The SA National Roads Agency Limited is projecting large-scale job creation through the construction of the N2 Wild Coast Toll Road.
In a statement Friday, Sanral's N2WCTR project manager, Craig McLachlan, said as many as 55 000 people, or about five percent of the estimated 980 000 jobless people in the Eastern Cape, could gain some employment through the project.
“The Eastern Cape’s official unemployment rate stands at 28.6%, expanded unemployment extends to 44.5% and over two million grants are being paid out every month,” he said.
“As bad as this figure is, it is an average and hides even more horrifying local statistics, with certain rural municipalities such as Ingquza Hill (based around Lusikisiki, Flagstaff and Holy Cross) having unemployment figures in excess of 85%,” said McLachlan.
He said “the N2WCTR is set to alleviate some of the pressure experienced by many as a result of this unemployment.”
“While some of the estimated 55 000 jobs to be created will ensure people that are currently employed stay employed, a significant portion will be new jobs.”
McLachlan said approximately five percent of the budget for the 112 kilometre greenfields section of the N2WCTR will be spent on labour. “More than R400 million will be allocated to wages for unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers employed directly on the N2WCTR project.”
“A further R1.5 billion is destined for local SMMEs comprising of local contractors and local suppliers of goods and services to the road and bridge construction projects,” he said.
“SANRAL’s direct job creation forecast is 1.8 million man-days or 8 000 Full Time Equivalant (FTE) jobs over the construction period of four to five years. These jobs will not just be for unskilled labour but will include semi-skilled and skilled jobs as well, including local builders, engineers, grader operators, excavator operators, welders, mechanics, foremen, drivers, and bricklayers, to name but a few,” McLachlan said.
“According to economic employment opportunity propensities indices for road construction projects, up to 25 000 additional indirect FTE jobs will be created by subcontractors and suppliers over the construction period.”
“These indirect jobs will be derived from a variety of fields: security, plant hire, manufacturing, catering, logistics, and aggregate and hard rock products, among others, and most will be located in the Eastern Cape” he added.
McLachlan noted that the new route opens up access to the Pondoland area and creates a shorter and faster link between KZN and the Eastern Cape.
He said it will promote local and regional economic growth in a number of alternate areas including manufacturing, transportation and logistics, agriculture, agri-processing, and tourism.
However, the N2 Wild Coast Toll Project is not without controversy.
Some local communities, under the banner of the Amadiba Crisis Committee are opposed to the toll road and proposed titanium mining on the Wild Coast.
According to one report the toll road will take a detour that is expected to facilitate the proposed titanium mining enterprise in Pondoland.
The chairperson of the Amadiba Crisis Committee, Sikosipho Radebe, was murdered last year in what is viewed as an assassination linked directly to his strong opposition to the mining and toll road proposals.
Another organisation, Sustaining the Wild Coast, is also opposed to the toll road, citing environmental and other concerns.Organisation spokesperson John Clarke said in a previous report that it would be an economic crime to spend money on building toll gates, when there were other, more pressing needs in communities.
