Pixaby
The Eastern Cape is undergoing a major transformation as towns like Ndabakazi, Qumrha, Bhisho, and Ngqushwa are turned into sprawling construction zones — thanks to a R3.5 billion investment by the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL).
The ambitious infrastructure rollout, spanning several municipalities, is not only set to upgrade critical national roads and ease traffic congestion but has already created over 1,200 job opportunities and launched training programmes for local youth and interns.
From new taxi ranks to safer road intersections and pedestrian walkways, SANRAL says the projects are reshaping rural towns while revitalising local economies.
According to a media statement issued by SANRAL on Tuesday, the developments span several municipalities and form part of its broader mandate to manage and maintain South Africa’s national road network.
The developments cover four key municipalities — Mnquma, Great Kei, Ngqushwa, and Buffalo City. The Eastern Cape alone accounts for 5,885 kilometres of SANRAL’s total 27,501-kilometre network — the largest share in the country.
One of the flagship projects, currently under construction in Ndabakazi, is the Intermodal Interchange, which includes a new taxi rank and a bridge over the N2. The project commenced in February 2023, and is expected to be completed by August 2025.
“The Ndabakazi Intermodal Interchange project that is currently under construction will go a long way in easing traffic flow, reduce road accidents, and provide job opportunities for the local community. Through this project, 240 jobs have been provided, empowering the local community with the necessary skills that are needed to work on it,” said Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL’s Provincial Head for the Eastern Cape.
Interns have also been integrated into the workforce and taken through specialised training.
Peterson said, "We currently have two interns with a BTech Engineering qualification, one with an Advanced Diploma in Environmental Management, one with an S4 qualification in Civil Engineering, two with L2 Building Technology qualifications, and two interns with an N6 Civil Engineering working on the project.”
Another major focus is the R63 national road upgrade between Bhisho and Qumrha, launched in May 2023 and due for completion in June 2026. The project includes road widening, upgraded intersections with right-turning lanes, and improved road markings. It has already created 364 jobs, with accredited training provided to workers.
Additionally, SANRAL said 16 major road intersections on the R63 from Bhisho to the N6 are being upgraded. This segment will also feature 12km of pedestrian walkways, 3km of access roads, and 5km of community service roads.
A taxi rank will also be constructed in Peelton. So far, 259 people have been employed on this leg of the project, including five people with disabilities.
On the N2 stretch between Ngqushwa and Makhana, work is underway to widen the road and improve safety by curbing high accident rates. The project includes three new underpasses or culverts, two structure extensions, and the crushing of subbase and base layers.
“The project has created 419 permanent full-time job opportunities, and a total of 436 people have been trained on it,” Peterson concluded.
