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MEDIA RELEASE
SANRAL CEO leads site visit to the newly completed N1 sinkhole in Centurion

From right: SANRAL CEO Reginald Demana with Design and Construction Manager, Tsakane Mathebula, during the site inspection of the N1 sinkhole in Centurion, Gauteng.

Pretoria, 13 December 2023 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced that construction to repair the sinkhole on the N1 near the Flying Saucer Interchange in Centurion has been completed, easing the flow of heavy traffic ahead of the festive season.

The repairs to the sinkhole on the N1 come shortly after another sinkhole on the nearby R21 was completed last month. The total cost of repairs to the two sinkholes was R424 million, with R280 million spent on the N1 and R144 million on the R21, respectively.
SANRAL CEO Reginald Demana said the N1 sinkhole project, which started in September 2023, was 99.9% complete and commended the construction team for working hard to ensure all lanes were open on the N1 in both directions between Pretoria and Centurion.

Speaking alongside the N1 during a site visit to the construction site, Demana said: “We have good news for motorists travelling on the N1, especially at the start of the Reconciliation Day long weekend and, of course, ahead of the festive season.
There was a massive sinkhole cavity underground along the N1 between Pretoria and Centurion, which caused significant damage to the road.

“Given the importance of the N1 and R21 to the economy of Pretoria, South Africa’s Capital city, the construction work undertaken here was very important. The Flying Saucer is a major interchange, which connects the N1 and R21, so it was critically important to ensure we minimised congestion in morning and afternoon peak traffic.

“One of our major concerns here was the extent of the damage due to the rains at the end of 2021 and early in 2022, and whether the sinkhole might extend further under the N1, which could have led to a total collapse of the road.

“For SANRAL, the repair of this sinkhole is a major achievement, especially with the peak traffic expected ahead of this long weekend and the peak festive season traffic on this key route to the northern parts of South Africa. I’m very happy that today it is 99.9% complete. The sinkhole has been rehabilitated and a wall built to ensure the road will stand the test of time.

“I have inspected the site today along with some of our executive team and I am very excited that they have managed and completed this project successfully, especially the quality of work and the fact that they were able to accelerate the work to get it done ahead of the festive season peak traffic,” said Demana.

Regarding the management of traffic during construction over the last 15 months, Demana said: “We are impressed that the team managed to repair both the southbound and northbound lanes without having to stop traffic. One of the critical things we said to the team was, ‘whatever happens, the road must remain open at all times’.

He added, “Although there were constraints at certain times where we had to reduce the number of lanes from four to two, we are now complete and that is why we are here today to witness that for ourselves.”

Demana congratulated the SANRAL Northern Region engineering team, the Zutari engineering consultants team and JODAN construction team for their work on the project.

“This was a very complex piece of geotechnical work. Pretoria is a dolomitic area so when it rains a lot, sinkholes develop in certain parts of the city and this was one such case,” he said.

“The sinkhole led to depressions of sections of the N1 and cracks developing on the entire route, so we immediately took measures to assess the damage and start the repair work. With sinkholes you never know the extent of the damage until you start excavating and drilling holes and piling in with concrete.”

SANRAL was made aware of the sinkhole along the N1 in Centurion at the beginning of January 2022. To prioritise the safety of road users, SANRAL immediately closed off the affected lanes and redirected traffic.

Demana said SANRAL deployed a team of specialist engineers to work on the project. “It took some time to start the project, mainly due to extensive research to find the best solution to fix the problem. Natural phenomena such as sinkholes are difficult to prevent because they are mostly unexpected. However, through state-of-the-art technology, SANRAL engineers were able to pre-emptively diagnose, assess and then provide the correct remedy.”

The newly rehabilitated N1 sinkhole situated near the Flying Saucer Interchange in Centurion.

The scope of works for the project included:

• Stabilisation of the area for works to begin using dynamic compaction
• Installation of an 83m long by 15m deep piled and anchored retaining wall in the carriageway
• Excavation of 27 000m3 of material from the sinkhole area
• Stabilisation of the sinkhole with 4 500m3 of grout and several layers of geogrids
• Backfill of the affected sinkhole area with 28 000m3 of crushed material
• Compaction grouting of the surround area with 18 000m3 of grout pumped into 27km of drilled and cased holes
• Replacement of all layer works directly around the sinkhole
• Replacement of all base and surfacing layers in the surrounding area
• Drainage works

As part of the roads agency’s empowerment policies, close to R50 million was allocated to targeted enterprises. A further R3.2 million was spent on targeted labour for locals.

Employment breakdown

Click on link for audio to the story: SANRAL CEO visit to N1 Sinkhole

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SINKHOLES
What is a sinkhole?

A sinkhole is a depression in the ground that has no natural external surface drainage. This simply means that when it rains, all the water stays inside the sinkhole and typically drains into the subsurface.

Where do they occur?

Sinkholes can appear anywhere, usually in karst terrain where the types of rocks below the land surface can be naturally dissolved by groundwater circulating through them. When water from rainfall moves down through the soil, these types of rock begin to dissolve, creating underground spaces and caves. The land around the affected areas often stays intact for a period until the underground spaces get too big, and if there is not enough support for the land above the spaces, a sudden collapse occurs.

Can sinkholes spread?

Although some may be big enough to swallow entire buildings, sinkholes do not spread beyond the area where the bedrock is eroded.

Can a sinkhole be repaired?
Once a sinkhole is discovered and examined, the repair method depends on the size, stability, location, geological context and its immediate cause. Generally, a hole that’s very small and stable in an open area can simply be filled with dirt and restored with ground cover.

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Issued by FTI Consulting on behalf of SANRAL. For editorial content or additional information contact: Lwando Mahlasela on 082 440 5305 or pressoffice@nra.co.za

MEDIA RELEASE
SANRAL advocates responsible behaviour on the roads over the festive period

Pretoria, 12 December 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) advocates for responsible behaviour on the roads as the festive season swings into action.

This is the key highlight emphasised in the roads agency’s ‘Road Safety One’ campaign, which encourages road users to take responsibility for their behaviour on the roads.

SANRAL launched its mega road safety campaign on 6 December 2024 in Middleburg to road users in the Northern Region, which comprises Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and the North West province.

The event was supported by key stakeholders including the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), the Road Accident Fund (RAF), the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency as well as the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison.

Some of the key routes anticipated to experience heavy traffic in the SANRAL Northern Region include the N1 from Gauteng to the Musina Border Post, the N3 Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal and the N4 from Gauteng to the Lebombo border post.

Here is what motorists can expect while travelling on the routes this festive season, including total toll costs.

N1 Gauteng – Musina border post

The N1 is a busy route stretching from Gauteng all the way to the Musina border post. The road is generally in good condition and ready to accommodate the traffic during this period. There are no construction works currently underway on the route except in the Musina central business district. However, all construction work ends on 13 December 2024.

There are rest and service facilities spread out along the N1 from outside Pumulani Toll Plaza in Gauteng to Beit Bridge border post in Limpopo. Road users can expect to pay approximately R300 in toll fees for light vehicles.

N3 Gauteng – KwaZulu-Natal

The N3 from Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal is expected to carry heavy traffic during the festive period with motorists making their way to visit the coast for the holidays. There are no construction projects along the N3 within Gauteng province. But there are roadworks on the N3 between Pietermaritzburg and Durban in KwaZulu-Natal with some traffic delays.

There are rest and service facilities spread out along the N3 from outside Vosloorus in Gauteng to Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. Road users can expect to spend about R500 on tolls for a single trip on this route.

N4 Gauteng to Lebombo border post
The N4 from Gauteng to Lebombo Border Post is ready to accommodate traffic during the festive season. There is currently a road-marking project between Wonderfontein and Belfast (eMakhazeni) so motorists can expect minimum traffic disruptions. SANRAL recently launched its mega road safety campaign along the N4.

There are rest and service facilities spread out along the N4 from outside Diamond Toll Plaza in Gauteng to Lebombo border post in Mpumalanga. Road users can expect to pay R304 for tolls.

SANRAL encourages motorists to drive safely, obey all the rules of the road, rest every two hours or after every 200 kilometres and to be respectful towards other road-users.
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MEDIA RELEASE
SANRAL says national road network is ready for holiday traffic and urges motorists to drive safely

Pretoria, 13 December 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced that the national road network is ready for the festive season load, as traffic volumes are set to increase on all major routes across the country.

SANRAL manages just less than five percent (5%) of the country’s total road network but carries up to 80% of all long-distance traffic.

The increase in travellers over the festive season means road authorities will deploy significantly more resources to monitor and assist with the safe passage of massive volumes of traffic, both to holiday destinations before Christmas and on the return journey.
“SANRAL is expecting high traffic volumes from Friday [13 December 2024] over this long weekend as the festive season gets underway and holidaymakers head for their destinations. We appeal to motorists to obey the law, respect all road users – including pedestrians – drive with extreme caution, take a break every two hours or 200km, and avoid driving at night,” SANRAL spokesperson, Vusi Mona, advised.

Mona said safety on the country’s national road network was a high priority for SANRAL and the South African government.
“Road safety is one of SANRAL’s strategic pillars and while the national roads agency does not operate in the law enforcement space, we work with all relevant authorities to improve road safety across the national road network, with a focus on engineering, enforcement and education,” he said.

Mona confirmed that all construction on national roads would end on 13 December, meaning that most of the key routes around the country would be open and free flowing. Routine Road Maintenance teams would, however, remain on standby during the holiday period to ensure they were able to respond to any incidents.

SANRAL’s Road Incident Management System (RIMS) runs off a network of Centralised Communication Centres (CCCs). Information is dispatched by the CCC to the relevant unit to ensure a coordinated and highly effective response, based on the nature of the incident.

Emergency numbers are posted on SANRAL signage along the national road network, but the 10111 and 10177 numbers can be used for all emergencies.

Mona explained that location marker boards (or blue marker boards) are located every 200m on national routes. These boards contain the name of the route, i.e. N1, N2, N3, N7 and so on, as well as the particular section of the road, the direction of travel and the kilometre distance.

“In case of any incident, please find the closest board and note the details so that the operator at the communication centre is able to direct a response team to an accurate location,” said Mona.

The Freeway Management System (FMS) monitors more than 500km of the busiest freeways across the country, particularly in the Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. From these multi-modal operations centres, operators are able to identify an incident and dispatch the relevant response teams in under three minutes.

As a technology-driven project, the FMS aims to incorporate new, state-of-the-art technologies. These include:

• An upgrade of the overall Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS);
• Improved incident detection through Automated Incident Detection (AID);
• Improved communications systems with key stakeholders;
• Enhancements using AI features;
• Thermal camera incorporation into the Transport Management Centre operations.

Some of the national routes with the most traffic during December include:

• N2 North Coast – Durban to Tongaat
• N2 South Coast – Durban to Winkelspruit
• N4 East – Pretoria to Nelspruit
• N1 North – Pretoria to Polokwane
• N3 South – Johannesburg to Durban
• N4 West – Pretoria to Brits
• N1 South – Johannesburg to Bloemfontein to Cape Town
• N7 North – Cape Namibia Route
• N2 through Nelson Mandela Bay
• R61 East and West of Mthatha
• N6 – East London to Kei Road
• N10 – South of Cradock
• R63 East of Qonce (King William’s Town)
• N9 – Aberdeen to Graaff-Reinet

Traffic volumes are also expected to be high on the major routes connecting neighbouring states such as Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Mona also urged motorists to enjoy SANRAL’s road safety activities at strategic points along the national road network.
He said, “SANRAL is collaborating with other roads authorities and will be hosting several road safety activations. These events promote engagement with motorists when they stop at fuel stations along their journeys. SANRAL will distribute road safety education pamphlets and other goodies. We will offer travellers water to stay hydrated and we will also provide entertainment for children.”

“SANRAL’s all year-round road safety campaign, Road Safety One, is centred on every individual taking personal responsibility for road safety, by doing just one thing that could save a life. This includes deciding to not drink and drive, using pedestrian facilities to safely cross the road, using the rest and service sites to take regular breaks on long-distance journeys or wearing reflective clothing when walking or cycling at night,” said Mona.

SANRAL thanks the many law enforcement officers, emergency medical teams, rescue services and all other service providers who will be on duty on all the busy routes this holiday and wishes all road users a safe, blessed and prosperous festive season.
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Issued by FTI Consulting on behalf of the SANRAL. For editorial content or additional information contact Lwando Mahlasela on 082 440 5305 or pressoffice@nra.co.za.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY

SANRAL advises motorists on planned Eastern Cape roadworks for festive season

Gqeberha, 11 December 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) is advising road users to take note of construction zones that will affect traffic flow on key routes of its Eastern Cape road network during the festive season.

“With the festive season approaching and the imminent increase in traffic volumes, we are working hard to ensure that our network is safe and ready to accommodate holiday traffic,” said Mbulelo Peterson, Regional Manager for SANRAL Southern Region.

Peterson said that during this time of year, the N2, N9 and N6 into the province are particularly busy with road users travelling home from the Gauteng and Western Cape. The N2 and R61 inland will see increased outbound traffic towards the coastal areas as holiday makers visit the coast.

Affected routes will include:

N2 between Makhanda (Grahamstown) and Peddie: No blasting is scheduled in December for the N2 upgrade between Makhanda and the Fish River Pass. Partial closures will be in effect between km 84 and km 79 with single-lane traffic flow allowed 24 hours a day until Thursday, 12 December 2024. From 12 December 2024 to 6 January 2025, the road will reopen for two-way traffic.

N2 between Butterworth and East London: Roadworks on the N2 Ndabakazi Interchange will cease on 11 December 2024 and resume on 6 January 2025. Traffic accommodation will continue via a two-way bypass with temporary speed humps to moderate speed.

N2 between KwaBhaca (Mt Frere) and EmaXesibeni (Mt Ayliff): Roadworks will cease on 12 December 2024 and resume on 9 January 2025. The road will be completely open to two-way traffic together with the required traffic accommodation signage.

N6 between Maletswai (Aliwal North) and James Calata (Jamestown): Roadworks will continue throughout the festive season. There will be no stop/go measures in place.

R61 between Port St Johns and Port Edward: Road users traveling on the R61 between Mthatha and Port St Johns must take caution when travelling through the

construction zone and must anticipate stop/go closures on this section of the R61. Motorists must please observe the posted construction signs and speed limits.

R63 between Bhisho and the N2 past Qumrha: Operations will cease on Thursday, 12 December 2024 and resume on Monday, 6 January 2025. During this period, there will be no stop/go controls and a two-way traffic system will be implemented.

R390 between Nxuba (Cradock) and Hofmeyr: Operations will stop on Saturday, 14 December 2024 and a two-way traffic system will be in place until Monday, 6 January 2025.

R56 between Matatiele and Kokstad: Operations will cease on Friday, 13 December 2024 to resume on Monday, 6 January 2025 with a two-way traffic system being implemented.

Motorists are advised to take note of the affected routes and to consider this in planning their road trips.

“We appeal to all road users to be extra vigilant on the roads during this busy period. Ensuring safety on our roads is a collective responsibility for all road users including motorists, pedestrians and the general public,” said Peterson.

“As the construction industry prepares to shut down for the holidays, SANRAL’s routine road maintenance (RRM) teams will be on standby to work with road traffic authorities to respond to any incidents that might arise on our network during this time,” said Peterson.

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TRAFFIC ADVISORY

No construction activities on N2 and N3 in KwaZulu-Natal during December holidays

Pietermaritzburg, 10 December 2024 – There will be no construction activities taking place on the N2 and N3 in KwaZulu-Natal from 13 December 2024 to 6 January 2024, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced.

“One of our main objectives with the current N2 and N3 upgrade projects is to improve travel efficiency. When complete, the combined effect of these upgrades will be quicker and more reliable travel times. While we can’t provide the full efficiency during the festive season we will be maximising this using the current two to three lanes that are available. The construction teams have been hard at work in the last couple of months rehabilitating and maintaining the lanes so that no construction work will be necessary during the holiday period. Two to three lanes will be fully open to traffic, with our traffic safety and towing services teams still available 24/7 to respond to breakdowns or other emergency situations,” said Jason Lowe, Specialist Engineer in SANRAL’s Eastern Region (KwaZulu-Natal and Free State).

Only emergency maintenance, such as pothole repairs, may take place in the lanes during the December-January holiday period.

Speeding, distracted driving, impatience, poorly maintained or unroadworthy vehicles and a general lack of respect for other people on the road have been major contributing factors to the numerous incidents or delays on these roadways.

“Road users are advised to put their cell phones away while driving, practice patience and make sure that their vehicles are checked, maintained and roadworthy before leaving home. They should adhere to the warning and speed limit signs but, most importantly, respect others on the road to ensure that all can get to their destinations safely, and in the least time possible,” said Lowe.

SANRAL wishes all road users a safe and incident free festive season.

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MEDIA  ALERT

SANRAL engages local SMMEs regarding opportunities on R33 upgrade project to Modimolle Town

Modimolle, 9 December 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) invites members of the media to the upcoming information session with SMMEs in Modimolle town regarding opportunities on the R33 upgrade project.

The event will take place at the OR Tambo Hall, Modimolle-Mookgopong Local Municipality on 10 December 2024, from 10h00am to 12hpm.

Through this initiative, the national roads agency will be engaging with the local small business owners regarding potential sub-contracting opportunities on the upgrade project of national road R33 section 12 from the N1 (Km 77) to section 13 Modimolle (Km 0,6). This is part of SANRAL’s efforts to fast-track transformation in the construction industry.

SANRAL Project Managers in the Northern Region will be available to engage the media on site for interviews after the session.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
Date : Tuesday, 10 December 2024

Time : 10h00 – 13h00

Venue : OR Tambo Hall, Modimolle-Mookgopong local Municipality

Members of the media can confirm attendance to:

Hendrik Tolomo : 067 410 4329 or Hendrik.Tolomo@fticonsulting.com

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TRAFFIC ADVISORY

No blasting scheduled in December for the N2 upgrade between Makhanda and

Fish River Pass, Eastern Cape

Gqeberha, 10 December 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) wishes to inform road users that no blasting operations are scheduled for December 2024 on the N2 upgrade between Makhanda and Fish River Pass, in the Eastern Cape.

However, please note the following road conditions and closures:

• Partial closures will be in effect between km 84 and km 79 with single-lane traffic flow allowed 24 hours a day until Thursday, 12 December 2024.
• From 12 December 2024 to 6 January 2025, the road will reopen for two-way traffic.

Motorists are encouraged to consider alternative routes to minimise delays:

• Westbound travel East London to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth): From East London, take the R72 through Port Alfred and Kenton-on-Sea, continuing to Nanaga. At Nanaga, turn left onto the N2 and proceed to Gqeberha.
• Eastbound travel Gqeberha to East London/Qonce: From Gqeberha, follow the N2 to Nanaga and turn right onto the R72. Travel via Alexandria and Port Alfred to East London. From East London, turn left onto the N2 to continue westward to Qonce.

“Motorists are requested to plan their journeys in advance, consider alternative routes and exercise caution while on the roads,” said Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL’s Regional Manager for the Southern Region.

SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience caused.

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TRAFFIC ADVISORY

N2 Garden Route open to traffic this festive season

Cape Town, 6 December 2024 – Work on several periodic maintenance and construction projects currently underway on the N2 Garden Route will cease on Friday, 13 December 2024 to ensure that roads are open and traffic free flowing during the festive season break, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced.

In Plettenberg Bay, the traffic circle at the Beacon Way Intersection on the N2 is fully open to traffic in both directions. The remaining ancillary works not impeding traffic flow, will be completed in the new year.

The work on the N2 between Kraaibosch and Touw River is well on track and traffic will be free flowing both in Kaaimans Pass and on the N2. Road users travelling from George to Victoria Bay must take note of the change in lane configuration. The posted speed between Kraaibosch and Touw River will be 60km/h.

Periodic maintenance on the N2 between Mossel Bay and Dekriet is at an advanced stage and is earmarked for completion early in 2025. No Stop/Go closures will be in place during the holidays.

Between Swellendam and Riversdale traffic will be accommodated via Stop/Go operations. Waiting time will be kept to a minimum, taking into account the increased traffic volumes.

Three Stop/Go traffic accommodation points are currently in place on the N2 between Botrivier and Caledon, where periodic maintenance is being done. These will be removed on Friday, 13 December. In Houwhoek Pass, the full road width will be open to two-way traffic during the year-end construction shutdown period. A 3km section of the R43 from the Kleinmond interchange on the N2 (Exit 90 to Kleinmond & Hermanus), will however remain closed during the festive break. Traffic will be accommodated via the Botrivier interchange on the N2 (Exit 92) which is a mere 2km away from the closure.

“Every effort will be made to ensure increased road safety as well as improved mobility during the holidays. The N2 Garden Route is a particularly busy route for holiday travellers and freight operators and SANRAL will be working with all road traffic authorities to support and assist road users on their travels this holiday. The road is a shared space, and road safety is a shared responsibility. Working together, we can make the road safer for everyone, including pedestrians,” said Randall Cable, SANRAL’s Western Region Manager.

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MEDIA ALERT

SANRAL launches mega road safety campaign to encourage road users to

be vigilant on the roads this festive season

 Mpumalanga, 4 December 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) invites members of the media to the launch of its mega road safety campaign on Friday, 6 December 2024.

The launch will take place along the N4 national road, which covers the route from Gauteng to the Lebombo Border post in Mpumalanga.

The event will bring together key stakeholders, including the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), the Road Accident Fund (RAF), the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, and the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, among others.

The campaign emphasises the critical importance of road safety ahead of the festive season, which is often characterised by high traffic volumes and an increase in road fatalities.

The festive season sees an increase in long-distance travel as motorists visit loved ones or embark on holiday journeys, making it important to promote safe road practices.

The launch will also highlight the importance of roads as a critical component of South Africa’s economy. The development of road infrastructure directly impacts the ease of movement for goods and encourages tourism across the country – and beyond – thereby contributing to overall economic growth.

Statistics from the 2023/2024 festive season revealed that 1 427 lives were lost on South Africa’s roads between 1 December 2023 and 11 January 2024.

Human factors, including speeding and driving under the influence, were identified as the leading causes of these incidents. More than 50% of the fatalities were drivers and passengers, while pedestrians and cyclists accounted for 40.9% and 0.8% respectively.

The details of SANRAL’s mega road safety campaign are:

1. Media Briefing (Friday, 6 December 2024):

• Time : 07h00 – 08h00
• Venue : Shell Ultra City Middleburg (on the N4)

2. Road Safety Activation – eNtokozweni (Friday, 6 December 2024):

• Time : 11h00 – 12h00
• Venue : Astron Energy Milly’s N4, eNtokozweni (LOCATION LINK)

Members of the media can confirm attendance with:

Thabiso Senatla : 071 227 6254 or Thabiso.Senatla@fticonsulting.com

Hendrik Tolomo : 067 410 4329 or Hendrik.Tolomo@fticonsulting.com

//Ends