The South African government has announced plans to boost Eastern Cape roads in South Africa in a major reconstruction programme of roads in the country.
In the next five years spend the government will spend millions of dollars in construction and rehabilitation of the road network throughout the Eastern Province. Part of this work will spill over into the western province but the bulk will be in the Eastern Province where most of the infrastructure backlogs lies.
In her policy speech delivered in Bhisho, Roads and Public Works MEC Thandiswa Marawu said this investment will make most of the roads in the province some of the best in the country.
Marawu said they has been heavy roll-out of infrastructural projects over the last financial years and this will be carried on into this year.
She added that R2.3 billion has been spent on the Eastern Cape roads and an additional R5 billion will be spent in the 2016-17 financial year.”
Marawu said the plan was a response to many years of neglect to the area that has left many roads in a sorry state. She said the focus on upgrading the roads was in line with government’s undertaking to invest in infrastructural development.
SMEs will benefit from this construction as they will be allocated 30% of all construction works.
