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Upgrading of R67 link between Makhanda and Fort Beaufort has concluded

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The repair and resurfacing of the R67 between Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) and Fort Beaufort, linking 12 significant intersections in the Eastern Cape, has concluded.

The R67 between Makhanda and Fort Beaufort is located between the District Municipalities of Sarah Baartman and Amathole and are in the Local Municipalities of Makana and Raymond Mhlaba (previously known and Nkonkobe).

The R226 million project, which comprised the surfacing of the gravel shoulders, repair and resurfacing of the R67 Section 2 from the intersection with the N2 in the south (Makhanda) to the intersection with the R63 in the north (Fort Beaufort), provides a regional link between various smaller towns in the middle part of the province.

The road previously fell under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Cape Department of Roads and Public Works (ECDRPW) until April 2012 and prior to that received limited asset preservation maintenance.

“The road was repaired where required, resurfaced, gravel shoulders surfaced to widen certain sections to improve safety, and new road markings, signs and road studs were installed,” said Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL Southern Region Manager.

Approximately 70.7 km of the road resurfaced extends northwards from the intersection to the national road N2 near Makhanda (km 0.0 road marker) to the intersection with the national road R63 at Fort Beaufort (km 70.7 road marker).

The roadworks comprised preventative special maintenance and included: surfacing of narrow gravel shoulders to reduce edge break maintenance; construction of a double seal with a S-E1 modified binder; construction of a double seal with a S-E1 modified binder in the Ecca Pass; milling off and replacement of asphalt to bridge decks;  subsoil drains; concrete-lined drains; concrete foot paths and edge beams; earthworks for rest areas, finishing of the road reserve; fencing; road signs; installation of roadside furniture at rest areas; construction of a roadside vendor area and refurbishment of a historical monument along the route.

Some of the significant intersections encountered along the route are:

  • N2 (Km 0 road marker – Grahamstown)
  • Municipal Road (MR0086) (west) to Km 0.2 road marker Grahamstown
  • Link road to Grahamstown (Km1.1 road marker)
  • District Road (DR02039) (east) to Committees Drift (Km9 road marker)
  • District Road DR20396 (east) to Glen Melville Dam (Km 15.4 road marker)
  • District Road DR02043 (west) to Krans Drift and District Road DR02044 (east) to Committees Drift (Km 21.2 road marker)
  • Entrance to Fort Brown police station (Km 22.6 road marker)
  • District Road DR02055 (west) to Douglas Heights (Km 28.2 road marker)
  • District Road DR92044 (west) to Prieel (Km 50.6 road marker)
  • District Road DR02059 (west) to Prieel (Km 50.6 road marker)
  • District Road DR02475 (east) (Km 63.2 road marker)
  • District Road DR024461 (west) (Km 68.8 road marker); and
  • R63 (Km 70.7 road marker).

“Community development was also a key initiative on the project where 29 Targeted Enterprises were employed to work on various parts of the works in order to achieve the targeted enterprise expenditure set by SANRAL,” said Peterson.

Accredited training was provided to 360 people who attended various courses. Training included tendering for construction contracts; fencing; slurry placing; health and safety awareness; environmental awareness; basic first aid; road safety for construction works; use and maintain basic hand tools; use and maintain power hand tools; concrete handling, placing and finishing; basic shuttering; paving; steel fixing; road safety for construction workers; apply health and safety on a construction site; and risk assessment.

Mandisa Zixesha owner of Nema Distributors had a two-year contract working on the project.

“We were initially awarded the contract for clearing bush and erecting a 16 km fence but after we showed great construction skill, performed well and that our staff were willing individuals while finishing everything before the deadline; we were given the opportunity to complete a job which could not be finished by a previous contractor. That is how we landed working on a 4km sub-soil drains contract,” said Zixesha.

Nema Distributors, located in Fort Beaufort, started as a CIDB Level 1 CE and 1 SQ and upgraded to 2 CEPE and 2 SQ.  During the contract she employed 12 people, alternating between seven or eight people per project.

“We gained valuable experience while working on this project. The certificate of completion we received, and experience gained while working on this project will allow us to be more confident when we tender for other projects.

“We are happy the road has been upgraded. In the past the road was bad to drive on and bridges were not up to standard. The road was bumpy and small. The widening of the road has improved the road and it is safer to travel on,” she said.

Some staff also received training in risk assessment, health and safety and basic first aid and received NQF level 2 certificates upon completion.

Mbulelo Kitsili owner of Kitsili Trading was contracted to build furniture and paving for three rest areas over four months. He employed seven people on the project.

Kitsili Trading is based in Grahamstown and started as a CIDB level 1. “Once we receive the certificate of completion, we hope to upgrade to CICB level 3,” said Kitsili.

Kitsili underwent risk assessment training and received an NQF level 2 certificate upon completion.

“Some motorists make use of the rest areas and I believe others will be encouraged to take necessary breaks before heading back on their journey.”

Kitsili added that his goal is to continue working in the civil industry.

“I look forward to other construction tendering opportunities and believe the experience gained and completion certificate will assist when you apply for other tenders,” said Kitsili.

TRAC reaches out to community members during COVID-19

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The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the extended national lockdown has had a detrimental effect on vulnerable communities along the N4 Toll Route. Financial constraints and unemployment are rife, resulting in many households not even having basic food supplies.

Someone once said: “ If you are in a position to help somebody in need , you do it . ” TRAC lives by this philosophy and this is exactly why the company recently reached out to help its community members in need.

In consultation with the City of Mbombela, TRAC donated R50 000 worth of food parcels to needy communities in the municipal area. The parcels consisted of non-perishable foods and each included 10kg mealie meal, 2kg samp, 2.5kg sugar, 2l cooking oil, soup, tinned fish, baked beans and tea.

The parcels were loaded, packed and distributed under strict COVID-19 protocols to the beneficiaries.

While our heart remains heavy that our most vulnerable community members are suffering from the effects of COVID-19, we are grateful that we have been able to make a difference where it matters most.

SANRAL’s COVID-19 27 March 2020 FAQs

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FAQs as at 27 March 2020

Routine road maintenance and toll operations are approved as essential services

  1. Are toll operations an essential service?
    • Approval was obtained from Government late on the 26th March for SANRAL activities to proceed as essential services. This approval and instruction has been issued to SANRAL employees and service providers to enable services to be executed during the lockdown period.
    • Routine road maintenance and toll operations are approved as essential services by Government. SANRAL and its service providers are thus fulfilling an important mandate to ensure road safety and seamless mobility on national roads during the lockdown period.
  1. If toll operations are on the essential services exemption list as Gazetted, are toll collectors still expected to arrive for work?
    • We will maintain a skeleton staff for purposes of safe road operations, clearing of accidents, all heavy vehicles are directed through the vehicle check points at the Huguenot tunnel as well as road traffic enforcement.
  1. What happens if toll staff don’t arrive for work? Will the toll booms be opened or closed?
    • All staff have an important mandate to fulfil and as such been informed to report for duty.
  1. Will vehicles carrying food, medicine and other essential goods be able to move through the booms and onward to their destinations if toll operators do not report for duty?
    • SANRAL and its concessionaires will make every effort to ensure seamless mobility on national roads during the lock down.
  1. Has government given SANRAL any guidance on what you should be doing during this time?
    • National Government has approved routine road maintenance and toll operations as an essential service. SANRAL and its service providers are thus fulfilling an important mandate to ensure road safety and seamless mobility on national roads during the lockdown period.
  1. Will SANRAL still be charging people to use the highways in Gauteng through your e-tolls system?
    • SANRAL will be charging the gazetted toll fees on the Gauteng Freeway Open road toll network.
  1. Will the decline in traffic have a financial impact on SANRAL? If so, have you calculated what that impact will be?
  • Yes, it will. We are tracking the traffic on a daily basis, but will only calculate the impact after we close off the month.
  1. Will all toll plazas be operational?
  • Yes, all toll plazas nationally will be operational.
  1. If toll plazas are operating how many toll collectors will be working and what will their responsibility be?
    • We will maintain a skeleton staff for the collection of toll for those who cannot avoid using cash as a transaction method. However, we encourage road users to use dedicated credit card or e-tag lanes where possible.

 

  1. What measures will be put in place to protect the skeleton staff from infection?
  • Our greatest priority is the well-being, health and safety of our road users and employees. Stringent measures have been put in place at all SANRAL toll plazas to curb the spread of Covid-19.
  • SANRAL, through its toll concession companies, has embarked on a comprehensive education program amongst its employees with particular emphasis on Toll Collection Department staff. We are educating our staff on the spread of COVID-19 and the measures individuals can take to protect themselves and contain the virus.
  • Precautionary measures include increasing communication and awareness efforts to employees, heightening health, sanitation and cleaning activities and restricting access to only core staff at our plazas.
  • Employees have been encouraged to minimise contact with others. Continuous updates from the WHO and Department of Health will be communicated to all employees via our internal communication channels. Vulnerable workers have been identified and assisted accordingly to minimise the risk of infection.
  • Additional sanitisers (including personal sanitisers) have been made available throughout the plazas to all staff and are used regularly when handling money, cards and interfacing with the public.
  1. What measures have been put in place to mitigate COVID-19 and keep staff and road users safe?
  • See 9. above
  • Toll collectors will continue to accept cash, although SANRAL recommends the use of dedicated e-tags and credit card lanes to limit road users’ direct contact with its toll operators.
  1. Will the South Africa military be deployed at the toll plazas, and other non-toll networks as well?
  • SANRAL is not a law enforcement agency but will support the South African government in its endeavour to curb the spread of COVID-19. Please refer your query to the South African National Defence Force.
  1. What restrictions will be in place that would prevent me from driving along the freeway to any destination I choose?
  • All South Africans who are not deemed to be essential employees by the National Government are expected to be in lockdown and not travelling on the roads for the next 21 days until after 16 April.
  1. Can you provide a list of toll booths that are owned and managed by SANRAL and those that are owned and managed by the concessionaires?
  • Please refer to the toll adjustment booklet, it demarks eactly which routes are managed by SANRAL and those by its concessionaires.
  1. Do I need a valid reason to drive past toll booth during lockdown – will that not appear as breaking the rules during a lockdown?
  • All South Africans who are not deemed to be essential employees as declared by the National Government are expected to be in lockdown and not travelling on the roads for the next 21 days until 16 April.
  • Please refer to the regulations issued by government regarding permits required to travel as well as restrictions on travel times.
  1. How do I get hold of SANRAL if I have any queries around tolls during this lockdown period?
  • Please visit our social media forums on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates and valuable information relate to COVID-19 as well as to post any queries.
  • Members of the media should contact us via Pressoffice@nra.co.za
  1. If Routine maintenance of roads is deemed an essential service, what precautions is SANRAL taking at its maintenance sites to reduce the risk of infection for workers?
  • Routine road maintenance are approved as essential services by Government. SANRAL and its service providers are thus fulfilling an important mandate to ensure road safety and seamless mobility on national roads during the lockdown period.
  • SANRAL continues to advise all our contractors to use the protective measures as instructed including maintaining a skeleton staff.  Contractors have been instructed themselves to come up with action plans. And this will be monitored as time progresses.

TRAC implements action plan for national lockdown

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In terms of the presidential announcement on March 23, 2020, TRAC’s Executive Management has decided on an action plan to address aspects related to the company’s facilities, the N4 Toll Route and its road users during the national lockdown. Although the COVID-19 pandemic presents significant challenges, TRAC is confident that we will overcome them in the coming weeks and months.

The action plan is as follows: Construction All current construction contracts in South Africa will be locked down as from today. During this period, core staff will be at each site to ensure works are protected and safety is adhered to. Load Control Centres Load Control Centres (LCC) will cease operations on March 26, 2020 at 18h00, however traffic police will continue to perform traffic law enforcement duties which will not include overload control duties. Roadside Assistance and Route Patrols * TRAC’s 24-hour Helpdesk will be fully operational 24/7 during the lockdown period. This is to assist in the coordination of all emergency services as well as aid with vital routine road maintenance and assist toll plazas when needed. The Helpdesk can be contacted via phone on 0800 87 22 64 (toll free) or 082 881 4444 or via email at helpdesk@tracn4.co.za. * TRAC’s route patrol and accident response services will continue to operate. This includes a daily route patrol, accident response and TRACAssist services. Toll operations * Toll operations remain an Essential Service as was determined by government. * TRAC’s toll plazas will continue to operate along the N4 Toll Route.
PRESS RELEASE

* Core skeleton teams will manage the plazas for safety and security purposes. * All plaza staff on duty will follow COVID-19 safety protocols. These include sanitising hands after every transaction and sanitising booths at the start of every shift.

TRAC would like to wish everyone well during this challenging time. We urge you to keep yourselves and your loved ones safe. We are confident that this storm shall pass, and that we will emerge stronger and better for it – as a nation, as a company, and most importantly, as individuals.

SANRAL operations declared essential service during covid-19 lockdown

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The Routine Road Maintenance (RRM) and toll operations of the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) have been declared an essential service, by national government.

Confirmation of this declaration was received late on Thursday, 26th March and SANRAL has subsequently informed employees and service providers to enable these services to be executed during the lockdown period.

SANRAL CEO, Skhumbuzo Macozoma, said: “RRM activities are important to ensure good safety performance of national roads, while toll operations are equally important to ensure seamless mobility and effective traffic and incident management throughout the toll road network of South Africa.”

In response to the call by President Cyril Ramaphosa for all South Africans to assist in halting the spread of COVID-19, SANRAL has imposed stringent measures at its toll plazas and has reduced the number of toll collectors.

SANRAL is following the guidelines issued by the Department of Health to ensure the health of its employees as well as essential road users.

Motorists who are deemed essential staff and are travelling on the national roads are encouraged to avoid using cash and utilise the dedicated credit card and e-tag lanes where possible.

Measures are also in place for a skeleton crew to operate the Freeway Management System (FMS) in order to monitor the road network for rapid & effective incident responses.

All SANRAL construction projects are suspended and locked down with security personnel in place to protect materials and assets, whilst continuing to operate traffic accommodation facilities.

SANRAL has imposed stringent measures at its toll plazas

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SANRAL has imposed stringent measures at its toll plazas and is following the guidelines issued by the Department of Health to ensure the health of its employees as well as road users in its efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19. SANRAL is proactively responding to the call by President Cyril Ramaphosa for all South Africans to assist in halting the spread of the virus.

Precautionary measures which SANRAL has put in place include increasing communication and awareness efforts to employees, heightening health, sanitation and cleaning activities, and restricting access to only core staff at our plazas. Additional sanitisers (including personal sanitisers) have been made available at all the plazas to staff and these are used regularly when handling money, cards and interfacing with the public.

Each toll operator has sanitizer in their booth to use after each transaction to protect themselves and the curb the onward transmission of viruses to the motorist. After each shift the surfaces in the toll booths are disinfected. Fighting the spread of COVID-19, becomes a collective responsibility for each and every one of us.

Motorists, that have permission to travel in terms of the regulations for essential goods and services, must please consider the following when transacting at toll plazas:

• Avoid cash transactions wherever possible. If you have no option but to pay with cash, please try to have the exact amount.
• Where dedicated credit cards or e-tags available please use these lanes to reduce direct contact or interaction with toll operators.
• To avoid contracting or transmitting COVID-19, focus on conscious and regular handwashing, use antimicrobial gels, keep antibacterial wipes in your car and keep a safe distance of at least one meter from people who are showing symptoms of the virus.

Let’s all try do our part!

SANRAL’s key projects within aMajuba region set to empower local SMMEs

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The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) will invest in the upgrading and maintenance of national roads such as the N11 which will benefit the region of aMajuba. This was announced by Dumisani Nkabinde, SANRAL’s Regional Manager for KwaZulu-Natal and Free State provinces at a SANRAL stakeholder engagement event held at Madadeni Community Hall in aMajuba. Nkabinde said these projects offer local SMME’s significant opportunities for new business and provide important job creation within local communities and skills development through partnerships with established construction companies.

Key projects that SANRAL is prioritising extends beyond aMajuba District and will also include work along uThukela District municipality. The focus is on the upgrading of National road N11 outside Ladysmith and a new ring road around Newcastle town towards iNkunzi River. Other strategic projects on the horizon is the resurfacing of the N11 between Newcastle town and Volkrust and routine road maintenance running from Bergville to Ladysmith. The upgrade will include the construction of pedestrian facilities to improve road safety along the route.

Addressing local entrepreneurs, Mr Nkabinde emphasised SANRAL’s Transformation Policy which aims to ensure increased participation of black emerging companies in the construction industry.

SANRAL’s Horizon 2030 Strategy outlines how the National Roads Agency will use its multi-billion-rand infrastructure spend programme to drive transformation of the construction industry by enabling SMME’s to partner with more established construction companies on projects and also empowering locals by providing them with job opportunities. Furthermore, SANRAL has partnered with Yellow Machine leasing companies to assist in leasing and buying of equipment on favourable terms, offered exclusively to emerging construction companies awarded to do work on SANRAL projects.

Mr Nkabinde said: “The purpose of the Horizon 2030 Strategy is to showcase how SANRAL is assisting with and enabling the transformation of the construction industry and the South African economy.”

SANRAL will be using a vehicle already prescribed by National Treasury, the preferential procurement regulations of 2017, where a minimum of 30% of the contract value must be sublet to SMME’s.

Established companies would be required to partner with local SMME’s such as those in aMajuba to ensure that projects are delivered in order to benefit not only road users but drive economic prosperity through job creation to the community of aMajuba.

As part of SANRAL’s Beyond Roads mandate, Nkabinde raised awareness on project opportunities outside of construction such as upgrading of toll gates, maintenance of electrical and IT infrastructure, line marking and traffic signs all of which local SMME’s can be involved in.

SANRAL addresses the issues of SMMEs in Bloemfontein

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As part of its strategy which seeks to open doors for stakeholders, local small businesses, communities, and business forums South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has embarked on robust stakeholder engagement initiatives to assess the needs of SMMEs in Bloemfontein.

These engagements sessions set to map out the impact that the routine road maintenance projects (RRM) are creating in the province through stimulating job opportunities, empowering women and youth, implementing training, skills and development programmes.

Speaking to SMMEs and local communities in Winburg as part of SANRAL’s flagship Taking SANRAL to the People programme, Dumisani Nkabinde, Regional Manager for SANRAL’s Eastern Region, mentioned SANRAL has been distant to its stakeholders and came up with this concept which seeks to demonstrate how SANRAL runs its business and how it brings its stakeholders in the mix.

Says Nkabinde, “transformation is core to SANRAL’s mandate with attention aimed at giving an opportunity to black-owned SMMEs that didn’t do the business with SANRAL in the past. Going forward we will focus on subcontracting and giving opportunities to small businesses, preventing bigger firms from taking business from smaller firms.”

Since the introduction of its Horizon 2030 Strategy, SANRAL has made a concerted effort to empower locals by providing them with job opportunities and enabling SMMEs to partner with more established construction companies on their projects. This creates the benefit of skills transferal and mentorship that will see SMMEs move from sub to main contractors in the near future.

Horizon 2030 is a proactive response by the road agency to create a national road transport system that serves as an “economic artery”, delivering an improved standard of living for citizens that live alongside its projects.

The day to day road maintenance projects also adds to SANRAL’s mandate and in support of connecting with stakeholders through working together to deliver a safe, efficient, reliable and resilient national road transport system through a sustainable process that benefits all the people of South Africa.

Monageng Mokgojwa, SANRAL’s Eastern Region Stakeholder Manager, echoes the same sentiment: “In a strong effort to build on the major success areas experienced in the past, SANRAL also reviews areas where the performance was suboptimal to ensure the necessary interventions are made to correct them and ensure success.”

The third and coming decade will see a focus on long-term visioning, reviewing the network growth and SANRAL’s mandate. Emphasis will be placed on relevance and concerted steps will be taken to ensure fair access to opportunities and redress of past imbalances.

TRAC concerned about N4 traffic due to Tchumene Interchange roadworks

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Following ongoing criticism regarding the state of the Tchumene Interchange construction site on Section 17 of the N4 Toll Route in Mozambique, Trans African Concessions (TRAC) would like to remind the public that these roadworks do not fall under our jurisdiction.

Although the construction of this interchange has a direct effect on the sections of our road before and after the Tchumene bridge structure, the project is being managed by the National Roads Administration (ANE) who are also the proprietors of the N4 in Mozambique. In view of this, TRAC has no delegation over the progress and state of the respective roadworks.

Having noted that the project is having a negative impact on N4 traffic, with the safety of our road users also being compromised, we are in communication with the responsible authorities in the hope that they address the current status quo as a matter of urgency.

TRAC commits to support Emakhazeni Local Municipality

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Various structures of the Emakhazeni Local Municipality (ELM) will receive a major facelift over the next 14 months following the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Trans African Concessions (TRAC) and the Emakhazeni local government.

After lengthy talks between the parties regarding the upgrades and renovations that are needed in the municipal area which borders the N4 Toll Route TRAC agreed to assist with three critical projects namely the refurbishment of the Emakhazeni Testing Centre, the renovation of the old bakery in Waterval Boven and the rehabilitation of Molen Road in Entokozweni (Machadodorp).

The total cost of the projects is estimated at R5-million and TRAC’s support falls in line with our CSI responsibilities to communities along the road. Besides responding to key socio-economic needs which in turn will contribute towards the economic upliftment of vulnerable people and communities, our involvement will also boost SME development and support and enhance road safety.

The MOU also falls in line with a number of government objectives to which TRAC has aligned itself with, specifically in terms of initiatives with relevant commitments as set out in the government’s National Development Plan (NDP). The vision of the NDP is that by 2030 investments in the transport sector will ensure that it serves as a key driver in empowering South Africa and its people. This will be achieved through improved access to economic opportunities, greater mobility of people and goods through transport alternatives and through social contributions.

TRAC has committed to restore the two administration buildings and ablutions of the testing centre with upgrades expected to start this month (January 2020). The project, which is expected to take three months, will see a subcontractor appointed for the bulk of the initiative. Phase 2 will consist of the renovation of the weighbridge following a separate tender process. TRAC will however employ internal resources to do basic construction works, such as the fencing and installation of surface drainage. As for the bakery, it will be refurbished to ensure it can become operational again. The project will be managed by an entity appointed by the ELM with the funding provided by TRAC.

In respect of the rehabilitation of Molen Road, TRAC will repair it during the rehabilitation of the area of the N4 which is adjacent to Entokzweni.

In addition to these major projects, TRAC will be partnering with the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison on their Community Policing Forum project which the honourable MEC CG Tshabalala is expected to launch soon. This will include an initial donation of 500 torches for use for law enforcement during anti-crime and road safety operations. TRAC has already donated 1000 blankets to the ELM in celebration of Mandela Day 2019. These blankets were handed to the elderly and the less privileged within the municipal area.