The National Minister for Transport, Ms. Dipuo Peters, accompanied by KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Mr. Willies Mchunu, and MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mr. Mxolisi Kaunda, will on Friday, 1 July 2016, officially open the Ballito Interchange and main road P455, which were both constructed for a R186 million investment.
They will be accompanied by the mayor of KwaDukuza Local Municipality (Cllr. Ricardo Mthembu), which is within the ILembe District Municipality (Cllr. Sibusiso Mdabe), the interchange was built by the National Department of Transport, through SANRAL, for a total of R119 million. In addition, the KwaDukuza Municipality co-funded the main road P455, connecting the interchange – to the N2 to Ballito town and M4 – with the provincial Department of Transport for a combined R67 million.
The investment in the roads projects have served as a catalyst for the development of the new R1 billion Ballito shopping mall. During construction, 104 direct jobs were created for R13.8 million and approximately R23 million was spent with black-owned small enterprises. Training opportunities were also created for employees in the engineering field, with five (5) engineering students having participated throughout the project.
The media is invited to attend and cover this official handover of the projects to the people of KwaDukuza.
The details are as follows:
Date: Friday, 1 July 2016
Venue: Shaka’s Head Sports Ground
Time: 9h00
Order of Proceedings:
- 09h30 – 09h40: Arrival of the Minister, Premier, MEC and Mayors at the Interchange/ Main Road P445 for the official opening ceremony.
- 09h40 – 10h30: Remarks and Media Interviews.
- 10h35 – 10h45: Wreath-laying at the accident scene of the late Deputy Mayor of UThungulu, underneath the Interchange.
- 11h00 – 11h15: Wreath-laying at the accident scene of the 16 people who lost their lives when a minibus veered off the road and landed on a rail track, and subsequently crushed by an on-coming train.
- 11h30 – 12h00: Media interviews.
- 12h00 – 14h00: Main Event programme at Shaka’s Head Sports Ground.
Media contacts:
Kwanele Ncalane:
Cell: 072 803 1462/ 079 699 5755
E-mail: Kwanele.Ncalane@kzntransport.gov.za
Nathi Sukazi
Cell: 081 018 0518
E-mail: Nathi.Sukazi@kzntransport.gov.za
