Fire station debacle burns R10-million
Third contractor now on eSikhaleni site as building cost doubles
THE long-awaited eSikhaleni fire station is still far from completion – and the cost has doubled as a third contractor moves in to repair the damage.
Meanwhile, residents will continue to pay the price as firefighters inevitably arrive too late from Richards Bay to save dwellings from destruction.
The matter was raised at Tuesday’s City of uMhlathuze Exco meeting where a report-back was tabled on a number of slow progress projects.
The eSikhaleni fire station contract was initially awarded to preferred bidder Nonjenje/Umbambano JV on 26 March, 2014.
However, the project suffered continual delays and, according to an Exco report, one of the joint venture parties left the site, ultimately resulting in a breach of contract.
The site was visited continually, revised programmes failed and when the builders ran out of materials work stopped totally and the contracted was terminated on 17 December, 2014.
Photo: Wellington Makwakwa
The contract was then awarded on 29 June last year to Ziqoqe Construction, who had been placed second on the original tender adjudication.
Initial progress was good but the contractor began having financial problems and work slowed down progressively.
Continual site visits bore no positive results and when they ran out of material, notice was issued and the contract was terminated on 17 August this year.
The municipality is now rounding up contractors for a third attempt at building the crucial amenity.
An amount of R3 163 168.90 was expended on termination of the first contract, and R6 637 378 on termination of the second.
Now the anticipated cost of the third contractor, who will also have to do an uncertain amount of remedial work, is estimated at R12.5-million.
The deadline for completion of the project has been extended by at least another 12 months.
Meanwhile, blame is being placed on ‘improper costing’ having been done.
This as the municipality continues to operate without a quantity surveyor in its employ.
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