Action against officials following Lubbe Contract termination on K46 road project
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi, announced the termination of Lubbe Construction road contract with the Department for the K46 William Nicol project.
He further announced that disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against several Departmental officials for their alleged failure to manage the project properly.
Lubbe Construction was contracted by the Provincial Department to construct the stalled K46 (William Nicol Drive) along Diepsloot to the N14 Freeway.
Speaking at the Portfolio Committee on Roads and Transport in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Vadi announced that the Department has initiated the process of also blacklisting the contractor.
“The Department regards non-delivery of contract requirements by contractors as a serious matter. As such, support from law-enforcement agencies has been enlisted to consider instituting legal proceedings against interested parties to recover funds,” MEC Vadi said.
The contract signed in November 2015 between the parties, stipulated that the project was to have been completed in September 2017, however the road works have seen endless delays.
The contract with Lubbe Construction was extended on two further occasions with the company failing to complete the project within stipulated timeframes. In addition, the company had not maintained a valid Performance Guarantee for the project since November 2017.
Vadi informed the Committee that the Department will embark on a new, open tender procurement process to complete the project.
“The delays in completing the project have caused untold inconvenience and disruption to motorists, residents and the business community in the area. The department will work on short-term interventions to improve the quality of the existing road,” said Vadi.
Enquiries:
Melitah Madiba
Cell: 073 644 9935
E-mail: PressOffice.GPDRT@gauteng.gov.za
