Infrastructure development is fundamental in our constantly developing country and the replacement of old with new facilities is always exciting for communities as they benefit in the process.
But the F46 Rand Water pipeline project currently in progress in the Weltevreden Park and Fairland areas has brought distress more than anything else to the affected residents.
According to Esor Limited, they and Maziya General Services were awarded the contract for the construction of the F46 Pipeline: earthworks, pipe-laying and associated works for the construction of a 4km long, 1 424mm ID (12mm thick) steel pipeline from Whiteridge Waterval to the Weltevreden Reservoir by Rand Water.
The contract was awarded in two sections, with Esor Construction responsible for the construction of Portion A, and Maziya General Services responsible for the construction of Portion B.
Construction activities started on 3 May 2016 and the expected completion date was 3 October 2017.
Maziya’s completion date was February 2018, according to the company’s community liaison officer, Jan von de Heyde.
When the company failed to meet its deadline, the residents of the area became very frustrated as the project necessitated road closures which resulted in traffic congestion during peak hours, and complained bitterly about major roads having been closed for a very long time, as well as the damage to municipal infrastructure.
Maziya representatives were recently called into a meeting by residents to update the community as to when everything will be completed. They felt they had been left in the dark, and claimed that no information was forthcoming from Von de Hyde, the man in charge of keeping the community updated on the project’s progress.
The company handed over a project update document which highlighted some of the challenges they faced on certain roads; and provided details of the progress, what remains outstanding, and completion dates.
Some of the challenges on JG Strydom Road, from 9th Avenue to Batoka Avenue and Cornelius Street to Amarant Street were the unusual rainfall, the extremely high water table, compaction and moisture content in the roads.
Although dates of completion differed in some sections, the last completion date inked in the document was 24 August.
The document did not inspire any confidence in the residents, as the dates were not deemed convincing.
In an interview with Howard Sibanda, the contract manager, who was asked if he was confident about these completion dates, he responded: “I am confident; that’s why we put in those dates, unless there are unforeseen circumstances.”
He added that if anything transpires and causes delays, the public will be notified.
Fred Otto from Devon Valley Residents Association concluded the meeting by saying that the community has no option but to wait and see if the project is completed to the newest deadline.
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