MEDIA STATEMENT

KWAZULU-NATAL MEC FOR TRANSPORT, MR S'BU NDEBELE, LAUNCHES AN AFRICAN RENAISSANCE SPECIAL ROADS UPGRADING PROGRAMME

Approximately R56 million has been immediately set aside for the design, planning and rehabilitation of several major road projects, which will make a critical difference to the economic growth of KZN.

The following roads have been identified to kick-start this programme:

Main Roads 235, 52 and 49 extending from Mtubatuba to Vryheid via Nongoma and from Nongoma to Pongola (105,3 kilometres at a cost of R136,8 million);
Main Roads 15 and 50 extending from Kranskop to Nkandla and Eshowe (89,2 kilometres at a cost of R115,9 million);
Main Road 100 extending from Verulam to Inanda via Ndwedwe (41,5 kilometres at a cost of R53,9 million);
Main Road 68 extending from Highflatsto Umtentweni via Dweshula and St. Faiths (51,2 kilometres at a cost of R66,6 million);
Main Road 399 extending from Edendale to Taylors Halt via Nxamalala (12,2 kilometres at a cost of R15,9 million); and
Main Road 296 extending from Osizweni to Buffalo Flats (48,6 kilometres at a cost of R63, 2 million).

The total cost of upgrading the above 348 kilometres of road will be R452, 3 million. The Department does not yet have the funds to upgrade all these roads at the same time. However, we are determined to make a start and we are determined to raise additional funds.

It must also be stressed that the above list of roads is by no means complete. There are 800 kilometres of gravel road in KwaZulu-Natal that carry more than 500 vehicles per day and it is our intention to upgrade all of these roads. In fact, we would prefer to upgrade all gravel roads carrying in excess of 300 vehicles per day.

Further, the African Renaissance Roads Programme will usher in a new era for the road construction industry in KwaZulu-Natal. It is our intention, in all-major road upgrading programmes, to unbundle contracts in such a way that well established contractors will team up with emerging contractors to build these roads on independent contracts but as interdependent contractors. Also, work that does not fall under the critical path of the road construction programme will be independently contracted to emerging contractors under our Staged Advancement Emerging Contractor Programme.

However, our plans do not stop here. All of these upgrading programmes involve major routes that serve communities that are hopelessly under-provided for but which have a real development potential, particularly for market agriculture and tourism. We therefore plan to build these roads in such a way that people are encouraged to travel more slowly and to stop and enjoy the physical and cultural diversity of KwaZulu-Natal. We also intend to include a road beautification programme that will include rest stops with clean toilet facilities and landscaped indigenous gardens. These rest stops will be maintained and kept clean by our Zibambele contractors and will undoubtedly become a focal point to market handicrafts, garden produce and refreshments.

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