SA completes Ramotswa linking bridge

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday November 8, 2016 17:37

At the official opening of the bridge yesterday, in Swartkopfontein, it became evident that Botswana has not yet started building part of the bridge in its territory.

The SA Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters told attendants from Botswana and South Africa that they completed their side of the bridge on time and on budget.

“This is a great achievement for the two countries because during rainy times the border was forced to be closed because of floods.  This bridge will reduce traffic and congestion at other border posts because it is nearer to Zeerust compared to the Tlokweng one.

“There were identified economic benefits through the construction of the bridge and overall road construction in Swartkopfontein,” Peters said.

She said the agreement SA and Botswana made since evolved to where joint strategic ports of entry were identified and where one country will provide an end solution from design until contract completion.

“Each country will thus fund the entire process as per the identified projects.  The construction of the bridge post generated 51 jobs.  It had employed 18 adults, 21 SA youth and eight youth from Botswana,” she said.

She said five companies from SA and two from Botswana benefited as they were contracted.

However, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Kitso Mokaila said the objectives of the agreement are to stimulate and promote economic investment and social development within their territories, and ensure that development occurs in an environmentally sustainable manner.  The agreement also aims to upgrade the existing road network and bridges at designated commercial points of entry.

When updating the SA Minister on Platjan Bridge, Mokaila said, “Botswana completed the design of (the) bridge in November 2009 butdue to the financial meltdown, the bridge construction project was suspended.  In 2013 funds for construction were availed and my Ministry commenced vetting of the tender documents”.

He continued: “The project is currently at tendering stage and I would like to point out that there were some technical difficulties that caused the delay in implementing the projects”.