The Eastern Cape department of roads and transport are excited that the preparations for the 2010 World Cup are directly benefiting the community.

The Eastern Cape department of roads and transport are excited that the preparations for the 2010 World Cup are directly benefiting the community.

This follows the employment of 470 community members for the reconstruction of the road between Middledrift and Alice at a cost of R202 million.

MEC Thobile Mhlahlo said the reconstruction process is scheduled to end in December next year but indications are that it will be completed four months earlier.

Subsequent to that, Mhlahlo said the department will direct its attention to the section between Alice and Fort Beaufort.

"The department is fully committed to provide the necessary infrastructure to facilitate growth and development, while simultaneously eradicating poverty through massive employment of our people using labour-intensive methods," Mhlahlo said.

"It is gratifying to note that the people of Nxuba and Nkonkobe municipalities have benefited handsomely as either local enterprises or local labour.

"During the construction process, we deployed a limited number of our internal construction unit staff members from Graaf-Reinet, who worked with the constructor to create jobs for local communities.

"As a result, the local community provided 166 labourers, of which 54 were women. An amount of R51 million was directly spent on the communities of the two municipalities."

Mhlahlo also announced that the government will upgrade the 63km road phase one from Debe Nek to Glenmore at a cost of R16,3 million.