Roadworks update: Materials not substandard, says N2 suppliers

As anger mounts and tempers boil regarding the never-ending work on the N2 just north of Salt Rock, Ridhwaan Mahomed – project manager for SANRAL’s Eastern Region – stringently denied that corruption has played any part in the ongoing delays.

“We would like to categorically state that there has been absolutely no corruption whatsoever between SANRAL and the contractor responsible for the works on the N2 realignment at Umhlali and Umvoti River Bridge,” he told the Courier when confronted about the seemingly endless extension of the R57,4 million project originally slated for completion a full year ago.

However, it has now emerged that after paying R15,5 million to the contractor, Nyoni Projects, the company faces liquidation.

Since July last year, SANRAL has been repeatedly blaming the delay on substandard material. Work started in February 2016 and was supposed to be complete by last February.

Also read: No end in sight for N2 roadworks?

The new expected completion date was moved to February 2018 but again the goalposts have been moved to “the latter part of 2018”. The site has been standing completely idle for the past seven months.

One of the material suppliers, Ballito Crushers, is adamant that their product is up to standard. Owner and civil engineer Clive Damant said they had delivered exactly what was asked for.

“The contractor and SANRAL asked for G5 grade material for the sub base of the road,” he said.

Materials are graded from the highest grade, G1, downwards as quality dictates.

“We were also a provider for the construction of the Ballito interchange, which got exactly the same materials and is just fine. If they wanted G1 grade material they should have said so, we can make anything required and I know the other suppliers can too (Lafarge and Umhlali Crushers).”

Damant said part of the problem arose due to the implementation of a new method for testing the specifications of the road materials, which led the contractor to believe the materials were not up to scratch.

Mahomed told the Courier the material placed by the contractor did not meet the minimum California Bearing Ratio (CBR) requirements (developed in America before the Second World War and recently implemented by SANRAL).

The CBR test is a penetration test for evaluation of the mechanical strength of natural ground, subgrades and base courses beneath roads and the like.

“This essentially means that if these requirements are not achieved, there is a greater possibility of failures to pavement once trafficked. Hence the material was rejected.”

Also read: Ethekweni deputy mayor backtracks on enclosing bridges

According to Mahomed, various correlation tests were undertaken and all results indicated that the material failed.

“There are two probable causes of the material failing. Firstly, the supplier may be supplying incorrect material, and secondly, the contractor could be contaminating the material while processing and placing on site. The cause of the failure of the material is unknown.”

Mahomed said SANRAL only pays for acceptable completed work and as the contractor has only completed 27% of the work, only 27 % of the appointment value has been paid to them.

The contractor, Nyoni Projects, has been paid R15,5 million but was placed under business rescue at the end of last year and is now in provisional liquidation.

Mahomed confirmed that Nyoni Projects was the original tender winner and had scored the highest points in terms of their price and preference calculation.

However, he said, since learning of the contractor’s provisional liquidation, SANRAL had sent them a notice of termination.

“Taking into consideration the supply chain management protocols and processes that have to be followed, we anticipate work will resume in three months depending on whether the contractor decides to defend the termination,” Mahomed said.

The Courier was unable to make contact with Nyoni Projects.

Still, no amount of explanation and apologies will placate angry commuters who have had enough.

“What fantasy world are they living in that they did not check all this before digging up half the highway?” demanded taxi owner Zahir Danbar of Phoenix.

“They have spent and abused hard earned money digging up parts of the highway, then abandoned it for such a long time, before turning around and blaming poor material!

“Next they will blame Apartheid for their mess ups!”

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