Confusion has hit the streets of Pretoria Road as construction was due to begin, but time frames, phases and the future of businesses have left many in the dark.
“Construction on Pretoria Road was supposed to have started two months ago,” said Ward 24 Clr Kabelo Mahonko.
Mahonko said the reason for the delay is because the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) Department of Roads did not submit the required applications for the contractor.
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Delays in Pretoria Road construction
“They were unaware of the maps required for the underground services like the power lines and sewers,” Mahonko said.
“They also did not take the trees, street lights and pavements into account in order to widen the road.”
More uncertainty arose for several people involved in businesses on the road, two being Garth Tighe from Navigators & Co and Jerry Cindi from Jerry’s Café.
“There are five businesses in a row which are dependent on the 22 parking bays that are available to us,” said Tighe.
“If the pavement is removed, we lose nine parking bays.”
According to Tighe, the business owners were left with uncertainty because the future of the roads was not conveyed to them until they visited the municipal offices on March 6 seeking answers.
Tighe was then told that the five businesses will be given plans for the property by this week.
Mahonko confirmed the uncertainty when she spoke to the City Times.
“I have queried the phases and time frame, but there was no answer to any of these,” she said.
“There is no progress report or plans given for the road.”
Cindi said the pavement being removed is bad for his business because it is difficult for customers to park elsewhere in order to eat at his restaurant.
“This will possibly force me to cut staff because if business is bad, I cannot afford to pay all of my staff,” he said.
“I cannot afford to lose the parking spaces, especially when we cater for functions.”
Although the road seems long and uncertain, Mahonko encouraged entrepreneurs to talk to the site manager, Keletso Tlhabanelo, to submit business profiles for the tasks at hand.
“We need security, construction materials, diesel and plants,” she said.
Mahonko can be contacted on 072 992 6697 for more information about concerns on the arterial route.
The City Times asked the EMM for comment on Pretoria Road on February 15, but no response had been received from the EMM at the time of going to print.
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