Singaphi Street upgrade gets underway

A R40m upgrade to Singaphi Street in New Brighton has started and will provide safe spaces for informal traders as well as create jobs for at least 100 people in the impoverished community. Image: MyPE

It will include the building of freestanding benches, temporary trading stores, cycle parks and play areas for children.

The project will see the upgrading and beautification of the uneven and potholed Singaphi Street which runs from Ferguson Road to Olaf Palme Street and the first phase, with a R12-million budget, will include the upgrading of the road and paving.

This is expected to take eight months while phase two, which will include the area's beautification, will take a year.

MBDA Planning and Development Manager Dorelle Sapere said the agency wanted to replicate what it started in Central.

"We have come a long way from when we first started talking about the upgrade. At last we are here to take the first step," she said.

The first phase will see a number of previously disadvantaged contractors getting a significant proportion of work, with more than 100 jobs being created.

MBDA Chief Executive Pierre Voges said the organisation was ensuring the SMMEs received the necessary support and mentoring.

"We have appointed a young and experienced construction engineer whose job is to provide on-site support for the duration of the programme. Venturing into the city's townships in this way has been long overdue," he said.

MBDA spokesman Luvuyo Bangazi said: "This project is a true example of a people-driven initiative. The community here has been instrumental in directing the process.

Source: Herald via I-Net Bridge