Fairland Gabions project resumes after weeks of unexplained stoppage

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13-11-2025
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Northcliff Melville Times
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Councillor Beverley Jacobs reports visible progress on-site but wants explanations for the earlier work stoppage.

The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has finally clarified the reasons behind the prolonged stoppage of the Fairland gabion stormwater project, which had been left dormant for weeks despite its importance in preventing erosion and flooding in the Fairland Estate.

The project, valued at R15m and undertaken by JMS Projects, was initially scheduled to run for five months and be completed before the peak rainy season. However, construction came to a standstill in late September, leaving residents anxious and demanding answers. This publication first reached out to JRA on October 16, and while the entity confirmed that the query had been escalated to the project manager, an official response was only issued 13 days later, on October 29.

JRA’s head of infrastructure development, Kwazelela Mcetywa, confirmed that the project involved soil erosion protection and remedial works on riverbank stabilisation along the Fairland Spruit.

The project scope includes:

• Removing and disposing of portions of the existing retaining wall structure deemed unfit and structurally unsound
• Installation of reno-mattress and sausage gabion as scour protection on the foundation
• Earthworks preparation and stabilisation of riverbanks
• Gabion mattress installation on bedrock, to be terminated by tie-in with existing structurally sound structures
• Removal of debris in the stream and trees growing in the channel and embankment
• Backfill and landscaping

According to Ward 98 councillor Beverley Jacobs, residents reported that all work had come to a complete halt on October 1. However, during a follow-up site visit on October 30, Jacobs noted that visible progress had since resumed on the construction of the gabions. She stated that from June to October, only four sections of the project were completed.

“This oversight showed that over a period of approximately four months, only a quarter of the project scope was completed. Yet, within two weeks, the contractor has managed to complete an additional quarter of the work,” Jacobs said. “This discrepancy raises questions around productivity, oversight, and performance during the initial project phase. While progress is welcomed and appreciated, I will request clarity on what led to the earlier delays and inconsistent output.”

When asked about JRA’s communication with the public, Jacobs expressed, “I remain concerned regarding the lack of clear public communication about the earlier work stoppage. I will continue to follow up and ask for accountability.”

“The recent two-week acceleration in work demonstrates that the contractor is capable of faster progress and should meet the deadline. I will continue conducting strong oversight and performance monitoring.

“This project has once again highlighted the need for stricter contractor vetting, performance-based evaluation, and consequence management.”
Mcetywa confirmed that the project commenced in June this year and is scheduled for completion by March 2026. However, the practical completion date remains set for the end of December 2025, subject to favourable weather conditions.

Jacobs made a follow-up enquiry to Citizen Relationship and Urban Management (CRUM) official Titus Motau on October 10, which revealed that the contractor had been experiencing cash flow and non-performance issues. Further correspondence from CRUM on October 13 indicated that the contractor was expected to return to the site by October 15.

Mcetywa confirmed on October 30 that the reasoning behind work coming to a halt in September was due to the contractor failing to pay workers on time. “Therefore, workers closed the site until they were paid. The contractor has been given a formal warning notice about the delay of the project.”

Despite the earlier setbacks, Jacobs remains cautiously optimistic that the project can still meet its completion target.