Construction is scheduled to resume soon at the K46 site following the payment of labourers and subcontractors on 5 May.
The main contractor of the project, Lubbe Construction, started paying workers and subcontractors which ended the impasse which brought work to a standstill at the R500-million government project.
When Fourways Review visited the project this morning, 6 May, some workers were seen standing in groups at the site. They were, however, not working.
The project, which is scheduled to be completed within the next 20 months, is meant to change the narrow R511 into an eight-lane dual carriageway.
Leader of the Greater Diepsloot Business Forum, Peter Molatjane, said his workers have already started receiving their money, adding that work will start soon. The workers and subcontractors are owed around R200 000 by Lubbe Construction.
“Guys are being paid and those using Standard Bank have already received their money and more payments are being processed and, by tomorrow, the majority of them would have been paid. If payments are made, there won’t be any reason for delaying work,” said Molatjane.
He said the main contractor cited cash flow problems as a reason for delayed payments. “Cash flow problem is the reason we are being given, but we are talking of a contractor who received half a billion rand. Maybe he has too many responsibilities,” said Molatjane.
Repeated efforts by this paper to get clarity from Mandla Lubbe, drew blanks.
The celebrated K46 project has been limping from one disaster to another since its inception three months ago. Work has been at a standstill for most of the time as the local business community has also demanded a 40 percent slice of the tender.
The local community’s share was publicly announced by the Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismael Vadi, during the soil turning ceremony which was held outside Diepsloot.
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport spokeswoman, Octovia Mamabolo, has also remained tight-lipped over the obstacles halting the project.
