Ward 98 councillor slams Fairland gabions project crisis
Beverley Jacobs has criticised the City of Johannesburg over stalled infrastructure work, unpaid contractors, and what she describes as a growing leadership and accountability crisis.
Ward 98 councillor Beverley Jacobs has criticised the Fairland gabions project, which has been subjected over stalled infrastructure work, unpaid contractors, and what she describes as a growing leadership and accountability crisis.
On May 11, Jacobs criticised that the residents of Fairland Estate are paying the price for poor governance and financial instability within the municipality. The project which faced repeated delays over several months, has been plagued by poor project management, procurement failures, adverse weather conditions, and the city’s failures to pay contractors – JMS Projects and consultants – in the work.
Read more: Refuse collection crisis deepens across Ward 98 as councillor demands action
According to Jacobs, she received written confirmation from the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) project manager stating that the contractors and consultants linked to the project have not been paid for approximately 120 days, dating back to December 2025. The non-payment has now resulted in contractors temporarily leaving the site, causing further delays to a project residents had previously been told would be completed in November 2025. “How can the city claim to be financially stable while contractors responsible for critical infrastructure projects go unpaid for four months?” Jacobs asked. She said the Fairland project reflects wider concerns about the financial and governance challenges facing the City of Johannesburg.
Jacobs said frustrated residents are tired of political spin, while their properties remain at risk due to the unfinished infrastructure work. She assured residents that she will continue to fight for completion of this critical project on behalf of residents.
Also read: Generator not seen as a sustainable solution for Fairland residents, says Ward 98 councillor
JRA directed the publication to City of Johannesburg group finance on payments. They are working on a response for the publication, and the article will be updated once it’s received.
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