Joburg accused of 'misleading' residents as full reopening of Lillian Ngoyi Street delayed

'BALLOONING COSTS'

- SIYABONGA SITHOLE [e-mail]

CITY of Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero said that more than two years after an explosion caused significant damage to Lillian Ngoyi street, the city is on course to launch phase one of the rehabilitation programme by September 12.

This comes amid consistent delays to the completion of the project.

"The project's budget status is clear. The contractor's appointment value stands at R192 million, with R82m already disbursed to cover Work Package 1. This leaves a remaining balance of R110m earmarked for Work Package 2," Morero said.

Reacting to the ballooning costs, Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said the DA in Johannesburg is outraged, accusing Morero of 'willfully misleading Joburg residents over the spiralling costs and shifting deadlines of the Lilian Ngoyi Road upgrade.