Major upgrades are in progress on key roads in Alexandra amid complaints by small local contractors that they have been excluded from benefiting from the work.
This after the city council announced that it had set aside R1.3 billion for the Jozi @Work programme which is part of its contribution to government’s agenda for radical transformation of the economy. The upgrades which include re-paving pavements and laying of roads is being done by the Joburg Development Agency which took over from the Alexandra Renewal Project.
Barely six months into its new role, the agency has already faced two protests. One related to the community’s displeasure at the agency’s recruitment process, and the other by youths who submitted a memorandum demanding inclusion in all city and government’s development programmes.
The road upgrades are for the Rea Vaya Rapid Bus Transit network and are intended to improve commuter travel between the township, and Sandton and the inner city of Joburg.
Alexandra councillor Monde Mbingeleli said the complaints were genuine frustrations of local contractors and resulted from poor communications between city council officials and the community. “The road upgrades are well intended but communities feel left out in the contracting process,” he said.
He added that councillors were not always provided information, making it difficult for them to inform communities on the work they could tender for. He said the officials should entrust in them the role of informing the community and should do so on time to enable the contractors to also submit their bids. Mbingeleli said the work would be completed in three years and would provide the smaller contractors opportunities to take part in the next two years.
Meanwhile, the city council has encouraged small businesses interested in participating in the Jozi@Work programme to form co-operatives to enhance their chances of getting contracts. Also, the city council is setting up structures to help them with capacity building to enable them to develop business plans to access the work.
