Following a few months of delays, the Mthatha Airport upgrade is back on track today following the return on site of the civil works contractor this morning.
This is a direct result of the provincial government's intervention to ensure that the project continues without any further delays. The 12 months civil works contract was awarded to Ludumo/Al-mo JV and covers extensions to car park, temporary parking and sewer line.
The contractor commenced with the work, but failed to open a joint venture bank account into which their dues had to be paid into. The parties have now elected and agreed that their dues must be paid into the bank account of one of the JV partners. This arrangement is acceptable to our supply chain management and would be registered as such on the database of the department.
- Temporal terminal structure
This was constructed by Group 5 working together with emerging contractors and is now complete. We are awaiting the relocation of Telkom network services from existing main terminal building before the transfer of personnel can take place i.e. moving personnel from the main terminal building into the prefab structure so that we can start renovations on the main terminal building.
A site meeting has been scheduled for 22 July 2010, where Telkom will present their programme on completion of the contract work. - Security fence, replacement
A 12 months contract was awarded to Intellec Construction. Substantial delivery of materials to site has taken place. After a series of negotiations, the contractor has agreed to move back on site after the impasse was sorted out. A site meeting has been scheduled for 22 July 2010 for revised programme for completion of the project. - Main terminal building
The contract was awarded to Tikanedywili and Makole Business Enterprises. When they had to submit their priced bills of quantities, it was substantially more than the tender value. After lengthy discussions with the contractor, no solution was reached and the department decided to terminate the contract as the variance was huge. A new tender will be advertised within a week. - New run way (R250 million)
The department employed the services of quantity surveyors to cost the construction of a new runway to cater for landing Boeing 737. Since the provincial Department of Transport does not have the required funding for the runway, we have further approached the national Department of Transport, which indicated its willingness to consider the support for the upgrade of the airport.
Media contact:
Ncedo Kumbaca
Cell: 082 5626 023
