KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport today announced an investment of more than R290 million for the upgrading of road network linking the residential area of eMondlo and the agricultural town of Vryheid in the Abaqulusi Municipality:
- 1 000 plus jobs to created as part of the eMondlo investment
- A total R1.5 billion earmarked for construction of roads, pedestrian and vehicle bridges in the Zululand District this financial year.
The department unveiled plans to upgrade main road P258 which is more than 32 kilometres from a gravel road into a black top. This road infrastructure development will also deliver to the local community much needed jobs as it is set to create more than 1 080 opportunities.
This is in line with the ambitious infrastructure investment plans to create more jobs as announced by President Jacob Zuma in his State of the Nation Address early this year. Road P258 has been identified as a strategic route linking the town of Vryheid to other small agricultural towns like Greytown and Dundee.
The upgrade of this road will also create easy access for the community of Ngokodo to the town of eNquthu. KZN Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC, Willies Mchunu said this project was in line with government’s commitment to revive small towns and to position them as the key drivers of economic growth in the province and to attract much needed investments.
“The construction of this road will change the lives of the people in eMondlo community and the surrounding areas for the better. It will also provide a strategic link between Vryheid, Greytown and Dundee. Most importantly, it will create more than 1080 job opportunities for the local people,” said Mchunu.
He was addressing thousands of jubilant community members who came to witness the official launch of the construction of this critical infrastructure.
The Department of Transport is also constructing a state of the art R20 million Public Transport Facility, due for completion later this year, in eMondlo which has also created many job opportunities.
Recently Mchunu visited Nongoma and announced more than R1.5 billion which has been invested in the construction of roads, pedestrian and vehicle bridges across the Zululand District.Mchunu also used this occasion to interact with members of the community on their concerns regarding crime and safety issues.
