To overcome delays, a six-month deadline has been set for the completion of the R300-million court construction project in the north of Pretoria.
Deputy minister for Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala set the deadline to February 2025 to wrap up construction on the Soshanguve Magistrate’s Court facility, which has faced numerous setbacks.
The deadline comes as Zikalala and his department held an oversight visit on August 13 at the site as part of the Siyahlola programme, which has been designed to tackle stalled public works projects in the country.
Construction at the Soshanguve court began in 2019.
Delays at the site also left renovations to the existing court building on hold until the new facility is finished.
Soshanguve Magistrate’s Court was intended to feature eight courtrooms, including regional, equality, and family courts, as well as 17 holding cells, 250 administrative offices, and various staff and public amenities.
Originally slated for completion in 2022, the project however was plagued by multiple issues, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, contractor withdrawals and delays in submitting essential project documentation.
Zikalala emphasised the urgency to see out the full construction project of the court ahead of March 2025.
“We are setting a firm deadline of February 2025 to complete this project.
It’s critical that we fast-track the remaining work and address all challenges head-on to ensure the court is operational without further delay,” he said.
He added that the Siyahlola programme revealed several underlying problems with the construction of the court.
These included a lack of community involvement and transparency regarding local business and employment opportunities.
“The delay in this project has been significant, stretching 18 months beyond its initial deadline. This situation demands a robust and co-ordinated approach.
We are committed to meeting this new deadline, and we will be closely monitoring progress monthly,” said Zikalala.
The construction of the facility has seen the additional accommodation phase reach 89% completion.
Zikalala called for a more integrated project management approach to prevent further delays.
“All professionals involved must work cohesively to overcome any remaining obstacles. Building internal capacity within the department of public works is also a priority,” said Zikalala.
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