Work on new EMPD precinct to finally recommence
Late last year the metro said it was still looking for a contractor to resume work on the development – which incorporates the Community Liaison, Public Order Policing (POP), K9 and SWAT/Intervention units.
Construction work on the delayed project to build the new EMPD precinct in Boksburg is set to recommence soon, according to the metro.
This comes after the R34-million project remained stalled for more than a year after the previous contractor left the site after reportedly completing the earthworks and site establishment.
According to EMPD’s acting chief superintendent, Kobeli Mokheseng, a new contractor has now been appointed and this year will see the start of the major construction work on the EMPD Specialised Services section project.
“The project is a multi-phase (multi-year project), that will eventually consists of three buildings. A contractor was recently appointed and will commence with the construction phase of building one (K9),” said Mokheseng.
Mokheseng pointed out that a consultant has recently established the condition of the exposed earthworks and gave the go-ahead to construct the three buildings as planned. Which means there is no need to redo phase one of the project.
“The first building is scheduled for completion by end of June next year. The second building (SWAT Unit) will then commence in the next financial year, 2021/2022. If the budget and funding allows, it will also be constructed over a two-year period, and projected completion is June 30, 2023.
“The third building (POP Unit) will then commence in the following financial year, 2023/2024 and if the budget and funding allow, it will also be constructed over a two-year period, planned completion is June 30, 2025,” explained Mokheseng.
Dependent on availability of the necessary budget, work on the SWAT and POP structures have been planned for in the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 financial year respectively.
- Stalled project
The announcement comes after construction of the development was stalled more than a year ago, and at the time, the Advertiser was told the project halted apparently due to certain issues between the contractor and the metro.
The metro, however, refuted such claims and told this publication that the contractor did not abandon the site, but delivered all that was required of it as per the terms of the contract entered into – which was to perform the total earthworks and site establishment.
Work on the project originally began in May 2018, but the project has been delayed for more than a year after the previous contractor “completed” the earthworks and site establishment. This resulted in angry and frustrated community leaders questioning the municipality’s execution of the project.
- Ward councillor raises concern over delays
Ward 32 Clr Marius de Vos labelled the way with which the project was being carried out as “fruitless and wasteful expenditure”. Below are his main concerns:
• The project has been delayed for such a prolonged period, and the delays in executing the construction work is most likely to result in a high-cost overrun.
• The metro allowed the infrastructure, which cost taxpayers more than R6-m, to deteriorate.
• The site and building materials were left at the mercy of vandals, and the area has eventually turned into a jungle.
Below is a breakdown of how much the project was originally expected to cost taxpayers.
• Phase one: R6-m on earthworks and site establishment
• Phase two: R8-m on K9 Unit building
• Phase three: R10-m on SWAT Unit building
• Phase four: R10-m on POPS Unit building
