Eastern Cape, 17 October 2021 – As part of its ongoing mandate to finance, improve, manage and maintain the national road network, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) is investing more than R1.2 billion in the rehabilitation of the national road network in the Umzimvubu Local Municipality.
Speaking at the roads agency’s Taking SANRAL to the People stakeholder engagement session held in Mount Frere on Thursday, 14 October 2021, Welekazi Ndika, SANRAL’s Stakeholder Coordinator for the Southern Region said: “The rehabilitation of the N2 from Mount Frere to Ngcweleni River is expected to be implemented before the end of the year. This major project is estimated to be completed within the next 45 months and will entail widening the existing road cross section and construction of three new bridges as well as three new major culverts. Local small, medium and micro enterprises, as well as local community members, will be employed in the project.”
Other projects in the Umzimvubu Local Municipality, some at design phase and some to yet be tendered, include:
- The Routine Road Maintenance (RRM) project of the N2 Section 18 (km 28.91) to Section 20 (km 17.70) and R61 Section 6 (km 92.78) to Section 7 (km 51.49). It is anticipated that the sub-contractor will be appointed in November this year. The estimated budget for the subcontractor packages for the temporary route is R4 628 619.12 for the period of six months until the new contractor is appointed for the route.
- Phase two of the community development project of the N2 Section 20 from Mount Frere (km 0.00) to Ntabankulu Junction (km 34.3). The scope of work will include the surfacing of the existing 8km gravel road, and improvement of road surface drainage. The estimated construction value is R54 million; and
- Phase two of the community development project of the N2 Section 19 between Mzeke River (km 55.0) to Mount Frere (km 92.2). The project is in the design phase and the contractor is expected to be appointed by the middle of 2022.
SANRAL uses the Taking SANRAL to the People programmes to strengthen its relationship and share information about its continuing role in infrastructure development, job creation and skills development, as well as to engage in dialogue on issues of mutual interest with stakeholders.
Sobane Mnukwa, Umzimvubu Local Municipality Mayor, said the municipality appreciates the developmental role that SANRAL plays in the area.
“We appreciate the consultative role that SANRAL plays on its projects, allowing all of us to be on par and fully aware of developmental programmes in the region. This consultation initiative helps us greatly in ensuring that there is transparency on these projects, and that our local communities develop from them,” he said.
SANRAL manages a total road network of 4 952 kilometres in the Eastern Cape, which constitutes 22% of SANRAL’s 22 190 kilometre national road network. Since 2009, the roads agency has injected over R33.3 billion into Eastern Cape’s roads. SANRAL also has more than 200 projects lined up in different parts of the province from now until 2024. These projects are in the planning, design and construction stages.
