Minister’s ‘secret’ Wild Coast visit
The Amadiba Crisis Committee, which is opposed to the project claimed in a statement that it was kept in the dark about the minister's visit to Sigidi Village in Mbizana.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has said that the N2 Wild Coast Road project is well underway and will continue to create thousands of new jobs and economic opportunities in line with the new Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan.
The minister was speaking during a visit to the Eastern Cape last weekend.
“Genuine concerns raised by local communities will be addressed by the national Department of Transport and the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (Sanral) but government will not allow people with hidden agendas to stop development,” said Minister Mbalula.
The Amadiba Crisis Committee, which is opposed to the project claimed in a statement that it was kept in the dark about the minister’s visit to Sigidi Village in Mbizana.
According to spokesman, Nonhle Mbuthuma some 300 villagers had assembled when Minister Mbalula’s convoy of cars arrived at Sigidi School.
“The minister, officials and the police stepped out and had a caucus when they saw the community, then the minister left without speaking to anyone,” said Ms Mbuthuma.
The visit to Sanral’s multi-billion rand project was to assess progress in the implementation of one of government’s key Strategic Integrated Projects (SIP-3) which would serve as a critical catalyst for economic growth at national, provincial and regional level.
The project connects the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga and the towns of Cape Town, George, Knysna, Port Elizabeth, East London, Mthatha, Durban and Ermelo.
“I started my visit at the Msikaba Mega Bridge construction site, and I was incredibly impressed with the progress being made, the magnitude of the project and the economic development opportunities created for emerging black business and SMMEs on this project,” the minister said.
The project is currently in an early construction phase and once completed, the 580m long Msikaba Bridge will be the longest cable-stay bridge in Africa. With a deck height of 194m above the river valley, Msikaba will become the third-highest bridge in Africa and the 133rd highest in the world.
According to Sanral, environmental compliance is a core component of all its operations and the cable-stay design will ensure that the construction of the bridge will have no direct impact on the pristine gorge environment almost 200m below.
“This project is a huge opportunity for us to find employment and training opportunities. We will gain valuable skills in building and construction through this project, enabling us to sustain ourselves even when it comes to an end,” said local resident Mveli Phakathi.
“Those of us who want to build small businesses will benefit greatly, because this project will enable us to provide income for our families.”
The minister also officially opened and handed over two recently completed rural access roads in the communities of Sigidi and Makhwantini in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality of the Eastern Cape.
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