The contractor responsible for the construction of the Northmead reservoir recently terminated the services of the private crane supplier, which resulted in the crane being dismantled.
According to Ekurhuleni metro’s spokesperson Themba Gadebe the issue of the crane is a contractual matter between the contractor and the supplier. The metro does not interfere in the relationship except to emphasise to the contractor that the contractual duties should not affect progress.
“Another supplier has been appointed by the contractor and the assembling of the crane on site started on August 5. Work continues on Level 3 regulations,” Gadebe said.
“On March 23, the President announced a nationwide lockdown, which was enacted in terms of the Disaster Management Act from midnight of March 26 until April 16.
“This was later extended to April 30. Gadebe said that subsequent to the lockdown announcement, the metro relayed the same directive to all its contractors as the contractors were obliged to comply with the legal requirement as contained in the Government Gazette.
“The effect was that for the duration of the lockdown, the contractor was legally barred from dispensing his construction contract activities.”
He added that this lockdown for public works construction was lifted from the May 1.
“The metro is therefore legally obliged to grant an extension of time to the contractor equivalent to at least the duration of the lockdown, plus additional time that was required to comply with the new Covid-19 Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.
“The total possible extension could be anything between five to eight weeks. Due to Covid-19 health regulations the number of workers on site is constantly changing as it is aligned to specific activities under construction for that specific period.
“Currently, there are 14 Expanded Public Works Programme workers, six staff employed directly by the contractor and 23 workers doing the steel fixing.
“The project budget is R44 665 028.77-million and it is currently 75 per cent complete. The outstanding scope is the elevated reservoir walls and roof.” Gadebe concluded.
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