Middelburg, Eastern Cape, 6 June 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) introduced two slope stabilisation projects to stakeholders in the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape.
The projects were introduced at two stakeholder engagement events on 4 and 5 June 2024. The targeted sites – the Witkrans Nek on the N10 outside Middelburg and Cradock Cutting on the R390 – are known for their treacherous conditions, particularly during winter.
The initiative underscores SANRAL’s commitment to enhancing road safety and driving socio-economic growth in the region. The project, affecting areas under the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality and Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality, marks a significant investment in infrastructure development with an allocated budget of R330 million.
Anticipated to commence in July 2024, the project spans 24 months including three months mobilisation period and is poised to bring transformative benefits to the local community.
These areas have been identified as high-risk zones where road safety is paramount. By stabilising these slopes, SANRAL aims to mitigate the dangers posed to motorists and ensure safer travel routes.
Engineer Johan Swanepoel emphasised the specialised nature of this work and the meticulous quality-control measures in place to ensure the contractor delivers superior results. These engagement sessions served a dual purpose to introduce the project to municipal stakeholders and to establish Project Liaison Committees (PLCs).
The PLCs, which include representatives from small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), designated groups such as women, youth, people with disabilities, military veterans, and the affected community, will oversee the project’s progress and ensure transparent communication.
Mayor Noncedo Zonke lauded the inclusive approach, highlighting the importance of community involvement in infrastructure projects. “The establishment of PLCs ensures that our community has a voice in the project’s execution. The appointment of labourers also must be equally distributed among the wards from the list,” said Mayor Zonke.
“We thank the government for bringing jobs to the people because unemployment is high that’s why the hall is full. We must however, ensure that it’s the locals who benefit and not people from outside of this municipality,” said a resident in Cradock.
SANRAL’s project is not just about enhancing road safety; it is a catalyst for socio-economic development in the Inxuba Yethemba Municipality. A significant portion of the project’s budget is dedicated to empowering local labour and enterprises. Specifically, a minimum of 6% is allocated for targeted labour, prioritising people with disabilities, women, youth and military veterans.
“We are trying to accommodate even people who are older than 35-50 years old so that no one feels excluded, we are not only looking to employ youth from 18 to 35 years,” said Project Manager, Thabo Jaxa
Targeted enterprises will be responsible for various critical aspects of the project, including transportation of labour, traffic control facilities, construction of subsoil drains, installation of prefabricated culverts, landscaping, fencing, and site security services.
