KZN Transport Dept terminates agreement with multimillion-rand road construction contractor

DURBAN - In KwaZulu-Natal, the Department of Transport has terminated its agreement with a multimillion-rand road construction contractor.

This is after the contractor failed to meet the deadline for work on the P577-02 road between Cowie’s Hill and New Germany in Pinetown.

Nearly R90 million was set aside for the project, which began in August 2023 and was meant to be completed in May 2024.

Spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya said MEC Siboniso Duma said various complaints about the delays were raised.

“Unfortunately, over the past 400 days in office, the MEC have been receiving complaints from members of the public about prolonged construction. Despite granting extensions, the contractor has failed to deliver.”

Sibiya said a new contractor will be appointed.

“He has also pointed out that 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 MEC says that the reality is that we have contractors who are failing to honour their contracts. It is for these reasons that we are acting firmly as the department.”