Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality said it was spending R100-million rand upgrading roads and other infrastructure in township areas.
In a statement the Metro said that challenges related to access to areas for emergency and police vehicles as well as wheelchair access would now be a thing of the past.
This, as the tarring of roads, paving of sidewalks and improvements to the stormwater drainage system in areas like New Brighton, Kwazakhele, Zwide, Veeplaas and Soweto-on-Sea gains momentum.
"The project is currently in progress in different areas and in different phases, not only benefiting the residents of these areas, but also empowering emerging businesses (SMMEs), who are an integral part of the delivery of this project."
According to the Metro statement, Nomfundo Ngcingane (56) who lives in Tsewu Street in New Brighton, could not hide her excitement about the improvements being effected in her street, Tsewu Street, which is one of the street under reconstruction. "This reconstruction of our street will change the picture of this area. It will not only improve access, it will also add to the value of our properties," said Ngcingane.
An SMME owner, Lumnka Speelman (41), who co-owns Speelman Mtika Construction Company, is one of those that have benefited as a sub-contractor from one of the road construction projects in Kwazakhele Seyisi, in an area called Maqanda.
She said: "It was the first project I have ever received from the Municipality. This opportunity has given me a lot of experience, more especially as a female construction company owner. We used to be ignored in the construction industry, but things have now improved. This project will not only benefit my company financially, but the experience I will obtain will position my company better to bid for more projects, bigger than this one," Speelman was quoted as saying.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality's Mayoral Committee Member for Infrastructure and Engineering, Cillr Andile Mfunda, said: "This investment is not a coincidence, it is a clear indication of our commitment to improve the lives of those that were previously disadvantaged by the then apartheid government."
"We all know that the then government put in place poor and low quality infrastructure in the former Ibhayi areas. We want to reverse that injustice. It will not be easy, as we will need a lot of money to do that, but the commitment is there and action speaks louder than words."
