23 Mar 2022

Post contract proceedings are underway alongside procurement preparations to conclude the remaining works on the Tutume-Maitengwe road resealing project.

Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Thulagano Segokgo said this in response to a parliamentary question on Tuesday.

Mr Segokgo explained that the project, which was commissioned on August 20, 2019, had the contract terminated in September 2021 due to non-performance of the contractor.

“In my previous response on the same project, in September 2021, I had indicated that the contractor was on site engaged mainly to maintain the road, including the two bridges [Nsuswane and Nkange].

However, we wish to acknowledge that the condition of these two bridges poses significant risk to motorists,” he said.

To mitigate such risks, he said, the ministry had assembled a team on site to continuously monitor the behaviour of the two bridges, adding that the permanent secretary had also visited the same bridges in order to appreciate the challenges.

Further, he said the contractor failed to perform even to a point where the ministry had to terminate the contract in December 2021.

“Prior to termination while the contractor was struggling with the project, he had brought in a sub-contractor to assist with the repairs to the bridge.

After the termination of the contract, the ministry decided to engage the same proposed sub-contractor to carry out the repair works on the two bridges,” he said.

He indicated that a direct procurement method process commenced immediately, adding however, that there had been delays between the procuring entity and the Ministerial Tender Committee (MTC), following some clarifications required by MTC on the Bill of Quantities.

“Despite all the delays, we are very confident that works will commence in April, after corrective action taken to address the procurement process,” Mr Segokgo said.

Meanwhile, the assistant minister told MPs that funds secured for the rehabilitation of the Nsuswane and Nkange bridges were provided for under the Roads Levy Fund. Mr Segokgo was responding to questions asked by Nkange MP, Dr Never Tshabang, who wanted an update on the Tutume-Maitengwe road re-sealing project.

Dr Tshabang also asked the minister to state, in view of his previous response, progress on the Nsuswane and Nkange bridges and whether he intended to have road levy funds used to fix them after they were destroyed by rains in the past and the current rainy season. ENDS