RESOURCE PRODUCED BY CSIR BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY & CSIR ROADS AND TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY
RESOURCE PRODUCED BY CSIR BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY & CSIR ROADS AND TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY |
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CSIR contributes to UNDP South Africa Human Development Report 2003 CSIR assists the Construction Industry Development Board in preparing the Construction Industry Status ReportRural community celebrates handover of road Exploring new school designs for Limpopo province Second edition of structural steel design guide now available Update on CSIR's Forensic Fire Investigation Programme International conference set to boost development of sustainable built environment in Africa E N Q U I R I E S |
The rural community of Bizana in the Eastern Cape recently celebrated the official handover of the Amadiba road to the Mbizana Local Municipality, by the national Minister of Transport, Mr Jeff Radebe. Construction of the 44km-long gravel road, which runs from the R61 between Port Edward and Bizana, down to the sea, was a community-based, labour-intensive project managed by CSIR Roads and Transport Technology (Transportek), with funding from the national Poverty Alleviation Fund, though the South African National Roads Agency Limited. Background Poverty alleviation and employment creation The primary objective of the project was to provide jobs to a very poor community, thus alleviating poverty. This was done successfully by using labour-intensive construction. Located in a part of the Eastern Cape considered to be one of the poorest in the country, one of the serious drawbacks to development in the area has been the lack of all-weather roads, which has inhibited tourism, commerce and agriculture in the region. Unemployment measured in 1999 was 75,6%. The number of households earning less than R1500 per month was 91,4%, and 33,4% of households had no income at all. From the above, it becomes apparent that the area was ideally suited to an employment-creation project. The ward in which the project took place has a population of 15 542. In terms of government regulations, persons under the age of 18 and over 60 may not be employed. The number of people in the ward eligible for employment was thus approximately 5 900; of these, approximately 75% was unemployed. The project employed a total number of 1700 people, which constitutes 38% of the total number of unemployed. In accordance with government guidelines, recruitment was done in such a way that 60% of labourers employed were women and 40% men. In addition, 20% were aged 25 or younger, while 80% were older than 25. Of the total funds spent on construction, 55% was spent on wages, 5% on local goods and services and a further 20% on local haulage contractors. This meant that 80% of the project funding remained within the area, with the consequent multiplier effect.
 All-weather road access Providing accessibility was a key outcome of the project. Before the construction of the Amadiba road, the area had no real access roads and tractors and pick-ups were the only vehicles providing transport. Travel during wet weather was almost impossible, leaving the community stranded. Traffic volumes and average speeds were measured during the project; volumes increased from 30 to over 100 vehicles per day, and the vehicles using the road now include taxis, 50-seater buses, trucks and saloon cars. A study on average speeds maintained on the road showed that these have doubled from 15 to 30 kilometres per hour. The economic benefits are clear as people have become more mobile. Public and private transport is thriving, providing the community with easy access to schools, clinics, pension payout points, and the towns of Port Edward and Bizana, during all weather conditions. The greater accessibility has also allowed the police to enter the area and conduct more effective policing. Environmental constraints The area is one of unspoilt natural beauty and plant life, being in the Pondoland Centre of Endemism, so special care had to be taken not to negatively affect the environment. A low-impact, sympathetic design was achieved by paying careful attention to drainage and by avoiding the cuts and fills common to conventional construction, which have caused degradation elsewhere. There was a significant shortage of gravel in the area, where the prevailing geology is a sandstone base covered by topsoil. In many areas a thin seam of pea-gravel was found on top of the sandstone. The procedure was to remove the topsoil, excavate and load the pea-gravel and replace the topsoil, using labour-intensive methods. This rehabilitation resulted in a scarcely changed landscape.
 Skills transfer and training One of the main objectives of the project was to create emerging contractors. Skills transfer and training ensured that the local site management team developed to a stage where they could become independent contractors, having received accredited training to perform the specialized construction work in the project (laying of storm water pipes, building of head-walls and wing-walls, constructing sub-surface drains, concrete batching and placing, steel fixing, erecting formwork, gabion installation, stone masonry construction, small plant operation and entrepreneurial training). Many of the emerging haulage contractors have upgraded their vehicles, and are eager to get more work of a similar nature. The community is now well equipped to take care of its road network. Tourism It is hoped that the major spin-off following the construction of the road will be tourism. While the road project provided temporary employment for the community, it is envisaged that a booming tourism industry would provide many permanent jobs in the area. Initiatives that have already been introduced include a "catch and release" fly-fishing operation in the Mtentu Estuary and various horse and hiking trails. Another attraction is the Mnyameni River waterfall, which has been made more accessible to tourists by the construction of the Amadiba Road. Related links:
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