Local councillor concerned with constant stoppages and disruption of R511 road construction project
Spokesperson in the Department of Roads and Transport said site has stopped due to the workers' and SMME's contracts coming to an end.
Ward 96 councillor Rufus Maswazi has raised concerns about the constant stoppages of the R511 road construction project.
This was after workers and SMMEs recently downed tools demanding an extension of their work contracts in the project.
The construction project of R511 (also known as William Nicol Drive) which connects Fourways and Diepsloot resumed in March after it was halted for more than five years after the provincial Road and Transport Department terminated the contract of a previous contractor.
Maswazi said the delays would negatively impact the local economy and residents’ livelihood. “The stoppages to the R511 road construction project have a negative impact on other development projects in the area. This area, especially Riversands and Riverside, is still at the development stage and the R511 is important to connect residents with other parts of the world. Traffic during peak hours makes it difficult for residents and businesses to get to their destinations in time.”
Spokesperson in the Department of Roads and Transport Lesiba Mpya said work at the site had stopped due to the workers’ and SMMEs’ contracts coming to an end. “Some workers and SMMEs were demanding to have their contracts extended. For their part of the scope of work they were contracted for, has been completed. The bone of contention was that they were demanding that they be absorbed for further [work] by other sub-contractors or the main contractor.”
Mpya said the work had since resumed and they were hoping it continued without disruptions.
