NO ACCESS: SMMEs block the N2 between Cotswold and Stanford Road on the N2 freeway yesterday, demanding a percentage of the R200-million roadwork project. PICTURE: EUGENE COETZEE
TRAFFIC came to a complete standstill on the N2 between Cotswold and Stanford Road yesterday as SMMEs demanded a 30% stake in a R200-million road project.
They blocked the N2 with their own vehicles at 8am, forcing traffic to be redirected via Cape Road.
Three hours later, police used stun grenades, rubber bullets and teargas to disperse the 100-strong crowd.
About 13 vehicles were impounded, but some owners whose cars were taken complained that they were not even part of the protest.
One was Qhinebe Baskiti, who was driving to an appointment when he realised the road was blocked.
“Just because of my skin colour the police assumed I was part of the protest. I had a meeting at 8.30am, but they towed my car,” he said.
The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) says its work on the 28km stretch of road is expected to be done by December next year.
Work includes maintenance such as repairs of pavement failures, resurfacing and drainage improvements.
Nceba Dywilim, who claimed he was a secretary of the SMME group, said they had engaged with Sanral in 2012.
“They agreed that their policy was not talking to SMMEs and promised to change it so that we could also be accommodated for future projects.”
Sanral N2 project manager Fanie van Aardt said the agency was already promoting employment and SMME development initiatives on the project.
Sanral southern region manager Mbulelo Peterson said: “A pre-determined percentage of the main contractor’s total contract value must be utilised towards the sub-contracting of SMMEs and the employment and wages of labour.
“In routine Sanral maintenance projects, between 60 and 80% of the work is typically done by SMMEs and labour is employed from the project area.”
-Yoliswa Sobuwa
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