Sanral promises it will deliver to angry, relocated villagers

THE SA National Roads Agency Ltd says it will meet every commitment it made in terms of land acquisition and compensating community members relocated as a result of the building of the massive N2 Wild Coast project.

Affected communities in several villages along the so-called greenfields section of the project, particularly near the site of the proposed R1.7-billion Mtentu Bridge, recently blocked construction for two weeks at the height of allegations that Sanral had reneged on promises made in terms of local jobs and compensation for relocations and the loss of farm land and grazing.

Communities in the Njanda and Ngwenyeni villages on the south bank of the Mtentu are particularly angry with Sanral and compiled a memorandum of demands in terms of compensation and job provision.

Sanral communications head Vusi Mona this week confirmed the roads agency was reviewing the memorandum. But, he said, Sanral would respond directly to the communities and not via the media.

He said they had already engaged extensively with the five villages on the south bank of the Mtentu about land acquisition, compensation and relocation before the project kicked off and community resolutions had been reached in each case.

“The procedures followed and compensation amounts paid are all guided by legislation, regulations and precedent.

“Sanral nonetheless binds itself to deliver on all of its commitments and will continue to engage with all stakeholders when and where issues arise.”

Mona confirmed that construction on the Mtentu South haul road to the bridge site had been stopped for about two weeks due to community disruptions sparked by anger over job distribution between the various villages and allegations that the local chief had intervened in this.

While this had affected the date on which the haul road contract would be completed, it would not affect the proposed November deadline for the start of construction on the 1.1km Mtentu bridge, billed by Sanral as one of the longest main span balanced cantilever bridges in the world, which will reach a height of about 220m.

Some communities have alleged that Sanral is dealing directly with local Chief Jama rather than the community. But Mona dismissed this as a “deliberate attempt to stir controversy” by people with ulterior motives.

While Sanral had engaged with each local chief and headman as law and custom required, this had not been to the exclusion of communities, he said.