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Limpopo border post will ease traffic in the north

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The upgrade of the Beitbridge border post will contribute to the better flow of people and goods within the Southern African region. 

The project includes upgrades to the roads to and from the crossing, perimeter fencing, gate controls, parking areas and upgrades to security and lighting systems.

Road traffic movement between South Africa and Zimbabwe will be greatly improved with the upgrading of the Beitbridge border post between the two countries. 

Vusi Mona, SANRAL General Manager of Communications, said the intention is to establish a one-stop border post at the transit point, which is South Africa’s primary road gateway to the rest of the continent.  

An average of 15 000 people and 500 trucks cross the border every day. 

The N1 freeway connects Beitbridge with Limpopo and into the Gauteng economic core. Just to the south of the border post, construction of the Musina Ring Road – an 8km, new, single-way road – is nearing completion. 

A better flow of goods and people 

Mona said the upgraded border post will contribute to the better flow of people and goods within the Southern African region.  

Zimbabwe’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, conducted the ground-breaking ceremony. 

A decision was taken to upgrade the border post and expand the infrastructure through a $240-million contract awarded to the Zimborders consortium.  

The project includes upgrades to the roads to and from the crossing, perimeter fencing, gate controls, parking areas and upgrades to security and lighting systems. 

The entire border post will fall under the jurisdiction of the newly established Border Management Agency.  

There are no plans to build another bridge as the existing New Limpopo Bridge has enough capacity to handle the projected future traffic. 

Mona said the new border arrangements will also enable SANRAL to collect toll monies on traffic travelling in a southerly direction from Beitbridge.  

The concession agreement between South Africa and Zimbabwe recently expired and toll fees are currently only collected on the Zimbabwe side of the border. 

Should the government decide to introduce tolling on southbound traffic out of Zimbabwe it will not add additional costs to travellers crossing the border. The funds collected will be used to maintain the roads and bridges at the border post. 

Learning the engineering ropes on the N2

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Trainee engineers rough it out while getting the best education possible at a N2 construction site. 

Sumay Maharaj is an assistant resident engineers [AREs] absorbing knowledge from seasoned colleagues on the site of the N2 upgrade between Mthunzini and eMpangeni on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast. 
There is no better classroom for a trainee engineer than a rough, dusty construction site full of roaring machinery and an experienced crew hard at work. 

Thabiso Dladla and Sumay Maharaj are assistant resident engineers [AREs] absorbing knowledge from seasoned colleagues on the site of the N2 upgrade between Mthunzini and eMpangeni on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast. 

Training on the job 

“We carry out pretty much the same functions as the AREs. We do the inspections, we do quantities, assistant instructions, site instructions and answer any engineering queries we get from the contractor. We basically do what the ARE does,” said Dladla. 

Maharaj, who started on the project in August 2016, and was previously doing pavement and geometric design in Port Elizabeth at the SANRAL Centre of Excellence, said he has already learned many vital lessons since moving north. 

“I’ve learnt the complex nature of civil engineering and how everything comes together to make things work. It’s not just pavement design alone. It’s dealing with structures, drainage and geometrics. It’s basically learning how to put everything together and making it work,” he said. 

Dladla got involved in the project about 10 months after he joined SANRAL’s trainee programme. 

He is excited to work on the challenging project, which he describes as quite diverse and includes several bridges and culverts. 

Dladla said: “I’ve been involved in inspections and assisting the contractor where they need clarification on drawings. When it comes to earth works, we also do inspections on the fill materials and sub grade.  

“Recently, we’ve just started doing the asphalting work, so we are applying the BTB and we do inspections of all the work carried out by the contractor.” 

Challenges and support 

Maharaj said working on the project is not without its challenges. 

“I think the main thing is that the design office works differently to the construction site. Sometimes there’s a breakdown in information, especially with drawings – incomplete drawings and things like that. That’s why it’s essential for engineering staff to be on site to answer all these questions,” said Maharaj. 

He said he would not have come this far had it not been for the support of SANRAL. 

Maharaj said: “The support from SANRAL has been immense and I’m really grateful for it.  

“They’ve supported me in my studies at university with a full bursary as well as given me the opportunity to train in so many different fields. Hopefully, I can register as a professional engineer.” 

Thabiso said the project is projected to end in April 2019 but may extend to June next year. 

Moloto project bearing fruit for communities

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The upgrading of the R573 is yielding economic and skills benefits for the locals in the area. 

SANRAL sourced their unskilled labour from the local municipality through a “fudua process”, which was a fair and transparent process run under the auspices of the Project Liaison Committee.

The upgrading of the R573 Moloto Road is one of the major projects initiated by the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) to develop road infrastructure and revive the country’s economy. 

The 139km stretch of road is one of South Africa’s busiest and important economic routes, connecting Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. The aim is to make it safer and better for pedestrians and motorists. 

According to Progress Hlahla, regional manager for SANRAL northern region, road safety and ease of congestion are a priority, but the project will also yield economic benefits and further achieve social objectives to activate and support local economies. 

Upgrade phases 

The first phase included the construction of temporary bypasses and the upgrading the main carriageway between Siyabuswa and Marble Hall in Limpopo.  

There was also upgrading of four priority intersections, three converted to traffic circles and one to a butterfly intersection in Mpumalanga. 

SANRAL sourced their unskilled labour from the local municipality through a “fudua process”, which was a fair and transparent process run under the auspices of the Project Liaison Committee. 

With the project planned for the next four to six years, there are still more phases to be completed, which will require a significant amount of labour, thus translating into more job opportunities for community members. 

Hlahla said: “There are several planned upgrades along the R573. Three more construction work packages for Limpopo and five more for Mpumalanga will be rolled out.  

“In addition, there will be three community development projects in Limpopo and another five in Mpumalanga, which include the upgrading of access roads among other identified activities, targeting SMMEs CIDB grade 1 and 2 that are seeking opportunities to learn and attain formal SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority) accredited level 3 and 4 qualifications as well as growth.” 

SMMEs benefit 

So far, a total of 203 SMMEs have received training to better equip them when bidding for tenders.  

SANRAL established that local SMME’s have little exposure to the tendering process, which disadvantages them when responding to bids. 

The training covered quality in construction, contracting and documentation, team management, precast concrete kerbing, brick paving, basic tendering processes and entrepreneurial skills. 

The project is already bearing fruit. A new mall will be developed in Mpumalanga and some big brands – including restaurants such as Spur and Wimpy – have erected billboards notifying locals they are coming to the area. 

For employment opportunities, community members can contact the local economic development (LED) office at their respective local municipalities.  

For tendering opportunities all suitably qualified contractors registered with the CIDB and National Treasury’s Central Supplier Database should be on the lookout for tender adverts in newspapers and the SANRAL website. 

SANRAL working with the people for the people

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Partnerships with local communities facilitates smooth running of projects and creates awareness of what the agency offers. 

The roads agency believes partnerships will make it easier for projects to run smoothly.

Work with the people for the people. This basic principle is serving the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) well and it intends expanding it to all its projects.  

Thus, the establishment of a well-functioning Project Liaison Committee (PLC) and partnership with local municipalities has played a critical role in managing challenges on the R573 Moloto Road project. 

It is one of South Africa’s busiest and most important economic routes, connecting Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.  

The project involves closing off dangerous illegal accesses, reducing conflict movement on service roads, installing and replacing street lights, and moving informal traders to safer areas. 

Partnerships 

In the Limpopo section, SANRAL and the local municipalities identified possible stakeholders to form a Project Liaison Committee (PLC).  

The identified stakeholders were contacted and asked to each convene meetings with their respective constituents and formally nominate individuals to sit on the PLC.  

This PLC comprises of 12 organisations and forums including the Business Chamber, Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality, Nafcoc, representatives of formal agricultural forums, (AFASA and LFU), women and youth organisations, the safety forum, a representative from the traditional authority, ward representatives, the municipality, SANRAL, the appointed contractor and engineer.   

The PLC has also been instrumental in creating some 66 jobs for locals in the Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality 

The PLC creates a platform for liaison, execution of work, sub-contracting and the facilitation of employment, especially of local community members.  

Local interests maintained 

This is the platform through which elected officers can ensure that the interests of the local community are looked after while SANRAL achieves its operational goals. 

Speaking about the importance of partnering with the community, Lawrence Chauke, SANRAL project manager, said: “The PLC must be a conduit to receive and channel community needs. It is through these committees that communities can obtain information about the opportunities that SANRAL provides for the youth through bursaries, scholarships, in-training programmes and internships, as well as information about business opportunities for local entrepreneurs.  

“The municipality is represented on the PLC through the office of Local Economic Development (LED) and the office of the MMC (Member of Mayoral Committee) for Infrastructure who has been mandated to give political leadership at a higher level and support SANRAL in ensuring that the implementation of the project runs smoothly,” he continued. 

The MMC and ward councillors, who are ex-officio members of the committee, are also the link between SANRAL and the executive council of the municipality.  

They have the advantage of easily addressing issues that can affect the project, especially when it comes to managing day-to-day problems on site. 

Chauke said: “The biggest challenge is to get the right people who will execute the mandate of their constituents properly and understand the objectives of the project.  

“It is also important to ensure that all relevant stakeholders are represented on the PLC, thus ensuring that the interest of the various sectors within the jurisdiction of the project are well represented.” 

Vandalism on the N2 is a safety risk, costly and causes delays

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SANRAL calls for a culture of pride for road infrastructure after continued theft and damage on the N2. 

Initiatives to combat or remedy the acts of vandalism are costly and should not be necessary if a culture of pride in our road infrastructure is built.

Continued vandalism, theft and destruction of property on the N2 just outside George is an assault on the entire community that stands to benefit from the completion of the pedestrian bridge over the N2.  

The project involves the construction of a pedestrian bridge over both carriageways of the N2 while the road remains in use and will ultimately link the existing and growing communities on both sides of the N2. 

Pedestrian facilities remain a key priority for SANRAL.  

When the contractor has to constantly replace and repair stolen and damaged materials on site, not only substantially increases the costs, but also poses significant road safety risks to motorists, particularly when signage is missing. 

Signage crucial 

Temporary signage is necessary to warn road users of road works and inform motorists of switchovers, lane reductions, construction traffic, etc, as the work is being carried out while the road remains open to traffic. 

Inadequate or missing signage can have disastrous consequences, particularly in bad weather conditions or at night. 

Initiatives to combat or remedy the acts of vandalism are costly and should not be necessary if a culture of pride in our road infrastructure is built. The road is ultimately there to serve the entire community.  

Security personnel have been deployed, but as the road signs range over a 2km stretch of road they cannot possibly guard each sign post. 

Randall Cable, SANRAL’s Western Region Manager, said: “When we embark on road construction projects, it is always with the road user and the pedestrian in mind. This project speaks directly to our commitment to creating safe travelling facilities for pedestrians.  

“It is an affront to all those pedestrians who are in dire need of safe facilities when a few rogue elements plunder and vandalise the property that is intended to help save lives. We appeal to the adjacent communities to report these criminals and help us to bring an end to the vandalism.” 

Any acts of vandalism and theft can be anonymously reported to Crime Line by sending a SMS to 32211 (SMS charged at R1) or calling Crime Stop on 08600 10111. 

Recycling of asphalt reduces costs

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Forty percent of old road surface used in construction of four-lane dual carriage-way in the Free State.  

Bridge 322 is the biggest bridge in the project. It’s a post-stanchion bridge, as opposed to the traditional in-situ cast bridge.

A single carriage-way between Kroonstad to Holfontein in Free State is being upgraded to four-lane dual carriage-way, thus reducing accidents and drastically easing congestion. 

The project commenced in 2015 and is scheduled to be completed in August 2018. At the end of February 2018, 80% of the project had been completed.  

All that remains is surfacing of the road and some finishing touches.  

Louw Venter, construction manager at Hilary Construction, said: “There was increasing congestion on this road – just before Kroonstad going towards Ventersburg – which necessitated the widening of the road. There were also many serious accidents.” 

Some innovations were used during the construction. At least 40% of the old road surface was recycled to be used in producing asphalt for the new road.  

This not only reduced the cost of the road but is also environmentally friendly. 

“We recycle the old road and mix it into the new asphalt and surface it onto the new road,” said Boeta Raath, plant and surfacing manager on the project. 

Local labour gains experience 

The labour complement on the project is a mix of experienced staff and local labourers from Kroonstad.  

The locals received training before the project started, which has given them valuable skills that will help them secure jobs in the future. 

A local company, Godfrey Mmuso Trading & Projects, is subcontracted to the main contractor, Hilary Construction. They do concrete work, v-drains and stone pitching. 

Palesa Pete, director at the company, said: “We joined the project in August 2017 and have learnt so much since. I would have never received the opportunity to work on a national road had it not been for SANRAL. 

“SANRAL insists on quality products and work so our standard of work has improved tremendously. Participating in the project will also help improve our CIDB grading level.” 

A post-stanchion bridge 

The project also includes a bridge which serves as an interchange between Holfontein and Ventersburg.  

Bridge 322 connects two former gravel roads, one travelling east and the other west to Ventersburg. 

The road was dropped so that the N1 travels under the bridge. 

Bridge 322, the biggest bridge in the project, is a post-stanchion bridge, as opposed to the traditional in-situ cast bridge. 

Assistant Resident Engineer on the bridge project, Hans Stemperman, said: “The older bridges used a lot of steel for reinforcement. But this bridge has cables to hold the weight.” 

One of the major challenges for the project was the heavy rainfall. The place where the bridge is being built is a low-lying area. Culverts are being built to direct and control the flow of the water. 

SANRAL amends its supply chain policies

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Agency has a responsibility to ‘use procurement to contribute to transforming the construction industry and the economy’. 

The roads agency has been going around the country to engage with stakeholders as part of its commitment to becoming a listening organisation. 

The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) believes its transformation drive starts from within. 

SANRAL is amending its supply chain management policies to ensure inclusive investment in the construction industry and economy and working with stakeholders to deliver on government’s promise to move South Africa forward. 

This was the key message from Progress Hlahla, Regional Manager for SANRAL’s Northern Region, at the Taking SANRAL to Gert Sibande District stakeholder roundtable held recently. 

“Our road network has grown to 22 197km and we are determined to strengthen our role in transforming the economy,” said Hlahla. 

The session was attended by more than 150 delegates including local municipality representatives, youth, women and affiliates of business forums from the Gert Sibande District. 

Engagements and communication 

The roads agency has been going around the country to engage with stakeholders as part of its commitment to becoming a listening organisation.  

Communication and stakeholder engagements have been intensified at a strategic and project level over the past two years.  

The aim is to impart information and seek ideas on how to address the challenges of developing and expanding road network infrastructure in a context where public and private funding is limited. 

SANRAL manages a total network of 2 478km in Mpumalanga. Its upgrading and ongoing maintenance activities along the national roads in Mpumalanga over the years, particularly the 54.9km stretch of the R573 Moloto Road, have been a welcome investment. 

A good example is the upgrade of the N17, which was touted by one of the delegates present as a “treasure chest”.  

The N2 and N11 are some of the other major projects owned by SANRAL in the area.  In addition to being important routes for tourism traffic, all three roads are busy freight corridors for timber, agricultural produce and coal.  

SANRAL has a total of 19 projects in the Gert Sibande District. 

“We accept that we have a responsibility to impact the lives off all South Africans, especially the need to use procurement to contribute to transforming the construction industry and the rest of the economy,” said Hlahla.  

Inclusive participation of black contractors 

He said SANRAL is on a drive to maximise the participation of black contractors, professionals and suppliers in all SANRAL-commissioned projects beyond the minimum levels set by the prevailing legislative and regulatory framework. 

SANRAL’s inclusive procurement approach seeks to ensure that a sizeable value of contracts is awarded to suitably qualified enterprises owned by blacks, youth, women, disabled individuals and military veterans.   

One of the major talking points at this engagement was that although some ground has been covered in terms of local participation, there is a constant need to identify the best ways to bring emerging contractors on board and to involve them in projects where the work is often of a specialised nature. 

That being said, Hlahla reminded stakeholders that SANRAL is governed by legislation, including the Public Finance Management Act. 

‘Trailblazing step for the South African construction industry’

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SANRAL and Bell Equipment to work together to ensure growing businesses can participate more meaningfully in major projects.  

Seen from left are Leon Goosen, CEO BELL; Dumisani Nkabinde, SANRAL Eastern Region Regional Manager; Simphiwe Mxhosa, SANRAL Stakeholder Manager; Duncan Mashika, MD BELL Africa Sales & Distribution; Gary Bell, BELL Chairman; Skhumbuzo Macozoma, SANRAL CEO; Ismail Essa, SANRAL Transformation Manager and Bruce Ndlela, BELL Director: Public Sector.

A joint undertaking by the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) and construction machinery supplier, Bell Equipment, will accelerate the transformation of the construction industry and open doors for black-owned and emerging enterprises. 

The roads agency and Bell Equipment have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will give small contractors access to earthmoving machinery, enabling them to participate more meaningfully in major construction projects. 

“Our primary objectives are to grow the construction and engineering sectors, and attract new entrants, especially black contractors who can build businesses and create jobs,” said Skhumbuzo Macozoma, CEO of SANRAL. 

Access and fair competition 

Access to sophisticated equipment used in construction has been identified as one of the biggest hurdles facing emerging companies.  

They often do not have the capital to purchase major machinery used for excavations, ground moving and the grading of roads. 

The cooperation between SANRAL and Bell Equipment will help to promote fair competition in the construction and engineering sectors.  

Black-owned contractors will now get access to finance, leasing and rental options, training and maintenance services. 

Bell Equipment is a proudly South African company with a global footprint and more than six decades of experience in the manufacturing of equipment used in the construction industry.  

“They bring a vast understanding of the local construction and engineering sectors and share our commitment to the transformation of the industries,” said Macozoma. 

Bell Equipment sees this as an opportunity to position itself as a road construction equipment supplier of choice.  

“This partnership with SANRAL will enable us to grow our customer base and contribute greatly to the empowerment of emerging contractors in the industry,” said Bell Chairman Gary Bell. 

Participation in major tenders 

Small contractors will now be able to purchase, rent or lease road construction equipment that will enable them to participate in major tenders where high standards of quality are required.  

Bell will also leverage its existing partnerships with the financial sector to give small contractors access to financing. 

Macozoma said the cooperation with Bell Equipment is a “trailblazing step for the South African construction industry”.  

It demonstrates SANRAL’s resolve to use its contracting and procurements processes to facilitate the growth of emerging contractors. 

Both Bell and SANRAL confirmed that they will host an information sharing session with black-owned and small businesses in construction to unpack how their collaboration will benefit them. 

Mt Edgecombe Interchange bags a construction excellence award

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South Africa’s largest interchange project has been recognised for technical expertise and quality, weeks before the project has been finished. 

Representatives of SANRAL, SMEC engineering consultants and SAICE Durban Branch with the award that went to the Mt Edgecombe Interchange for Technical Excellence in Construction.

Even before construction has been fully completed on the iconic Mt Edgecombe Interchange north of Durban, it has already won a prestigious award from the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE). 

The SAICE Durban Branch Award for Technical Excellence in Construction was given because the interchange is “an outstanding example of technical expertise and quality, which has contributed substantially to the transportation experience of the public and the economy of the region”. 

The entry will now be submitted to the SAICE National Awards for Technical Excellence in Construction. 

Aesthetically complementing the surroundings 

Currently the largest interchange project in South Africa, the Mt Edgecombe Interchange is also located in one of the fastest developing areas in the country, a factor that played a major role in the conceptual design of this upgrade to ensure that the interchange would aesthetically complement its fast-paced modern surroundings, stand the test of time in terms of life-span and deal with ever-growing traffic demands. 

It is estimated that the interchange, which is being upgraded by the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL), will reduce travel time from 25 minutes to one minute on average. 

The project, which started in April 2013, is within weeks of completion. In total nine bridges and 11km of ramps were built. 

A total of 480 piles were used and 1.8km of mechanically stabilised earth walls were erected. The state-of-the-art lighting incorporates 400 light bulbs. 

To improve the safety of pedestrians, a 432m-long pedestrian bridge has been constructed over the N2 and connects to new footways. 

Corné Roux, SANRAL Eastern Region Project Manager: Pavement Design Support, said the multiple engineering achievements behind this mammoth project are testimony to the exceptional skill and abilities of the entire construction team. 

The project engaged 80 designers at the peak of the design phase. Not a single road was closed permanently during construction. 

Facts about the interchange 

The Incrementally Launched Method of bridge building was used, to ensure as little disruption to road users as possible. 

A defining feature of this project is that it was one of the longest bridge viaducts ever constructed in South Africa.  

This viaduct, referred to as B0215, has a deck length of 947m, which also makes it one of the longest incrementally launched bridges in the Southern Hemisphere. 

The total cost of the project was set at just over R800-million but with escalation, the total contract expenditure is estimated at R1,136-billion, including VAT. 

The maximum number of persons employed at a time by the contractor and sub-contractors was 803, of which 724 were from the eThekwini target area, with a total of R240-million spent on wages thus far. 

R684,770.00 has been spent on training 461 people on skills such as steel-fixing, scaffolding erecting, operating construction equipment and various safety, engineering and entrepreneurial-related training. 

A total of 31 sub-contractors have been employed with work to the value of R59-million performed by 21 SMMEs to date. 

SANRAL N1 quarry saves R125-million

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Agency’s quarry in Ventersburg has resulted in a saving of cost and time, and limited the harm caused to the road surface. 

The quarry at Ventersburg has been supplying crushed aggregate to roadwork contractors.  

To reduce the cost of materials, decrease the damage caused to roads by heavy vehicles hauling construction material and save time, the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) has established a quarry to supply stone for the upgrading of the N1 between Winburg and Kroonstad. 

The quarry at Ventersburg has been supplying crushed aggregate to roadwork contractors.  

Zandile Nene, Project Manager at SANRAL Eastern Region, said the establishment of the quarry was necessary as the upgrading of the N1 generated the largest crushing contract of its kind on any road project. 

Saving Rands and roads 

Supplying crushed aggregate from the new quarry as opposed to sourcing it from commercial sources has resulted in a saving of approximately R125-million during the upgrading of the N1. 

“The quarry eliminated the need for heavy trucks carrying stone to travel over long distances to construction sites. Thus, damage to the roads has also been minimised,” he said. 

“Locating a quarry near the construction site resulted in considerable savings of time and money.” 

The quarry contract, worth R163.5-million, was awarded to Triamic Plant, and entailed the production and delivery of approximately 1.36-million tons of a range of crushed aggregate. 

The contract also provided crushed aggregate for concrete and subsoil drains, as well as rock for gabion installations. 

Local community empowered 

The quarry contract helped empower the local community through the employment and development of local labour, mainly women and youth, and by providing industry-specific and business training to local and small businesses in Ventersburg. 

Where possible, several black-women-owned companies and emerging enterprises were appointed as subcontractors and service providers. 

Nene said: “The site will be fully rehabilitated in strict accordance with the approved Environmental Management Plan upon completion of crushing activities, and with limited to no visibility from the N1. Various local species of trees will also be planted to promote full rehabilitation of the quarry.”