President Cyril Ramaphosa has visited the Msikaba Bridge construction site to assess progress on the multi-billion infrastructure project in the Eastern Cape. This is part of the N2 Wild Coast Road, a massive infrastructure undertaking aimed at boosting economic growth and development in the region.
The planned N2 project will connect the Eastern Cape to three other provinces.
The R1.65 billion bridge is expected to be completed in 2025.
The N2 Wild Coast road project will create at least 8 000 fulltime jobs. This is vital for a province struggling with the highest unemployment rate in the country.
President Cyril Ramaphosa believes the project will open up investment in rural areas, as investors will have confidence.
“With the coming into operation of the Africa continental free trade in January this year, I can certainly see this project playing a key role in the movement of goods and services to the continental market. Through this, we must raise our gains a little bit. We now need to look beyond just this area, we must look into the rest of the continent.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa says such projects have a community development component:
Jobs for locals
Sanral Project Manager, Craig McLachlan, says the upskilling of young people and women is key, as they draw labour from the surrounding areas.
“So far, the contract has been excellent in meeting the targets that we have set with employment and local labour and the employment of SMMEs. They are ahead of their targets.”
Tourism opportunities
Premier Oscar Mabuyane says the Mtentu and Msikaba projects will serve as tourist attractions for the province.
“The two bridges that are being built by Sanral here will also open tourism opportunities in our region. If we talk about eco-tourism in this area, we also talk about your marine tourism. These are areas that can be really helpful. Just a stone-throw away here, we have got your Magwa falls, we have got all lot of other tourist attractions that you can find in this part.”
The AmaMpondo aseQaukeni King, Zanozuko Sigcawu, supports the initiative.
“These projects that the ANC-led government is bringing in our communities. I want to see them to fruition. I won’t rest until they’re completed.”
There is also a focus on using local small businesses.
Local SMMEs have already been given a R120 million slice of the pie.
