Contractor ‘abandons’ Westville roads upgrade
eThekwini Municipality has confirmed that the current contractor has abandoned the project. A new contractor will be tasked to complete the outstanding work soon.
WESTVILLE residents, who have voiced their frustrations over the long, drawn-out upgrade of the Westville Town Centre, will be pleased to know that the project will be completed soon.
DA proportional representative councillor, Warren Burne, who is responsible for Ward 24, in which this area falls said the entire project has been bedevilled by delay after delay.
He added that there seemed to have been cash flow problems, labour problems, and difficulties co-ordinating with various municipal departments.
Burne spoke to the municipality’s project manager for this project and was told that the original project period was about six months.
The project only commenced in September or October 2013. All work done before that date related to different projects and to the repair or the upgrade of municipal facilities in the area, mainly underground pipes.
Earlier this year, the contractor asked for and was granted an extension of two months. The contractor, who is from the Eastern Cape, was vetted in the normal manner, and it was believed that he was capable of doing the work.
His references were checked. He submitted the most responsive tender. However, the contractor has had labour problems, and now seems to have abandoned the project.
“The penalty clause in the contract has been invoked, and penalties of R 75 000 have been deducted from the payments made to the contractor.
“A breach notice has been sent to the contractor calling upon him to complete the work without further delay, and informing him that if he does not do so the contract will be cancelled.
“The project manager is not expecting the contractor to return to site and to complete the work,” said Burne.
eThekwini head of communications, Tozi Mthethwa said the Development Engineering Department is administering the project.
He confirmed that the contractor has abandoned the site without any notification or communication and has not given any reasons for this.
Attempts have been made, telephonically and in writing to contact and to communicate with the contractor but no responses have been received.
“The Department is in the process of terminating the contract with this contractor and getting another contractor to complete the outstanding work should this be agreed to by the relevant Supply Chain Management committees.
“In the meantime, the Roads and Stormwater Maintenance Department is assisting with tidying up the area and making it safe.
“Unfortunately, there are strict contractual requirements with stipulated time frames which need to be adhered to prior to terminating a contract.
“The municipality apologises for the inconvenience caused and is trying its best to get the matter resolved in the shortest time possible,” said Mthethwa.
In light of all of this information, Burne requests for residents to be patient in the belief that the frustration will be over before the end of the year.
