Bridge woes drag on as businesses feel pinch
So far, the department maintains that it will reopen the bridge by the beginning of December.
If the rehabilitation of the Mzimkhulu River bridge in Port Shepstone is not complete by the deadline of December 2, some businesses may be left with no option but to shut down.
This came out at a meeting between the KZN Department of Transport (DoT), Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM), ratepayers, business forums, and other stakeholders at RNM’s council chambers last Friday.
The business sector was sceptical about the repair timeline for the bridge on the R102. So far, the department maintains that it will reopen the bridge by the beginning of December.
A representative from Harbourview Superspar said since the closure of the bridge, the business is feeling the pinch and if it does not reopen on the proposed date, there would be unfortunate decisions to take.
“If there are any further delays, I am sorry, as a business we are going to close. It will put about 120 people out of work. We cannot afford more delays.”
Adding her voice, RNM mayor, Zodwa Mzindle, said in the district, five big companies have closed their doors.
“We have lost a lot here. Please let us sort this thing out. I am not an engineer, but the engineers around the South Coast are unhappy about the work that has been done here. We have engineers in Ugu, please let’s give them the job,” said Mzindle.
Smaller business, like store owners, have been desperately quiet, with some recording no sales in a day, something previously unimagined.
Concerned businessman, Robin Petterson raised the issue of the pace of which the rehabilitation of the bridge is moving at, indicating that there is little chance that the set deadline will be met.
He also questioned whether or not there were properly qualified engineers doing the work and why such a vast amount (R990 000 odd) was spent on signage and safety barriers when, to his eye, these could have been sourced for significantly less.
Another burning issue was the qualification of the contactors. DoT headed by Durban regional manager, Muzi Sithole, clarified that all engineers are screened before they are given tenders.
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