In a move to significantly enhance local infrastructure, Mayor Cllr. Sonwabile Mngenela, accompanied by a team of executive members, councillors, and officials, visited the communities of Outspan in Ward 27 and Mahasheng in Ward 14 to officially hand over the construction of critical road infrastructure projects.
The municipality has commissioned Amacwele Building and Civil Contractors to undertake a major project in Ward 27. This project involves constructing a 12.4 km access road and bridge that will connect the communities of Lekhalong, Magema, and Outspan. The scope of the project includes:
- Construction of a 6.63 km gravel road.
- Regravelling of an additional 5.77 km.
- Earthworks involving cut to fill, cut to spoil, and borrow to fill.
- Preparation of the roadbed, including ripping, scarifying, and recompaction to a depth of 150mm.
- Installation of concrete pipes.
- Clearing of vegetation and removal of topsoil to a depth of 150mm where necessary.
- Construction of headwalls with associated foundations.
In Ward 14, a different service provider has been appointed to construct a bridge and access road in Mahasheng. This project includes the construction of a 4.1 km road over the next eight months, with detailed work involving:
- Site establishment.
- Roadbed formation.
- Tipping of gravel wearing course (GWC) from a local borrow pit.
- Stormwater management.
- Building a 2.4 m rectangular culvert bridge.
- Re-aligning the road in steep areas.
- GWC processing, skimming, and cleaning.
- Installation of gabions and grouted stone pitching.
- Installation of permanent road signage and re-establishment.
Mayor Mngenela emphasized that these infrastructure projects directly address the concerns of the local communities, reflecting the municipality’s commitment to improving accessibility and transportation. The upgrades are expected to enhance mobility within the area and provide a significant boost to the local economy by improving the road network.
These projects are part of a broader effort by the Matatiele Local Municipality to improve living conditions and foster economic development in rural areas, ensuring that even the most remote communities have access to essential infrastructure.
