The President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency, The President, Jacob Zuma says he is happy about the progress that has been made regarding infrastructure development in the Eastern Cape. He was speaking earlier today during the official launch of a 140 metre lnkosi Dalibhunga Mandela Legacy Bridge, ten kilometre access road and the River Valley catalytic project at Ludondolo village next to Mvezo.
The President urged community members to work together with government to fight poverty, inequality and unemployment. One of the projects that he visited is the brickmaking plant that is run by the youth and is part of the River Valley catalytic projects.
The River Valley catalytic project is a concept whereby the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform is trying to develop land around the river banks across the country with full infrastructure. The building of the bridge and the road are in line with the commitment made by the President, during the State of the Nation Address, regarding infrastructure development in the country.
Speaking at the same event at the Ludondolo Junior Secondary School, the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Gugile Nkwinti, said the bridge will help in integrating communities around Mvezo and Ludondolo. He further said it will also help in unlocking the economic potential in the area. One hundred and thirty community members have been employed in this R127 million infrastructure development project. The bridge and the road will be able to link Mvezo and the surrounding villages with the N2.
This linkage is expected to make travelling comfortable and reduce the distance to East London, Mthatha and ldutywa by at least 50 kilometre. Currently, whenever people from Mvezo and surrounding villages have to travel to ldutywa they have to go via Qunu village. This is an 86 kilometre journey and the bridge, when completed, will shorten the trip. Mvezo is envisaged as a tourist attraction in the near future and the construction of the road will fast track economic development in the areas as transportation of goods to-and-from these areas will be done with less effort.
In executing this multimillion rand infrastructure project, the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform is working with various government departments, including the Department of Roads and Public Works, and Department of Transport, as well as Water Affairs Environmental Impact Assessment, the following specialists conducted an environmental as heritage value and attributes of cultural or historical.
These assessments were done in accordance witi'l the National Environmental Management Act which dictates that such studies be conducted before the construction of roads.
