The N2 Wild Coast road (N2WCR) construction project is one of SANRAL’s most ambitious. It stretches over a distance of 410km from East London to the Eastern Cape’s boundary Progress on Community Development Programme with KwaZulu-Natal. It is scheduled for completion in 2024 and will be a major factor in the development of some of South Africa’s most disadvantaged municipal areas.

The project has two main components:

• A major upgrade of existing roads, the N2 between East London and Mthatha and the R61 between Mthatha and Ndwalane (near Port St Johns). The section-by-section improvement of these roads has been underway since 2011.


• The construction of 96km of “greenfields” – or brand new – highway and 17km of upgrading between Ndwalane and the Mtamvuna River (near Port Edward) via Lusikisiki, serious building activity on this section commenced in 2018 with the Mtentu River mega-bridge, which will be the highest bridge in Africa.

Reasons to prioritise the Wild Coast

• The eastern half of the Eastern Cape cries out for economic and work opportunities. Its people suffer deprivation while living in a resource-rich area. Good road access is a pre-condition for development of the Wild Coast’s significant potential for tourism and other economic activity.


• Once easier access and mobility is provided through the new road, the Pondoland stretch of the Wild Coast with its deep gorges, rugged coastline, many waterfalls, beautiful secluded beaches and unique flora and local culture, there will be huge potential for conventional-, adventure- and eco-tourism. Inland the high rainfall and fertile ground provides great potential for agricultural development.


• The current N2 turns inland from Mthatha and due to the many deep gorges and poor road infrastructure there is a vast inaccessible land corridor along the coast between Port St John and Port Edward.

The new N2 will open up this coastal strip while also providing a safer, flatter and faster link between Durban and the industrial centres of East London and Port Elizabeth. It will benefit businesses operating along the entire east coast as well as stimulating development of the Wild Coast.

• Currently the N2 east of Mthatha records exceptionally high numbers of road deaths. Contributing factors are driver behaviour, the volume of traffic, the mountainous terrain, mist, pedestrians and the straying of animals onto the road. Poor access to the area for emergency services increases the risk of fatalities.


• Life is difficult in villages in the area. Breadwinners and learners commute long distances. They spend hours in buses and taxis or walking. Migrant workers seldom visit home. The new highway supported by the road access management system linking this high order road with lower order roads will be an important first step to safer, more convenient travel and a better quality of life. The upgrading of lower order roads found in the villages near the new route and linking these roads to the new N2 will translate into community development projects which will be constructed by local Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME) through tendering and theoretical and practical training.