The R300 million under-construction Soshanguve Magistrate’s Court is set to be completed in six months after the project failed to meet its initial deadline in December 2022.
Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, who conducted an oversight visit at the project on Tuesday, attributed the delays to lockdown imposed by the government during the Covid-19 period.
The project, he said, was also beset by other problems caused by construction professionals who withdrew their labour due to contractual disputes with the main contractor.
However, he said, most of the work abandoned by the professionals ended up being done by the department.
“And that is what we want to see in terms of professional services; whether you talk of surveyors or any other professional. We want to build the capacity within the department of public works,” he said.
Other reasons for delays were the late submission of drawings, specifications and project information by the professional team.
Zikalala said the visit to Soshanguve Magistrate’s Court is part of the ongoing programme launched by the department last year known as operation Siyahlola, which focused on inspecting progress on all the departmental projects.
“We are much focused on those that are late to ensure that we intervene and fast-track the implementation of those projects while we take new projects and ensure that they are rolled out, it is important that there is no project that is left behind,” he said.
He expressed satisfaction with the project despite the fact that it was riddled with delays of 18 months.
Zikalala said: “We are now giving ourselves six months to complete this project. We will be monitoring on a monthly basis in terms of the report and in terms of the portfolio manager who will be monitoring work that is being done.”
He promised to revisit the site in February 2025 for a final inspection before the official handover in March.
Of concern about the project was a lack of integration of a community leader to “become the eye of the government and be able to report in case there are issues”.
“Secondly, we need to ensure that there is transparency on the opportunities that are created both for building opportunities for locals and in terms of job-creation,”he said.
The building consists eight courtrooms, which include the regional, equality and family courts, stores, en suite water closets and kitchenettes, staff rooms, public waiting areas, 17 holding cells and 250 administration offices.
Pretoria News