ActionSA in Gauteng has voiced its concerns over the slow progress of the Beyers Naude Road upgrade project in Johannesburg.
The party claims the R197-million project, which is expected to end in 2025, has made minimal headway despite access to ample resources. Beyers Naude is one of Johannesburg’s major arterial routes. It runs for more than 30km from Auckland Park to Muldersdrift.
ActionSA provincial chairperson, Funzi Ngobeni, argued that a project of this nature should not take five years for completion, especially with the necessary resources and skills at hand.
Ngobeni said: “This delay is an inconvenience for the businesses that operate and residents who travel on that road.”
The project tender was awarded to GMK Civils, a KZN-based construction company owned by businessman Sabelo Mjwara.
According to Ngobeni, the tender, which was initially valued at R168-million, was inflated by an additional R29-million when it was awarded to Mjwara’s company, raising concerns about transparency in the awarding process.
Ngobeni also questioned why a company from KwaZulu-Natal was chosen for a project in Gauteng. He felt numerous qualified local construction firms were bypassed.
“What special skills does GMK Civils offer? Who exactly is Sabelo Mjwara; how did he qualify for the R197-million tender awarded to him?”
In response to the concerns, the provincial department of roads and transport clarified that the tender and its awarding processes were conducted fairly and transparently.
According to the department, 48 service providers were vetted during the procurement process. It says some were disqualified due to non-attendance at mandatory site briefing sessions. Others were eliminated based on prequalification preferential procurement criteria.
‘Mjwara’s GMK Civil qualified for the tender’
The department emphasised that GMK Civils was qualified based on the evaluation of “mandatory, functionality, price, and BBBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment) preference points.”
The procurement process adhered to the Supply Chain regulations and section 217 of the South African Constitution, which require contracts to be awarded fairly and equitably, irrespective of a company’s location.
The department also noted that only 10% of the project has been completed since the site was handed over to the contractor. The completed work includes site establishment, site clearance and layer works.
