24 Mar 2024

The Molepolole-Thamaga road project was awarded in January 2022 at a cost of P49.4 million (P49 393 860.34) for a duration of 12 months, Minister of Transport and Public Works Mr Eric Molale has said.

 He told Parliament on Wednesday that the project commenced on March 14, 2022 and was planned to be completed on March 13, 2023.

He however said due to some delays, the project completion date was revised to September 5, 2023.

Mr Molale said the scope of the project primarily entailed asphalt overlaying 40 kilometres of the road from Molepolole to Thamaga, resealing 10 kilometres of Gakgatla access road and their road marking.

He said the project progress was currently at 81 per cent, which comprised 30.5 kilometres of completed asphalt overlaying, resealing of the 10 kilometres Gakgatla access road and the associated road marking.

Minister Molale said he was aware that the delay of progress on the project was partly due to road infrastructure and development and maintenance and noted further that there was delay in the approval of the asphalt overlaying sub-contractor which resulted in three months extension time.

Also, he said he was aware that the delay to progress on the project was attributable to the contractor, whom he said abandoned site from July to October 2022 citing lack of cash flow resulting from price escalation of bitumen and related products.

“This considerably hampered the contractor’s performance in terms of meeting the monthly targeted milestones,” he said, adding that other causes of delays included rainfall.

The minister said the his ministry had recently taken all possible efforts within the ambit of the contract to facilitate the contractor to finish the project successfully.

However, he said efforts were not bearing any positive outcomes as progress on the project continued to spiral down.

Mr Molale said in the interest of the public, the ministry was considering all available remedies under the contract, including contract termination, in order to address the situation that the project was currently going through.

Thamaga-Kumakwane Member of Parliament, Mr Palelo Motaosane had asked the minister to apprise parliament on the status of the Thamaga-Molepolole road project. ENDs