KAROO NEWS - The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) announced the introduction of two slope stabilisation projects to stakeholders in the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality, Eastern Cape.
These projects were introduced at stakeholder engagement events held on 4 and 5 June 2024.
The focus areas, Witkrans Nek on the N10 outside Middelburg and Cradock Cutting on the R390, which according to SANRAL are notorious for their hazardous conditions, especially in winter.
SANRAL stated that this initiative demonstrates their commitment to improving road safety and fostering socio-economic growth in the region. The project, impacting the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality and Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality, represents a significant infrastructure investment with a budget of R330 million.
The project is expected to commence in July and will span over 24 months, including a three-month mobilisation period. SANRAL emphasized that these efforts are intended to mitigate risks and ensure safer travel routes by stabilising these high-risk zones.
Engineer Johan Swanepoel highlighted the specialised nature of the work and the rigorous quality-control measures in place to ensure superior results from the contractor. SANRAL noted that the engagement sessions not only introduced the project to municipal stakeholders but also established Project Liaison Committees (PLCs).
These PLCs will include representatives from small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs), as well as designated groups such as women, youth, people with disabilities, military veterans, and the affected community, ensuring transparent communication and oversight of the project's progress.
A resident in Cradock remarked, "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."
SANRAL asserted that the project aims to be a catalyst for socio-economic development in the Inxuba Yethemba Municipality, with a significant portion of the budget dedicated to empowering local labour and enterprises. They specified that a minimum of 6% of the budget is allocated for targeted labour, prioritising people with disabilities, women, youth, and military veterans.
Project manager Thabo Jaxa added, "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."
SANRAL mentioned that targeted enterprises will handle 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.
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