EC MEC for Transport leads Political Oversight Committee to assess multi-billion-rand N2 Wild Coast Road project
N2WC POC Meeting and site visit

Bizana – The Eastern Cape MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Xolile Nqatha, and the N2 Wild Coast Road Political Oversight Committee have concluded a two-day oversight visit to the R20+ billion N2 Wild Coast Road project.

MEC Nqatha led a delegation including the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Siphokazi Lusithi; Executive Mayor of the Alfred Nzo District Municipality, Vukile Mhlelembana; Mayor of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality, Daniswa Mafumbatha; Mayor of Ingquza Hill Local Municipality, Nonkosi Pepping; Speaker of Ingquza Hill Local Municipality, Sibongile Vatsha; Mayor of Port St Johns, Xolile Moni, the SANRAL Board and management, and government officials.

The POC’s oversight visit followed its last programme in March in which the committee engaged with traditional leadership and stakeholders.

“Our visit forms part of the work of the Political Oversight Committee to monitor how the work is progressing and we are happy with the report received from SANRAL and the progress we have seen on site, particularly with the previous stop-and-start on the Mtentu contract,” said Nqatha.

He said he was happy with the appointment of the new contractor because community projects, job creation, small contractor development and more work was in the pipeline.

EC MEC for Transport leads Political Oversight Committee to assess multi-billion-rand N2 Wild Coast Road project
N2WC POC Engagement With Stakeholders

“Grade 1 contractors will grow to higher grades by the end of this contract. That is development in the true sense. We greatly appreciate the leadership role played by SANRAL for putting us where we are now, and we say big up to the leadership of SANRAL, the Board and the Regional Manager,” said Nqatha.

The delegation visited the R4.05 billion Mtentu Bridge construction site to assess progress following the re-awarding of the contract in late 2022. There, they engaged with local stakeholders affected by the N2 Wild Coast Road project.

SANRAL Board Chairperson, Themba Mhambi, said, “We’re responsible to the government, to the local government where we work, and to communities whose taxes the government has given us. As the Board of SANRAL and management, our duty is to report on the plans and to get input from those we work with.”

He added, “We are here to listen; our duty is to respond positively where we can and indicate where we face challenges. Whatever we can do, we will do; we build the bridges because it is our job in terms of the law. We must provide business opportunities, training and skills development and subcontracting wherever we are.”

The POC received an in-depth progress report on the various contracts that fall within the N2WCR project, as well as a report on the socio-economic impact already realised through job creation, training and skills development, and opportunities for targeted enterprises – including service providers, suppliers and emerging contractors.

According to the report, R665.6 million has been spent on the Msikaba Bridge contract, with participation by 48 service providers and 61 subcontractors.

In terms of the Mtentu Bridge project, R250 million has been spent to date with 248 local labourers employed. Construction of the road connecting the bridges is progressing well since its commencement in April 2023 and has created 445 job opportunities and subcontracted 41 targeted enterprises thus far.

“In August we were able to finally announce the imminent construction of the N2WCR Section 20 between the Lingeni Intersection (km 15.40) and the Msikaba Bridge (km 33.02) valued at R2.2 billion, which will begin in early 2025,” said  Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL’s Regional Manager for the Southern Region.

“This contract was delayed by litigation after we awarded it in 2023,” he said, adding that it was anticipated to produce over 400 job opportunities.

 “We are also investing in our local communities through other skills development and training interventions such as our junior chefs training programme that we are piloting in the Wild Coast, as well as our asset-based community development projects intended to capacitate locals in vegetable gardening, arts and crafts, and tourism. This is to ensure that the local communities are equipped with skills sets that will earn them a livelihood beyond SANRAL projects,” said Peterson.

The traditional leaders and stakeholders in attendance acknowledged local beneficiation already being realised on the N2WCR project and urged SANRAL to expedite the rest of the construction packages to ensure participation by more beneficiaries.

Nqatha said the lives of the communities were changing for the better.

“Good road infrastructure is key to facilitate development and access to services. That is what this project is doing, making lives better and easier than before. We greatly appreciate this development; the work is still ongoing and there is going to be more community projects and job creation,” he added.

He stressed the importance of regular stakeholder engagements to eliminate potential misunderstanding between role players and to close any vacuums at technical and political level.

Providing her review at the end of the programme, MEC Lusithi said; “The stakeholder engagement was the highlight for me in this process. We saw different role players including traditional leaders, local leadership, councillors from the local sphere of government, and community members coming in and providing input on a development that is happening in their area with their different views and sometimes different opinions. But with all this taking place under one roof and in that spirit, we are able to unitedly bring development in this part of our province.”

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