Projects run by the national road agency are about more than just building roads, they are about delivering services in the widest sense.
School kids can now walk on sidewalks to schools.
Every day communities deep in northern KwaZulu-Natal enjoy the convenience and safety of infrastructure built by the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) – from access roads to local schools to sidewalks, from retaining walls to bus- and taxi lay-bys.
One such project is the 12km concrete walkways built on both sides of a section of the R22 between the town of Manguzi and the Mozambique border. The project, worth about R14.4-million, started in November 2015 and was completed in June 2017.
Before the project began, there had been several vehicle and pedestrian incidents, according to the project manager of the Eastern Region, Ridhwaan Mahomed. “Pedestrians, mostly young pupils on their way to and from school, could be seen walking in the motorised vehicle lanes. This is very risky.”
Locals benefitted
The project brought much needed respite to local communities with employment opportunities: four local subcontractors were appointed at a cost of R1.3-million along with some R2.4-million paid in salaries for local labour.
Mgadla Trading owner, Thokozani Mbuyisa, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity provided by SANRAL. Mgadla Trading was one of the small, medium and micro enterprises that worked on the project.
“Roads exist to connect communities, to open new horizons, to bring people to opportunities and opportunities to people,” Mahomed said.
Rural areas often have a high number of unskilled individuals. On this project, local people were trained and 60 skills training certificates were issued, at an investment of R277 240.
“SANRAL has always strived to support the government’s efforts to push back the frontiers of poverty and improve the lives of citizens by investing in community development in all its projects,” Mahomed added.
Youth and SMME development lies at the heart of SANRAL’s project in Tsolo in the Eastern Cape.
The project has created 120 jobs, benefitting unskilled and unemployed locals.
Young people in the Eastern Cape town of Tsolo have benefitted from the creation of more than 100 jobs during the construction of a 5.5km walkway along the R396 national route from Tsolo to the N2 intersection.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) is constructing the walkway to improve local pedestrian infrastructure – and supporting holistic community development.
“This project is intended to benefit the community in various ways,” said SANRAL project manager Lindelani Tsanwani.
It will improve the safety for pedestrians on the R396 and at the same time provide skills development to local youth and small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).
“The SANRAL project is benefitting TVET (Technical Vocational Education and Training) students, SMMEs and locals by enhancing their skills and assuring their safety when using the road from Tsolo,” said Tsanwani.
“The project is offering training for SMMEs and their supervisors at NQF Level 4 and foremen at NQF Level 2. This will help the growth of the SMMEs and improve their operations,” he added.
The project has created 120 jobs, benefitting unskilled and unemployed locals.
In addition, it aimed to train 32 students in the field of construction. The SMMEs and students are not only trained in construction, but also in first aid, health and safety, and fire-fighting.
Participants speak
According to Ntombikayise Mdlalana, an SMME contractor, the project was not just good for the community, but also for skills development. “This is a very important project for me, especially since my goal is to advance from level 1 CIDB (Construction Industry Development Board) grading to level 3,” she said.
Another SMME contractor, Athulisiwe Dywili, said: “The project has given women an opportunity to participate in the field of construction, which was previously dominated by men.”
Before working on the project Dywili was unemployed. “This will give me more skills and help me put food on the table for my family. It’s a nice opportunity for me.”
The community of Whittlesea are manufacturing their own interlocking block pavers and concrete kerbs to improve their own roads.
Made by them for themselves. The community of Whittlesea doing it for themselves with the help of SANRAL.
More than three million interlocking block pavers and concrete kerbs are being manufactured by the Whittlesea community which will be used to improve road conditions and safety along the R67 national road in the Eastern Cape.
The interlocking block pavers and concrete blocks are manufactured on site.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) has hired 123 unemployed people to work on the project, which started in November 2016 and is scheduled to be completed in July 2018.
“We hope to leave a legacy in Whittlesea,” said SANRAL project manager Lindelani Tsanwani.
SANRAL is in the process of selecting suitable candidates from the community who will attend further intensive training on how to run a block manufacturing business, Tsanwani added.
The R67 was declared a national road in 2012.
The community development project is one component of a number of projects in Whittlesea. “The interlocking blocks and concrete kerbs will be used to upgrade service roads in Tambo, Brakkloof, and McBride,” said Tsanwani. These service roads will link up with the R67 at different, safer intersections.
Community development
Former security guard Lumka Soxunjwa from Tambo Village spoke about how important the development project was to him. “I dreamt of working in the construction industry. I always wanted to upgrade the roads where we live and create jobs for unemployed people.
Soxunjwa underwent training and in 2015 registered his company in Whittlesea. “SANRAL has taught me so much, now I can work with my hands.”
Thandeka Bobotyani from Brakkloof was thankful for the training received from Inkanyiso Consulting, and the improvements it had brought to his living conditions. “The project is very helpful …. The stipend we receive helped us buy electricity and put food on the table …. The training taught me how to save money and also the importance of having a vision for where I see myself the next five years.”
Nomthunzi Vokwana from Tambo Village was excited – and appreciative – about being part of the project. “I have been in catering for years and I was a cleaner, but I have always wanted to work in the construction industry and SANRAL and Inkanyiso Consulting answered my prayers.”
SANRAL and Inkanyiso Consulting had provided members of the Whittlesea community with business skills, said Mlondozi Swaki from Brakkloof Village. “I can see where my construction career is going because of this project,” Swaki said. “This training has shown us that as small companies we are not forgotten and SANRAL has shown that they really care about us.”
Among the skills taught were how to work out pricing, skills in civil engineering, and how to calculate quantities and compile payment certificates. “I am so grateful to SANRAL and Inkanyiso Consulting for the opportunity: they really equipped us to do a lot of things.”
Participants in the annual Concrete Boat Race have just seven days to build a competitive boat.
Kavin Seretlo is a SANRAL bursary recipient who participated in the race.
The annual Concrete Boat Race, hosted by the Concrete Society of South Africa (CSSA), is a fun way of introducing tertiary students to the uses of concrete and cement.
Teams taking part in the competition have a week to construct a lightweight working boat that can be paddled by two people.
Team Mapungubwe, made up of 10 students from the University of Johannesburg, are sponsored by the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL). The team also included SANRAL bursary recipient, Kavin Seretlo.
Other notable contributors to the race are: OnTime Ready Mix, a ready-mixed concrete supplier; Chryso Southern Africa, a leader in the construction chemicals industry; and, the University of Johannesburg.
The competition brings together members from various disciplines that make up the Concrete Society, as well as students from tertiary institutions.
The event serves to introduce students to the cement and concrete industry and facilitate networking between the various interest groups in a fun atmosphere.
The student teams do extensive research on different construction methods and materials in constructing their concrete boat – providing members with practical hands-on experience working as a team on a project.
“We did a lot of research so as to broaden our knowledge to help us achieve the desired results,” Seretlo said, adding: “We regard this excellent opportunity as an honour for the exposure, skills and knowledge we acquired.”
The team learnt many of the basic skills Civil Engineers require in their careers, Seretlo said.
All in seven days
The design of the canoe is broken down into five main parts: calculations and analysis to come up with the dimensions; the concrete mix design; mould design, using polystyrene; the construction of the boat; and painting.
This was all done within seven days. Then it was time to put their efforts to the test, on the water.
“Our efforts and work paid off as we managed to come in fifth place out of 50 other competitors,” Seretlo said.
The team was pleased that one of the sponsors had decided to keep the boat to display at their headquarters.
New pavements have been constructed along the N2 in George, allowing pedestrians safe passage.
A key element of the construction was the use of local labour.
Residents of Thembalethu, Pacaltsdorp, Lawaaikamp and Ballotsview in George, Western Cape, can now walk safely alongside the busy N2 road.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) recently unveiled brand new, safer walkways that stretch about eight kilometres along the N2 between the York Street Interchange and the Garden Route Mall.
A new pedestrian bridge has also been constructed, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to cross the railway line at Meul River in safety.
Pedestrians are the most vulnerable group of all road users, “and safety is a big priority for SANRAL,” said the manager for the Western Region, Kobus van der Walt. “Approximately 40% of all deaths on South African roads are pedestrians.”
To ensure pedestrians do not cross the busy freeway, a 2m-high welded-mesh fence has been erected along the N2, separating the pathways from the road. The fence also stops stray animals from wandering onto the freeway, which has been a cause for concern.
A key element of the construction was the use of local labour. “This project had the added advantage of providing employment to many people from the George area,” said Van der Walt.
Manual labour was used to build the pathways. The rolling terrain made the project more labour intensive, as heavy construction vehicles could not operate on the steep slopes.
The targeted spend on small, medium and micro enterprises for the project was R24.3-million. In addition, R12.2-million was allocated for labour costs.
Upgrading the Pacaltsdorp Diamond Interchange
The Pacaltsdorp Diamond Interchange project included the widening of both the existing Pacaltsdorp Interchange bridge and the two-lane York and Beach Roads, which were converted to a dual carriageway, a four-lane road with turning lanes at both ramp terminals.
Sidewalks were also constructed, along with a traffic median island.
Existing asphalt surfacing was rehabilitated, traffic signals relocated, road signage and markings replaced and street lights added.
The Pacaltsdorp Diamond Interchange upgrade was a joint project between SANRAL, the Western Cape provincial government and the George Municipality. SANRAL contributed 50% towards the project, with the provincial government and the municipality contributing 40% and 10% respectively.
Six rural communities in Alfred Nzo District Municipality, Eastern Cape, have benefitted from a series of training programmes and employment opportunities in the construction sector.
During the construction phase, the participants were provided with further on-site training and mentoring. The quality of their work was then assessed and moderated.
Twenty small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) and more than 200 local community members have benefited from a R58-million community development project in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape.
Situated in the poverty-stricken Umzimvubu and Ntabankulu local municipalities, the project has brought employment, training and skills development to six rural communities that have experienced first-hand the devastating effects of unemployment.
Via a series of theoretical and practical training programmes, local SMMEs and their employees gained experience while employed on construction sites overseen by the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL). They also advanced their Construction Industry Development Board (CIBD) grading levels, expanding their opportunities in the construction industry.
Training in construction
Over R55-million has been spent on training and management services for the construction of community access roads and pedestrian facilities along the N2, between Mount Frere and the Ngcweleni River.
In keeping with its policy of localisation, SANRAL undertook a community development project focused on recruiting and training 20 100% black-owned SMMEs. The project provided local communities with the opportunity to develop skills and gain the work experience needed to improve their CIBD grading levels.
After the theoretical training, the SMMEs were contracted to complete various assignments related to the construction of the access road and pedestrian facilities.
Employing a minimum of 10 local people each, the SMMEs were given the opportunity to work on approximately 400m of community access roads.
During the construction phase, the participants were provided with further on-site training and mentoring. The quality of their work was assessed and moderated.
All the SMMEs completed their allocated work within the contract period and SANRAL-appointed consultants are assisting the qualifying SMMEs to improve their CIDB gradings.
Increase in value
“Simply by working on this project, the participating SMMEs have increased the value of the projects they are eligible to tender for in the future,” said SANRAL project manager Thabiso Ngozwana. “This has far-reaching implications for their success and the livelihoods of their employees.”
Although the construction of the community access roads and related pedestrian facilities has been completed, some aspects of the training are still under way. The project is expected to be wrapped up in September 2018. “This community development initiative was and continues to be a success,” said Ngozwana.
“There were no delays on the project and the communities are using the access roads and pedestrian facilities. Not only that, the SMMEs working on this project were upskilled, improved their CIDB gradings and increased their chances of future work.
“SANRAL is committed to empowering SMMEs. They can be proud of their achievements on this project and we look forward to seeing them grow and flourish in the construction industry,” Ngozwana said.
The national road agency has prioritised education, training and innovation, says SANRAL’s development planner, Elna Fourie.
SANRAL’s Development Planner, Elna Fourie, believes the roads agency is creating a pipeline of talent that will eventually benefit the entire country.
Education is critical to the development of South Africa, and the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) is focused on supporting the next generation of engineers, artisans and technicians. Development planner, Elna Fourie, looks at SANRAL’s contributions.
What is SANRAL’s approach to education?
“We strongly support the recommendations in the National Development Plan (NDP) to prioritise education, training and innovation. Without investments in these fields, the country will not be able to close the skills gap, create jobs or accelerate economic growth.”
How does investing in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education contribute to SANRAL’s objectives?
“It is in our interest to support the emergence of the next generation of engineers, scientists, artisans and technicians who will plan and manage South Africa’s future road infrastructure.
“We are creating a pipeline of talent that will eventually benefit the entire country.”
What are your focus areas?
“We focus strongly on the training of teachers, especially from rural and underprivileged communities. A good example of this is our partnership with the University of the Free State. Here we are involved in the Family Maths and Family Science initiatives, which offer enrichment classes for student teachers.
“SANRAL also supports the university’s ICT laboratory for science, which gives learners hands-on experience at the Bloemfontein and QwaQwa campuses. It also offers opportunities for student teachers to extend their practical skills.”
What makes your approach unique?
“We involve parents and empower them with sufficient knowledge to support their children. This leads to a strong relationship among teachers, learners and parents that supports and contributes to better learning.”
How does SANRAL support learners and students who want to study further in STEM subjects?
“We offer scholarships to high school learners and we support them through mentorship and help with exam preparations.
“In the 2016/17 financial year, SANRAL awarded 133 bursaries to students in the fields of civil engineering, construction and the built environment. A number of these students are also offered internships at the agency and with contractors who work on SANRAL construction projects.”
Learners from schools in KwaMbonambi, KwaZulu-Natal, no longer have to walk great distances to school after receiving their own bicycles.
The Shova Kalula bicycle project aims to make things easy for pupils to access education.
Learners from KwaMbonambi in KwaZulu-Natal do not have to dread long walks to school after receiving bicycles from the Department of Transport.
Some 750 learners from 15 schools were given bicycles – part of the department’s Shova Kalula project – during a ceremony held at the Dondotha sports field on 23 January 2018.
The Shova Kalula bicycle project aims to make things easy for pupils to access education.
Speaking at the ceremony, deputy minister of transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, said: “For now, we’re prioritising rural and poor schools where pupils walk more than 3km to 5km to school.”
Grade 12 learner Sphelele Khuzwayo, who attends Sibonokuhle High School, said: “This will help me to attend late classes because I won’t have to worry about the long distance to get back home.”
Phindile Mngomezulu from Dlemudlemu High School was grateful for being provided with safety equipment along with the bicycle.
Shova Kalula
The Shova Kalula national bicycle programme was introduced in 2001 with the aim of improving mobility and access, as well as providing social and economic opportunities for people, especially in rural, remote and poorly-resourced areas.
In support of the programme, a number of bicycle maintenance shops were established in the different provinces to deal with issues of maintenance and job creation and small, medium and micro-enterprise development.
Isabel van Gend, the director of the Nelson Mandela University’s STEM programme, shares her experiences.
Isabel van Gend, the director of the Nelson Mandela University’s STEM programme, has high praise for the youngsters who attend the programme. “It humbles me to learn from some pupils that, regardless of circumstances, they excel.”
Working with school learners attending the STEM educational programme at the Nelson Mandela University’s (NMU) Missionvale campus over the past seven-and-a-half years has been a humbling, uplifting experience for the programme director, Isabel van Gend.
The STEM in Action programme provides an opportunity for selected schools that have a track record of excellence to bring physical science learners and their teachers to conduct a range of Curriculum Assessment Policy-aligned experiments.
She described being involved in the programme as “an honour, pleasure and privilege to engage with learners from a range of socio-economic backgrounds”.
The programme plays an important role in promoting STEM subjects, science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and providing extra tuition to high school learners from Grades 10 to 12.
Van Gend has high praise for the youngsters who attend the programme. “It humbles me to learn from some pupils that, regardless of circumstances, they excel.”
“I gained insight into how difficult it is for a marginalised child to be a successful scholar when there is minimal parental support and hardly any role models. Their resilience and commitment are noteworthy.”
She says that seeing such learners achieve, regardless of their circumstances, is both “rewarding and satisfying”; even though over-crowding and the quality and quantity of the teaching offered from Grade R to Grade 12 often let down learners, irrespective of the success of some individuals.
For Van Gend, love is a central factor in the education process. “My journey has taught me that no child can resist love. For me as a white ‘makhulu’ (grandmother) I also experience the love from children we engage with.
“I feel very strongly that the racial divides in our country can be softened and remedied. Interacting with children from all races affords me the opportunity to show unconditional love and to assist with practical or theoretical problems.”
The STEM programme has given Van Gend the opportunity to give, but at the same time “I am very blessed that I have received so much affection, acceptance and trust from learners of the entire spectrum we interact with”.
The STEM programme has been running since March 2010. It is based on the Missiondale campus to allow for easy access to all the local communities.
Currently more than 2 500 learners from 36 high schools attend programmes on campus.
SANRAL and STEM
Fifty matriculants from Nelson Mandela Bay graduated from an educational programme hosted by SANRAL and STEM at NMU, in September 2017.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) and the Science, Technology, Engineering and Related Management/Mathematics (STEM) Fields Pipeline Project (PP) hosted a graduation ceremony for the learners at the NMU Missionvale Campus in Port Elizabeth.
The learners from various high schools in Nelson Mandela Bay participated in the Getting Ahead in Technology and Engineering (GATE) and Selected Learner Programme (SLP) presented by STEM PP also called the STEM in ACTION by learners and educators.
Van Gend, said: “It is rewarding to experience how these learners grab the opportunity of extra tuition and excel in Physical Science. If these learners progress into careers in Science and Engineering, I cannot ask for more.”
The preliminary report on fatalities on South Africa’s roads during the 2017/18 festive season shows an 11% drop in the number of deaths compared to the same period a year ago.
Minister of Transport, Joe Maswanganyi, said that a significant decline was noted among young pedestrians aged 25 to 34, but there was a disturbing increase among those aged 35 to 44.
The preliminary 2017/18 Festive Season report indicates an 11% decline in fatalities on the roads when compared to the same period in the previous year – above the 10% target set by the Department of Transport.
“Our preliminary festive season fatalities for the period starting 1 December 2017 to 9 January 2018 show that there were 1 527 people who died on the roads in that period, compared to 1 714 fatalities in the same period the previous year,” said Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi.
Figures for the entire holiday period from 1 December 2017 to 15 January 2018 show a total of 1 676 fatalities compared to 1 875 fatalities for the previous year.
“The highest number of fatalities was among pedestrians, which increased from 34% to 37%,” the minister noted.
Although fatalities among drivers increased from 23% to 27%, there was a decline in passenger fatalities from 41% to 35%. “It is possible to save more lives if more people use safety belts,” Maswanganyi said.
While there was an increase in fatalities among younger drivers between the ages of 25 and 34, there was an encouraging decline in the number of fatalities among drivers between the ages of 35 and 49.
A significant decline was noted among young pedestrians aged 25 to 34, but there was a disturbing increase among those aged 35 to 44.
Western Cape, North West numbers up
The department recorded a noticeable decline in the number of fatalities in seven provinces. However, the Western Cape and the North West provinces recorded increases of 7% and 11% respectively.
Western Cape MEC of Transport and Public Works, Donald Grant, attributed the rise in fatalities in the province to an increase in the number of pedestrians.
“I have asked for geographic information system (GIS) mapping so we can find the exact locations of where pedestrians are being knocked down,” Grant said, adding that 61% of the pedestrians who died in road incidents were found to have ethanol in their blood. “In other words they have been drinking,” Grant said.
The North West attributed the increase in fatalities to focusing law enforcement operations on highways and neglecting rural areas.
The province is planning to construct more speed humps on its roads in an effort to reduce fatalities.
Limpopo, Free State, KZN see figures drop
Limpopo managed to achieve the highest drop in the number of fatalities, followed by the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.
Minister Maswanganyi said an impressive 43% decline in fatalities was recorded on the top 13 most hazardous routes, with 244 deaths recorded on these roads compared to 429 in the previous period.
Speed and alcohol
While the safety campaign over the festive season focused on drunk drivers, the figures showed a decline in the number of motorists arrested for drunken driving from 5 943 in 2016/17 to 3 301 in 2017/18.
“This is evidence of improved compliance and the success of our messages warning against drinking and driving,” Maswanganyi said.
However, speed continued to be a major headache, with 922 drivers arrested for breaking speed limits, compared to 785 in the 2016/17 period.
Five motorists were arrested in Limpopo, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape for driving at speeds exceeding 220 kilometres an hour in a 120 km zones.
Traffic violation notices decrease
The number of traffic violation notices showed a decrease: 453 263 violations were recorded in the previous period compared to 304 603 in the period under review.
There was a decline in the number of people who were fined for failing to wear safety belts and in the number of impounded unroadworthy vehicles.
