City officials undertook a walkabout of Imizamo Yethu this week to inspect a roads project falling under its transport and urban development authority, scheduled to be completed at the end of May.
A total of R40 million was set aside for the project, which included the redesign, reconstruction and upgrade of up to 31 roads in Imizamo Yethu, Ocean View and Kommetjie.
“In Imizamo Yethu, some of the roads were in a very poor state,” said Brett Herron, mayoral committee member for transport and urban development.
“The asphalt surfacing had eroded due to greywater discharge on the streets and a lack of stormwater infrastructure. In the process of reconstructing the nine roads, we first had to redesign the layout of the roads to adapt to the steep typography, as well as to accommodate structures that were located within the road reserve due to the informal conditions of the area.”
The project started in June 2015.
The City had several meetings with the Imizamo Yethu project steering committee as the contract progressed.
“The location of structures within the road reserves caused some unforeseen delays, but we have worked closely and in consultation with the community. In the end we found solutions and I am happy to say that we should be done with all nine roads in Imizamo Yethu by the end of May,” Mr Herron said.
The City has also upgraded existing water mains and stormwater infrastructure in Imizamo Yethu, Ocean View and Kommetjie.
“We have constructed sidewalks where the road reserves were wide enough, and we have installed streetlights.
“These may sound like small interventions, but sidewalks and streetlights make a huge difference to those who walk to their destinations.
“Our residents feel and are safer when they walk on a surface dedicated to pedestrians, especially when doing so under streetlights after dark,” said mayoral committee member for area north, Suzette Little.
The City included the provision of streetlights in the contract at the request of the community.
Some 45 residents from Ocean View and Imizamo Yethu benefited from temporary work opportunities that were created as part of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) during the construction of these roads.
“About one-third of these local employees were women who were employed as part of the EPWP. With this level of local employment comes a substantial reinvestment into the community through the temporary work opportunities created and contracts to small and medium businesses from the areas,” said Mr Herron.
