Abandoned road project sparks outrage in Mavhunga

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01-11-2024
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Polokwane Review Observer
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Residents express frustration over abandoned road rehabilitation project. New contractor takes over with revised budget and 10-month timeline.

LIMPOPO – Residents of Mavhunga and surrounding areas are calling for accountability after the contractor responsible for rehabilitating a 3.7km stretch of road on the D3669, leading from Mavhunga to Phadzima, apparently abandoned the project.

On September 23, Public Works MEC Ernest Rachoene, introduced the new contractor for D3669 road at Phadzima. The project was initially handed over to the previous contractor in January but saw no progress after that date.

Work on the project started in June last year, but activities came to a standstill eight months later. The contract, valued at R39m, was supposed to be completed by June, yet it remains only 14% finished. An internal report from the Road Agency Limpopo (RAL) indicated that First Class Fabrication abandoned the construction project in Mavhunga and Phadzima in January, failing to pay local subcontractors and workers.

The new contractor, RSMM Construction, has taken over the project with a revised budget of R62.9m and began work the day before the handover. According to Rachoene, the project is expected to take 10 months, starting in October and scheduled for completion by July 2025. He urged community members to cooperate with the contractor throughout the construction period to prevent further delays.

Residents expressed frustration over the situation. Pfarelo Masutha said, “We had hoped that the project would be finished by now. It’s just a big mess, and my biggest concern is that the infrastructure is starting to get damaged, which is a waste of money.”

A motorist, Dalas Mukhethoni raised concern about the heavy rains affecting the area, making driving difficult. “If they don’t finish this before the rains come, we will have more problems,” Mukhethoni warned.