Update
GEORGE NEWS - The R50-million upgrade of the Thembalethu section of Nelson Mandela Boulevard, still commonly referred to as Sandkraal Road, is the start of a massive infrastructure project to make Thembalethu more accessible.
Melford Notshokovu, former mayor of George and political activist, says, "Thembalethu was established during apartheid and was planned accordingly, with only one entrance and exit and separated from the rest of George by the N2.
With the population explosion, with most of the people coming from the Eastern Cape, the morning traffic has become a nightmare and if there is an accident at the busy intersections on the bridge over the N2, there is no alternative but to wait."
In the early nineties the road into Thembalethu branched off to the left at four ways, where the traffic light intersection is today, into Ngcakani Road.
It went past the municipal office of the then Black Local Authority, Imizamo Yethu Secondary School and the Thembalethu Community Hall towards the sea. At that time, the road that went straight at the intersection was a sand road that led to the farms and Ballots Bay.
"Around 1994, Section 42 and 58 of the farm Sandkraal were opened up and informal houses sprang up. When plots are cut for informal housing, there is bound to be transgressions that can affect future town planning regulations," said Notshokovu.
With the help of Chris April, chairman of the Western Cape Housing Board from 1996 until 1999, funding was approved for the ANC's RDP housing projects that resulted in the informal structures being replaced by formal housing.
Today Nelson Mandela Boulevard carries the bulk of the traffic into Thembalethu as over 90% of the newly built houses feed into the road.
"I accept that the Western Cape Government is financing the upgrade of the road in Thembalethu itself and can only hope that Sanral and the national government will come to the party quickly to widen their bridge over the N2 - it is long overdue," said Notshokovu.
Read a previous article: 'Bulldozed' by Boulevard
ARTICLE & PHOTOS: MYRON RABINOWITZ, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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