Transport Minister Blade Nzimande has announced a R3.5 billion stimulus and recovery plan with measures that will see government prioritising areas of economic activity that will have the greatest impact on youth, women and small businesses.
Speaking at a media briefing on the South African National Roads Agency Limited’s (Sanral) announcement on key infrastructure projects, the minister said the R3.5 billion budget for the stimulus package will unlock R13.1 billion in investment in critical and strategic road infrastructure. The Minister also shared information on projects that are shovel-ready, where the department is able to move from the design to construction phases.N2 Wild Coast Road projects
Looking at the N2 Wild Coast Road, the minister noted that there are three projects where the department is able to move from design to construction. A 16.3km new single carriageway and four lane undivided road with two interchanges are being constructed from Lingeni to the Msikaba Bridge at a cost of R976-million. The project is also expected to create more than 480 jobs. A 17.7km new single carriageway road is also being built between the Msikaba and Mtentu Bridges. It includes one bridge and two interchanges at an envisaged value of R1.1-billion and approximately 550 jobs will be created.Finally a total of R853-million has been allocated to an 11.5km stretch of road, with two bridges and two interchanges from Kulumbe to the Umtamvuna River.
“On all these projects – with a combined envisaged value of almost R3-billion, we will spend more than R930-million on small and medium enterprises and emerging contractors, many of them women and the youth,” Nzimande said.
