Problems stall P700 road works
THE COMPLETION of the P700 Ntambanana road will experience an almost six months delay owing to issues of land expropriation, allegations of a lack of funds and acquisition of material.
According to KZN Department of Transport (DoT) spokesperson Mluleki Mntungwa, problems with a portion of the P700 which links the road with Empangeni, will delay completion of the entire project.
Mntungwa said this is due to the DoT finalising the process of a land expropriation issue.
While the R1.6-billion project was expected to meet its 2018/2019 financial year deadline, Mntungwa revealed that completion is now expected at the end of 2019.
Meanwhile KZN DA DoT spokesperson, Rafeek Shah, slated the project.
‘There are huge problems with the contract. There are issues relating to material acquisition, tribal authorities trying to ensure their stake in the process and a lack of funding. Government doesn’t have the money to complete the project,’ he said.
A source told the ZO that a farm in the area had not been paid out, thus delaying construction on at least a kilometre of the road.
Mntungwa refuted claims that government did not have the funds despite a number of sources who told the ZO that certain contractors are still awaiting payment.
The P700, on which construction began in 2003, will link the communities of Mpongose, Ximba, Biyela, Ulundi, Vryheid, Ntambanana and Empangeni.