​MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela led the Portfolio Committee on Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure on an oversight visit to K69 Road (Solomon Mahlangu Drive) construction project, in Mamelodi, City of Tshwane. The visit was conducted on took place on Wednesday, 01 March 2023.
The MEC was joined by Head of Department Dr. Thulani Mdadane and senior management.
Construction resumed in 2019 and was expected to be completed in 2022. However, due to poor contractor performance, encroachment of the road reserve and community stoppages has impacted the completion date. This has been moved to this year.
Commenting on contract management, MEC Diale-Tlabela indicated "the Department will start conducting background checks on companies we appoint to run our roads infrastructure construction projects. We have a responsibility to pay the contractor on time, but they must also stick to their end of the contract and perform as agreed".
She also issued a stern warning to the contractor following several delays in the delivery of this important arterial road that connects Mamelodi with the rest of Tshwane.
"Our visit to this project is part of responding to the marching orders we were given by the Premier to fast track the delivery of infrastructure in townships, informal settlements and hostels. We cannot afford for such important infrastructure to affect the economic growth of our townships" stressed the MEC.
The Department later engaged stakeholders affected by the project delays. It committed that the project will be completed in the 2023/24 financial year.
To check on the quality of projects, the Department has established a Rapid Response Unit charged with inspecting the quality of the transport infrastructure across the 5638 km's of road network under its jurisdiction.
Furthermore, MEC Diale-Tlabela has established a project intervention team comprising officials from Directorates: Design, Construction and Maintenance to closely monitor the delivery of the project.
Meanwhile, through assistance from the Department, the contractor appointed for the construction of R554 (D405) in the Eikenhof area, south of Johannesburg, has returned to the site. It is expected the roadworks will resumed and be completed as per the schedule.