Flowing from the budget speech presented on the 25th of April, we are constructing new roads and repairing and rehabilitating those damaged by devastating floods.
Importantly, we continue to act on the guidance given to Indlulamithi, ISILO Misuzulu kaZwelithini.
We have just finished a historic meeting with Amakhosi AseNdlunkulu from Umshwathi and Umvoti. We briefed them about the construction of the main road, P278.
This briefing and the subsequent engagement with the community mark the beginning of a new era for the people of Umshwathi Local Municipality.
We have made a decision to use the construction of this road as part of wealth creation, to drive rural economic development, and to respond to chronic unemployment.
We are responding decisively to the latest unemployment figures released by Statistics South Africa.
In this regard, a total of 54 local companies based in Umshwathi and Umvoti local municipalities will share R 79.3 million from the R353 million we have invested.
The breakdown is as follows:
- Companies owned by women R23.8 million
- Companies owned by Youth R27.7 million
- Companies owned by People with Disabilities R3, 9 million
- Companies owned by military veterans R7.9 million
- Other Companies-R 15.8 million
Total R79.3 million for local companies
We are going to each and every corner of the province and, in the process, turning this province into a construction site.
The total length of this road is approximately 22.5 kilometres and will be done in 2 phases.
Phase 1 will involve upgrading the existing gravel road to blacktop standard from km 10.88 to km 22.49 (11.61km).
Phase 2 will involve upgrading and rehabilitation of an existing section of asphalt road and gravel road from km 0.000 to km 10.880 (10.88km).
