KZN transport MEC Duma calls out contractors for delayed, abandoned road projects
KwaZulu-Natal transport MEC Siboniso Duma has raised concern about the performance of contractors awarded tenders to build and rehabilitate roads in the province.
Duma told a media briefing on Wednesday 30 contractors responsible for road projects have cost the department an estimated loss of R4.6bn due to their failure to meet deadlines. Two contractors have abandoned their projects entirely.
Duma said a meeting was convened after a surge of complaints about poor execution of road projects. These complaints stemmed from stalled or incomplete projects which have left significant gaps in the province's roads infrastructure.
'We convened this briefing after an engagement with contractors awarded tenders to construct new roads and rehabilitate [existing] roads in the province,' he said.
Duma took responsibility as a public representative, acknowledging the frustration of residents and stressing the department's commitment to accountability.
'A lot of blame, at times rightly so, has been placed at the feet of the department as the custodian of public transportation. However, the reality is we have contractors failing to honour their contracts and it is time we, as the department, name and shame them.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald
31-05-2025
- The Herald
Truck driver arrested after being found more than 20 times over legal alcohol limit
KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate officials have arrested two alleged drunk drivers including one who was found to be more than 20 times over the legal limit. The transport and human settlements department said the RTI team working with police arrested a truck driver for drinking and driving in Van Reenen along the N3 on May 17. He blew 2.0mg/1000ml, which is 20 times more than the legal limit of 0,10mg /1000ml. He was arrested and charged by Ladysmith police and is expected to appear in court on August 18. A second driver who was also arrested on Friday for allegedly driving under the influence in Van Reenen is being held in the Ladysmith police cells. The driver allegedly blew 0.32 mg/1000ml which is three times more than the legal limit. MEC Siboniso Duma said nine victims of a horrific accident involving a truck in Empangeni along the N2 were recently buried. 'Families lost their loved ones and breadwinners, with children becoming orphans as a result of one reckless truck driver. 'In my meeting with senior management last Monday, I mandated our RTI team to strengthen their no nonsense, zero tolerance and Alufakwa campaign on our roads. We undertake to clamp down on bad behaviour in all corners of our province. 'In particular, we are paying more attention to trucks because, more than any vehicle, trucks can damage more vehicles at once and their accidents can lead to serious injuries because of the impact.' He said road networks being constructed, rehabilitated and repaired should not be playgrounds for 'irresponsible drivers'. Duma said road accidents cost the South African economy more than R164bn annually, an equivalent to 3.4% of the country's GDP. In addition, the Road Accident Fund (RAF) paid out more than R45.6bn in claims in the 2023-2024 financial year. TimesLIVE
The Citizen
18-05-2025
- The Citizen
Johannesburg Crisis Alliance reveals the real state of Johannesburg at summit
The Johannesburg Crisis Alliance (JCA) convened its sixth summit at the Wits University Margo Steele Auditorium on May 10, focusing on the current state of Johannesburg and the city's governance. Read more: SME Growth Summit 2024 empowers small businesses This important gathering brought together approximately 350 delegates from civic organisations, residents associations, and concerned community members to discuss Johannesburg's ongoing governance and service delivery challenges. It featured discussions on the presidency and included a representative from the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) to provide insights into the city's challenges and potential solutions. Mixed assessments of Johannesburg's stability Neeshan Bolton, from Ahmed Kathrada and the JCA, expressed a cautiously optimistic view of the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), stating that while there are elements of dysfunctionality, the city is more stable than it was a year ago. Bolton noted that attendees reported seeing improvements in their neighbourhoods, such as streetlight repairs, although these efforts are not uniformly experienced across all 135 wards. He emphasised the need for the city to articulate a clear vision and address core issues to foster long-term stability and growth. Khule Duma, director in the Presidency, highlighted the broader economic context, noting that South Africa's economy has stagnated for over 15 years, with rising unemployment and low gross domestic product growth. Duma called for rapid implementation of bold economic reforms to stimulate growth and improve the quality of life for Johannesburg residents. Snapshot of challenges Deficits and service delivery breakdowns: • 78% of bridges in poor or very poor condition. • 35% technical losses experienced in the City Power network. • 33% increase of residents experiencing electrical interruptions since 2017/2018 (not due to loadshedding). • 17% increase in water disruptions since 2017/2018. • 46% non-revenue water rate. Severe financial distress • 17 days of cash cost coverage (indicates ability to pay fixed costs). • R23b owed to creditors (from R11.9b in 2019/2020). Public safety and environmental challenges • 600 estimated hijacked buildings in the inner city. • 85% felt unsafe walking in the inner city at night. PJWG's objectives and timeline The summit introduced the objectives of the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group (PJWG), which aims to strengthen governance, improve service delivery, drive economic development, and rejuvenate inner-city hubs and townships. Duma outlined a two-phase implementation plan over 24 months, consisting of short-term interventions designed to yield quick wins within two to three months, and long-term strategies addressing systemic challenges over 12–24 months. Also read: Joburg Crisis Alliance hosts summit to hear from political parties about their views of coalition politics Duma added that the 'quick wins' consist of: • Addressing poor reinstatement (potholes), • Streetlights and traffic lights, • Debt owed by provincial and national government, • Police visibility, • Accelarating the finalisation of infrastructure agreements, • Cleaning public spaces, and • Opening of public institutions. He highlighted the importance of collaboration among stakeholders, including the JCA, to ensure accountability and effective resource allocation. Power supply stability and future prospects Another concern on the agenda was the ongoing debt dispute between Eskom and the CoJ, which sparked concerns across the residents of Johannesburg Sicelo Xulu, chairperson of SANEDI , provided an update on Johannesburg's power supply situation, stating that discussions with Eskom regarding a settlement agreement are progressing positively. He reassured the citizens of the city that there is currently no threat of power supply termination to Johannesburg, attributing this stability to ongoing cordial engagements. Bolton echoed Xulu's sentiments, outlining the critical nature of resolving power supply issues to prevent dire consequences for the city. The summit concluded with a commitment to addressing the root causes of Johannesburg's challenges, and to discussing sustainable solutions in ensuring the city's longevity. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! Related article: Educators join SAs first Digital Life Skills Summit At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
16-05-2025
- IOL News
KwaZulu Natal MEC Siboniso Duma promises to clear R1. 5 billion payment backlog affecting service providers
KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma apologises to affected contractors, confirms R600 million payout this week, and promises a turnaround plan amid technical issues with the new accounting system. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements has expressed deep concern over the delay in payments to more than 2,000 service providers, amounting to over R1.5 billion. MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said the department remains committed to transparency and accountability and is working urgently to resolve the situation. 'In particular, we are extremely worried about the delays in the payment of service providers who are rendering services to the department across all corners of the province,' Duma said. The department revealed that R600 million is expected to be cleared this week, with the remaining R700 million scheduled for payment over the next two weeks. Many of the affected service providers have reportedly been waiting for payment since January 2025. These include: Construction companies working on roads and bridges, public transport service providers and other general suppliers.
