Since May last year, the City of Cape Town has invested nearly R8 million in upgrading the concrete roads in Bonteheuwel and will be spending another R21 million in this community where approximately 46 000 people live.

Over 1.6 km of apartheid-era concrete roads covering sections of Soetdoring Street, Sequoia Road, Rooihout road, Rooiels Road and Redberry Street has been upgraded during the second stage of this project which is due for completion by the end of this month. Following on from this phase, another R21 million will be spent in the 2014/15 financial year on upgrading a further 7 km of concrete roads in Bonteheuwel.

The existing 3.5 m narrow concrete roads are being widened and resurfaced with asphalt and in some sections the sidewalks have also been surfaced with asphalt.

Concrete was used for the construction of roads in the poorer areas during the apartheid era. The city has committed to investing in excess of R274 million over three financial years to upgrade of concrete roads in Gugulethu, Manenberg, Heideveld and Bonteheuwel to provide residents with easier, safer and more efficient access to economic and other opportunities.

The main purpose of the upgrades is to provide quality infrastructure through resurfacing the concrete roads and, in some instances, widening the roadway, constructing pedestrian walkways and installing proper stormwater drainage systems.