Faizel Patel – 19/08/2021

Ward councilor and coordinator of the R554 rehabilitation project in Lenasia says the never-ending roadworks opposite extension 9 which has frustrated residents is about what he terms rehabilitating the road surface and not widening the lane.

Vezi Gxamza was responding to an investigative report by Radio Islam last week about the stretch of road from opposite Trade Route Mall leading towards the fire station and Lehae.

The road works has caused daily traffic jams including two entrances to extension nine completely blocked off by the construction and building material.

It has also forced motorists, pedestrians and even taxi drivers to use the gravel road along the R554 to get to the back of the Thembelihle informal settlement, to their homes and destinations.

Gxamza says the R97 million R554 project involves “getting rid” of the old road and laying a new road as part of maintenance.

Responding to a question from a listener who said there was nothing wrong with the old road and with it just being an apparent upgrade, Gxamza refuted that it is wasteful expenditure.

“Each and every infrastructure is due for upgrades as per its yearly cycles. So basically any road that has been built can only last for twenty years. Each and every 15 to 20 years you are requested to basically to do a rehabilitation just to ensure that the road is still operational.”

Despite concerns of poor communication about the project by residents, Gxamza claims the project plans, budgets and total spend to date has been made available to the community.

“Definitely there have been. To date, we have been having lots of engagements with the public on various platforms, on various mediums.”

Gxamza has assured Lenasia residents and motorists that despite the challenges, the project will be completed.

“The plan for the project was for it to run for eighteen months. So it has started last year in March and would’ve ended in September. But due to some of the project delays including COVID and local protests, the contractor had then asked for a two-months extension. So basically we are now looking at November being the deadline for the actual project.”

Gxamza says the contractor is confident they will meet the November deadlines for completion of the R554 rehabilitation project, adding that he is not aware of any “missing funds” or corruption that may possibility linked to the initiative.

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

Listen and watch the report by Radio Islam’s Faizel Patel and the interview with Vezi Gxamza