Orchards Clinic contractor dismissed after failing to meet deadline

The construction of the Orchards Clinic in Orange Grove has hit another snag with a new contractor appointed to finish the job after the current one missed the deadline.

The clinic on Louis Botha Avenue has had its fair share of problems since its construction started four years ago.

“Construction of the Orchards Clinic state-of-the-art primary health care facility in Orange Grove has once again been suspended after the main appointed contractor, Fikile Construction (Pty) Ltd, failed to meet the September 2019 deadline to complete construction of the clinic,” said Johannesburg Development Agency’s spokesperson, Susan Munyai on 17 March.

ALSO READ: Construction project well under way at the Orchards Clinic

Fikile Construction was appointed in April 2019, after a specialist sub-contractor was appointed to create a design solution for construction as a corrective measure following allegations of structural under-design by the previously appointed engineer.

Munyai said remedial works were undertaken by the specialist sub-contractor and all efforts were focused on ensuring that the structure complies with the new structural design. Additional steel beams and columns were added throughout the building to create a stronger structure and the remedial works were completed in March 2019.

“Since the remedial works [were] completed, Fikile Construction was then appointed to ensure the completion of the project by September 2019. With the deadline missed, JDA placed the main contractor on terms for failure to complete the new clinic,” explained Munyai.

This resulted in Fikile Construction submitting a recovery programme, for the construction of the clinic, which also resulted in a failure to complete the clinic as part of the recovery plan, she added.

Munyai said JDA had issued the company with a final warning, with Fikile proposing to bring a credible contractor to undertake the completion of the clinic on their behalf.

Negotiations between Fikile Construction and the new contractor were completed by end of January.

Munyai said, “As it stands, Fikile Construction has now ceded the construction to another contractor and work at the clinic has resumed.”

David Fisher, confirmed that the current contractors will vacate the site and make way for a new construction company to take over the project. “They will be changed and contractors [GVK-Siya Zama Construction] responsible for the Patterson Park project, currently underway in Norwood, will then be brought in to take over the project.”

A site manager from GVK, who asked not to be named, told Tribune that he did not wish to comment yet on the matter as it is still in the early stages.

Details: Ward 74 councillor David Fisher 082 822 6070.

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