Bhisho fails to honour pledge to link Mvezo Great Place to Elliotdale

Bhisho has failed to deliver on its promise to extend a paved road stretching from Mandla Mandela’s Mvezo Great Place east to the town of Elliotdale, and north to Nelson Mandela’s birthplace in Qunu.

Asked what happened to Kiviet’s promise, provincial government spokesman Sizwe Kupelo referred questions to the provincial cooperative governance and traditional affairs department (Cogta) and department of roads and public works (DRPW).

Cogta provincial spokesman Mamnkeli Ngam also referred questions to DRPW.

DRPW spokesman Mphumzi Zuzile said the department had no budget for Kiviet’s road. “However, the department is working on another road linking Elliotdale to Mthatha.”

He said this would link eMadwaleni Hospital with Elliotdale as part of a plan to maintain all roads leading to hospitals and clinics.

Asked about the road from Mvezo to Elliotdale, Zuzile said: “Until there is a plan or design to say how much it would cost anything said would just be a thumb-suck. It is not in the department’s plan.”

However, he said the R127-million had been meant to include another 7km stretch linking King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo’s Bumbane Great Place to Mvezo.

Yesterday, National Public Department spokesman Thami Mchunu said he would respond today to questions about delays in the completion of the Mvezo project. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za/bonganif@dispatch.co.za