A R53m road has been so badly built that about 100 BCM householders have a daily struggle to access their own homes.
Disgruntled residents of Mdantsane NU12 have now been told they will have to wait until next year – if things go according to plan – for the problem to be rectified.
Down Touch Investment and Gibb Construction Engineers have left a steep gravel embankment of about 5m between the street and the houses below – instead of alongside – it.
The householders say their requests for driveways so that they have vehicle access have fallen on deaf ears.
Resident Rosabella Joyi, 84, who has metal implants in her legs, has a major struggle to get into and out of her home every day.
“I can’t leave home without someone next to me.
“I was really shocked when the contractors said they had finished their work. I don’t know, maybe they didn’t think of the elderly when they were building this road,” said Joyi.
When the Dispatch visited the area, most households had built rough steps from the road to their yards and their cars were left on the street.
The gravel road upgrade project commenced in 2016 and was meant to conclude in September this year. However, it has been extended to 2020, according to Down Touch Investment's website.
Down Touch site manager Barney Meyers said: "At the moment nothing can be done, but we have consulted Gibb Engineers about the possibility of rectification but the problem is we still still need funding for the phase.”
Asked about alternatives for people with vehicles, Meyers said they had offered to uplift garages for easy access.
Former ward councillor and resident Siphiwo Kulati said the garage idea was unclear because the contractors could not confirm whether this applied to all the garages on the street or just a few.
Gibb site engineer Steve Schroeder told the Dispatch the company was aware of the dissatisfaction of the community but maintained "they did their best".
"The terrain is very steep. It was really difficult for us but we did our best. Unfortunately we ran out of funds.
“But the good news that we can tell the community is that Buffalo City Metro is in the process of rolling out a tender to install driveways for early next year, if things go according to plan," he said.
However, Schroeder said building the driveways might be difficult due to the congested space.
"One thing is for sure – it is going to be expensive. For some households a special kind of driveway is going to be needed due to the steepness."
He could not say how long it would take.
BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya expressed shock and disbelief, adding it was “very unfortunate” that residents had found themselves in “such a position".
"It is of great concern to us that the good intentions we have towards service delivery when we award work to service providers ends up short of the quality that is accepted.
“We have acted against those who we have found have acted irresponsibly, especially in Mdantsane, where in NU16 roads were found in a similar situation," said Ngwenya, adding the metro’s engineering department would investigate steps to rectify the situation.
Ward councillor Vuyiswa Mpanza was scathing about the job after she went to visit the area. “I understand that the engineers made an error during the process and I communicated with the community liaison officer to set up a community meeting with them.” A meeting with with Gibb and Down Touch is set for some time next week, she added...