Construction of crucial KwaDukuza bridge begins

More than 10 months after it was washed away, the Hulett bridge connecting Zamani and Darnall will finally begin construction.

Announced at a sod-turning ceremony by KwaDukuza municipality (KDM) mayor Lindile Nhaca on Monday, the bridge is expected to take 10 months and R29-million to build.

The bridge is a crucial thoroughfare between Zamani, Soweto and Barracks townships on the south side of the Nonoti River and schools, libraries and clinics in Darnall town on the north side.

Without access, residents have had to travel an extra 20 minutes each way, which has seen some elderly people neglect clinic visits and children risking their lives crossing the river.

The project will be managed by consultants Vuba Imagineers, who have a 26 year track record with municipal tenders.

Contracting work will be done by Benjivert Limited which was founded in 2015 and has previously undertaken road rehabilitation work for the City of Cape Town.

Questions remain about municipal response to flood repairs, with only R71.75-million (41%) of the R175.083-million allocated for repairs spent as of February 7.

Out of 30 planned projects, 13 have been completed with a further 14 having started construction.

The municipality has cited slow procurement processes, disruption of projects by “business forums and other interest groups” and unavailability of supplies during the contractor shutdown period as challenges to projects being completed.

KDM did not respond to further requests for clarity on the budget underspend, ongoing projects or the aforementioned challenges.

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