HUMANSDORP- Farmers and businesses in the Sarah Baartman District are expected to benefit from improved road infrastructure following the official opening of the rehabilitated and resealed 27.4km Humansdorp–Hankey road.
Eastern Cape Department of Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha officially opened the road on 13th October 2026, after a 20-month construction project aimed at improving road safety and supporting the movement of agricultural produce from the farming region to markets.
The project also created employment opportunities for local residents and helped strengthen the capacity of local contractors, according to the provincial Department of Transport.
The road is an important link for agricultural communities that depend on transport infrastructure to move their produce and access economic opportunities.
Speaking at the opening, Nqatha called on residents to protect the newly rehabilitated road, saying the infrastructure had been funded through taxpayers’ money.
“This road connects farming communities to markets and economic opportunities. Beyond improving travel conditions, the project has created jobs for local residents and helped build the capacity of local contractors,” he said.
Nqatha urged the community to take responsibility for safeguarding the road to ensure it continued to benefit current and future generations.
“It is their tax money that has made this investment possible and we all have a responsibility to ensure that it continues to serve present and future generations,” he said.
The department said the project was expected to support local businesses and contribute to economic growth by improving transport links in the agricultural area.
The opening forms part of the department’s October Transport Month activities.
Courtesy of IMAGE: EC DoT
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