BRIDGE UPDATE: ‘Jamjo must pack up and leave’ say fed up stakeholders
Contractors not being present in the meeting made stakeholders even more upset.
Emotions ran high at a stakeholders’ meeting held at Ray Nkonyeni Municipality’s council chambers this morning, the topic of discussion being the Mzimkhulu River bridge and road and the delays in repairs being complete.
Stakeholders are calling on Jamjo to leave as they believe the company is under performing.
RNM mayor Zodwa Mzindle said that she had warned the Department of Transport about Jamjo, but said no one had taken her seriously.
KZN Youth Development Council secretary, Wonder Shinga, claims Jamjo has completed only 8% of the job.
The contractors were not present at the meeting, which further upset the various stakeholders.
Carol Meth, the president of the South Coast Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told the DoT chief director, Muziwakhe Sithole, that the DoT owes it to South Coasters to provide feedback, whether it be positive or negative.
Meth explained that the most recent meeting was postponed and another emergency meeting was set to take place within a week thereof but no meeting had been called.
“DoT also owe it to us to make sure that the toll waiver is relaxed at 100%. DoT also owes us feedback whether it is good or bad, you need to communicate with us.”
Sithole told the stakeholders that a new budget received by DoT would take care of all the existing projects.
He said there are two payments that are yet to be made by the DoT in order for work on the bridge to resume.
Work is expected to resume within the next two to three weeks, news which further infuriated the stakeholders.
Sithole said that the completion date for the work would be July.
Businessman Lindokuhle Ndovela said that he was hugely disappointed that the contractors were absent.
“They need to be here so they can account and explain their side. But, all in all, I blame the DoT for the project being suspended, and here we are again.”
Jamjo was contacted for comment and explained that DoT would be the one to comment on its behalf.
The DoT explained that the contractors were on Easter break.
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