DEAR Editor,-
Does DD Naidoo ever venture out to check his repair crews or the sites they are working on? Does he have any regard for public safety at these sites?
His staff recently repaired burst water pipes opposite the BP garage in Ramsgate and Sebenza Village in Margate (on the north-bound lane of Marine Drive). The BP site is on a blind rise and the Sebenza site is where the double lanes converges into one. Neither site has any signage warning drivers of hazards ahead. And both sites are extremely dangerous, especially at night.
Neither of these hazardous areas is apparent to motorists until it is too late to take evasive action. Mr Naidoo leaves his department open to severe legal action should there be an accident at either or both of these sites.Does he or his staff not have any concern for public safety?
This blatant disregard of safety measures reinforces my comment regarding the non-existence of supervision of field staff.
DD Naidoo should get off his butt and drive around his area to witness first-hand what this coast looks like – a veritable war zone with Ugu craters everywhere. He should find it in his budget to purchase adequate signage and protection for the myriad of open excavations in his area before somebody sues the pants off him.As head of department, he is an absolute disgrace, not only to ratepayers, but more importantly, to his staff.
As for their lackadaisical operating methods, Ugu appointed sub-contractors to reinstate excavations necessary to repair burst pipes. Do these contractors have a proven track record or are they a bunch of chancers jumping on the gravy train?
When Ugu calls for tenders, there should be an accompanying bill of quantities, including specifications essential to inform the contractor what is required of him and to be able to price accordingly. Any bill of quantities regarding earthworks will refer to the internationally accepted standard for compaction of materials, whether for construction of roads, laying of storm-water piping, sewer piping, etc. This standard is known as AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Traffic Officials).
The determination of the amount of compaction required to construct roads or pipelines is quite an involved process requiring geotechnical engineers. If compaction requirements are not adhered to, one can expect failures.
Does Ugu provide tenderers with these requirements? Is there a qualified soils technician available to take compaction tests, especially where repair work is carried out on roadways? The answer in both cases is no.
It is little wonder that after a repair has been effected, settlement leads to the failure of the premixed road surface, which leads to the formation of potholes – and the whole cycle is repeated. I think it is high time that the public demands that Ugu publicises credentials and qualifications of sub-contractors they appoint to literally steal our money through shoddy workmanship. I have yet to see an Ugu official inspecting repairs carried out by a sub-contractor.
On a totally different note (not involving Ugu), road markings on Marine Drive were renewed earlier this year, but the paint had been thinned down. Six months later, the markings have faded to the state where they have to be renewed and the painting contractor is laughing all the way to the bank. Once again, no supervision, no testing of products and no enforcement of specifications laid down in tender documents.
Africa – bribery and corruption at its best!
HORRIFIED
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