Gert Sibande District Municipality Executive Mayor Cllr Walter Mngomezulu addresses stakeholders during the meeting on the N2 upgrade. | Photo: GSDM/Facebook
Concerns surrounding employment and business opportunities on the multi-billion-rand N2 upgrade were raised during a stakeholder engagement held at the Gert Sibande District Municipality offices in Ermelo on Thursday, 20 August.
The meeting was led by Gert Sibande District Municipality Executive Mayor Cllr Walter Mngomezulu, alongside Msukaligwa Local Municipality Executive Mayor Cllr Mapulane Nkosi. Representatives from SANRAL and other stakeholders involved in the project attended.
Mngomezulu said the engagement followed complaints from residents of Ward 18, Sheepmoor and surrounding areas. Community members had requested an opportunity to raise their concerns with SANRAL while avoiding disruptions that could delay construction.
Among the allegations raised were the possible manipulation of recruitment databases and irregularities involving the selection process. It was alleged that some names selected through the process were later replaced and that certain workers listed as local residents might not be from the affected communities.
Further allegations included skilled applicants being appointed to general-worker positions and local subcontractors being instructed by the main contractor whom to employ. Mngomezulu stressed that the claims remained allegations and had not yet been supported by sufficient evidence.
Stakeholders involved in the N2 upgrade attend the engagement at the Gert Sibande District Municipality offices in Ermelo. | Photo: GSDM/Facebook
He invited community representatives to present information supporting their concerns and said contractors, consulting engineers and social facilitators should also be allowed to respond. The information gathered during the engagement will assist the municipality in compiling a report for discussion with SANRAL’s provincial management.
Mngomezulu emphasised that the N2 development was a government and community project whose long-term benefits should be felt by residents of Msukaligwa, Mkhondo and surrounding areas.
This is a developing story. More information will be published as it becomes available.