Pondo people allow extension of N2 highway
PRETORIA: The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) has welcomed the decision by the Pondo people and their traditional leaders to allow the extension of the N2 coastal highway between East London and Durban.
SANRAL's head of communications Vusi Mona described the decision as a ground-breaking one for the region.
He said the Pondo decision and the intervention of Rural Development Minister Gugile Nkwinti is an example of what can be achieved when stakeholders engage openly and honestly in order to arrive at a mutually beneficial decision.
"It is SANRAL's belief that the planned expansion of the N2 to Durban will open up a corridor of investment and opportunities previously closed off to members of the rural communities along this particular stretch of coastline," he said.
SANRAL has played an integral role in spearheading the N2 extension project after commissioning an environmental impact assessment for the project.
"Now that we have buy-in from the community, thanks to the vision of the Minister and the Pondo traditional leaders, we can move forward with this project which will add to our already world class national road network," Mona said.
