intensify in 2018
The first few weeks of 2018 have already seen a number of important meetings between SANRAL and communities in the Eastern Cape to discuss the benefits and opportunities flowing from the construction of the N2 Wild Coast Road.
This consultation will continue throughout the year as work intensifies on the R9bn road project that will transform the regional economy and bring major positive spinoffs for communities served by the new infrastructure.
In 2017, SANRAL facilitated more than 100 engagements with various stakeholders – including national and provincial departments, local municipalities, councillors, traditional leaders, business chambers and community members across the region.
On 23 January, SANRAL hosted political and civic leaders from Ingquza Hill, Port St Johns and Mbizana, as well as from the OR Tambo District Municipality. This was followed by a stakeholder session at the Wild Coast Sun, which was attended by members of the business chambers, traditional leaders, political leaders, Amadela Ngokubona and other interested parties.
At both meetings, SANRAL presented an update on the N2WCR and discussed the land acquisition process related to the project. Senior officials from SANRAL also highlighted the agency’s long-term strategy – Horizon 2030 – and recently released Transformation Policy.
SANRAL got overwhelming support for the Transformation Policy and its potential to transform the broader engineering and construction sectors in South Africa.
Stakeholders called for greater collaboration between the roads agency and the municipalities connected to the project.
SANRAL is in the process of establishing and training Project Liaison Committees (PLC) for the Mtentu Bridge construction and the two roads packages already under design.
During 2018 PLCs will be established for the construction of the Msikaba Bridge and the design phase of all the remaining sections of the road and further bridges between Port St Johns and Port Edward.
For the rest of the 2018/19 financial year, SANRAL plans to hold quarterly stakeholder engagement meetings within the Amathole District Municipality, Buffalo City Metro, as well as Sarah Baartman District Municipality. In February, SANRAL engaged communities in Lusikisiki and Flagstaff through
its Taking SANRAL to the People campaign. This programme aims to encourage dialogue and continuous engagement on the road development and its future impact. In June, this flagship stakeholder engagement programme was taken to Graaff-Reinet, where SANRAL received a warm welcome from stakeholders, especially the mayors from Sarah Baartman District who attended the engagement.
To improve relations with its stakeholders, the agency has also undertaken to pursue more one-on-one engagements with key stakeholders. The Amadiba Crisis Committee was engaged twice in June. The first engagement was with SANRAL’s Stakeholder Relations Manager, Siphiwo Mxhosa, on issues related to community consultation on the N2WCR project with SANRAL’s Environmental Manager, Mpati Makoa, subsequently engaging the ACC on concerns about safeguarding the environment in the N2WCR project.
On 15 May, the N2 Wild Coast Road Environmental Monitoring Committee, tasked with monitoring compliance with the conditions set by the Department of Environmental Affairs’ environmental authorisation for the project, convened a meeting at the Wild Coast Sun to assess the compliance of all stakeholders involved in the N2 Wild Coast Road project.