Millions to be spent on PSJ access roads

PORT St John’s municipal bosses are pumping millions of rands into fixing access roads, some to tourism hotspots, as a way to boost the economy of the Wild Coast’s “crown jewel”.

Mayor Lindelwa Rolobile told the Daily Dispatch yesterday that nearly R35-million of their total R234-million capital budget for the 2017-18 financial year had been allocated towards revamping several access roads.

She said yesterday some of the roads were already at the procurement stage.

“We are looking at prioritising roads that link to ploughing fields and farms first,” she said.

“But we want to address the issue of [poor] roads even in those areas that get flooded by tourists every year due to the beaches and other attractions.”

Rolobile said that among the roads targeted was a 12km stretch between Gabelana and Noqhekwana, which would be upgraded at a R7.9-million cost.

A sum of R6.2-million would also be spent on refurbishing the Zinyosini access road which connects to Mpande Beach, and a further R6.1-million is earmarked for upgrading the Nonyevu access road, which links the urban centre to the resort’s popular Second Beach.

O R Tambo District Chamber of Business president Vuyisile Ntlabati described many roads in municipalities within the district as a “headache”, adding that the problem was exacerbated by lack of a maintenance plan from authorities.

He said as a result, some people opted to take their businesses elsewhere and many investors shunned certain areas. —