R5bn allocated for revamping E Cape roads

The Eastern Cape government will inject R5-billion into resurfacing and rehabilitating provincial roads this year.

An additional R162-million will be spent reviving Port St Johns, a town once considered the “jewel” of the Wild Coast.

Provincial government spokesman Sizwe Kupelo made these announcements a day after premier Phumulo Masualle and his executive council spent two days identifying provincial government priorities for this year.

Currently, about R3.5-billion is being spent on road construction in the province, with the largest initiative being the R942-million project on the R61 between Mzamba and Magusheni in Mbizana.

Bhisho resolved in 2014 to hand over management of all major road projects to the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) in an attempt to bypass red tape as major roads deteriorated.

Public works spokesman Mphumzi Zuzile said this year’s R5-billion spend on road projects would also be managed by Sanral.

Asked which roads had been identified for upgrading, and how, Zuzile said the province’s 45 municipalities had been asked to submit five priority roads they wanted resurfaced or tarred.

“The guidelines given were that the roads had to be ones leading to either a health facility … to a school or to a tourist attraction,” he said. “And in the farming areas, we prioritised the roads that lead farmers to the nearest town to sell their products.”

Roads earmarked for phase two construction this year are:

• Road DR08029 on the Wild Coast Meander from Tombo to Isilimela Hospital;
• The N2 to Siphethu Hospital;
• The N10 between Nanaga and Middelburg;
• The R63 between Tsitsikamma and Port Elizabeth; and
• The R61 between Magusheni and Mzamba.

Phase one construction will start on the following roads:

• The R334 in Motherwell, Port Elizabeth; and
• The road between Mthatha and Brooks Nek.

Zuzile said “a sum of R70-million will be spent to resurface roads in Mbhashe local municipality alone, because the municipality was the first to submit its priority list”.

“We want to ensure that the public has access to … health facilities and schools. We also have the responsibility to ensure that we play a key role in economic development.”

The revitalisation of Port St Johns is also part of the Department of Public Works’ programme to revive economic activity in small towns.

Zuzile said towns included in the initiative were Ugie and Lusikisiki.

Kupelo said a breakdown of the budget needed to revive Port St Johns was presented during the executive’s legkotla on Tuesday. He said R55-million would be used to revamp the town’s sewerage system, R48-million for roads, R37-million for electrification and R22-million for the drainage system.

Masualle is scheduled to table his state of the province address next Friday, when he is likely to shed more light on the projects and major programmes like the Umzimvubu Dam and N2 Wild Coast toll road.