UPDATE: N2 upgrade left in limbo – Stanger

The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) does not have the funding to complete the N2 roadworks between Ballito and Stanger.

This was revealed to the KwaDukuza executive committee council in October, in a report on a bilateral meeting between SANRAL officials and KwaDukuza municipality in September.

On the agenda were a number of projects which have been left in limbo in the district – with the major one being the N2 roadworks.

Work on the N2 between Ballito and Stanger began in February 2016 and was set to be completed early in 2017.

A year later, the completion date has been pushed back while motorists continue to be inconvenienced by the empty site on the busy road

Also read: No end in sight for N2 roadworks

SANRAL officials acknowledged the delay on the N2 and said they were experiencing challenges with getting funds from national treasury.

Previously, SANRAL Eastern Region project manager Ridhwaan Mahomed, blamed the original delays on the contractor being unable to source materials.

However, the report to KwaDukuza council states that additional funds to hire an engineer or project manager had not yet been approved by national treasury.

“SANRAL indicated challenges related to approval of deviation by the national treasury which allow them to have an engineer/project manager supervision fee. These delays make it impossible for SANRAL to commit on a firm time-frame of when the project will be completed.”

Mohamed said: “The first delay occurred when the contractor was unable to source material that met the contract specifications. This contractor was unable to progress with work, went into business rescue and the contract was eventually terminated. The second delay was post-termination of the original contract.

“This is caused by the lack of approval from national treasury for the additional funds for the supervision by the engineer/site team in order to monitor/supervise the work of a new contractor. Without getting this approval from treasury it was impossible for SANRAL to proceed and appoint a new contractor to complete the work.”

A formal letter has apparently been written through KwaDukuza mayor Ricardo Mthembu’s office to the transport and finance minister to intervene on the matter.

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