The Voices of Lusikisiki Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) and Legacy Programme linked to the N2 Wild Coast Toll Road emerged a significant achievement the 2024 Impact Awards organised by Zutari. These awards are an annual event where the leading consulting engineering and infrastructure advisory firm celebrates its collaboration and co-creation with key clients. “The projects celebrated captures what Zutari is all about,” remarked CEO Teddy Daka during the gala event held at the Pretoria Country Club on 18 April.
The project won the Shaping Radically Collaborative Networks category, which recognises a project that combines technical engineering and strategic advisory service across traditional boundaries. Exemplary collaboration with partners, clients, and end users resulted in improved outcomes. The project also received a commendation in the Delivering Resilient Spaces and Accelerating Equitable Quality of Life categories.
The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) appointed the https://www.zutari.com/ Consortium to oversee the design and construction of the national route and associated local access roads in Package 4 of the N2 Wild Coast Road development. In partnership with Africa! Ignite, the consortium will implement the SANRAL Legacy Programme, which aims to engage with, and develop projects in the communities along the new road, explains Amelia Visagie, Associate Design Director at Zutari.
The scalable project offers the opportunity to expand the ABCD and Legacy Programme aspects to encompass even more villages in the region, thereby extending the community outreach and involvement of the project even further. “We have established a meaningful partnership with the client that has delivered exemplary results. It has been exciting to see people’s lives changed as a result.” shares Visagie.
The project is situated within the Ingquza Hill Local Municipal area of the OR Tambo Municipal District in the Eastern Cape. It includes villages along Package 4 of the N2, adjacent to Lusikisiki, between the Lingeni Intersection and the Msikaba Bridge.
The N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WCTR) is a multibillion-rand infrastructure project significant for the Eastern Cape economy. As a Strategic Infrastructure Project (SIP), it aims to stimulate development in the Southeast Node and Corridor (SIP3) and aligns with the National Development Plan.
Construction is creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs, though unemployment remains a critical issue driving community action against projects on the Wild Coast. Therefore, SANRAL’s Legacy Programme maximises the benefits of the new road for adjacent communities, creating broad buy-in for the N2 construction project, explains Visagie.
The Zutari Consortium, Zutari’s Social and Stakeholder Engagement Team, and Africa!Ignite used an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach. A method that empowers communities to identify and develop their skills, knowledge, and talents, focusing on strengths rather than deficits. It promotes active citizenship, community accountability, and sustainable development.
“Investing in proactive community engagement and development resulted in well-informed and committed stakeholders, broad buy-in, and endorsement of both the N2 road construction project and the associated Legacy Programme,” comments Visagie.
