Residents of Fairland Estate were joined by Democratic Alliance mayoral candidate Helen Zille on June 2.
She was conducting a visit to the site of the Fairland gabions project, to assess progress and discuss concerns surrounding the delayed project. The project, which involves the construction of gabion retaining structures and riverbank stabilisation measures, was expected to be completed by June 2025, but after much delays, Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) set a new date for the project, May 15. The publication followed up on June 3, since the completion date has now come and gone. JRA replied: “We are following up on the completion of the project.”

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On site, Zille said she contacted the contractor, JMS Projects, responsible for the project to better understand the reasons behind said delays. “The contractor has still not been paid,” she said. “They’re owed around R7m to complete the project.” She said the contractor indicated that several other projects linked to JRA have also experienced delays due to payment issues.

The unfinished state of the project has raised concerns among residents, particularly given the amount already invested in the development. There are fears that without completion, sections of the work could deteriorate and require additional repairs in the future. The delays have also fuelled broader concerns about infrastructure maintenance and service delivery across Johannesburg, where numerous projects have faced setbacks in recent years.

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According to Zille, the contractor indicated that he remains willing to complete the work once outstanding payments are received.

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