Ongoing delays by a contractor to improve the infrastructure at Hammarsdale Wastewater Treatment Works have cost eThekwini ratepayers R60 million.  

The contract for improvements to liquid and solids treatment facilities could be amended again pending approval by a full council committee on Thursday. 

The completion date was delayed over the years, and the completion is expected in November 2026. The original contract was R200 million, and the revised contract was estimated at R260 million. 

At an eThekwini Executive Committee (Exco) meeting on Tuesday, a report from the Trading Services committee noted reasons to amend the contract for the completion of engineering design work and construction supervision for the functional upgrade of the treatment works. 

In its motivation for the amendment to be approved, the committee stated that the treatment works, located in an industrial zone, are critical to improving plant capacity and supporting further industrial and commercial development.

It also said this project has experienced ongoing process compliance issues due to ageing infrastructure, thus requiring critical improvements.

The project was originally scheduled to be finalised in February 2020, but various delays were experienced, resulting in extensions being granted:

• February 25, 2020, revised to January 9, 2023, due to Covid-19-related days.
• January 9, 2023, to June 21, 2025, due to delays in the Supply Chain Management (SCM) process and an insufficient budget allocation for this project.
• June 21, 2025, to May 6, 2026. Completion date revised due to unforeseen technical challenges encountered during construction.
• June 21, 2025, to November 6, 2026. 

The committee noted that delays necessitated major amendments to the contract for its completion of construction and commissioning.

It placed a public notice advertising the amendment in a local newspaper, stating that no views or comments were received in response. 

Asad Gaffar, the eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement (ERPM), said these contracts are costing the ratepayers dearly and that this was a clear indication that the municipality did not have the right calibre of personnel in its departments.

He said the ERPM will continue to fight for oversight and accountability of infrastructure projects so that ratepayers get value for money. 

Cyril Xaba, eThekwini mayor, said he was committed to run a clean and accountable administration and is now tightening internal controls to address governance issues which paint the city in a negative light.

Xaba said the city has a responsibility to ensure they reticulate sewage without spillage, and treat and discharge sewage at acceptable quality and repair and maintain bulk infrastructure. 

“The city has been losing court cases because of weaknesses emanating solely from poor contract management. It is against this background that we call upon the management to aggressively re-evaluate its systems with the aim of closing these serious gaps in our contract management environment,” he said. 

Xaba said measures to be adopted include automation of contract management and the appointment of a team of professionals to strengthen controls in this area. 

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za

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