In a bid to reassure frustrated residents, City of Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero, alongside MMC for Transport Kenny Kunene, addressed the ongoing restoration efforts of Lillian Ngoyi Street, which has been plagued by delays since a devastating gas explosion nearly two years ago.
Speaking during a site visit on Monday, Morero announced a significant financial commitment towards the Johannesburg International Transport Interchange (JITI) programme. “We will be passing the budget of the city which will then include the balance of R100 million into the project. So, in essence, the total is R194 million. What we have put out now is R94 million,” Morero detailed. Notably, R26 million of this budget has been specifically allocated to support SMME participation, ensuring that small businesses are fully integrated into the project.
Despite the litany of challenges faced—from contractor appointments to bureaucratic slowdowns—Morero expressed confidence that the project would be completed before the end of August this year. This assurance comes even as the Johannesburg Roads Agency has threatened to cancel tenders over persistent delays in the street’s repairs.
“We are committed to ensuring that by August, we deliver it, and we want to reaffirm to the people of Johannesburg that come August 2025, the road will be functional, and all our motorists will enjoy the road,” Morero stated. “Over and above, it is also to ensure that we unlock the economy in this particular street and in our city.”
Last August, the City terminated its contract with Step Up Engineering, the service provider initially tasked with repairing the street. The company’s inability to resolve outstanding issues in a timely manner led to its dismissal, further setting back progress. Currently, only about 15% of the first work stream—which focuses on the site of the explosion—has been completed. This segment is expected to be delivered by August 2025, while the second work stream will focus on expanding the road.
Morero assured residents that the newly appointed contractor, who began work in November, has been given strict directives to minimize further delays and avoid unnecessary cost escalations. “We have ensured that the contractor delivers within budget so that we do not escalate costs. We have ensured that the contractor is on site and sticks to timelines. He started work in November and is catching up with the work,” Morero emphasized.
As the city navigates the complexities of this critical infrastructure project, residents remain cautiously optimistic that the long-awaited restoration of Lillian Ngoyi Street will finally come to fruition, reviving not just the road but also the economic vibrancy of the area.
