KaNyamazane road project to be completed in three months

The Chris Hani Road project, which had been abandoned by the contractor for months, has raised serious concerns in the Nsikazi township.
The road construction initially began in 2019 when the projects to reconstruct collapsed bridges and rehabilitate local roads got under way. The project dragged for years, and at the end there was no progress or contractor seen on-site.

Residents and motorists have expressed their concerns about the appalling state of this particular stretch of the Chris Hani Road in Ext 1, which connects Legogote Street and serves as KaNyamazane’s entry and exit into the Mgwenya section. Residents are also worried about the conditions of some bridges, which are on the brink of collapsing.

ALSO READ: KaNyamazane residents enraged over sewage issues

In April, Lowvelder Express contacted the City of Mbombela to enquire about the progress of the road construction project. The municipal spokesperson, Joseph Ngala, said it was continuously hampered by the persistent rain. “The rain season has halted the construction, but we promise to get the ball rolling as soon as the rainy season passes,” Ngala said.

According to some community members, they expected the project to be finished swiftly, as it had had ample duration. “The heavy rainfall we experienced made matters worse on the already terrible road condition, and it poses a risk to motorists and commuters. It also adds to travel time as motorists must use alternative routes to reach their destinations,” said one enraged member.
Lowvelder Express took the liberty to contact Ngala recently again about the particular road. He alleged that the project has now been affected by numerous factors, including those mentioned before.

ALSO READ: Government officials in Mbombela embark on road maintenance programme

“The project team has since submitted a variation order to the municipal council in order to complete the project, including the damages caused by floods that had occurred after the project had commenced. However, the request for the variation order was not granted pending an investigation as directed by council for the reasons of additional funds,” he said.
“The city manager has been engaging with the contractor for a revised work schedule to finish the outstanding work. It is hoped that outstanding work on the project should be completed within three months.”
Community members still harbour the hopes to see improved service delivery regarding the road soon.