The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has been brought in to protect contractors working on the Msikaba and Mtentu megabridges in the Eastern Cape against construction mafias.
These so-called mafias – or “local development forums” as they are sometimes referred to – are wreaking havoc on the nation’s infrastructure upgrades and construction projects, demanding substantial payments from contractors in return for “protection.”
In the City of Cape Town, for example, these criminals delayed a vital R400-million enhancement to the metro’s transport network earlier in 2024, allegedly vowing to burn construction machinery should their demands not be met.
This has forced the city to bolster security on-site, keep municipal employees in safe houses, and launch a 24-hour anonymous hotline (080 000 6992) where extortionists can be reported.
Cape Town has also ceased revealing the value of its ongoing projects to the public so as to remain under the mafias’ radars. These criminals tend to target high-value developments where they have the best odds of scoring a large payment.
These incidents aren’t isolated to the Mother City, either. Similar examples can be found countrywide.
To safeguard the ongoing N2 Wild Coast Road Project (N2WCR) from these mafia groups, the Eastern Cape has now contracted the services of the SANDF.
Speaking at the National Council of Provinces, Eastern Cape MEC Ntandokazi Capa said that the Msikaba and Mtentu megabridges – two major facets of the N2WCR project – are now “being constructed in partnership with the South African National Defence Force,” as quoted by BusinessTech.
This, said Capa, should keep the contractors safe from construction mafias and allow them to finish the projects within the given deadlines.
The N2WCR project comprises a major 110km upgrade to one of the country’s most important connectivity roads which will reduce travel distances and by extension, travel times, between four of the nation’s biggest provinces – the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Mpumalanga.
The project boasts a budget of R20 billion and is expected to be completed by the last quarter of 2027.
Msikaba Bridge Pier. Credit: SMEC
Msikaba Bridge
Upon completion, the Msikaba Bridge will be billed as the longest suspension bridge in South Africa.
It spans the 580m Msikaba gorge and river located near the town of Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape, and is intended to significantly reduce travel times for vehicles driving from the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal, with the current road consisting of an 80km inland diversion passing Kokstad.
The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) recently revealed that the inverted-Y pylon structures on both sides of the bridge that will support the cables are already over 90% constructed.
Upon completion, they will stand an imposing 128m tall and have 17 pairs of mainstay cables and backstay cables anchored to them.
Additionally, Sanral said construction of the bridge deck, which started in January 2023, is anticipated to conclude in the first quarter of 2025, with the cable installation expected within the same period.
The Msikaba bridge has a budget of around R1.72 billion, with over R665 million thus far spent on suppliers and contractors within Eastern Cape communities.
Artist’s illustration of the completed Mtentu Bridge. Credit: Dissing+Weitling
Mtentu Bridge
The second megabridge on the N2WCR project, the Mtentu Bridge, will be the tallest bridge on the African continent at a peak of 223m, as well as one of the longest main-span balanced cantilever bridges in the world with a main span of 260 meters upon its completion in 2027, said Sanral.
It crosses the Mtentu River situated in Mbizana in the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Municipality, Eastern Cape.
The bridge has suffered multiple delays at the hands of construction mafias, with one of its first contractors simply walking out of the project entirely in 2019 due to threats from extortionist groups.
A new tender was awarded in November 2022 to the joint venture of the China Communications Construction Company and Mota-Engil Construction South Africa, with work recommencing in August 2023.
At present, the contractor is busy with the construction of access roads to the piers, a third trial blasting operation, and geotechnical investigative drilling for Pier 2 and Pier 11.
The budget for Mtentu Bridge has ballooned to a massive R4.05 billion as a result of the untimely delays.
To date, approximately R250 million has been spent on the contract and 248 local labourers have been employed.
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