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MEDIA RELEASE
SANRAL talks major infrastructure projects for Mpumalanga

Pretoria, 01 February 2022 – The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has started with
the process of rolling out two major road infrastructure projects for Mpumalanga province in 2022.
Both projects are still at the design stage, which the engineers will finalise soon.

The roads agency has assigned a dedicated team of engineers and project managers to ensure the
successful design and delivery of key road infrastructure projects to unlock economic growth. This is
critical, especially for a province well known for its tourism.

According to Madoda Mthembu, SANRAL Operations and Maintenance Manager in the Northern
Region, roads are the arteries which drive the economy. They connect people to places and business
opportunities thus bringing important social benefits for local communities.

“There will be an upgrading of the N2 between Ermelo through Mkhondo to KZN and Mpumalanga
border. It is estimated that this project will cost more than R6 billion. There is also the upgrading of the
R40 between Hazyview and Bushbuckridge which is estimated to cost of more than R3 billion,” said
Mthembu.

Mthembu said the current state of the provincial infrastructure is relatively in a good condition except
in some areas where there has been damage caused by the recent heavy rains which have resulted
in the formation of potholes. However, this is a challenge being addressed on a daily basis by
appointed routine road maintenance (RRM) contractors.

There are currently 10 routine road maintenance (RRM) projects servicing the province. Two more will
be awarded before 31 March 2022. There is a Special Maintenance Project along the N17 Section 5
from Chrissiesmeer to km 85 within the Msukaligwa and Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipalities
respectively and the project will be completed approximately on 31 March 2023.

There is an upgrade project along the R573 Section 2 between Kwaggafontein and Vlaglaagte within
the Thembisile Hani Local Municipality and the estimated completion date is 28 February 2024.
There will be conventional projects awarded during the course of the 2022 which include the N11
Section 9 from Hendrina Power Station to N4 in Middelburg and the Resurfacing of N12 Sections 19
and 20 from Delmas to Orgies.

A key part of ensuring the success of the projects lies with solidifying virtuous relations with all
relevant stakeholders, including the municipalities, business forums and community structures. As
things stand, the existing relationship with all stakeholders is good with a few exceptions where there
is further engagement and consultation taking place.

Previous projects have been known to have experienced stakeholder challenges, such as contractors
or community members who disrupt projects and wish to participate without following proper
procedures. However, SANRAL has embarked on a drive to ensure there is continuous engagement
with stakeholders to reach a mutual consensus and compromise that benefits all affected parties.

The projects will benefit the community through the creation of jobs and local SMMEs an opportunity
to participate in the project. All projects will have Project Liaison Committee (PLC) to oversee the
participation of local SMME’s in the projects. The tenders for SMME’s will be advertised under the
auspices of the PLC to ensure maximum participation.

“All SANRAL projects have a subcontracting component as per the government legislation; 30% for all
conventional projects and between 40% and 60% for RRM projects,” said Mthembu.

SANRAL will continue its vision of ensuring a national road transport system which will deliver on a
better South Africa for all.

MEDIA RELEASE
Home stretch for the completion of N14 Kathu intersections

Northern Cape, 25 January 2022 – Construction will commence in the next two months on the uncompleted intersections on the N14 between Olifantshoek and Kathu, which have caused much frustration to road users.

Following an exhaustive procurement process, as directed by government’s Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) yesterday handed over the project to
the new contractor to complete the outstanding works over the next 12 months. SANRAL met with SMMEs and communities in the Gamagara Local Municipality on Friday, to explain the economic and project participation opportunities that come with the completion of the project.

“We are delighted to see this project finally entering the final stages of completion. The intersections are a major road safety concern, and we are happy that SANRAL is prioritising road safety in our community. The jobs and subcontracting opportunities are a welcome boost to our local economy,” said Councillor Ophaketse Hantise, Mayor of the Gamagara Local Municipality.

The three intersections have largely remained incomplete due to the original contractor being in breach and failing to perform in accordance with the contract. SANRAL therefore had to terminate the contract. Attempts to award a new contract were also scuppered when the tender process had to be cancelled as there were no eligible or compliant tenders received.

As an interim measure, and in the interest of road safety, emergency road repairs to the temporary bypasses for the three intersections, which were badly damaged during incessant flooding in the Northern Cape, were completed in 2021. Fortunately, the SANRAL Routine Road Maintenance team have also assisted with managing traffic accommodation, maintaining the bypasses and effecting pothole repairs.

“While those emergency repairs to the temporary bypasses were pivotal in maintaining safe passage, it is a huge relief that a contractor will finally be able to complete the intersections in line with the original engineering designs,” said Friedl van der Merwe, SANRAL Project Manager.

The completion of the works will furthermore have a direct economic impact on the community, with project participation opportunities for SMMEs and work for local labour in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District.

In line with SANRAL’s Transformation Policy and government’s Preferential Procurement Regulation, a minimum of 30% of the contract value of all projects is to be subcontracted to targeted enterprises, in a bid to prioritise economic development opportunities for black-owned entities. These include women-owned businesses, youth-owned businesses and persons with disabilities,” explained Morn? Windvogel, SANRAL’s Transformation Officer in the Western Region.

In the interest of transparency and fair business practices, all SANRAL projects are guided by a 14-point plan that sets the tone for project liaison, subcontracting and labour sourcing, as well as a commitment to its transformation policy.

This plan also includes the appointment of a Project Liaison Committee (PLC) which has oversight over SANRAL projects – but does not influence who is awarded tenders or who get jobs on those projects. “

We are currently engaging with various stakeholders in the province, including business chambers and sector formations, local government, SMMEs and other civil society interest groups, in a bid to attract nominations for PLC members, so that we can ensure a well-constituted PLC that will represent the interests of all stakeholders,” explained Van der Merwe.

SANRAL remains committed to completing this project as quickly as possible and appeals to road users to be patient with road conditions during the construction period. There may be some short-term inconvenience experienced in and around the construction area, but the long-term benefits of safer intersections that will aid improved traffic flow, by far outweigh the inconvenience.

MEDIA RELEASE
SANRAL TO INVEST OVER R90 MILLION IN XHARIEP DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

Free State Province, 28 January 2022 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) will invest more than R90 million on a road infrastructure project in the Xhariep District Municipality in the Free State Province.

Addressing the local business community of Trompsburg, James Takalo, SANRAL Eastern Region’s transformation officer, says this investment – which will include the upgrading of existing unsurfaced roads to surfaced roads from Springfontein to Trompsburg – will provide much-needed job opportunities for local communities. The project is in the Mohokare and Kopanong local municipalities, which fall under the Xhariep District.

“The project is divided into two packages. Package One, which is valued at R 45 011 527, starts at section 13 from Springfontein South to Section 14 Springfontein North, while Package Two, which is valued at R 45 100 000, will begin at section 14 from Springfontein North to Trompsburg .

Each package has a community development budget of R3 million that will go towards community development projects to be identified by the community.

“The Contract Participation Goal (CPG) plan has been acknowledged by the project liaison committee (PLC) members and work is ready to start. We are excited at the economic prospect that this will bring, particularly as the road construction industry begins to recover from the onslaught of Covid-19,” said Takalo.

“Working together with local community structures in municipalities, PLCs are established to ensure better communication and transparency on SANRAL projects, as well as ensuring that work done on projects is done seamlessly,” said Monageng Mokgojwa, SANRAL Eastern Region’s stakeholder coordinator.

Consultants for both work packages and other industry players also attended and explained their role and shared the scope of the work with the local business community.

“Our aim is to ensure that the previously marginalised sectors of our economy – including women, young people, people with disabilities and black contractors – play a meaningful role and succeed in a construction industry that has largely been non-transformative. We will continue to do this guided by our transformation policy and our Horizon 2030 strategy.

“Our transformation policy sets clearly defined targets for black contractors, professionals and suppliers to participate in all of our commissioned projects. As SANRAL we also continue to be mindful of the impact that our procurement policy and practices have on the socio-economic conditions of South Africans in general and the transformation of the construction industry,” said Takalo.

The SANRAL Eastern Region also has a supplier development desk that assists SMMEs with information about tender opportunities that the road agency offers. The help desk also provides information as well as assistance with registration on the central supplier database (CSD), the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and training opportunities that may arise.

MEDIA RELEASE
SANRAL RESPONDS TO ALLEGATIONS OF COURT ORDER DEFIANCE

Pretoria, 27 January 2022 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) wishes to state on record that it has not been nor is it currently in any wilful defiance of any court order. Any assertions to the contrary are simply sensationalist and will be dealt with through legal processes.

On the 15th of November 2021, Her Lordship Mrs Justice Van Der Schyff J granted a default order against SANRAL, in favour of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA). In response, ENSafrica, acting on behalf of SANRAL, informed OUTA’s attorneys of the instruction to issue an application overturning the default order. OUTA’s attorney was fully aware of SANRAL’s intention to submit the application.

SANRAL’s failure to timeously oppose the application, which lead to the default order, was as a result of an error and will be dealt with fully during the court proceedings.

In addition, OUTA has instituted two other identical cases against SANRAL, involving the Bakwena concessionaire contract and the N3TC concessionaire contract, where private and confidential information of the concessionaries in question, is being sought, without the consent of the concessionaires. SANRAL is equally opposing these applications.
SANRAL’s position regarding the matter is as follows:

1. ) In 2020, SANRAL received an application wherein private, proprietary and confidential information in relation to the N3TC concessionaire contract was sought by OUTA.
2. ) On 22 February 2021, OUTA delivered further similar applications involving information on the Bakwena concessionaire contract and TRAC concessionaire contract, here, an error occurred which resulted in the confusion of the case numbers. SANRAL opposed the application pertaining to the Bakwena concessionaire contract.
3. ) The matter involving TRAC’s concessionaire contract was heard on an unopposed basis on 15 November 2021 and the default order was then granted without SANRAL’s involvement, due to human error.
4. ) The default order was then served to SANRAL on 19 November 2021 following which the agency sought legal representation to challenge the order. This was fully communicated to OUTA’s attorneys. TRAC’s attorneys also informed OUTA’s attorneys of an objection to the release of TRAC’s private and proprietary information as well as an intention to intervene in the court proceedings as soon as possible through the institution of a rescission application.
5. ) In December 2021, SANRAL’s attorney invited OUTA’s attorneys to withdraw the court proceedings and allow SANRAL to respond to the PAIA application (and provide TRAC with an opportunity to respond). OUTA refused to do so. From this it was clear that OUTA does not have benevolent intentions in its PAIA request. Instead, it seeks to coerce SANRAL into delivering private and confidential information of third parties, by pursuing an application to have SANRAL declared contemptuous of the default order and ultimately have its former CEO committed to prison, which SANRAL considers to be a scheme of sort.
6. ) OUTA was invited as long ago as 8 December 2021 to permit SANRAL to respond to OUTA’s PAIA request. OUTA, however, elected to put SANRAL to the pains of applying for the rescission of the Order. A matter that was not brought to the attention of the court in its current application for contempt of court, which SANRAL is in the process of opposing.

The issues above will be dealt with fully during court proceedings. What is important to mention at this stage is that SANRAL reacted swiftly to the default order as it was received and is willing to cooperate with the rule of law.

MEDIA RELEASE
Home stretch for the completion of N14 Kathu intersections

Northern Cape, 25 January 2022 – Construction will commence in the next two months on the uncompleted intersections on the N14 between Olifantshoek and Kathu, which have caused much frustration to road users.

Following an exhaustive procurement process, as directed by government’s Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) yesterday handed over the project to the new contractor to complete the outstanding works over the next 12 months.

SANRAL met with SMMEs and communities in the Gamagara Local Municipality on Friday, to explain the economic and project participation opportunities that come with the completion of the project.

“We are delighted to see this project finally entering the final stages of completion. The intersections are a major road safety concern, and we are happy that SANRAL is prioritising road safety in our community. The jobs and subcontracting opportunities are a welcome boost to our local economy,” said Councillor Ophaketse Hantise, Mayor of the Gamagara Local Municipality.

The three intersections have largely remained incomplete due to the original contractor being in breach and failing to perform in accordance with the contract. SANRAL therefore had to terminate the contract. Attempts to award a new contract were also scuppered when the tender process had to be cancelled as there were no eligible or compliant tenders received.

As an interim measure, and in the interest of road safety, emergency road repairs to the temporary bypasses for the three intersections, which were badly damaged during incessant flooding in the Northern Cape, were completed in 2021. Fortunately, the SANRAL Routine Road Maintenance team have also assisted with managing traffic accommodation, maintaining the bypasses and effecting pothole repairs.

“While those emergency repairs to the temporary bypasses were pivotal in maintaining safe passage, it is a huge relief that a contractor will finally be able to complete the intersections in line with the original engineering designs,” said Friedl van der Merwe, SANRAL Project Manager.

The completion of the works will furthermore have a direct economic impact on the community, with project participation opportunities for SMMEs and work for local labour in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District.

In line with SANRAL’s Transformation Policy and government’s Preferential Procurement Regulation, a minimum of 30% of the contract value of all projects is to be subcontracted to targeted enterprises, in a bid to prioritise economic development opportunities for black-owned entities. These include women-owned businesses, youth-owned businesses and persons with disabilities,” explained Morn? Windvogel, SANRAL’s Transformation Officer in the Western Region.

In the interest of transparency and fair business practices, all SANRAL projects are guided by a 14-point plan that sets the tone for project liaison, subcontracting and labour sourcing, as well as a commitment to its transformation policy.
This plan also includes the appointment of a Project Liaison Committee (PLC) which has oversight over SANRAL projects – but does not influence who is awarded tenders or who get jobs on those projects.

“We are currently engaging with various stakeholders in the province, including business chambers and sector formations, local government, SMMEs and other civil society interest groups, in a bid to attract nominations for PLC members, so that we can ensure a well-constituted PLC that will represent the interests of all stakeholders,” explained Van der Merwe.
SANRAL remains committed to completing this project as quickly as possible and appeals to road users to be patient with road conditions during the construction period. There may be some short-term inconvenience experienced in and around the construction area, but the long-term benefits of safer intersections that will aid improved traffic flow, by far outweigh the inconvenience.

MEDIA RELEASE

SANRAL GOES BEYOND ROAD SAFETY ENGINEERING THIS FESTIVE SEASON

Pretoria, 20 December 2021 – This festive season SANRAL has gone beyond its core mandate of engineering safer roads and is using its WHOA! road safety campaign to actively engage road users at various rest and service stations across the country.

Fatigue and drunken driving continue to be major contributing factors to crashes on our roads every year. To this end, SANRAL’s WHOA! campaign promotes regular breaks during long distance travel and discourages drinking and driving. Among the activities offered during these activations are head and shoulder massages for drivers and a flavoured oxygen bar, both of which aid tension relief.

The N3 between Gauteng and KZN is a particularly busy road with thousands of holiday makers heading to the beach. A road safety activation was set up at Vaal Engen 1 Stop on the N3 outside Villiers, on the Day of Reconciliation (December 16) public holiday, where the interaction with SANRAL was lauded by motorists who stopped to refuel and freshen up.

Benginkosi Mdlalose, a 60-year-old taxi driver operating between Johannesburg and Newcastle, welcomed SANRAL’s intervention: “I am very pleased with the condition of the N3 and I am happy about how SANRAL maintains the road,” he said.

He sat down for a massage and curiously tried the oxygen bar. “The peppermint flavoured oxygen is soothing and cleared my nasal passages. What a great way to relax before I tackling the rest of my journey. Thank you SANRAL for caring about our safety on the road,” said Mdlalose on his way back to his taxi.

In Graaff Reinet, a similar activation was set up at the Caltex Fresh Stop, where scores of holiday makers passed by and stopped for a break. Masibulele Tafeni, from Graaff-Reinet, said: ‘’The SANRAL road safety message is a good initiative to keep people safe on the road. SANRAL encourages people to rest, stay safe on the road and to obey the speed limit.”

Still in the Eastern Cape, the WHOA! team descended on Port Alfred on Sunday morning, waking up the town with music, and engagement at the Caltex Fresh Stop, at the entrance to the town. Curious passers-by stopped at the SANRAL zone. From taxi passengers to drivers, they were alive to SANRAL’s road safety message and applauded the activation, some even saying there should be more such activations all year round.

“While our core mandate is to engineer safer road infrastructure, we realise that roads are built first for people and then for vehicles. As such, it is important for us to engage these stakeholders about our collective responsibility to create safer road environments for all road users,” said Vusi Mona, SANRAL General Manager, Communications and Marketing.

The activation also targeted pedestrians, with promoters handing out reflective arm bands that aid in pedestrian visibility, particularly at night.

“We appreciate the efforts of law enforcement agencies across the country, who have increased their visibility to influence road user behaviour and create an environment that is conducive towards compliance. We continue to appeal to road users to be patient, courteous and compliant during this festive season. Safer roads are created by safety-conscious road users,” concluded Mona.

MEDIA RELEASE

STATE OF THE NATIONAL ROAD NETWORK DURING THE FESTIVE SEASON

Pretoria, 12 December 2021 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) hereby advises road users of the state of the national road network, during this festive season.

While the national road network makes up just over 22 000km of South Africa’s total road network of 750 000km, it carries the bulk of traffic during the December/January holiday period, when interprovincial and international road travel peaks.

On the main, the road construction industry will shut down operations on the 15th of December 2021 and resume on the 10th of January 2022.

“However, there are instances where minor work will be ongoing during the holiday break, for essential operations. We will try as much as possible to minimise the impact on traffic flow by containing works to daylight hours and limiting work on weekends and public holidays,” said Vusi Mona, SANRAL General Manager: Communications and Marketing.

The following traffic accommodation should be taken into account when planning holiday travel:

Northern Region (Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West)

Stop/Go traffic accommodations can be expected on the R37 Section 2, near Lydenburg, and on the R33 Section 14 outside Vaal Water.

“No Routine Road Maintenance (RRM) is anticipated on the network during this time. However, should an emergency arise, such as the development of a pothole, urgent RRM arrangements will be made to attend it,” said Madoda Mthembu, SANRAL Operations and Maintenance Manager for the Northern Region.

On the N4, the following should be noted.

RRM will continue with day-to-day tasks which include grass cutting and painting of road markings. Road markings will specifically occur on the Mozambique side, between Tchumene and Xai Xai Interchanges, and on the South African side, between Kaalrug and Komatipoort.

Southern Region (Eastern Cape)

There will be ongoing maintenance works on the N2 Section 13 between Grahamstown and the Fish River, with speed restrictions in place. The work involves patching and is expected to continue throughout the holiday period.

On the R355 and R342, between Addo and Nguni River Lodge, approximately 15km is under construction. There will be two Stop/Go closures along this stretch of road, with reduced speed limits of 60km/h in place. The potential delay in travelling from Addo to Paterson is about 20 to 25 minutes.

Eastern Region (KZN and Free State)

“Generally, two-way traffic will be maintained on all construction sites. For the N3 upgrades, a minimum of two lanes per direction will be maintained,” said Ravi Ronny, SANRAL Design and Construction Manager for the Eastern Region.

At the N3 Town Hill project in Pietermaritzburg, a minimum of two lanes are open in each direction. The construction team will however aim to have three lanes open on the southbound side. Work will continue for a short period during the holiday, making sure to minimise disruption to traffic flow.

Western Region (Western Cape and Northern Cape)

With the upgrades to the Huguenot Tunnel complete, there will be no tunnel closures. The N7 and N1 will largely have free-flowing traffic. On the N2, there will be ongoing patching, between Swellendam and Riversdale, and a short portion east of Wilderness, throughout the holiday period.

“Repairing and maintaining the pavement is essential to road safety. We apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused as a result of the sporadic Stop/Go traffic accommodation. We will however endeavour to minimise the impact on traffic flow.” said Randall Cable, SANRAL Western Region Manager.

SANRAL’s Mona concluded: “After a trying year, many people are looking forward to the holidays, to spend time with their loved ones. We call on all road users to play their part in ensuring safer roads this festive season. If you will be driving, please take time to rest, ensure that your vehicle is roadworthy and safe, adhere to the speed restrictions, particularly around construction sites and be patient as some national roads are more congested than usual. Pedestrians are our most vulnerable road users, and we appeal to motorists to always be on the lookout for pedestrians.”

OVER R3BN SET ASIDE ON SANRAL PROJECTS TO BENEFIT EASTERN CAPE SMMEs

Eastern Cape, 9 December 2021 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has set aside over R3 billion to benefit local small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in Mpondoland in the Eastern Cape Province.

Addressing SMMEs in Port St Johns, Eastern Cape, Mbulelo Sonqishe, SANRAL’s project manager on the N2 Wild Coast Road Project, said about 8 000 direct jobs and up to 20 000 indirect jobs will be created through this massive injection in the region.

“On the Msikaba Bridge project alone, which is one of our mega projects in the region, R243 million has already been paid to 103 local suppliers, service providers, sub-contractors and other targeted enterprises from surrounding municipalities. About R38.5 million has already been paid on wages to over 300 local community members employed on the projects,” he said.

The Msikaba Bridge project is expected to be completed in February 2024 and targeted goals on employing different sector groups have already been exceeded.

“We are proud to say that we have exceeded our targets on the Msikaba bridge project. The targeted labour for youth is 30%, but we have exceeded this by employing 87.4%. Other targets achieved were 38.4% for women which surpassed the 30% target,” added Sonqishe.

Four current tenders have already been advertised by SANRAL in the region. These include the rehabilitation of the Ingquza Hill Memorial Road, which was advertised in October this year; upgrading of roads in Ntlavukazi Village, which was advertised in November; upgrading of the DR8004 road from the R61 national road to Bambisana Hospital Road, which was advertised in November; as well as the upgrading of the R61 national road to Mbongweni Village.

Community development projects have also been initiated. “Our community development projects go way beyond bitumen and asphalt. They leave our communities with a legacy of road safety improvements, as well as economic opportunities that will benefit communities from project inception,” said Nwabisa Gxumisa, SANRAL’s Wild Coast district manager.

New community development projects that are in design phase are an access road leading to the Goso Forest Clinic, access road and pedestrian facilities in Mbotyi and Ntafufu Service Road. Construction on the DR08120 and DR08121 road from Bizana to Mbongweni will start in the new year.

SANRAL will also implement community legacy projects associated with each project. One prime example is the upgrading of provincial roads in the region to surfaced roads, on several villages along the route which will form part of the O.R. Tambo Heritage route.

“These projects are over and above the roads, training, and community development components of each projects. Some of these legacies will include simple and yet symbolic gestures such as leaving behind buildings built or rehabilitated for use by the contractor or engineering site staff during construction for use as community halls, business hubs, and tourist accommodation,” added Gxumisa.

The tender for the anticipated R3.5 billion Mtentu Bridge project has closed and is currently in adjudication. A contractor is expected in the new year.

MEDIA RELEASE
Road safety prioritised on Mpumalanga construction projects

Mpumalanga, 7 December 2021 – With more than R3bn worth of infrastructure upgrades across the province of Mpumalanga, SANRAL’s commitment goes beyond economic impact, into the realm of road safety.

The upgrade of the N17 section 5 in particular, involves the repair and reseal of the road with safety upgrades at two intersections between Chrissiesmeer and Warburton.

“In responding to road safety needs in this area, we are cognizant of the fact that land use adjacent to the road includes plantations (forestry), cattle grazing, saw-mills and other agricultural activities. To this end our contractors and subcontractors play a vital part in facilitating the safety of all road users, especially given the risks of animals entering the road reserve, as well as pedestrians,” said Madoda Mthembu, SANRAL Operations and Maintenance Manager in the Northern Region.

Over and above conventional construction projects, Routine Road Maintenance operations are key to ensuring not only a well-maintained road network, but significant emphasis is placed on road safety engineering.

“SANRAL supports a safe systems approach to road safety which involves the provision and maintenance of safe road infrastructure that reduces the risk of serious injury or death when a crash occurs,” explained Mthembu.

There are currently six RRM projects located in the Gert Sibande District Municipality. On the N17, R23 and other national roads within the Gert Sibande District Municipality, the scope of maintenance works include:

• general road maintenance of the road reserve
• grass cutting
• storm water drainage
• fencing
• erecting and maintaining road signs
• potholes or road surface repairs

Zenzele Hlope, owner of Kuthele Civil Engineering and Construction is one of the SMMEs who were recently awarded a contract for RRM on the N17. “I am very proud of the work we do in the road construction space, because we play a direct role in ensuring the safety of all road users. Currently we are working on fence repairs, maintaining road edges, pothole repairs and inspections as well as guard rail repairs and installation. All these aspects of our work directly impact road safety, as the fences prevent stray animal from wandering into the road reserve, the guard rails prevent vehicles that have lost control from hitting hazards next to the road (i.e. bridge piers, trees, etc.) or falling over into cliffs or dongas and the pothole detection and repairs create a safer road surface.”

Hlope is also highly appreciative of the growth and development he has seen, as a subcontractor. He started out with a 1CE grading from the CIDB and within just over one year, worked to acquire a 3CE grading. He currently employs 11 staff and is excited about the economic development opportunities that can be unlocked within the road construction sector.

“When road safety meets economic development, tangible progress is made. We recognise that South Africa has a long way to go for economic recovery in the midst of a pandemic, but at the same time we are excited about how SANRAL is spearheading this process,” said Progress Hlahla, SANRAL Northern Region Manager.

MEDIA RELEASE
N3 OBSTRUCTION

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) is aware of the obstruction of the N3 Highway near the Van Reenan pass. The Tugela Plaza is closed to Johannesburg bound road users and traffic is slow for motorists travelling in the direction of the eThekwini Municipality.

This is a law enforcement matter and SANRAL has full confidence that officers of the law will carry out their responsibilities with diligence. The relevant authorities are on the scene, closely monitoring the situation. Motorists have been advised to delay travel to the area.