The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the commencement of the Department of Transport’s work on MR00391, the Humansdorp-Hankey Road, marking a significant R218 million investment in the Kouga Local Municipality.

Yesterday, DA Kouga constituency leader Dr Vicky Knoetze MPL and I visited the site where work officially began. This project is crucial for improving transport infrastructure in the Eastern Cape and represents an essential step forward in cooperation between local and provincial governments in addressing the deteriorating condition of our provincial roads.

The route was initially identified for an upgrade in the 2017/2018 Road Sector Key Performance Indicators (KPI) Business Plan, which considered factors such as asset condition, safety indicators, traffic volume, and level of service.

The upgrades will include 24km of Provincial Road, including a portion between the Kwanomzamo entrance and Humansdorp, the Humansdorp Main Road and the portion between Humansdorp and Hankey.

The DA supports this investment and will continue to monitor the project to ensure the efficient and transparent use of public funds. At R9 million per kilometre, the DA urges the Department to ensure rigorous financial oversight throughout the project’s lifecycle.

We encourage the contractors to ensure that the project is delivered within the 20-month timeframe, from May 2024 to April 2026, and that disruptions to local communities are minimised.

The DA remains committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure the effective delivery of services and infrastructure in the Eastern Cape.

We will continue to advocate for responsible, transparent, and accountable governance to drive sustainable development and improve the quality of life for all residents.