Construction of N2 Harding road slows down

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27-03-2024
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South Coast Herald
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The chairperson of the forum, Bongani Silangwe, said the reason they have shut down the road works is that they were given a letter to be on the PLC committee and it was later withdrawn.For several days just over a week ago, Umuziwabantu Business Forum stopped construction on the N2 Harding road which was damaged due to heavy rainfall in January.

The Herald met with the forum on-site, where little work was being done.

The chairperson of the forum, Bongani Silangwe, said the reason they have shut down the road works is that they were given a letter to be on the PLC committee, and it was later withdrawn.

He said the mayor of Umuziwabantu Municipality, Sboniso Zungu, did not give them a reason for the withdrawal.

“One of our members should be on that committee, but last Thursday we were told that Zungu had rejected it hence we decided to stop work on the road.”

Silangwe said there are two business forums in town, Umuziwabantu and Harding Business Forum, and it seemed as if the mayor works with the other (Harding) and not them.

Silangwe said he can confidently say that Zungu is the one allegedly sabotaging them and not giving them an opportunity.

Meetings were scheduled between Umuziwabantu Business Forum and the mayor but were postponed.

“We will not be sidelined on such opportunities. If this continues and the mayor does not allow us to be part of this, we plan to shut down the municipality.”

The secretary of the forum, Zilungile Ngcobo, said they first contacted Sanral because they were fixing the road.

She said they had a meeting with them, and they were told that they must go to their Local Economic Development office and ask for a letter which allows them to be part of the committee.

“We did that, and the manager told us that he could not issue a letter. Only the municipal manager could do so. Unfortunately, at the time the municipal manager was not well, so we were sent to the mayor.”

Zungu said that he is in contact with Umuziwabantu Business Forum to arrange a formal meeting to discuss a range of issues pertaining to the N2 project.

“Initially the business forum complained that they were not receiving information regarding the project, whereas the business sector already had representation in the PLC which was meant to ensure that information was distributed to all business stakeholders.”

He said they are currently engaging with the forum with an understanding that improving the communication channels is key to ensuring that information reaches all stakeholders, including the Umuziwabantu Business Forum whose main concern from the onset was the lack of information from the PLC.

According to the Umuziwabantu business forum, construction has resumed on the N2, but is slow.