The Western Cape Government’s R227.2 million upgrade of the N9/N12 between George and Oudtshoorn is making steady progress. This project is improving road safety while creating meaningful economic opportunities for local communities. Provincial Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers visited the construction site on 15 October to assess progress and engage with the project team.

Construction began in October 2025 and involves upgrading and strengthening approximately 5 km of the N9/N12. In addition, it includes repairs and resealing of approximately 2 km of Waboomskraal Road, which intersects with the main route. The project is expected to be completed in June 2028, if all goes well.

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Safer journeys

The N9/N12 is a vital regional transport link between George and Oudtshoorn. It serves motorists, businesses and communities. The project will improve road capacity, traffic flow and safety through several substantial engineering interventions.

These include widening the existing traffic lanes from 3,3 m to 3,7 m. Moreover, the project widens and surfaces the road shoulders from 1,5 m to 2 m. It also improves the horizontal and vertical alignment of the road.

Other interventions include constructing a mechanically stabilised earth retaining wall approximately 800 m long. There will also be installation of new culverts and widening existing drainage structures.

Furthermore, the project involves installing concrete edge beams at accesses and minor intersections, replacing road signs and installing new guardrails, and upgrading fencing. Cut-and-fill slopes will be protected and vegetation established.

Work on Waboomskraal Road includes drainage maintenance, road patching, edge repairs and the reconstruction of its intersection with the N9/N12. Protected plant species are also being temporarily relocated as part of the construction process.

These improvements are intended to provide motorists with a safer, more reliable and more efficient road connection.

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Local benefit

Beyond the physical road improvements, the project is contributing to local economic participation through employment, labour opportunities and procurement from targeted enterprises. Since construction began in October 2025, the project has already generated 102 work opportunities against a project target of 240. It has also created 9 424 person-days of labour for local people against a target of 34 000. Goods and services worth R8.5 million have been procured from targeted enterprises against a target of R32.5 million. At the same time, six contracts have been concluded with local enterprises against a target of 21, and two contracts with emerging contractors against a target of six. These figures demonstrate how infrastructure investment can support local participation while delivering essential improvements to the provincial road network.

People first

Following his site inspection, Simmers emphasised that infrastructure investment must deliver benefits beyond the physical construction of roads. “Our investment in the N9/N12 is about more than upgrading a road. It is about making journeys safer, improving connectivity between communities and ensuring that infrastructure investment creates opportunities for local people. Since construction began in October 2025, this project has already generated 102 work opportunities and more than 9 400 person-days of labour. We have also seen R8.5 million in goods and services procured from targeted enterprises,” he said.

“These figures represent opportunities for workers, local contractors and businesses to participate in building the infrastructure our province needs. Every infrastructure project must ultimately be measured not only by what we build, but also by the difference it makes in people’s lives. We will continue monitoring progress closely to ensure that this investment delivers lasting value for motorists, communities and the regional economy,” Simmers added.

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Steady progress

Construction activities currently include earthworks, rock excavation, drainage improvements and the development of permanent road infrastructure. The Department will continue overseeing implementation, with particular attention to construction quality, road safety, local economic participation and delivery against project milestones. The anticipated completion date remains June 2028. The Western Cape Government remains committed to investing in infrastructure that connects communities, supports economic activity and creates opportunities for residents across the province.