State of roads unacceptable – Chabane

Roads in the inner city of Mthatha were in an unacceptable state and an urgent plan was needed to fix them, Collins Chabane said.

Chabane, minister in the Presidency responsible for performance monitoring and evaluation, led a delegation that visited the King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Municipality to monitor progress made in the Presidential Intervention (PI) to which President Jacob Zuma committed his government in 2009.

KSD includes Mthatha and Mqanduli.

“The Mthatha inner city roads are in an unacceptable state and I have mandated the director-general for performance monitoring and evaluation in the Presidency to work with the provincial superintendent-general for the department of local government to immediately develop a plan to address challenges with these roads,” Chabane said, after visits to key projects this afternoon. These included roads, a bridge and the Mthatha Airport.

The minister, flanked by Local Government and Traditional Affairs MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane and KSD mayor Nonkoliso Ngqongwa, was pleased to see progress in some of the projects.

“Since 2009, substantial progress has been recorded with 25% of catalytic projects already completed and 51% under implementation; 16% is still to be funded and (for) 8% (there are) commitments,” Chabane said.

Forty-one percent of the planned roads have been completed.

Projects completed at the airport include the expansion of the parking space and upgrading of aprons. The extension of the runway is almost complete.

The Mthatha N2 Bridge has been 71% completed and road users should be able to use it by April 2013.
“We are encouraged by the work that is being done, however, we have noted that there are challenges in a number of areas which officials are working very hard to address. We will continue to work together with the province and the municipality to complete all outstanding work,” said Chabane.