GEORGE NEWS - Opposition councillors were disappointed to learn that a requested report from Smec, the consulting engineering firm that oversaw the multi-million rand Nelson Mandela Boulevard project in Thembalethu - widely considered a massive failure - would not serve in Council on Thursday 20 June.

Smec monitored the project awarded to Muravha Building and Civil CC, a company based in Mbombela (previously Nelspruit), who submitted the only bid that qualified for the strict Level 1 BBBEE tender criteria demanded by the George Municipality.

In April last year, Smec did submit an evaluation report to Council warning that Muravha did not have the necessary resources, knowledge and capability to complete the project by the 30 June 2018 deadline. Several reports on the progress and alignment changes to the project were also submitted to Council by Smec on various occasions. The contract with Muravha was eventually terminated in December 2018.

A request for a comprehensive report regarding Smec's role in the upgrading of the road was tabled as an urgent motion at a council meeting on 3 April. At the council meeting last week, the opposition showed their discontent when it became clear that such a report was not on the cards. The report submitted to Council by the Director of Civil Engineering Services, Regenald Wesso, merely described Smec's role in broad terms and is applicable to their role in all capital projects as consulting engineer.

ANC's Langa Langa expressed his concern over smaller local contractors.

Smaller contractors battle
Langa Langa of the ANC lodged a concern that smaller local contractors have been suffering since they have not been paid by Muravah. The question was raised whether Smec should be held accountable for these payments - one of the reasons why a detailed report was requested. In their recent report to Council, Smec answered that subcontractors not paid by Muravha Construction is a contractual matter between Muravha and the relevant subcontractors.

Legal help sought
Various issues with regard to the construction of the road have necessitated the municipality to recall the contract guarantee - an insurance taken out by the contractor as a security which can be made available should anything go wrong. However, the guarantor - Muravah's financial institution - has refused to honour the request for release of the contract guarantee, and legal action was sought.

In his report to Council contained in the 20 June agenda, Wesso states that a legal team and an independent engineering advisor have been appointed "to advise the municipality on the way forward in order to hold accountable those who are possibly responsible for the unsatisfactory results achieved with the project".

It reads: "In light of the above, requesting Smec at this time to provide Council with a report regarding their role, will hold no benefit for Council. The report of the independent engineering advisor and the legal team, will in any event be far more comprehensive than any report Smec could provide."

Council was informed that the report will be submitted in due course.

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