The economic and social benefits of the Amadiba Road project

Abstract

Paper presented at the 23rd Annual Southern African Transport Conference 12 - 15 July 2004 "Getting recognition for the importance of transport", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa. Amadiba Road is a community-based, labour-intensive, 40 km long gravel road in the north-eastern corner of the Eastern Cape. It was requested by a poor community who had no real roads and needed access to the nearest towns, Port Edward and Bizana. It was also desirable for the purpose of opening up the area to tourism opportunities, surely the industry with the best prospects for employment. 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 affect the environment. The project was innovative in the type of contract employed, and in the type of bridges and drifts used. Of the construction funds 55% were spent on wages, 5% on local goods and services and 20% on local haulage contractors resulting in 80% of the funds remaining in the community with the consequent multiplier effect.