Contractor abandons ‘unsafe’ N2 bridge site

THIS week, the SA National

Roads Agency confirmed that the contractor, ASJV, of one of its mega bridges as part of its controversial N2 Wild Coast project at the Mtentu River, had abandoned the site, citing unsafe working conditions.

“Sanral strongly rejects this assertion, as the government both at national and provincial levels have done all that was necessary to ensure that it was safe for the contractor to return to site,” it said.

“Sanral regrets the delays and costs that will result from this abandonment of the project by the contractor.”

The project had been blocked by the Jama community in inland Amadiba since October last year, according to the Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC)

For nearly 20 years, locals have fought the N2 highway that will enter the Sigidi and Mdatya villages, splitting them.

This week, the ACC’S lawyers sent Sanral a letter demanding it stop all works along the whole “Green Field” section of the N2 Toll Road immediately.

“Sanral must start again a proper consultation process with all rural communities disturbed by the N2 project. The new process should result in a resettlement plan agreed with affected communities.”

Locals fear the road will enable titanium mining, which will devastate their homes, agricultural livelihoods and close-knit, peaceful villages.

In December, after a six-year wait, a judicial review of Sanral’s realignment of the N2 along the Pondoland Wild Coast was heard in the Pretoria High Court. “Whether we win or we don’t, at least the voices of rural people have gone all the way to the high court,” said conservationist Sinegugu Zikulu, an applicant in the matter.

Margie Pretorius, of non-profit, Sustaining the Wild Coast, says an offer of compromise has been submitted to Sanral, whereby the review case will be withdrawn if Sanral reroutes the northern section of the road out of the Amadiba coastal area.

“This seems to be a very reasonable compromise being proposed by the applicants and we hope that Sanral and the Minister of Transport will accept it to avoid the very serious impacts of road construction so close to the coast in Amadiba Administrative Area 24.

“If they win the case and attempt to construct the road into Amadiba communities, they will be inviting conflict.

“Ignoring the compromise being proposed by the Amadiba will make an already conflict-ridden situation even more volatile. Sanral should have learnt from the e-toll saga in Gauteng that it doesn’t make sense to ignore the protests of the people.” |