By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
City of Joburg Mayor, Dada Morero has reassured residents of a smooth restoration of the Lillian Ngoyi Street following a gas explosion almost two years ago.
Addressing the media on Monday morning, Morero said 15% of the work has been completed by the new contractor, Korone Engineering.
Korone Engineering was appointed after the previous contractor, Step Up Engineers, was removed following a legal dispute with Johannesburg Road Agency.
The street caved in after an underground methane gas explosion, leaving one person dead and 41 injured in July 2023.
Morero reaffirmed the city’s commitment to the completion timeline, emphasising that restoring the explosion site remains the top priority.
“By August 2025, motorists will be able to use the road safely. We remain committed to ensuring this project is a success,” he said.
Morero said the second phase of the project is set for completion in August 2026.
The second phase involves the rehabilitation of the 1.8 kilometres between Ntemi Piliso and End Streets.
“The second phase that will be completed in August 2026 is more about the complete street project, to beautify the street and to extend the paving, but for now, we are focusing on the explosion.”
Morero added that from the allocated budget of R94 million for the 2024/25 financial year, R26 million was set aside for 28 small, medium, and micro enterprises partnering with the city on the project.
“The economic impact of this project will create not less than 80 work opportunities partnering with 28 SMMEs as part of localisation and beneficiation, which in turn provide valuable training opportunities for growth.
“This project is more than rebuilding a street. It’s about rebuilding our inner-city community.”
Zwelithini Nyathi, CEO of the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), said getting funding was a problem.
“As you know, that was a disaster area, and we didn’t get any disaster funding. The city had to cough up and make sure that they prioritised the citizens from other locations,” said Nyathi.
With construction well under way, Nyathi urged the public to refrain from walking through the site between 7am and 5pm due to safety hazards.