Six years later Eastern Cape storm victims still without houses
Some found their names were never on the beneficiary list
An 11km road project in the Eastern Cape, meant to be completed in March 2023, remains unfinished and dangerous for villagers outside Mthatha. The road, which connects villages near Ngqeleni and links to the Canzibe Hospital, was allocated R37-million by the municipality. However, the contractor assigned in February 2022 stopped work in 2024, reappearing in June 2025 to retrieve its equipment.
The municipality's 2023/24 report indicated the project was 98% complete. In the 2024/25 audited statements, R38-million was spent on the Ntshazini road and bridge, with climate change and heavy rains cited as factors. GroundUp's visits in April and September revealed a slippery road with no guardrails and damaged parts of the bridge.
Local councillor Sithandiwe Mavume expressed frustration over the repeated delays and the municipality's reliance on its own resources to repair the damage. Chief Mfanelo Mnatule lamented that the road's narrow width and slippery surface make it unsafe during rain, leading to accidents. A resident's daughter was hospitalized after losing control of her vehicle on the road in December 2024.
The municipality acknowledged the defects but insisted the contractor would rectify them before leaving. However, this promise was not fulfilled, leading to further delays.
Written by urgent.news from GroundUp's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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