Mthatha, 20 November 2024 – The Eastern Cape MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Xolile Nqatha, has urged the leadership and community of the Alfred Nzo District to safeguard the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) mega road construction project near KwaBhaca (formerly Mount Frere).
MEC Nqatha hosted a stakeholder engagement session at Dan’s Country Lodge near Mthatha recently, to address community grievances that threaten the construction of SANRAL’s R1.2 billion rehabilitation of the N2 section between KwaBhaca and Ngcweleni River, near Emaxesibeni (formerly Mount Ayliff). The project commended in April 2024 and is due for completion in November 2026.
The session was intended to resolve issues that have the potential to disrupt the implementation of the project, which presents major socio-economic benefits for the Eastern Cape. The meeting was attended by political and traditional leadership in the affected areas, aggrieved members of the communities, the contractor Rumdel Construction Cape (Pty) Ltd, the Project Liaison Committee (PLC) and SANRAL.
Central to the dispute is the contractor’s commercial source of crushed material, the employment of local labour and packages for small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs). In recent weeks, residents from Sugarbush village blockaded the N2 with rocks and burning tyres over the alleged sourcing of illegal materials on the basis that the mining permit used was invalid.
MEC Nqatha decried the stoppage as they have cost implications for the government.
“The matter is of great concern to all spheres of government as it is costly to government and the taxpayers themselves. The matter is now in the courts and while there is a stoppage, the company charges standing time. This is economic sabotage,” he said.
Construction manager for Rumdel Construction, Mduduzi Mdletshe, alleges that people from Bizana were bused to block the N2 despite the existence of a PLC that oversees the employment of local labour.
“We have employed more than 300 people on the project,” he said. “When everyone from the villages wants to be employed, this is unattainable. More than 70 SMMEs are employed here with over R400 million set aside for them. We will employ people for packages still to come as we are still in early project stages.”
Unathi Ximbi, legal representative for Mjelweni village, informed the meeting about the crucial meetings held with the contractor over a mining permit.
“The community has no problem with Rumdel and employment, but the issue is over Rumdel and licence holder, Bismarck, mining without consultation with the community. The contractor went to court, but their application failed. We expect judgement on it soon,” said Ximbi.
He said the permit was invalid on the grounds that there was no consultation and the matter will come before the high court to adjudicate.
As a way forward, Nqatha noted that no developments should be stopped and they should unite communities rather than be a source of antagonism. The parties should leave any dispute to the courts and the police will have to enforce an interdict when granted.
“It is the communities and workers alike who lose out whenever development is halted. Rumdel needs to convene a meeting with business and Speakers of local municipalities to explain the available packages and benefits flowing to labour and targeted enterprises,” said Nqatha.
The session heard about complaints over damage to houses in villages closer to the quarry, with the MEC pleading with the contractor not to distance itself from the queries while SANRAL, as a government entity should supervise the process.