Winklespruit’s slipway is still in a state of disrepair, following an appeal by the lowest tender at not being rewarded the work.
The slipway, which lifesavers use to launch onto the beach in case of emergencies and transport emergency equipment onto the beach, was washed away when the river diverted amid heavy rains in the beginning of December 2012.
Ethekwini Municipality failed to repair it before the start of that busy holiday season and, almost 18 months on, it is still in disrepair.
In April 2013 the municipality advised that the Winklespruit Lifesaving Club will first have to be protected from further erosion before repairs to the slipway could be affected.
“The process was put out to tender,” said ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge. “Council awarded the tender to the second lowest response, after it found the lowest tender lacking in both experience and capacity. The person who put in the lowest tender lodged an appeal and no work will proceed until the appeal is heard.
The municipality said it has called a meeting with the person on Tuesday, 8 April, hoping to convince him to withdraw his appeal in lieu of a contract more in line with his scope of expertise,” said Cllr Beetge. If the municipality is not successful, it could mean a six to eight week wait until the appeal is resolved.
“The contractor is ready to start the repair work. In the meantime I have asked them to open the river to allow it to continue towards the sea and not past the clubhouse, for safety reasons, until this rehab work is completed.”
