Sanral under fire over N2 project

AFFECTED communities along the proposed N2 Wild Coast road (N2WC) project are up in arms about promises they say the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has broken during preliminary construction in the so-called “greenfields” section of the project.

As anger grows with what communities term Sanral’s misleading promises and a lack of direct communication with them, they are increasingly expressing themselves through disrupting construction and recently reportedly even damaged the foundations of a bridge they say redirected a water course away from their villages.

At issue is the section between Ndwalane outside Port St Johns and the Mthamvuna River near Port Edward where, to date, there has been very little development.

According to Sanral only preliminary work has begun for the two mega bridges, the Msikaba and the Mtentu, to be built on the route.

This includes haul roads to the sites as well as relocating affected households adjacent to the two bridges.

The Amadiba Crisis Commiteee (ACC) recently accused Sanral of breaking all oral agreements with communities.

“No jobs have been given to the villages that are strongly affected by the access roads.

“The compensation for loss of grazing and farm land was paid ‘to a trust’ only known by the chief,” ACC charged on social media.

Villages in the Khanyayo area, including Njanda and Ngwenyeni villages, have now sent their demands to Sanral, saying they want the road agency to meet the promises made.

Sanral spokesman Vusi Mona said he would be able to comment on the matter after seeing the demands of Khanyayo villagers.