Metro tackles Rooiwal water plant problems

The phase one upgrades to the Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant have stalled.

And the Tshwane metro is seeking to reclaim funds paid to the underperforming contractor and is about to advertise a new tender for the work.

The metro recently adopted the investigative report into the plant.

The mayor’s office had commissioned it following complaints regarding operations and the tendering for the plant that had been scheduled for completion in May.

The report recommended action be taken against the officials that approved the contractor for irregularities they allegedly committed during adjudication and that contract be cancelled.

Mayor Randall Williams said the metro had already cancelled the contract a few months ago.

“We identified significant performance issues with regard to the completion of phase 1.

“The joint venture had gone as far as 70% completion. Thereafter, due to disagreements with some subcontractors within the joint venture, they failed to complete the final upgrades.

“As a result, the metro cancelled this contract and invoked the cancellation clauses, and we intend to pursue legal action to reclaim funds that were lost because of this lack of performance.”

Williams said R30-million will need to be paid back but the metro will pursue even more.

“The investigative report also indicates that officials involved in the initial tendering process in October 2019, before my time as executive mayor, be disciplined for their actions in awarding this tender to the joint venture without conducting proper due diligence.”

ActionSA is pleased with the adoption of the report after the party had held its own commission of inquiry into the Hammanskraal water crisis in 2020. The party said that the water crisis had been an ongoing human rights violation for nearly two decades.

Tshwane city manager Johann Mettler will be tasked with implementing the disciplinary actions and ensuring that there is a clear line of accountability for the decisions made.

“The metro remains fully committed to ensuring that we address the water crisis in Hammanskraal, which started in 2005 and was neglected for more than a decade,” said Williams.

No date has been set for the completion of the phase 1 even though it started in early 2020.

Prior to the termination of the contract, the following work was completed:
– Refurbishment of one grit classifier: Completed and commissioned.
– Three new grit classifiers manufactured and completed.
– Design and procurement of Pista degritters approved.
– Removal of incinerator and chimney completed: To be replaced with two new wash compactors – design of wash compactors done.
– Skip collection system designed and checked for integration with civil structures design.
– Construction of the primary settling tank: Concrete structural work completed.
– Internal floor panels completed.
– Centre stilling chamber and centre sludge collection hopper completed.
– Sludge draw-off pipework manufactured and delivered to the site.
– Emptying and cleaning of Basin 1 completed.
– New pipework and diffusers installed in Basin 1.
– Emptying, cleaning and civil refurbishment of eight digesters completed.
– Two belt presses completed and operational.

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