The ongoing effort to construct and deliver 19 bridges to numerous rural communities in the Eastern Cape by April 2024 has made meaningful progress.
He said that a total of 19 of those bridges are in the Eastern Cape and are concentrated in the flood ravaged districts such as OR Tambo District, Alfred Nzo and Amathole Districts.
Binqose said,
He added that it is total of 760 locals- 40 for each bridge-that are getting employment through Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in this 307 Million Rands project.
According to Binqose, this work is done through a partnership between the National Defense Force (SANDF) as the implementing agent, as well as the Office of the Premier and the Eastern Cape Department of Transport.
Binqose added that this aimed at improving safety, well being and access for rural communities who often find themselves being cut off from the world in times of floods.
He said that when Eastern Cape Premier, Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane takes to the podium again on Thursday, February 22, for the final State of the Province Address for the 6th Administration, more progress would have been made in this massive rural infrastructure project for the Eastern Cape.
Speaking about the Welisizwe Programme in his State of the Province Address last year, Mabuyane said that the construction of the 19 bridges under the Welisizwe Programme is an intervention to enable mobility of the people within communities.
“It will provide easier and a safer access to social amenities for rural communities and will also be a catalytic boost for rural the inclusion of rural communities into the economy.”
