The troubled multimillion-rand Qumza Highway construction project in Mdantsane is back on track with a new company hired by Buffalo City Metro to resume the work.
Initially, the project was budgeted at R117m.
However, BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya told the Daily Dispatch the new contractor, Stefanutti Stocks, would be paid R269m.
Asked how the cost had jumped by R152m, Ngwenya said: “The previous contract was from Golden Highway intersection to NU11.
“The length of work on this contract is long and also the scope of work is more, hence the change in value. There are also additional bridges on this section, which the previous contract did not have.
“The change in the scope of work had an impact on the contract duration.
“The incomplete section that was done by Diphatse [Trading and Projects] has a completion duration of five months, estimated April 2019, and the balance will be from NU11 to Mdantsane City Mall.”
The new company started the work last month, taking over from Diphatse Trading and Projects after BCM terminated its contract in March, as the controversial construction company was under-qualified to do the R117m upgrade to the Qumza Highway.
The contract was terminated on the basis of Diphatse’s “poor performance on site, including neglected health and safety issues”, according to Ngwenya.
“BCM had spent R14.9m” before the termination of the contract with Diphatse, Ngwenya said.
BCM mayor Xola Pakati, speaking to hundreds of Mdantsane residents recently, said: “After months of stalling as a result of non-performance of a contractor [whose contract] we had to terminate, we can report that the project is now back on track. Construction began in September and the project will be constructed over a 30-month period.”
In an advert published in October 2017, BCM city manager Andile Sihlahla advised Mdantsane motorists on which roads would be closed to traffic from October 3 to November 2018.
However, a year later, BCM has now set a new completion date of March 2021 for the project.
Ngwenya said the R267m contract was for 30 months and was expected to be completed by March 20 2021.
“Work started on September6.
“Currently the contractor is busy with bridge culverts and storm water drainage on the one closed section that was not completed by the previous contractor,” he said.
“Work starts at the closed section at Mazidlekhaya intersection and will end at Mdantsane City Mall entrance.”
Mdantsane East London District Taxi Association (Melta) spokesperson Welile Blayi said they had hoped the project would be completed before the festive season.
“That project is frustrating us. The duration that was communicated to us has changed now and the alternative routes available are affecting us badly as they are far away from our customers. It’s very frustrating.
“However, we are happy to hear that the work has resumed because we want the roads to be fixed,” said Blayi.
When the Dispatch visited the site on Monday, there were no workers. A security guard said they would be working on Tuesday, after going home over the weekend...