The N2WCR is benefitting communities

The N2 Wild Coast Road Project will improve the quality of life and open opportunities for communities that live along the road. The employment of locals will also play a key role in opening up these opportunities.

The SANRAL community development project has a huge SMME development focus, with direct and indirect jobs being created during construction to benefit the local communities.

The socio-economic impact of the projects will offer a significant injection for the local communities. It is estimated that income for the local sub-contractors and suppliers will increase by over R1.5bn and construction work will create 8 000 full-time equivalent direct jobs, and between 16 000 and 18 000 indirect jobs between 2018 and 2023. Direct jobs alone will see approximately R450m in wages being earned by local labour.

Various community development initiatives took place in the 2017/18 period.

Here are some of the projects:

In Ndwalane and Caguba villages, outside Port St Johns: community development included training local SMMEs and unskilled workers. Job opportunities were created for 10 SMMEs who employed 100 individuals. The refurbishment of the Mkhanzini Community Hall, refurbishment of desks at Mkhanzini Primary School, and upgrading of the driveway and stormwater management at Gungubele Combined School.

In Mzamba in the Mbizana Local Municipality: Ten SMMEs received their SAQA accredited NQF Level 4 certificates at the announcement of the completion of the construction of a 4,5km community access road in Mzamba in the Mbizana Local Municipality. The road construction project, which started in July 2016 took two years to complete and is part of the community development and SMME training programme which forms part of small business support strategies to optimise local economic development through the N2WCR development. The community hall was refurbished, a new fence was erected and access to the hall was upgraded. Ten financial management graduates/interns were employed to assist SMMEs in finances.

In Lusikisiki: The completion of community access roads and haul routes between two villages in Lusikisiki provided training for 11 SMMEs and 11 supervisors of which 73% were youth-owned SMMEs, and 36% were women-owned. In addition, there were 165 jobs created, and training was given to165 employees who were subsequently awarded NQF Level 2 certificates. A training venue was built and left for a school to use; a local small business incubator/support building was refurbished after it was used as a training venue, the area fenced off, new roof sheeting fitted, windows were replaced,; access and parking areas at an FET college and two schools were upgraded.