WILLOWVALE– The Eastern Cape Department of Transport(EC DoT) has launched phase three of the long-awaited Willowvale–Dwesa Road Upgrade, at Willowvale in Badi community hall marking a major step forward in the Wild Coast development corridor on 13 November 2025.
The new phase will cover roughly 14 kilometres and will carry a massive three-year investment of R484 Million. The project is set to create significant jobs and business opportunities for local communities.The project is set to officially break ground in January 2026, with completion expected by February 2028.
The appointed contractor, DownTouch will now begin securing labour permits, establishing steering committees and preparing the groundwork to ensure a smooth start to construction in the new year.
MEC for EC DoT Xolile Nqatha attending the phase 3 launch at Badi community hall emphasised that, “We have introduced today the contractor and we’re calling upon our people to work together and safeguard the project.”
Mbhashe Local Municipality Mayor, Cllr Samkelo Janda said they are extremely pleased as the Mbhashe Municipality to have reached this stage, as this road has long been a source of hardship for the local community, especially those travelling along the route that connects Ward 24 and Ward 29. He said the road will create opportunities for residents to access government services more easily and secondly, it will strengthen local initiatives aimed at development and self-empowerment.
He added, “We are hopeful that once we sit down with the contractor we will be able to clarify how local opportunities will be opened up, further discussions will follow to determine how and at what stages opportunities will be made available to the community.”
Furthmore, Chairperson of Ward 24&29 Business Forum, Nceba Mdledle said the community has been waiting for this project for years, especially after Phase 2. He expressed gratitude to the MEC for prioritising the road, noting that it will provide proper infrastructure and employment opportunities.
He added that, “On previous projects we were affected internally, we feel like we were sidelined, we don’t belong here but we are trying to fix that. We do not say people must not work in our area but we want recognition, we want to be known that we have skills and the right grades. We want it to be done in the usual way it is done in other places. We then tried to meet another business forum in Willowvale because we asked for cooperation, they said they don’t recognise us, we were kicked out of the office. We have written to the municipality and raised our complaints, we have not received a response,” he said.
In addition one of the residents, Zimkhitha Bhalintulo a teacher at Upper Gwadu Senior Secondary School (SSS) thanked the government for the new road, stating that it will make transporting children for school trips easier, improve access for ambulances and create more job opportunities.
She added that, “Now we can visit places locally and teach the children about nature, ambulances can move up and down easily and job opportunities will also increase.”
Furthermore, with the contractor now in place and community support growing, the project promises to transform the lives of residents in Wards 24 and 29 ensuring safer travel, better connectivity and long-term socio-economic benefits for the region.
Photographs: Sandiswa Mgobo/Supplied
