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5 August 2021, Vaalwater – There has been good progress on the upgrading of bridges and culverts on the R33, section 14, between Vaalwater and Lephalale, since the contract was awarded in September 2020, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced.

SANRAL awarded a public tender to G4 Civils (Pty) Ltd on 18 September 2020, for the construction of three bridges and the extension of two major culvert structures. (See locality map below)

The letter of access to site was handed to the contractor on 12 May 2021.

The project consists of the construction of three bridges at 12.6km, 19.0km and 23.6km. The two culverts to be upgraded are close to the bridge at 12.6km. Approximately 300 meters of the existing road, on either side of each bridge, will be raised by 1.2 meters as protection against flooding, and the cross section will be widened to 3.7-meter lanes in each direction and 3.0-meter paved shoulders. The Merriespruit bridge at 19.4km will replace the single lane culvert structure that was built as a temporary crossing after the steel culvert washed out in February/March 2014.

Although there were significant delays in bringing the project to the market, which included the alignment of SANRAL construction tender documents to fall in line with new National Treasury regulations promulgated in November 2017, SANRAL is happy to report that construction has now started and is expected to be completed by end January 2023.

The works will contribute significantly to reducing the number of accidents, particularly at the Merriespruit site, and will improve mobility times for travelers. The site supervision of this project will be carried out by LEO Consulting Engineers/Superstructures JV.

This project will create several temporary jobs for people living in Vaalwater and Lephalale. There will also be opportunities for employment of targeted enterprises (sub-contractors) for various work packages. Before construction could start, the contractor first had to prepare the local environment for the contract to proceed. The following milestones were achieved during this mobilisation phase:

• Establishment of the Project Liaison Committee (PLC) in conjunction with the Modimolle-
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Mookgophong (MMLM) and Lephalale (LLM) Local Municipalities.
• Induction of the PLC members.
• Appointment of two Project Liaison Officers (PLO) by open invitation, one each from the MMLM AND LLM areas.
• Obtaining the Construction Work permit from the Department of Labour which was issued on 4 February 2021.
• Calling for tenders for various sub-contract work packages for creation of a targeted enterprise (TE) database.

The following has been achieved in the mobilisation phase;

• Agreement on apportionment of sharing of labour and TE work between Modimolle-Mookgophong and Lephalale Local Municipality councils, as the project is on the border of the two municipal areas:

*Brakspruit bridge km 12.6 will be shared with the MMLM municipal area.
*Merriespruit bridge km 19.0 will be shared with the LLM area.
*Barberkuil bridge km 23.6 will be shared with the LLM area.

• Appointment of local labour: Twenty local labourers have been appointed at this stage (ten from MMLM and ten from LLM. Additional labour will be engaged as the work proceeds.
• Appointment of targeted enterprises (TEs): After the advertising of the packages in the MMLM and LLM areas, TEs have been appointed for the following packages:

* Plant hire (not all items have been awarded yet)
* Security (x2)
* Fencing (x2)
* Accommodation of traffic (x2)
* Fuel supply
* Brakspruit bridge km 12.6
* Merriespruit bridge km 19.0
* Barberkuil bridge km 23.6

• Appointment of targeted enterprises (TEs): future work packages
? Other subcontracting work packages such as gabion work, etc. will be advertised at different stages as the work proceeds, and local TEs are encouraged to look for such in the local media platforms.

For more information, please contact Mr Hendré du Preez at hendredp@leoconsult.co.za or Mr Hendri Strauss at hendri@g4.co.za or cell 083 406 7270.

Limpopo, 29 July 2021 – The Musina ring road will alleviate severe traffic congestion in the Musina central business district (CBD) once it is completed in the second quarter of 2022. Travel time for the road users travelling in and around Musina is expected to be reduced significantly, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has said.

The project consists of the construction of approximately 8.0km of greenfields single carriageway freeway to form the western ring road around the town. The alignment deviates from the existing N1 section 29 alignment just south of Musina and ties back into the existing alignment just north of the town.

Thousands of heavy vehicles use the N1 every day and pass through the Musina CBD. These vehicles also add to the traffic congestion in the town and create conflict with local traffic and pedestrians.
“Once completed, the Musina ring road will facilitate mobility, safe movement of goods and services in and around Musina,” says Hennie Kotze, SANRAL’s project manager.

Kotze says that the R640-million project is progressing well. The stormwater infrastructure is complete as well as the majority of the earthworks. Except for the Nancefield interchange bridge, the other bridges are at advanced stages of completion. The contractor is currently progressing with layer works and surfacing.

“Apart from COVID-19 related restrictions which are proving to be a challenge not on the Musina ring road project alone, but on other projects managed by SANRAL across the country, we are confident about the anticipated June 2022 completion date, provided there are no further delays,” he adds.

The project provides access to opportunities for local community members and small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs). Fourteen targeted enterprises from the Musina municipal area are currently employed to participate in the project.

“Up to 12% of the R640-million contract value will be allocated to targeted enterprises, of which 10% will be allocated to women-owned companies. The contractor has exceeded the 12% and is currently standing at 14%,” says Kotze.
“There is also a contractual requirement to employ local labour, often referred to as targeted labour, to the value of 6% of the contract value. 30% of this value must be used on women and youth labour each.”

SANRAL recognises that it can help to build a capable and developmental state and drive economic development through the provision and maintenance of critical infrastructure.

The Musina ring road project showcases how this is coming to life. Local businesses and communities will access employment through this project, as well as opportunities to tender for sub-contracting.

Eastern Cape, 01 August 2021 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited’s (SANRAL) R61 upgrade project from Bayiza to Mthatha Airport will create much-needed economic spin-offs and job opportunities for the community of King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality.
Speaking at the project relaunch on Thursday (29 July) at Mthatha Airport, Eastern Cape MEC for Roads, Transport and Safety, Weziwe Tikana-Gxotiwe, said that after completion, the R61 road will be a vital link and catalyst for the development of the Wild Coast Special Economic Zone.

“The R61 Corridor is an important corridor in this region because it eases the movement of people and freight companies within the region and other parts of the country. As a provincial government, working together with SANRAL, we recognise the importance of a good and sustainable road network that benefits our province and its citizens,” she said.

Valued at R237 million, the project will start in September this year and is expected to be completed in November

“While the entire upgrade of the road is envisaged to be completed in 18 months, we have allocated the first three months of the construction to what we call the mobilisation period. This is a period in which H&I Construction, the appointed contractor, will interact with the Project Liaison Committee (PLC) and craft work packages that comprise the Contract Participation Goals (CPG), which is the amount that will be allocated to targeted enterprises and suppliers. These matters will be discussed and agreed upon within the first three months with the PLC. The PLC comprises representatives from the municipality, traditional leadership, business, and other sectors of society,” said Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL’s Regional Manager for the Southern Region.

According to Peterson, the CPG on the project is R71m, which is 30% of the total project value. About R18,9 million of the project has also been earmarked to create job opportunities for local community members. About 160 to 200 job opportunities will be created for skilled and semi-skilled workers during the construction phase. Skills development and other training opportunities will be offered to those working on site.

The upgrade of the R61 will also assist in improve traffic flow as there has been a substantial increase of traffic volumes over the past few years. Access to Mthatha Airport will improve significantly once the project is completed. Numerous intersections will be upgraded to improve traffic flow and ease turning movements into and out of the R61, and some access road intersections with the R61 will be re-gravelled or surfaced. In the next four years SANRAL also plans to construct a dual carriageway between the Mthatha Airport and Mthatha CBD to increase mobility and the level of service of the road. The R61 project came to a standstill in June 2018 because the previous contractor was placed under business rescue and subsequently liquidated. The contract was re-tendered in late 2020, leading to H&I Construction’s appointment.

Pretoria, 30 July 2021 – With just over two months until applications close, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) is reminding South African youth to take full advantage of its bursary and scholarship programme. At a time of economic uncertainty and pressure for consumers, SANRAL’s financial aid is designed to take the financial pressure off students and allow them to focus purely on excelling academically.

Particularly, while SANRAL’s academic policy allows for an expanded net of socio-economic inclusion for bursary and scholarship recipients, there is no better time to grab this opportunity.

Laaiquah Frank, a go-getter who is currently in her final year of studying Civil Engineering at Wits University, is actively encouraging other young people to take up bursary opportunities. “I am deeply grateful for this bursary. Not only did it provide me with education, but it allowed me to live meaningfully, and even contribute in some small way, to making life a bit easier at home,” said Frank. Her advice to young people? “The possibilities are endless when your fire is burning inside. Don’t stress about the how part. Just do it and chase your fire!”

While SANRAL remains committed to developing a pipeline of Civil Engineering professionals in support of its mandate of building and maintaining South Africa’s national road network, the roads agency is cognisant of the fact that a multi-faceted state-owned entity requires a strong and robust corporate structure to give effect to its mandate. Financial support through bursary allocations for disciplines such as Public Relations, Auditing, Supply Chain Management, Law, Human Resources and Finance, which collectively support the corporate structure, will give effect to that mandate.

Fefe Mzimane, who completed a National Diploma in Civil Engineering from Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 2015, says the financial assistance he received from SANRAL has been life changing. While working in the field in 2016, he soon learnt the difference between an Engineering Technician and a Registered Engineer. This inspired him to enrol for an undergraduate degree at Stellenbosch University, and with SANRAL’s help, he is currently completing his Master’s Degree.

The bursary programme, which formerly focussed purely on funding Engineering studies, is now within reach of students pursuing an array of tertiary qualifications at public universities across the country. In a holistic business environment, the auxiliary line functions that support SANRAL’s Engineering function are as crucial and as such, funding will be available to full-time students studying Law, Public Administration, Finance, Human Resources, among other fields. Matriculants will need a 70% overall pass, while existing students will require 60% to be eligible for a SANRAL bursary.

Bursaries cover:
• Tuition and registration
• Books and equipment
• Compulsory excursions and seminars
• Accommodation and meals
• Living allowance

SANRAL’s scholarship programme
SANRAL’s scholarship programme was historically developed to give financial support to learners from Grade 10 to Grade12, ideally those who excel in mathematics and science. This year, scholarships are available to all high school learners, i.e. from Grade 8 to Grade 12, irrespective of their subject choices. Furthermore, where learners previously required a 70% overall aggregate to be eligible for consideration, they now require 60% with a view to improving their aggregate to 70%.

Scholarships cover:
• School fees
• Books and prescribed stationery
• Winter and summer uniforms
• Hostel accommodation (where applicable)
• Extra tuition classes in support of improved grades.

Bursary recipients are not automatically employed by SANRAL upon completion of their studies. Through an internship programme, SANRAL offers graduates the opportunity to work and apply their knowledge, while at the same time exposing them to other sectors within the greater built environment space. This expands their pool of opportunities and creates significant networking platforms for further career development.

Northern Cape, 28 July 2021 – Yet another road construction project in the Northern Cape has been completed to excellent standards. The reseal of the N12, section 6 was completed in just over one year, with a significant economic boost to the local community.

The works was divided into two contracts, one from Victoria West to Rietpoort, and the other from Rietpoort to Vosburg.
“We started this project in June last year, while South Africa was still coming to terms with Level 4 lockdown. Establishing a Project Liaison Committee during this time, was one of the key challenges we experienced. We also had to contend with a surfacing stone shortage, as the supplier closed their operations for two months as a result of COVID-19,” said Mari Erwee, SANRAL Project Manager.

Actophambili Roads was the main contractor on both these contracts, with a combined project value of R164 million. Through the two contracts, they had appointed 21 subcontractors as part of the targeted enterprise commitments of the project.

Furthermore, 339 labour opportunities were created for the local communities of Victoria West, Rietpoort, Vosburg and surrounds. These included 156 women and nearly 200 youth.

The scope of works included texture slurry, a new surfacing seal, new road markings, reflective road studs, signage, the fixing of culvert inlets and outlets, building of gabions and extending sidewalks in the town of Victoria West.
“As infrastructure development continues to drive South Africa’s economic recovery post COVID-19, SANRAL is proud to play a leading role in effecting change. Not only has the construction work injected much needed economic benefit into the region, but the new road surface significantly improves the driving experience and overall road safety,” concluded Erwee.

Eastern Cape MEC for Roads, Transport and Safety, the Honourable Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe, will officially hand over the R61 Baziya to Mthatha Airport road upgrade project located in the King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality near Mthatha – to H & I Construction, the main contractor this week.

The project’s main contractor and consultants will be introduced to the MEC Tikana-Gxothiwe, as well as to the AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, O.R. Tambo District Municipality Mayor Thokozile Sokhanyile and KSD Local Municipality Executive Mayor Councillor Nyaniso Nelani.

The project, valued at approximately R237 million, will create work for approximately 250 people. The scope of work will include widening the existing road cross-section with surfaced shoulders and additional auxiliary lanes to facilitate traffic flow. All the major structures are approximately 95% completed and require finishing off around these structures. Some access roads leading to the R61 will be re-gravelled or surfaced.

The details of the handover ceremony are as follows:

Date: Thursday, 29 July 2021
Time: 11h00 – 14h00
Venue: Mthatha Airport & virtually
RSVP: Wednesday, 28 July 2021 at 15H00
RSVP: Sanral@fticonsulting.com or Shaanaaz at Shaanaaz.Loggenberg@fticonsulting.com or Lwando at Mahlasela.Lwando@fticonsulting.com

Pretoria, 19 July 2021 – In light of the protest action and large-scale looting seen across certain parts of the country over the last few days, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) appeals to road users to help mitigate risks at toll plazas and to refrain from paying with cash, where possible.

While the situation seems to have been brought under control with the deployment of additional military resources to restore and maintain public order, SANRAL is aware of the risks associated with toll plazas potentially carrying large sums of cash.

“To this end, we appeal to road users to make use of e-tags or card payments where possible. Not only does this mitigate the risks for looting and attacking toll plazas, but while South Africa is gripped in the Third wave of Covid-19, every attempt should be made to limit the touching of shared surfaces,” said Vusi Mona, SANRAL’s General Manager of Communications and Marketing.

SANRAL continues to impose stringent health protocols at all toll plazas in line with the guidelines issued by the Department of Health to ensure the safety of its employees as well as road users.

Eastern Cape, 06 July 2021: A temporary cableway that will drastically reduce the travelling time between the South and North sites of the Msikaba Bridge will soon be operational on the N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WCR) Project.

The distance between the north and south banks of the Msikaba Bridge site is approximately 600m but is currently only accessible via an almost three-hour drive by road over 96km.

The cable car will enable site staff to cross the gorge in an estimated three to four minutes. The cable car, which can accommodate up to six people or 500kg in weight, will transport site staff and occasionally small quantities of material from the south to the north bank and vice versa.

“Even though the two sides of the bridge are effectively being built as two sub-projects, each with its own staff, equipment and material, it is necessary for senior staff and specialists to be able to access both sides of the gorge easily. Due to the logistical problems of getting from one side of the site to the other, the cableway is being installed for temporary use by staff for the remaining duration of the construction period,” said Craig McLachlan, SANRAL’s lead project manager on the N2WCR Project.

A company from Switzerland, licensed to install cableways, has been appointed to carry out the work. Work on the cableway started a year ago but was substantially delayed when the coronavirus pandemic curtailed international travel. The installation of the cableway is estimated to be completed in mid-July 2021.

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL), as the custodian of the N2WCR Project, is making steady progress in developing this multi-billion-rand project, which will serve as a crucial economic artery in the region.

The R1.65 billion Msikaba Bridge is currently under construction. The cable-stay bridge, with a 580m span and 195m height, is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

The N2WCR Project entails upgrading the 410km of road, which stretches from East London to the Mtamvuna River, on the border between the Eastern Cape and the KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The project is located on the N2, which connects four provinces, i.e. the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, and traverses the cities and major towns of Cape Town, George, Port Elizabeth, East London, Mthatha, Durban and Ermelo.

The project consists of two mega bridges, the Mtentu Bridge and the Msikaba Bridge projects, and seven other major road works projects, including several major bridges and interchange structures.

Tenders for the Mtentu Bridge project has closed, and it is currently in adjudication. A contractor is expected to be appointed in the second half of 2021. Provided that there are no significant delays on the Mtentu Bridge project, the construction period is estimated to be 46 months, including a four-month mobilisation period.

Limpopo, 31 May 2021: The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) hosted an information sharing session in Botlokwa to announce the upgrade of the Botlokwa Clinic Road. The 2,5-kilometre-long project, which runs from the National Road 1 (N1) to the new clinic in Machaka, will be upgraded from gravel road to surface road.

“Our purpose today is to engage the community and the Machaka Traditional Council with the necessary knowledge regarding the project upgrade as well as upcoming SANRAL projects. At SANRAL we will continue to drive the Horizon 2030 strategy, reaching out to stakeholders in all three spheres of government, from national, provincial, to local. We also always ensure that community members that live alongside our national roads benefit from these projects” said Moloko Masenya, SANRAL’s Northern Region stakeholder coordinator for Limpopo Province.

The event was attended by ward councillors, Machaka Traditional Council, Molemole Business Forum, Botlokwa Road Safety Organisation, Marama Taxi Association, Headmen, and other affected communities. “The information session presents an opportunity for the community to endorse SANRAL’s project plans and acknowledge the project liaison committee formed to represent them throughout the lifespan of the project,” said Masenya.

Consultants that will work on the project were appointed in January 2021 for a period of 12 months. Once the design work is complete, the tender will be advertised for the appointment of the main contractor, which is expected start work in the first quarter of 2022.

“SANRAL provided this opportunity for local communities to participate in contracting and sub-contracting opportunities on the project. The R 10 million project consists of design (valued at R2 million) and construction and supervision (valued at R8 million). The communities are therefore presented with opportunities that will allow local SMMEs to obtain training and job creation prospects that will be realised through this project,” said Tony Seloana, SANRAL’s Northern Region Project Manager.

SANRAL will continuously liaise with the appointed Project Liaison Committee to follow the process in the hiring of local labourers for the duration of the project. Continuous project information sessions and introductions of contract teams to the traditional authority and local municipality is crucial throughout the project life cycle to foster conducive relations with targeted stakeholders.