At a large community meeting yesterday in Sigidi, Mbizana, the MEC of Public Works, Mr Babalo Madikizela, opened for new negotiations about the N2 Toll Road through Amadiba in Mbizana.
MEC Babalo Madikizela came together with the Mayor of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Municipality (Mbizana) Daniswa Mafumbatha, Chief Lunga Baleni of Amadiba, Sanral’s N2 Project leader Craig McLahlan and Regional Manager Nwabisa Gxumisa among others.
The whole history of intimidation, fake meetings and disrespect was pointed out to MEC Babalo Madikizela by community leaders and elders. “Our simple demand is that the route of the N2 must be moved away from the coast back to its original inland route or at least 10 km from the coast”.
Addressing the community, the MEC said: “I can see on your placards they don’t say N2 should not be built. They say ‘Move the N2 away from the coast’”.
The meeting finally agreed that delegations will meet to discuss this matter and then return to report back to the community at Komkhulu (the Great Place) of the coast, something SANRAL continually refuses to do.
The Amadiba Crisis Committee welcomes this decision to respect the customary law of the community. We hope the upcoming discussions finally will resolve the issue.
Already in April 2017, the CEO of Sanral, Mr Macozoma, was asked to move the N2, but broke his promise to come back and report. On 23 January 2020, a large imbizo for the whole of Amadiba again told Sanral’s Craig McLahlan and Nwabisa Gxumisa to put the N2 Toll Road a minimum 10 km from the coast.
ENDS
Amadiba Crisis Committee
Spokesperson: Nonhle Mbuthuma 0763592982