REPUBLIC OF MAS PHATHISANE ISSUE 1 2018 Province 5th Administration Service Delivery Report Free Copy

The N2 between The the N2 between Peddie and bridge connecting East London and Grahamstown communities Port Elizabeth

page 3 page 4 page 8 No. of Total Project Local Municipality Project Description Type of Infrastructure Kilometers Budget Mhlontlo Construction of Nessie Knight Hospital, St Lucy's Hospital & Tikitiki Clinic Access Roads Healthcare 24,3 12 153 258

Nyandeni Regravelling of St Barnabas Hospital Access Road Healthcare 20,3 9 203 706

Ingquza Hill Regravelling and Upgrading of Flagstaff & Holy Cross Mental Health unit Access Roads Healthcare 44,5 19 379 622

Nyandeni Regravelling of Pilani Clinic & Canzibe Access Roads Healthcare 5,4 3 398 122 King Sabata Dalindyebo Regravelling of Tabase Clinic Access Road Healthcare 8,5 5 618 843 King Sabata Dalindyebo Regravelling of Khambi Clinic Access Road Healthcare 6,9 4 022 677 Mhlontlo Regravelling of Tabase Clinic Access Road Healthcare 3,9 2 517 798 Port St Johns Regravelling of Isilimela Access Road upgrade Scholar 8,6 9 628 809 Regravelling of DR08282 to Upper Centuli School and Majola School, Sixhotyeni and King Sabata Dalindyebo Scholar / Public Transport 9,9 6 091 338 Sandleni Link Road. Nyandeni Regravelling of Cwele Clinic Access Road replacement Healthcare 21,1 8 678 436 Ingquza Hill Regravelling of St Elizabeth's Hospital Access Roads to Facility Healthcare 19,1 10 702 246 Regravelling of Tombo EMS, Public Transport Projects (Tombo to Cwebene), Silaka Nature Healthcare / Scholar / Port St Johns 25,7 15 366 277 Reserve Tourism King Sabata Dalindyebo Regravelling of Construction of the Bumbane Clinic Access Roads Healthcare 20,6 7 459 491 King Sabata Dalindyebo Upgrade of Mthatha General Hospital Healthcare 1,0 7 533 296 King Sabata Dalindyebo Regravelling of Mthatha Campus Access Road Scholar 2,5 2 299 507 Nyandeni Regravelling of Mthatha Campus Access Road Scholar 2,4 1 011 958 Mhlontlo Construction of Access Road to Clinic Healthcare 16,0 6 486 482 Regravelling of Barkly East (Boyce Nondala), Ward 10: AC 20044 & Ward 10: AC 20045 Senqu Scholar 4,8 8 500 078 Access Roads Senqu Regravelling of Skhisazana Farm Access Road & Ward 11: AC 20026 Access Roads Scholar 11,4 8 938 956

Koukamma Upgrading of Roads to surfaced standard in Joubertina Scholar 7,4 10 012 578 Koukamma Upgrading of Roads to surfaced standard in Kareedouw Scholar 3,1 9 853 463 Ingquza Hill Public Transports in the Ingquza Hill Local Municipality Scholar 45,0 19 400 258

Matatiele Construction of Access Roads to various Public Transport Facilities in Matatiele LMA Scholar 12,4 8 265 141

Matatiele Construction of Access Roads to various Public Transport Facilities in Matatiele LMA Scholar 11,0 6 338 363

Mbizana Public Transports in the Mbizana Local Municipality Scholar 41,2 17 309 906 Regravelling of Public Transport Projects: Bonxo to KwaZulu – Zoko J.S.S & Manqoyini – Ntabankulu Scholar 5,9 4 430 807 Dumela J.S.S Access Roads Umzimvubu Construction of access Road from DR08017 to Ngqumane Location Scholar 9,0 5 242 699 Elundini Construction of the Thembelethu Senior Primary School Access Road Scholar 19,3 10 160 548 Elundini Regravelling of Sikadeni & Umnanga Access Roads Scholar 20,9 8 655 539 Nkonkobe Regravelling of Great Fish River Nature Reserve Access Road Tourism 34,5 7 686 246 Mbhashe Regravelling of Dwesa Nature Reserve Access Road Tourism 3,0 1 808 526 Ingquza Hill Regravelling of Mkhambathi Nature Reserve Access Road Tourism 17,5 11 443 338 Public Transport Projects and Regravelling of Guba Park Lot 108 & AC 40076 Emalahleni Scholar 9,6 7 537 220 (Magemfaneni Dophu) Public Transport Projects and Regravelling of Ezingqolweni Location & AC 40056 Emalahleni Scholar 20,9 12 720 568 (Mthonjeni) Emalahleni Public Transport Projects (Emalahleni scholar transport routes) Scholar 4,7 2 604 427

Elundini Regravelling of Access Roads in the Elundini LMA - Contract A (Southern Region) Scholar 22,3 11 529 685

Elundini Regravelling of Access Roads in the Elundini LMA - Contract B (Central Region) Scholar 25,22 9 695 000

Elundini Regravelling of Access Roads in the Elundini LMA - Contract C (Northern Region) Scholar 23,34 9 875 612

Emalahleni Public Transport Projects & Regravelling of AC 40077 (Mgqukhwebe) Scholar 5,0 7 087 288 Emalahleni Public Transport Projects & Regravelling AC 40092 (Tsembeyi) Scholar 8,2 8 626 685

Emalahleni Construction of Road DR02838 to Ida School and Road DR02841 to Police Station Scholar 2,08 7 300 768

Nkonkobe Regravelling of DR 02701 & DR 07721 (Debe-Merele) and DR07109 (Sheshegu) Scholar 23,4 7 294 788

Nkonkobe Regravelling of Road MR 00679 (Lashington) Scholar 23,5 6 154 196 Construction of Pedestrian Access from UFH to Victoria Hospital and Ghaga Street and Nkonkobe Healthcare 1,54 18 443 083 Upgrading of Ghaga Street Nkonkobe Upgrade Access to University of Fort Hare - 3 traffic circles Scholar 3 traffic circles 10 823 278 Nkonkobe Upgrading of Road DR02719 Kolomani Scholar 21,8 10 447 695 Sundays River Construction of Moses Mabida (Robert Road) Access Road Scholar 0,8 6 854 195 Sundays River Upgrading of Nomathamsanqa Main Road Scholar 2,1 13 632 902 Sundays River Construction of Kwazenzele Access Roads Scholar 0,7 5 354 760 Mbhashe Gravel Access Roads in the Mbhashe Municipality Phase 1 55,0 22 548 892 Mbhashe Gravel Access Roads in the Mbhashe Municipality Phase 2 52,1 25 655 869 Mbhashe Gravel Access Roads in the Mbhashe Municipality Phase 3 66,0 21 795 239 855,1 495 580 465

Koukamma Upgrading of roads to surfaced standard in Clarkson, Coldstream, Ekuphumleni Scholar 15,1 14 953 124 Sundays River Construction of Emsengeni Access Road Scholar 0,4 3 834 338 Port St Johns Regravelling of Public Transport Projects (Dumasi Bridge) Scholar Dumasi Bridge 13 115 956 16 31 903 418 hich provincial roads during the past five years w e spent for hich provincial roads during the past What

TOTAL 871 527 483 883 SANRAL AND PROVINCIAL GOVERMNENT WORK TOGETHER TO CONNECT CITIES, RURAL COMMUNITIES AND THE PORTS

The construction of the N2 between Peddie and Grahamstown.

The SA network roads is divided into national roads such as the N1, N2 and others rehabilitation works, and carrying out performance audits of resources allocation, budgeted for, rehabilitated and maintained by the South African National Roads and independent opinions on trunk-road conditions, including impact evaluations Agency Limited (SANRAL), a state-owned enterprise operating under the National on local livelihoods. Department of Transport. The declared roads for the rehabilitation by the national Department of The 2nd tier of roads are provincial roads managed by the roads function which Transport included: has relocated from the provincial Public Works department to Transport. Grant • N10 to Alexandria, Peddie to East London allocations received from the national sphere of goverment fund the rehabilitation • R58 in the district of Aliwal North, Lady Grey, Barkley East and Elliot and maintanance of provincial roads. • R63 in the district Bedford, Adelaide, King William’s Town and Komga The 3rd tier are municipal roads, mainly access roads which are erected, rehabilitated, maintained by the local municipalities. These include roads in our The advantage of transferring trunk and provincial roads to SANRAL was that rural towns that are not designated National or Provincial roads, mainly internal the agency assumed responsibility for the rehabilitation of those roles. streets in the towns. All these road networks ought to interlink for the smooth Indeed, once the roads such as from Mthatha to Mbizana, were movement of goods and services within communities and all other areas. successfully transferred to SANRAL, the province became a construction site over The Eastern Cape is a beautiful, rural province, whose road network was the last five years. designed in the 1970’s. The bulk of the provincial roads were dilapidated and At the same time the Department of Roads and Public Works also utilised its needed major rehabilitation to an estimated tune of R40-billion at the beginning of R1bn annual budget to rehabilitate, resurface, regravel and maintain provincial the 5th term of administration. roads. Recognising the dilemma that the province faced, the 5th term leaders continued Recognising the plight of the municipalities due to their rurality, limited budgets, on what had been started by the 4th term, requesting the transfer of the strategic as well as the fact that most residents are indigents with limited skills and provincial roads to SANRAL for speedy rehabilitation. capacities especially in the technical fields like engineering, Premier Phumulo Under the government gazettes, the trunk road network vital for connecting Masualle undertook to assist municipalities with some of the access roads in an cities, rural communities and the ports that serve the Eastern Cape Province were effort to improve the lot of our rural communities by bringing services to them. transferred to SANRAL. In his first year in office, the Premier appointed four Members of Executive Therefore, through the gazettes, the National Department of Transport has Councils - Sakhumzi Somyo, Fikile Xasa, Mlibo Qoboshiyane, Thandiswa Marawu, since the declaration been in a position of overseeing the management and to directly work with senior officials and municipalities to identify roads which: maintenance of the trunk roads in the Eastern Cape. • Provided access to Schools, health institutions, tourism entities and agricultural The transfer has seen several roads in different districts of the Eastern Cape facilities and work with the municipalities to rehabilitate and improve these roads. being rebuilt. • Provincial savings were availed to the tune of R456M to undertake that work. The funding of road maintenance also depended on resurfacing programmes of • By the end of 2017 more than R850 million had been spent from the provincial the road network, in strict compliance with environmental regulations. coffers attending to access roads and bridges by the end of the term of the 5th When the national department of Transport through SANRAL embarked on administration. ■ these projects, they provided technical assistance for, development of road safety (See expenditure on provincial roads network on page 2) initiatives, strengthening capacities, pre-investment road studies, supervising MASIPHATHISANE ISSUE 1 - ROADS NETWORK 3 PREMIER MASUALLE: A GOOD ROAD NETWORK FORMS THE FOUNDATION FOR MOBILITY, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, MOVEMENT OF GOODS AND SERVICES AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

The Mthatha bridge has improved the connection between the town, outlying areas and other Eastern Cape towns. The Eastern Cape national and provincial road network constitutes 13.5% of the Q: So, why are roads and transport important to the province? country’s road network and is one of the largest assets of the province, provides A: A proper road infrastructure is a prerequisite for any favourable trade to mobility between major economic centres, rural villages and communities, thus take place because it affects the cost of doing business, especially in a rural supports the economy of the province. emerging region like ours without direct access to other countries outside South Premier Phumulo Masualle shares his thoughts on why transport and a good Africa. Road projects create thousands of jobs at a critical time in the province’s road network forms the foundation for sustainable development. It provides economy and also act as a platform to drive growth and extend our province as a mobility for citizens dependent on this network for the movement of goods and business destination. services. The sustainability and growth of our economy means having in place a road Question (Q): What is your opinion about our public transportation infrastructure that meets the needs of our people and our economy whilst system? protecting the environment. Answer (A): The issue of inclusive public transport system is important for The economy here and indeed, across the whole Rainbow nation, cannot economic growth both because it reduces transaction costs, but also because it grow if the road infrastructure is not in place to support it. Improving transport helps to raise the savings rate of citizens. connections and building connectivity is vital and we need to get our infrastructure With good public transport, everyone may not have same the incentive to buy right. cars as before; they would rather invest more in human capital or businesses. The 5th administration which began in 2014 has demonstrated its commitment But, this is not just an aspect of economic growth, but also a key indicator of to deliver infrastructure projects that make a very real difference to people inclusiveness of our democracy. including improving the state of our rural roads. To that end, we prioritised areas The Eastern Cape provincial government recognises that a good road network where there has been a long standing imbalance. is an engine for economic growth as it facilitates efficient movement of goods and That is why roads, railways, ports and airports were upgraded and investment in services infrastructure has dramatically increased, despite the challenges posed by poverty. During the past five years of our administration, we worked hard to ensure Indeed, there has been an unprecedented roll-out of roads infrastructure that most villages and communities are accessible through road construction, projects in the Province. rehabilitation of deteriorated roads, periodic and routine maintenance of the road Here are just a few examples of critical projects: network. • The Sabalele road valued at R170 million linking the rural village to Q: Which sectors are benefiting from these large investments? Cofimvaba; A: We have increased investments in all sectors of infrastructure: roads, ports, • T125 – N2 to Siphetu Hospital Phase 2 valued at R250.02 million; aviation, and railways. For the past five years, we have been building the basic • Phase 1 and 2 of the R61 from Bizana to Port Edward at a total cost of network of roads in the province. R930 million improving access to a hospital, 6 clinics and 28 schools; Q: How much has the 5th Administration spent on road infrastructure • Tombo to Mpamba/Isilimela Hospital (Phase1 and 2) valued at R314 development and improvements since assuming office in 2014? million, including the construction of three bridges. This road services 1 hospital, 2 A: R473 million to regravel and/or fix 855km of our provinical roads clinics and 28 schools; Q: How many jobs has the improvements and developments of roads • Willowvale to Dwesa Nature Reserve Phase 1 estimated at R91 million; created since 2014? • Upgrading of Centane to Qholora; A: 1992 jobs • Zola to Thornhill upgrade, Phase 1 (12 km) on route to the Tsolwana Q: What do you expect to gain from all these improvements in roads Nature Reserve. infrastructure? Projects like the above are critical to building connectivity and unlocking A: It serves many purposes including industry growth, facilitates the economic potential. movement of people and goods, boosts tourism and brings development to the most remote parts of the country. This will be a huge step forward in solving the Q: How important has a partnership with South African National Roads problems of rural areas. Agency (SANRAL) been? 4 MASIPHATHISANE ISSUE 1 - ROADS NETWORK A: The partnership supports the National Development Plan and over 2000kms 1 and 2 upgrading of the R61 from Magusheni to Mzamba, which are near of former provincial roads have been gazetted as National Roads and delivered completion. road projects, vertical and horizontal alignment, new community access roads, Similarly, there are also a number of roads to be upgraded in the next financial pedestrian walkways, repairing of sections of road in distress, road resurfacing, year. construction of interchange bridges, and slope stabilisation as a catalyst to These include the road to the Hluleka Nature Reserve and the road to Canzibe improve the attractiveness of the region for foreign direct investment. Hospital. Furthermore, R3.1 billion has been allocated for the maintenance of Q: What are the examples of some of the projects which will precede your rural access roads. administration to even 2022? With the emerging world-class road network in the province, we anticipate that A: With the support of the SANRAL, there are a number of active projects this will not only give impetus to economic growth but give a much needed boost across the Province budgeted at close to R7 billion, while the project pipeline for to job creation, reduction of unemployment and poverty alleviation. 2018/19 to 2021/22 is budgeted at just above R5 billion. Q: Have trains also been part of the plan? Some of the planned projects include the N2 from Nqadu Forest to Mzeke River Yes. We are using the option of existing rail networks and also setting up, in , which will commence in November 2018 and is budgeted at R850 A: where possible, an alternative, parallel line to the existing train route to facilitate million; the N2 from Viegesville to Mthatha, which commences in January 2019 commuters to move between urban and rural centres with an estimated value of R500 million; the N2 Butterworth ring road, which will commence in June 2019 and estimated to cost R450 million; the N2 upgrade from Q: Does the government have any specific plans for increasing road Mount Frere to Ngcweleni River, which commences in March 2020 at an estimated safety awareness? cost of R500 million; and the N2 Mthatha Southern Bypass, which commences in A: Reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads is of course a priority. The January 2022 and estimated to cost R500 million. government uses a wide range of measures to improve road safety. Road safety Furthermore, construction of the N2 Wild Coast Road has begun in earnest. is an area of the department we keep under keen review and we will continue to Work on the multi-billion signature bridges of Mtentu and Msikaba has already do so. I would urge everyone to make road safety a priority -- by slowing down, started, with the Mtentu Bridge having started in January of this year, while work always paying attention, reading the road and anticipating the actions of other on the Msikaba Bridge is underway. road users, never driving under influence of alcohol or drugs, and always wearing your seatbelt, no matter how short the journey. ■ With respect to our work on improving provincial and access roads, we have a number of projects that are at various stages of completion, such as the phases

transport - aviation, trains, cars, maintenance, refurbishments and THOUGHT LEADER ROAD NETWORKS buses, taxis, ships, boats and others renovations. FACILITATE MOVEMENT - reduces the average travel time, This road network requires THE ROAD TO OF GOODS AND transport costs, and, consequently adequate maintenance to ensure SUCCESS IS SERVICES, STIMULATE increases accessibility of goods and that it does not deteriorate to the services. extent that it needs to be rebuilt. This ALWAYS UNDER GROWTH This in turn leads to a decrease in can only be accomplished through the marginal cost of producers and an effective and efficient management, CONSTRUCTION increase in the mobility of households administration and funding. and the demand for goods and Granted all of us do occasionally services. experience the trials, tribulations, Here is a practical example to back and challenges of getting around our the above argument. According to province cities, towns and villages that research by the Council for Scientific suffer from infrastructural deficiencies. and Industrial Research (CSIR), the However, we also savour the thrill upgrading of the N2 Wild Coast’s of travelling on national roads across 410km stretch will cut the travelling the wide-open spaces of our well- time between East London and paved interstate highways. Durban by up to three hours. The Indeed, sometimes it can be hard 112km section of new road would link to fathom that some of our rural Ndwalane outside Port St Johns and areas suffer from poor or inadequate Mzamba on the border with KwaZulu- transportation facilities. Natal. Of course, the provincial The road transport infrastructure government understands that helps to unlock the Eastern Cape’s there are large sectors of the rural economic potential and contribute community that are inadequately substantially to job-creating sectors served by transport infrastructure such as eco-tourism, agriculture and - a situation that must be urgently manufacturing. addressed if the planned levels of Very soon, two record-breaking mega- The CSIR found that poor social and economic development are bridges over Eastern Cape Province communities along the Pondoland to be achieved. rivers will contribute to South Africa’s coast will benefit from better access R61 to Port St Johns phase 2. Granted, we have seen how growing national and continental to towns, shorter travel times and inadequate transport infrastructure landscape and road network. lower travel costs. Researchers say inhibits economic growth, stunts There is a saying that the road to the project will create 6 800 direct The two bridges, one over the social development, and exacerbates success is always under construction. and approximately 28 000 indirect job th Msikaba River and the other over tensions over resources and the Of course for most of the 5 opportunities during the construction Mtentu River, just outside Xolobeni environment. provincial administration since 2014, south of along our beloved phase. However, there is no substitute for some road networks to and from our Wild Coast, will be among the biggest This is confirmation that regional, well-planned, strategic investments in cities, towns and villages looked like in Africa. One will become the highest provincial and national development transportation infrastructure. construction sites. bridge in the southern hemisphere, is influenced by many factors, one and the other possibly the longest The development of infrastructure Road re-gravelling, filling pot holes of which is the quality of our road and building new roads often results cable-stayed suspension bridge in transport infrastructure. High transport is critical for economic growth. Indeed, Africa, part of the N2 Wild Coast the maintenance of what we have got in crawling traffic, to the frustration of accessibility contributes to attracting many. project expected to be completed by investors, accelerating economic is also critical. 2021. turnover, creating jobs, and optimising Current and future investments However, good roads and bridges These bridges and our networks the siting of firms seeking to gain in our roads improve the value are a major asset in the global are a confirmation that people and better access to markets. proposition for inward investors, competition for economic growth. Maintaining these assets is an places around the world rely on Roads traversing our province attract new employers and improve transport facilities for connection mobility and connectivity for residents important responsibility, on which our such as N2, N6, N9, N10, R61, R56, jobs as civil servants depends. and interaction. Whether needed for R56, R400, R102, R75, R336, R346, along to spur economic growth. getting to work in a big city or going to R329, R391, R398 and others are It is essential that we do not rest That is why during the past five sell products in a rural village market, confirmation that better transport on our laurels and continue to seek years the provincial government spent road transportation infrastructure is a infrastructure leads to improved ongoing enhancement of our public R473 million to regravel 855 kilometres critical element of any society. capacity and better connectivity transport to ensure we are a truly of roads and created 1992 jobs. Roads and transport infrastructure between cities and nations, boosts international-standard province Our province has much road work shapes and reshapes landscapes, trade and creates growth and competing with the best. ■ to do, so the crews who for the past 5 it alters time-space relationships, prosperity. years have been building and repairing and it provides a foundation upon roads and bridges deserve motorists’ Roads are essential for increasing Phumulo Masualle is Premier of the which modern economies are built. respect and thanks. the connectivity of our economies and Eastern Cape Province. Transport infrastructure has never supporting international prosperity. It And when longer commutes put before been so conducive to positive is a key engine for growth. you in a sour mood, remember, where economic expansion. That is why during the past five there is construction, there’s a road to Improved road transport years our administration has spent a better economic life, prosperity and infrastructure for all modes of R473 million on road infrastructure success for us, our children and our children’s children. ■

MASIPHATHISANE ISSUE 1 - ROADS NETWORK 5 How communities benefit from developed road networks

CHRIS HANI BIRTHPLACE IMPROVED ROAD BRINGS JOY IN ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE BOOST TO TSOLWANA COMMUNITY The busy road in Ntabethemba area, It is estimated that the road carries near Queenstown, links four villages, close to three hundred vehicles per including Mitford, Rocktlands, Beccles day, mainly tourists who visit the game Farm and Tentergate; yet it has been in reserve. Therefore, it is of paramount bad condition for a long time. importance to have a gravel road that is However, through the roads in a good condition. maintenance programme, the road has The community was happy about been rehabilitated to improve the daily this improvement. “The road is better activities of the local communities in now with fewer accidents as it was full that area. of rocks before. We are now asking for Ntabethemba road does not only this road to be tarred so that the road serve as a link to these villages but also does not go back to what it used to be’’ plays a major role in the local economic said Mrs. Noworld Matwa, a villager at activities. It is also used as a vanguard Tentergate Village. to the Tsolwana Game Reserve This is a good start for Tsolwana which significantly contributes to the local municipality, even though the road creation of job opportunities for local is not yet tarred, but more improvement communities. is still to come. ■

REPLACEMENT OF OUTDATED BRIDGES CHEER UP BAWA COMMUNITY Bawa village’s outdated military bailey family members in the crash alongside bridges which were used during the the bridge said, “Sometimes in life you Second World War were replaced to enter a dark forest without knowing provide access for both vehicles and a way forward but through faith and pedestrians to the rural communities. trust you finally see the light at the The five bridges in end, thank you and Bawa village’s Mnquma “Sometimes in life you forward with a caring Local Municipality, enter a dark forest government”. were replaced through Mayor of Mnquma a partnership between without knowing a way Local Municipality, provincial department of Councillor Baba Roads and Public Works forward but through faith Ganjana said, “I’m and the Department of and trust you finally see deeply relieved about Defence. this service delivery the light at the end” initiative as this has Road construction between Centani to Qholora. While 11 people from the village died in the been one of my fatal incident of 1993, two survivors of sleepless night projects that I wanted They may have produced one of the late firebrand leader, who works for the crash said they were relieved the to fulfil for this community. Indeed the greatest sons of the soil, but the people one of the construction companies bridges were constructed. government of the people is committed for the betterment of the lives of its of Sabalele Village in Cofimvaba, the building the road. He is one of the 129 Nofayini Sobethwa (65) who lost two birthplace of revered struggle hero locals who have been employed in the people.” ■ Chris Hani, have every so often felt project, with 45 of them being women. excluded when it comes His cousin Cleopatra to service delivery and “That road has Hani – Hani’s daughter economic development. from a previous R120 MILLION TO UPGRADE OF The birthplace of Chris brought us dignity relationship, said that Hani, who was murdered as a village” construction of the new ROADS ACROSS KSD MUNICIPALITY in 1993, is no different from road has restored the most rural villages in the Cleopatra Hani community’s dignity. The Eastern Cape provincial government allocated R120 million to the King province, with poverty and “That road has brought Sabatha Dalindyebo Municipality to address traffic congestion problems that had lack of infrastructure being the primary us dignity as a village … now we are threatened economic development of the area for a number of years. concerns. able to see buses coming in to pick up The roads upgrade included the R61 bypass road, a complete ring road around Now this has changed with the those going to work. That is the most the CBD of Mthatha, a move that will address traffic congestion. construction of an 18km stretch of road beautiful development we have seen at This cash injection was an illustration of provincial government’s commitment to that links the village to Cofimvaba. Kwa-Sabelele. Small businesses and address service delivery challenges. It is fitting that one of the locals have benefited,” she said. ■ The project was monitored by a project steering committee, chaired by beneficiaries of the R169-million project provincial treasury. This committee meets on a monthly basis on site and verifies is Mawethu Hani, the nephew of the all claims before being paid by the provincial treasury. ■

Rural Access Roads Expenditure

2018/19 EXPENDITURE TOTAL/OVERALL 2018/19 TOTAL 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 TOTAL Main Budget EXPENDITURE BALANCE BALANCE PROJECT EXP. EXP. EXP. COST 2018/19 NAME MARCH 16 MARCH 17 MARCH 18 SEP 2018 SEP 2018 SEP 2018 SEP 2018 SEP 2018 SEP 2018 (000) (%) (000) (%) (000) (000)

Mbhashe Loc 70 000 14 991 38 000 17 009 70 000 100% - 0 Mun Rural Access 456 600 28 000 247 896 159 129 21 575 16 251 75% 451 276 99% 5 324 5 324 Roads

Total 5 324 5 324 526 600 42 991 285 896 176 138 21 575 16 251 75% 521 276 98%

6 MASIPHATHISANE ISSUE 1 - ROADS NETWORK

How communities benefit from developed road networks

IMPROVED ROAD BRINGS JOY CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD TO TO TSOLWANA COMMUNITY OR TAMBO BIRTH PLACE TO HELP ALLEVIATE POVERTY

Twelve Small Medium and Micro Chairperson of the Mbizana Enterprises (SMME’s) benefitted from Business Forum, Ayanda Notshweleka, the 13 kilometres upgrade of the gravel said the opportunity to participate in this road to the Ludeke Administrative Area project will help local business to grow. in Mbizana Local Municipality, including “Overall, the business industry is accessibility to Nkantolo Village, the happy and supports the development, home of the former struggle stalwart, more especially now, there’s a working Oliver Regional Tambo. agreement with the department in The construction created 136 terms of SMME beneficiation,” said jobs and helped “it created an Notshweleka. alleviate poverty. The Mbizana Local construction also included opportunity for Municipality Mayor, accommodation of traffic, the growth of the Counsellor Makhaya Twabu concrete kerbing and said this development channeling, gabions, tourism sector,” will not only improve guardrails, fencing, road access to Nkantolo and its signs and landscaping of Counsellor Twabu. surroundings, but it will also the concrete walkways. boost tourism for Mbizana As one of the important stakeholders and Alfred Nzo region. in the project, the Mbizana Business “This development will create Forum welcomed the opportunity employment beyond the construction presented to it by the department of of this road as it created an opportunity Roads, and has since participated for the growth of the tourism sector,” he enormously in the consultation and said. ■ planning of the project. The road from Willowvale to Dwesa. Rural Access Roads JOB CREATION

No. of employment. Municipality Name Project name No. of SMME's (July 2018) Mbashe Mbashe access roads 195 11 Various municipalities Rural Access Roads 1 797 103 1 992 114

NE W N2 TO TRAVERSE FOUR PROVINCES, MAKE TRAVELLING EASIER

Kokstad, will remain a national route under South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) but will be renamed the R102. The N2WCR will be shorter, flatter and quicker and a key long term economic investment by national government in the south-eastern corridor. It forms part of the National Strategic Infrastructure Programme and the National Development Plan. With two mega-bridge structures on the Msikaba and Mtentu Rivers, seven additional major river bridges and five interchange bridges in the Eastern Cape, the N2WCR stretches from East London to the Eastern Cape border to KwaZulu- Natal. Of the total length, some 112km would be on a new “greenfields” alignment between the Ndwalane, near Port St Johns and the Mtamvuna River near Port Edward. The total budget required for the N2WCR greenfields portion is approximately R8.5 – R9 billion. Set to create more than 6700 direct jobs, the positive economic impact will be felt by places such as Port St Johns, Lusikisiki and Mzamba, as well as towns such as Flagstaff, Bizana and Holy Cross. The remainder of the project comprises the upgrading of the existing roads, mainly the R61 and the future construction of ring roads in Mthatha, Idutwya and Butterworth. Once complete, the route will be approximately 85km shorter than the current The Mtentu bridge on the new N2 Wild Coast Road will make travel between N2 alignment from Mthatha to Port Shepstone and will be up to three hours faster, Durban and East London shorter. particularly for heavy freight vehicles. The Wild Coast has a lot of tourism potential and the project is expected to The N2 traverses four provinces, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal improve access, mobility and attractiveness for tourists. and Mpumalanga and will surely have major socio-economic benefits for these It will open up the provinces’ agricultural potential by improving access to provinces, including significantly faster delivery times and lower transportation markets through an improved road. costs in terms of freight and improve mobility and connectivity between provinces In terms of local economic development, the project will yield significant local and towns within and between the provinces. small, macro and medium enterprises SMME business opportunities, both directly The N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WCR) is an example of coordination between the and indirectly. national government and the provinces, will extend from East London via Mthatha, The mandate given to SANRAL is to ensure that locals benefit from both jobs Port St Johns and Lusikisiki to the Mtanvuna River near Port Edward. and business opportunities. During the construction phase, SANRAL has and will From the Mtanvuna River bridge through to Port Shepstone the current R61 will ensure that local SMMES have a significant involvement in the project through become the extension of the N2 South Coast Road currently running from Port skills development and job creation. ■ Shepstone to Durban. The current N2 route between Mthatha via Mount Ayliff and

MASIPHATHISANE ISSUE 1 - ROADS NETWORK 7 The roads Network in pictures

The completed R61 Port St Johns phase 2.

The road from Centane to Qholorha under construction.

Reno mattress on R61 Port St Johns. The road from Centane to Qholorha. Driving on the N2 between East London and Port Elizabeth is now a breeze. 8 MASIPHATHISANE ISSUE 1 - ROADS NETWORK