Damage to infrastructure as construction of city’s fibre network proceeds

While work on the city’s high-speed, world-class fibre optic network is underway instances of water and electrical infrastructure being damaged by the contractors and resulting in lengthy service disruptions have had residents warm under the collar.
Communications and Marketing Manager of Polo­kwane Municipality, Matshidiso Mothapo confirmed that the municipality has approved wayleave to Frogfoot, a Western Cape based company and Gauteng based Vumatel to install the lines in some parts of the city. “There is an agreement between the municipality and the contractors that they will be liable to pay for the costs of any repairs to municipal infrastructure caused by their activities. Some of the repairs are done by contractors and work on the municipality’s electrical grid are only done by our own workers or the municipality’s contractors,” Mothapo explained. Mothapo could not give an accurate assessment of the value of the damage that occured at this stage.
According to Vumatel spokesperson Daniel Cowen, the construction teams started putting up barricading and opening up trenches to lay fibre ducts in some areas more than a month ago. “They open and close driveways within the same day to minimise disruption and ensure that residents have access to their homes,” Cowen said and added that the work was an ongoing process that would unfold dependent on the demand for activation in a specific area.
In the second stage, the teams work within the trenches and fibre is pulled through the ducts. Fibre is also installed into the fibre boxes on boundary walls.
Specialist re-instatement teams have already started the process of restoring pavements to their original condition and the completed work will be subjected to a rigorous inspection process and quality assurance. “The contractor will re-instate all affected areas to as close to their original condition if possible once civil work is completed. Pictures of the work sites are also taken before and after the work is done,” Cowen assured and added that the company is doing all in its power to bring about as little damage and disruption as possible. He thanked residents for their patience and consideration.

Story: BARRY VILJOEN
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