The Mayor of Cape Town
The Chairperson, Subcouncil 4
Subject: Formal Complaint Regarding Unnecessary Delays and Impractical Implementation of Road Reconstruction Works on Jan Van Riebeeck Road, Elsies River/Parow
We write to express our profound dissatisfaction and serious concern regarding the ongoing road reconstruction works on Jan Van Riebeeck Road, a crucial transport corridor linking traffic from Stellenbosch and the Airport to Goodwood, Parow, and the N1.
The execution of this project has been marked by unacceptable delays, poor planning, and a severe lack of consideration for the public, amounting to gross negligence on the part of the City of Cape Town and its appointed contractor, Amandla Construction.
Our specific grievances are as follows:
1. Excessive and Unjustifiable Timeframe: The contractor has taken over three months to work on less than half of a 500-meter stretch of road. This pace is wholly unreasonable for a project of this scale and importance.
2. Disruptive Work Scheduling: At approximately 90% completion, all work was suspended for a four-week break over the Christmas holidays. This decision, while perhaps accommodating to the contractor, demonstrates a blatant disregard for the prolonged inconvenience caused to thousands of commuters and residents.
3. Impractical and Unsafe Traffic Management: The decision to close Riley Road—a key access route to the very busy Beaconvale Industrial Area—has compounded traffic chaos. The resulting congestion has caused incalculable inconvenience to motorists and local businesses.
4. Compromised Public Safety: This stretch of road is notoriously known for smash-and-grab incidents. The protracted delays and resulting traffic bottlenecks have created ideal conditions for such criminal activity, thereby putting the lives and property of motorists at direct and unnecessary risk.
The combination of these factors points to a catastrophic failure in project planning, oversight, and contractor management. What should have been a minor, efficiently managed infrastructure upgrade has instead become a source of daily frustration and a genuine safety hazard.
We therefore demand immediate and decisive action, including:
· A clear and expedited timeline for the immediate completion of the remaining work.
· An explanation for the grossly inefficient project management to date.
· A review of the contract and performance of Amandla Construction on this project.
· Immediate measures to mitigate the safety risks for motorists stranded in congestion.
We expect your urgent intervention to resolve this matter and hold the responsible parties accountable. The residents and commuters of Cape Town deserve better.
We await your prompt response and action plan.
Imraahn Ismail-Mukaddam
Chief Executive Officer
Inspire Network NPO
084 781 7122
consumerdialogues@gmail.com
Cc: City Manager, City of Cape Town
Mayoral Committee Member: Urban Mobility.
