Questions raised over non completion of BRT lines
The DA is asking why a contractor for the A Re Yeng bus system was allegedly appointed without a tender process.
Andrew Ngozo
Questions have been raised over the non-completion of the last phase of the A Re Yeng bus rapid transit system line 1A that runs from Church Square to Pretoria North.
The Democratic Alliance’s councillor Elmarie Linde said work packages 1, 2 and 3 were supposed to have been completed by now. “Soft landscaping has not been done and rumour has it that allocated money for the last finishing touches have disappeared,” she said. Work package 1 stretches from Church Square to Venter Street in Capital Park, work package 2 stretches from Venter Street to Fred Nicholson Street and work package 3 is from Fred Nicholson Street to the Rainbow Junction. Work package 4 stretches from Rainbow Junction to Rachel de Beer Street in Pretoria North and is currently under construction.
Linde said savings from work package 2 and 3 had apparently been transferred to the fourth work package. “Although most of the paving has been done, no additional tender process was initiated to complete the soft landscaping from Church Square to the north,” she said, adding the budget for the soft landscaping was around R1.5 million per work package.
The same contractor of work package 3 was appointed to construct work package 4 and an amount of R58m was allocated. Linde said Vharanani Boitshoko Joint Venture was apparently appointed, without a tender process as prescribed by the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).
“The DA questions the allocation of money to these projects and it is clear that inadequate planning was done to complete the transport project. The Pretoria National Zoo is a tourist attraction that is now an eyesore. Trees that were removed when the project commenced, should have been replaced with Van Wykshout trees and the islands were supposed to be landscaped – also at the bus stations. According to the initial tender, a fountain had to be erected at the intersection of Es’kia Mphahlele Drive and Paul Kruger Street, the entrance to the Moot,” said Linde.
She said people had been excited about the planned bus system that would alleviate the traffic through the Moot, between the north and Pretoria CBD, but inadequate planning was now leaving a sour taste in the mouths of affected residents and commuters.
“The metro plays a vital role in the construction of the bus routes and to get the system to work smoothly, so it is vital the metro ensures that these tenders be adhered to complete the last phase of the three-work packages that run through the Moot,” said Linde.
Mayoral spokesperson Blessing Manale said the scope of works in line with the contracts for Lines 1, 2 and 3 were completed and all the contracts had reached work completion stage. “It needs to be noted that the exposure of heritage tram lines on Church Square and the process and time taken to agree on mitigations to incorporate these into the final designs and scheme had a time impact on the completion of the works,” he said.
The tender awarded to Vharanani Boitshoko Joint Venture was perfectly legal and above board. Manale said the correct tender process as required by legislation had been followed in appointing the contractor. “It should also be noted that the system roll out plan for the north has started and construction in Wonderboom has been completed. The last phase will be completed and become operational in 2020,” said Manale.
Also read:
Public to be informed about BRT
A Re Yeng experience in the capital city
Convenient, safe and accessible bus service
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