PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa says the construction of the multi-billion rand Msikaba Bridge in the Eastern Cape will create jobs and spark economic growth in the region.
Ramaphosa visited the construction site of the Msikaba Bridge on Thursday where he met with stakeholders and community members.
The bridge is part of the envisaged N2 Wild Coast road megaproject that will link the Eastern Cape with KwaZulu-Natal.
The first soil for the construction of the Msikaba Bridge was turned four years ago.
It will cost an estimated R1.65 billion and is expected to be completed by 2023.
The construction here will be completed by the end of 2023.
“Earlier today I was also flown over the Mtentu bridge some 64km away. Once it is completed it will be the highest bridge in Africa, and one of the longest bridges of its kind in the world,” said Ramaphosa.
“The bridges are part of the N2 Wild Coast Road Project that connects four provinces, namely the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Kwa-Zulu/-Natal and Mpumalanga.”
The work on the N2 Wild Coast Project will lead to the creation of 8,000 direct full-time jobs and between 21,000 and 28,000 indirect jobs during the construction phase.
This translates to a wage bill of around R750 million.
Both skilled and semi-skilled people have already been employed on this project.
The president said there were also the socio-economic and enterprise development benefits.
Approximately R4-billion will be spent on targeted enterprises during the construction period.
This will ensure that the investment on this project will be ploughed back to communities.
Already some R120 million has gone to local SMMEs as part of upgrading and linking of roads, and there are several more projects in the pipeline.
“By regulating that a minimum of 30 per cent of expenditure is earmarked for targeted enterprise sub-contractors and suppliers, approximately R4 bn will in future flow to SMMEs from the OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo Districts,” said Ramaphosa.
He said once the road is completed, ongoing maintenance work is anticipated to create another 900 direct, full-time jobs and around 19 000 indirect jobs.
“These numbers affirm SANRAL’s sustained commitment to sustainable job creation. Over the past year alone SANRAL has created 17 760 job opportunities at its various projects around the country. This is part of a government-wide effort to create jobs in our economy,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa said the bridge construction also offers the benefit to the provincial and national economy, and says this will support the transportation of goods and services to the entire Southern African region.
“It will create a trade corridor running along the Indian Ocean coastline from Cape Town through to Gqeberha, to East London, to Durban, and to Ermelo in Mpumalanga,” he said.
“With the coming into operation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in January this year, I can certainly see this project playing a key role in the movement of goods and services to a continental market.”
- Inside Politics
