R1bn roads revamp on cards
Masualle lays plans for power
EASTERN Cape premier Phumulo Masualle has set aside R1billion to revamp access roads to the province’s municipalities.
The financial injection will also be used to electrify areas which still do not have power and for the “de-silting of dams and the drilling of additional boreholes for drought-hit areas”.
Masualle made the announcement while presenting his state of the province address (Sopa), in which the premier outlined what government had achieved so far and its priorities for the new 2017-18 financial year
The announcement came while areas such as Amathole district municipality (ADM), parts of Nelson Mandela Bay Metro and Buffalo City have experienced water cuts due to shortages.
ADM, which covers municipalities such as Mnquma in Butterworth, Mbhashe in Dutywa and parts of Fort Beaufort, has been one of the hardest-hit districts during the current drought
The municipality has been forced to truck drinking water to drought hit communities since late 2015.
“We are aware of the continuing drought which is affecting parts of Amathole, Chris Hani and Joe Gqabi districts,” he said.
“Working with the department of water affairs and sanitation, mitigation plans have been put in place and we are continuing to monitor the situation in the affected areas,” Masualle said.
Yesterday’s Sopa was considered Masualle’s mid-term speech since taking over as Eastern Cape Premier after the 2014 general elections.
In attendance were several dignitaries, including Eastern Cape King Ndamase Ndamase, Queen Noloyiso Sandile and deputy ministers Stella Ndabeni and Thoko Xasa. Other dignitaries included national heritage head, Sonwabile Mangcotywa, Nelson Mandela Metro mayor Athol Trollip, and Buffalo City mayor Xola Pakati.
Masualle said that in order to ensure the province’s rural communities were accessible, government had created partnerships for alternative technology in roads construction and road maintenance.
“We also speak to stimulating agriculture through agro-processing. We are targeting the participation of our youth in agriculture in such endeavours,” he added.
An additional R107-million has been set aside to buy machinery “for maintenance of the provincial roads located in municipalities”.
“We will continue with the maintenance of surfaced roads through a programme of resealing,” the premier added.
Masualle said government “is moving ahead with plans for the development of the N2 Wild Coast route from East London to Mthamvuna river.”
This project included the construction of two megabridges over the Mthentu and Msikaba rivers as well as seven additional major bridges and three interchanges.
The Dispatch reported this week that thousands of youths and small businesses involved in construction would receive training, in order to be in line to provide services as sub-contractors and workers.
Another mega project in the pipeline is the multi-billion rand Umzimvubu dam project, which President Jacob Zuma launched in Tsolo three years ago.
Masualle said the national Department of Treasury as well as Water Affairs were busy discussing the funding model for the project.
“Where we are with Umzimvubu is concluding the financing; government has started relations with a number of multi lateral institutions, including the Chinese government.
“The issue is now between the national Department of Water Affairs and National Treasury to conclude the funding model for the dam.
“Otherwise the clearing of the site and design in Ntabelanga, that process has been completed. So once the funding model has been concluded, the tenders should proceed,” he added.
The premier also credited the provincial government for spending grants which it received from the national fiscus, saying: “We come from a period where we struggled to spend the money available.
“It’s something that shows the intensity of work that is at play and the progress we are making,” he added.