QUMRHA – On Wednesday, 28 June 2023 South African National Road Agency(SANRAL) met with stakeholders and the community of Great Kei Local Municipality to introduce its two imment major road infrastructure development projects for the area, which have a combined budget estimate exceeding a billion rand (R1165 bn).
“From the second half of 2023, the national Route R63 between km 21.7 and the N2 past Qumrha (km 43.64), including the N2 Section 16 between Mooiplaas (km 49.64) and Qumrha intersection (km 70.2) will be upgraded.”
The R63 road upgrade will include widening of the two-lane single carriageway and widening of the road itself, whereas the N2 Mooiplaas to Qumrha upgrade entails sealing cracks, texture correction and improve safety of use of this road.
Councillor Ngenisile Tekile Mayor of Great Kei Local Municipality welcomed the project during the TAKING SANRAL TO THE PEOPLE stakeholder engagement session.
“It is very painful to see youth with a bleak future
SANRAL’s road infrastructure investment here will change this over the next few years through many job opportunities that will be created”, said Tekile.
During the engagement session Cllr. Tekile introduced the main contractors for both these projects;
for the R63 Qumrha-N2 project, Mariswe (Pty) Ltd are the main contractors whereas BVI Consulting are the main contractors for the N2 Mooiplaas to Qumrha contract.
Thabiso Ngozwana, SANRAL construction manager mentioned that they anticipate for the project of R63 is set to start in August. Ngozwana also mentioned that the project will provide 360 job opportunities where 8% of the contract will be allocated to labour and a minimum of 30% to be subcontracted to SMMEs, when R40 million in the N2 Mooiplaas to Qumrha will be spent on labour.
“We must be ambassadors of these projects and sing from the same hymn book as these will beneifit our communities”, said municipal manager of Great Kei Local Municipality, Mr K Lambila.
These projects include youth, women, people with disabilities, military veterans, business sectors and municipal representative as part of them.
SANRAL Regional Stakeholder Relataions Specialist, Ms Welekazo Ndika outlined the PLC’s role as to ensure that the project is safeguarded assist the future of our generations.
SANRAL introduced its SMME pre-tender training programme that will be provided to local SMMEs which is intended to help capacitate them for SANRAL projects and beyond.
Ndika emphasised that the training is not a prerequisite to participate on SANRAL tender opportunities and nor does it put on at advantage when tendering in SANRAL projects.
SANRAL has established a focused strategy help liaise with contractors, material and plant suppliers and service providers in case of challenges.
Cllr Mngxaso of Amathole District Municipality said that the investment of the R1 billion shows that the government is working.
These projects are going to help a lot of people, hence the government pleads for support in order for it to be beneficial and successful.
