expanded to 16m and is expected to be completed in 18 months.
The Daily Dispatch visited the site where the SMEs were locked in a meeting with the metro on Friday. The plant machinery was locked in the site office, with a heavy security presence. The group of SMEs allowed to send delegates into meeting.
Phoswa also said it was worrying that there was no function liaison committee as required of projects of such a magnitude.
Buffalo City Mayor Xola Pakati declined to comment and referred the Dispatch to spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya, who was were only the closed unavailable at the time of going to print on Friday.
“We have given the BCM at least seven days to respond to the issues that we have raised in the meeting. We trust that soon a resolution will be found and that we will be able to allow the delivery of service to the people to continue, but having followed the correct procedures,” said Phoswa...