KOUGA – Kouga Municipality launched major multi-million road infrastructure projects on 14 November, including gravel-to-tar upgrades in Sea Vista, St Francis Bay, and extensive road resealing across Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape.
Speaking at the launch in Sea Vista, Charles de Kock, Director of Civil and Water Services, said that the municipality’s road network consists of 305 km of paved roads and 118 km of gravel roads, with the launch of the upgrade of gravel roads in Sea Vista’s 7th Avenue, another 4.1 km of gravel roads was added to the sealed road network.
“As roads carry people and people carry the future, the road network of Kouga will be receiving unheard of interventions in various ways from resealing to upgrading from gravel to tar,” said De Kock.
He said that the success or failure of gravel roads depends on five critical areas, including drainage, correct road shape, high-quality gravel material to carry the load, proper construction and compaction, and continuous, proactive maintenance.
“As gravel roads become increasingly part of the critical road network due to Kouga’s year-by-year growth, the municipality has launched Phase 2 of the gravel road upgrade project, starting at Sea Vista 7th Avenue,” said De Kock.
He said that the Municipal Grant Funded (MIG) project has an overall budget of R24.5 million with an 18-month contract duration.
De Kock said that the Gravel to Tar project started in Sea Vista on 7 November (site handover) and will be completed when the last roads are done in Loerie in 2026.
“The project targets informal areas in St Francis, Humansdorp, Jeffreys Bay, Loerie and Hankey, including Sea Vista, Kruisfontein, Kwanomzamo, Arcadia, Ocean View, Madiba Bay and Rosedale,” said De Kock.
“At least 14 gravel roads will be upgraded to asphalt-surfaced roads, with the scope of work including storm water infrastructure, curbing, gravel shoulders, selected block paved sidewalks, road signage and road markings.”
He further said that the Sea Vista component costs R1.47 million for 476 metres of road, with an estimated completion date of 15 January 2026.
Speaking at the launch in Sea Vista, Shena Ruth, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance and Economic Development, thanked the municipality for “hearing the cries of the Sea Vista community”.
She said that the community has battled with flooding due to a lack of stormwater drains, and the upgrade will therefore provide much-needed relief, especially to the informal settlements behind 7th Avenue.
“When there are heavy rains, at times the water can be seen rising up the walls of homes in Sea Vista,” said Ruth.
While conversing with a community member, she learned that some residents have been waiting for at least 21 years for the road to be upgraded.
Speaking at Dolphin Drive, Jeffreys Bay, De Kock said that following detailed mapping and assessment, a four-phase approach was approved with an R200 million loan to reseal 71% of the road network (145 km), while MIG funds assist with gravel-to-tar upgrades.
He said that Phase 1 focuses on Jeffreys Bay with a project value just short of R60 million, covering 199,535 square metres of asphalt seals and 225,281 square metres of slurry seals.
“The project runs from 15 September to 14 July 2026, across Wards 2, 12, 14, 11, 8 and 3,” said De Kock.
He said that the scope of work includes pothole, base and surface repairs, crack sealing, asphalt overlays, localised storm water repairs, road signage and road markings.
De Kock said that four specific sections of Dolphin Drive will be resealed at a cost of just over R5 million.
“Key challenges include traffic flow and volumes, load limits at Seekoei Causeway (3.5 tons) and Marina Martinique Canal crossing (4 tons), and weather patterns,” said De Kock.
Furthermore, he said that the asphalt programme for Dolphin Drive sections, Hoepoe Street, Cormorant Crescent and Duine Road, runs until 12 December, while the slurry programme covers Barbet Crescent, Glenny Buchner Drive, Oswalt Crescent, Flamingo Road and Sunbird Avenue until the same date.
“Phases 2, 3 and 4 will run parallel, with tenders already being assessed to achieve 71% road resealing before December 2026,” said De Kock.
Executive Mayor Hattingh Bornman said that repairing roads in Kouga is one of the municipality’s main priorities as it brings many benefits for the community.
“Having proper roads will help people connect to opportunities,” said Bornman.
He further said that it is important for them to start each project well and finish well.
“Our residents deserve the best, and it is therefore important that we have the best people to do a good job,” said Bornman.
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