Missed deadlines — Lilian Ngoyi Street rebuild

R185m

paid to two contractors with project still incomplete

72%

physical progress reported in August 2026 — up just 2pp in five months

19 July 2023

Underground explosion devastates 450m of street

An underground explosion severely damages approximately 450m of Lilian Ngoyi Street and its underground infrastructure. The City subsequently expands the project into a broader 1.8km corridor rehabilitation covering underground services, roads, sidewalks, lighting, traffic signals and street furniture.

Early 2024

Construction begins under R179m contract

The JRA envisages two work packages to be completed over approximately 24 months. Step Up Engineering is appointed as the original contractor for R179 million.

14 August 2024

First contractor terminated after performance failures

JRA terminates Step Up Engineering's contract following performance problems. R19 million had been paid for work completed before termination. Korone Engineering is appointed to complete both phases under a R192-million contract. New targets are set: Phase 1 by 30 June 2025, Phase 2 by 30 June 2026.

February 2025

Deadlines shift for the first time under new contractor

Phase 1 completion moves from June 2025 to August 2025. Phase 2 is rescheduled from June 2026 to August 2026.

July 2025

Mayor publicly commits to August Phase 1 reopening

Mayor Dada Morero says Phase 1 repairs will be completed by the end of August and that he will return on 1 September to reopen the road.

31 August 2025

JRA declares Phase 1 deadline met

JRA maintains the Phase 1 construction deadline was met. JRA HOD for Infrastructure Development Khayalethu Gqibitole later states: "The 31 August 2025 completion date was not missed."

1 September 2025

Official opening ceremony — but road stays closed

Mayor Morero attends an official opening ceremony, but the reconstructed section is not yet open to motorists.

12 September 2025

Phase 1 finally opens to traffic

The approximately 450m explosion-damaged section opens to traffic after completion of snags — 11 days after the ceremony. Work on the broader Phase 2 rehabilitation continues.

25 March 2026

Phase 2 reported at 70% — but an 18% delay acknowledged

At a stakeholder meeting, JRA project manager Jeff Maluleke reports Phase 2 is 70% complete. The City says the project remains on track for August 2026 but simultaneously acknowledges an 18% delay attributed to heavy rainfall and difficulties removing existing services. A contractor catch-up plan is implemented.

August 2026

August deadline abandoned with overall progress at just 72%

JRA reports overall physical progress at 72% — an apparent increase of just two percentage points since March. Days before the August deadline, Gqibitole tells Daily Maverick it is "incorrect to suggest that there are delays". JRA subsequently acknowledges "recent operational cash flow constraints" affected full-scale construction and moves the earliest anticipated completion date to 31 October 2026.

August / September 2026

R185m paid out across two contractors

JRA confirms R166 million has been paid to Korone Engineering, in addition to the R19 million paid to Step Up Engineering — total construction payments of R185 million. The total allocated project budget is R230 million, while physical progress stands at 72%.

31 October 2026

New completion target — conditional on timely contractor payment

JRA's earliest anticipated date for completion of Phase 2. CEO Zweli Nyathi says major works are expected to be completed ahead of the October rains, followed by bus stops, street furniture and landscaping. JRA warns the target is dependent on service providers being paid on time.