A government agency said the N2 Wild Coast toll road had taken another step to becoming a reality with the establishment of an Environmental Monitoring Committee.
The SA National Roads Agency Limited announced the formation of the Monitoring Committee on Wednesday, following a recent inaugural meeting in Port Edward.
Sanral's Environmental Manager, Mpati Makao, said the "environmental authorisation by the Department of Environmental Affairs for the construction of the N2WCTR was subject to conditions including the establishment of a representative environmental monitoring committee (EMC), with an independent chairperson."
"With the developments relating to conventional engineering and construction of the haul roads to construction sites and the construction of the two mega-bridges progressing at a satisfactory pace, we are now pleased to announce the establishment of an oversight committee responsible for monitoring environmental compliance," Makoa said.
"The committee will perform watchdog, monitoring and auditing functions to ensure compliance with specific conditions of the environmental authorisation and the requirements of the approved environmental management programme (EMP)for the N2WCTR, as well as conditions of all other environmental permits issued for the project," she said.
"The main agenda points at the first meeting were the confirmation of members and representatives, the administrative functioning, including the terms of reference, as well as the strategic role and future engagements of the committee."
The Committee comprises "representation of South African conservation and wildlife organisations, environmental subject matter experts, and various government departments and/or state entities, local municipalities and representatives of the Traditional Authorities of Mpondoland. This is in line with the recommendations and requests of the Department of Environmental Affairs following the Record of Decision (RoD 12/12/20/701)".
But, the mega project is not without its opponents.
Local communities under the banner of the organisation, Sustaining the Wild Coast, are opposed to the construction of the toll road project saying it is linked to moves to mine titanium on the Wild Coast.
"Affected local communities felt the EIA process side-lined their needs and concerns, and that the proposed route was linked to the mining proposal, which they vociferously opposed," the organisation said on its website.
"In 2004 the initial Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was overturned due to a lack of independence between the EIA consultants and the bidding consortium. The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) subsequently commissioned a new EIA that incorporated much of the data of the old EIA. This EIA was subsequently approved by the Department of Environment, despite numerous public objections".
"Local Wild Coast residents then took the matter to court, arguing that the public participation process was deeply flawed. This ongoing case has been marked by attempts to undermine local opposition to the road by authorities, including an apparent attempt by SANRAL employees in 2014 to forge affidavits to show local support for the road," the organisation added.
Opposition to the titanium mining and the N2 toll road by residents of Xolobeni on the Wild Coast had also resulted in the murder of anti-mining activist, Sikosipho Radebe, who was brutally gunned down in front of his family earlier this year.
