It has been more than a year since an explosion rocked Lillian Ngoyi Street in Johannesburg’s CBD, but the repairs still have a long way to go with further delays on the cards.
The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) is threatening to cancel the tender for the repair of the road owing to the lack of progress made by the hired contractor.
Explosive causes, slow results
Lillian Ngoyi Street, formerly Bree Street, was the site of an explosion on 19 July 2023, which was caused by a build-up of flammable methane gas in the pipelines underneath the road surface.
The blast was powerful enough to send minibus taxis several feet into the air and caused significant damage to the road with massive crevices all over the tarmac.
In August 2023, the JRA estimated that the repairs would cost at least R178 million, having already spent R4 million to recruit experts to survey the site, and to provide temporary relief measures to those living in the area.
The rehabilitation process officially began in January 2024, with the Johannesburg metro allocating a total of R196 million for professional fees and construction costs covering roadworks, stormwater and services infrastructure, and electrical, mechanical, and structural works on the damaged road.
These repairs represent the first part of a two-phase operation, which is scheduled to run from 11 January until 15 December 2024.
Fast forward to July 2024, and JRA is now warning that it will cancel the tender issued for the rehabilitation of Lillian Ngoyi Street if the contractor does not improve its performance.
The tender was awarded to Durapi Consulting, while Step Up Engineering was assigned as the contractor.
“Despite previous interventions, the appointed contractor has had challenges meeting their contractual obligations,” said the JRA.
Consequently, the JRA and the City of Johannesburg have issued a formal notice of intent to terminate the tender if the contractor fails to uphold its end of the deal.
“This notice period, in accordance with the General Conditions of Contract (2015), Clause 9.2, commenced on the 23 of July 2024 and allows the contractor 14 days to respond and rectify the default,” said the JRA.
The roads agency reiterated that it is committed to public safety and that the project will be completed to “satisfactory standards.”
“We will ensure the project is completed to satisfactory standards and will provide further updates on the project’s recommencement and projected timelines once the contractor has responded to the notice,” said the JRA.
“During this process, continuous engagements with all impacted stakeholders will take place in order to provide updates and reassurance on progress.”
Join the discussion