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Pretoria battles controversy to build Africa’s tallest bridge
Artist impression of Mtentu Bridge Project on South Africa
Photo credit: South African National Road Agency Limited (SANRAL)
What you need to know:
- The Mtentu Bridge Project on South Africa’s famed Wild Coast is set to be the highest in Africa and among the tallest in the world
- The project includes expanded road links to major ports and international tourist arrival centres which could help the impoverished Eastern Cape region and help rebuild South Africa’s Covid-hit economy and tourism sector
- Even after the project started recently following community protests and court cases that saw a five-year delay, controversy was still far from over
South Africa is finally beginning construction of what will become Africa’s tallest bridge on the back of years of outrage by affected communities, court suits and a major escalation in its cost.
The Mtentu Bridge Project, which also includes extensions to the national road system in the largely undeveloped East Cape province of the country, will allow easier access to the famed Wild Coast on South Africa’s south-eastern Indian Ocean coastline.
