Department officials discuss strategies to prioritise key projects, including Grey’s Hospital, during a recent meeting.
Image: KZN Department of Public Works and Infrastructure
The northern region of KwaZulu-Natal, which includes the King Cetshwayo, Zululand, and uMkhanyakude districts, has emerged as the best-performing area in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works and Infrastructure’s drive to resolve stalled projects.
This turnaround was revealed on Friday when MEC Martin Meyer met with department professionals for an update on all projects, highlighting that the region has reduced its number of delayed projects from 63 to fewer than 16.
The meeting also allowed Meyer to be updated on a broader view of the department’s project delivery trajectory, including challenges, targets, and solutions.
The number of delayed projects continues to decline, with the northern region, once one of the department’s most problematic regions, being among the best performing, after reducing delayed projects from 63 to fewer than 16.
Meyer explained that the northern region, which includes King Cetshwayo, Zululand and uMkhanyakude districts, was problematic because a vast majority of stalled projects.
“A new regional director has been appointed, Mr Mahaye, who has done an excellent job in turning that region around, resolving many of the issues. It got very strong attention also from us here in the head office, and myself and the HOD. And the team is really keen, and with those interventions and the new leadership, we’ve really seen great progress in that region,” Meyer said.
Regarding the reduction in stalled projects, Meyer said it is the result of intervention, noting that some things take time to resolve. For instance, if a contractor has left the site, it takes time to either get the contractor back and reinstated, or it has to go back out to tender.
Meyer added that the remaining projects have their own challenges, but they are close to being resolved.
Officials, including regional and project directors, gave feedback on problematic projects such as Woodlands Primary School, in the Midlands region, which is at an advanced stage with as many as 37 bids received.
“The committee is now looking through it and doing all the necessary work. The plan is for us to, by May, to have a contractor back on site and have that school completed as soon as possible,” Meyer said.
Grey’s Hospital: A key project receiving priority attention from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.
Image: Facebook/ KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health
Additionally, it was agreed that the Grey’s Hospital project would be among those receiving the highest priority. Therefore, to ensure this is achieved, it was agreed that the Infrastructure Management and Technical Support directorate, led by chief director Nokwanda Gcaba, will focus more on project planning to ensure the project brief is followed until completion.
Meyer said their rapid response team meets weekly, but he has asked the head of department, Dr Vish Govender, to take a personal weekly report interest, and that he receives weekly reports on the hospital.
“There are a number of projects, key projects, that we need to get resolved, and Grey’s Hospital is one of those that I asked to be prioritised and that I will get regular reports,” Meyer explained.
He said several projects had been stalled due to non-payment by client departments
"We have resolved that, which is why many of these projects are now starting again. The other issue is that contractors are unable to finish the job, not doing a good quality job, and other minor issues that had to be dealt with,” Meyer said.