Agency’squarry in Ventersburghas resulted in a saving of cost and time, and limited the harm caused to the road surface.
The quarry at Ventersburg has been supplying crushed aggregate to roadwork contractors.
To reduce the cost of materials, decrease the damage caused to roads by heavy vehicles hauling construction material and save time, the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) has established a quarry to supply stone for the upgrading of the N1 between Winburg and Kroonstad.
The quarry at Ventersburg has been supplying crushed aggregate to roadwork contractors.
Zandile Nene, Project Manager at SANRAL Eastern Region, said the establishment of the quarry was necessary as the upgrading of the N1 generated the largest crushing contract of its kind on any road project.
Saving Rands and roads
Supplying crushed aggregate from the new quarry as opposed to sourcing it from commercial sources has resulted in a saving of approximately R125-million during the upgrading of the N1.
“The quarry eliminated the need for heavy trucks carrying stone to travel over long distances to construction sites. Thus, damage to the roads has also been minimised,” he said.
“Locating a quarry near the construction site resulted in considerable savings of time and money.”
The quarry contract, worth R163.5-million, was awarded to Triamic Plant, and entailed the production and delivery of approximately 1.36-million tons of a range of crushed aggregate.
The contract also provided crushed aggregate for concrete and subsoil drains, as well as rock for gabion installations.
Local community empowered
The quarry contract helped empower the local community through the employment and development of local labour, mainly women and youth, and by providing industry-specific and business training to local and small businesses in Ventersburg.
Where possible, several black-women-owned companies and emerging enterprises were appointed as subcontractors and service providers.
Nene said: “The site will be fully rehabilitated in strict accordance with the approved Environmental Management Plan upon completion of crushing activities, and with limited to no visibility from the N1. Various local species of trees will also be planted to promote full rehabilitation of the quarry.”
Heidi Harper of SANRAL believes the agency’s commitment to education contributes to the vision of Nelson Mandela.
Heidi Harper believes education truly is a powerful driver of our country’s growth.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) is contributing to the creation of an egalitarian South African society through its continued support for education and knowledge-sharing.
Our commitment to education goes beyond filling our personnel needs. It is in line with the vision of Nelson Mandela, whose centenary we celebrate this year: “The power of education extends beyond the development of skills we need for economic success. It can contribute to nation-building and reconciliation.”
We know from our experience in this field that we have built not only thousands of kilometres of roads, but also roads to success and bridges to opportunities.
We have done this through the establishment of two academic Chairs at three universities, another to promote the teaching and understanding of maths and science, and our involvement at two universities with the promotion of maths and science teaching.
But perhaps of more importance is our commitment to learners and students and assistance with internships as well as good-quality learning for graduates.
Not just beneficial to the agency
We at SANRAL concentrate on helping those who may later want to work for us. But our support net is thrown wider and we support more of those who excel in maths and science, because that is where our country’s needs lie.
We invest in education at high school level and last year awarded 194 scholarships, while 133 students received bursaries.
What was particularly pleasing is that more than 300 interns could be accommodated by SANRAL’s contractors and consultants.
We also established our own Training Excellence Academy (TEA) in 2014. We started with three engineering graduates for our Candidate Training Masterplan, enabling candidates to meet the high registration expectations of the Engineering Council of South Africa.
We now have a total of 27 graduates at the TEA. All of this we do to bring capable people onto the job market – of which the majority may end up at SANRAL itself.
Education truly is a powerful driver of our country’s growth.
This is an opinion piece by Heidi Harper, Corporate Services Executive at SANRAL
Project runs smoothly and on schedule despite small challenges.
The south-bound, two-lane carriageway has been rehabilitated and a new north-bound, two-lane carriageway has been constructed.
A 14-kilometre stretch of the N1 from Winburg South to Winburg Station in the Free State has been upgraded.
The south-bound, two-lane carriageway has been rehabilitated and a new north-bound, two-lane carriageway has been constructed.
Jan-Hendrik Els, the project’s resident engineer, said while the project was on schedule and had been relatively smooth, there had been some challenges regarding acquisition of materials, which were crushed on site. There were also labour issues around hiring from local communities.
“These issues were quickly overcome through the help of project liaison officers and a steering committee that was set up with SANRAL’s help,” he said.
Dawie Malan, the site agent on the project, said the expansion of the road was necessary because of high traffic volumes.
Tahleho Jackson Mphosi is a SMME subcontractor who worked on guardrails, v-drains and vegetation control under the main contractor WBHO.
“Working on this project has changed my life. My company now qualifies for CIDB grading 4. I bought two bakkies and I’m able to pay my employees decent salaries. To succeed in this job, you need to be dedicated and work hard. I learnt different things every day in road construction,” he said.
Businessman Solly Sebola is cultivating progressive relations with business forums and assisting black businesses to participate in projects.
Solly Sebola recently took it upon himself to walk into a veritable lion’s den and hold discussions with business forums that have shut down building sites, demanding jobs or a slice of the profits.
If you can’t fight them, get them to join you. That was the unusual approach by Solly Sebola when confronted by business forums reputed to employ thuggish methods to threaten large construction companies and workers to get contracts.
However, Sebola, founder and MD of Cape Town-based Rainbow Group, one of the country’s biggest 100% black-owned construction companies and which has several contracts with the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL), said the forums are not entirely to blame.
He thus recently took it upon himself to walk into a veritable lion’s den and hold discussions with business forums that have shut down building sites, demanding jobs or a slice of the profits.
Changing lives for the better
Sebola has engaged with KwaZulu-Natal’s three biggest business forums – Delangokubona Business Forum, Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans’ Association and Vukuzakhe – and has provided work opportunities for 17 grade one civil engineering sub-contractors belonging to these organisations and who employ 119 people.
“We have commenced business development training for the sub-contractors and engineering skills development training for the employees at our various roadworks sites.
“When I recently interacted with the sub-contractors and employees, it was so touching to listen to them relating how their lives have changed for the better since landing jobs,” said Sebola, adding that the business forums were “impatient and hungry for contracts”.
Empathy for the unemployed
Sebola understands only too well the pain and hardship of being unemployed and can, therefore, empathise with the demands on construction contracts.
In his early years, Sebola who was one of nine children, struggled to find work.
When he landed a job as a cleaner at Cape Town International airport in 1992, it was the humble beginning of a great future. He was soon promoted to supervisor and then to operations manager.
Eventually he caught the eye of an Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) regional manager, who encouraged him to strike out on his own.
Sebola, who had studied business management, registered his own close corporation, attended a course at the Small Business Development Corporation and successfully tendered to clean Metrorail trains at Bellville and Strand.
Eight months later he landed a three-year contract to clean aircraft at Cape Town and Port Elizabeth airports.
In 10 short years, Sebola has built the Rainbow Group into a successful business that empowers thousands of people at its various subsidiary companies.
The company employs 2 000 people on contracts it has landed with SANRAL to maintain national roads in almost all the provinces and has a road-marking division.
“When I sought contracts, I first made sure I was fully compliant. I did not go about banging on doors demanding contracts.
“It is important that sub-contractors who seek work from SANRAL realise the importance of obtaining training in the tendering processes, including quality in construction, contracting and documentation.”
Giving knowledge
Sebola, a father of three, said he has made it his philosophy to always train a smaller sub-contractor when he is working on projects.
“Education and training are key to alleviating the unemployment problem in the country. That is why when I recognised the frustration of the business forums, I committed to do something about it.
“There is a misconception by business forums and local communities that the new treasury regulations automatically entitle them to 30% of the work on projects in their areas.
“These groups did not want to participate in any formal tendering process. However, I am slowly getting the business forums to change their thinking and to refrain from work stoppages,” said Sebola, adding he wished more big contractors would give emerging businesses a chance.
“My company’s mission is to empower people by offering them fair remuneration, coaching and mentoring in exchange for honest labour,” he added.
Sebola’s company has also adopted SANRAL’s 14-point plan to deal with the new dynamic at its sites that have appointed project liaison committees (PLCs).
These principles are applied to facilitate better project level liaison with local communities and structures. They also serve to ensure communication and transparency in the execution of works, and to ensure inclusivity in the allocation of projects to benefit black business and local communities.
SANRAL CEO Skhumbuzo Macozoma praised Sebola’s efforts to cultivate progressive relations with the business forums and thus assisting black businesses to participate in projects.
“Sebola has shown that it is possible for transformation and empowerment to happen in the industry, only if people are willing to acknowledge our past and seek a different future,” said Macozoma.
“I thank him for his visionary leadership in agreeing to partner with us in accommodating the plight of black businesses that are disadvantaged, unskilled and without capital, driven only by a hunger to get equal access to economic opportunities in South Africa.
“At SANRAL we continue to strive to find the right balance between enabling black business participation in our projects through our transformation policy and condemning criminal activities at our project sites,” he said.
SANRALis committed to identifying, developing and nurturing the talents of the next generation of engineers and artisans, through their investments in education, research and training fields.
SANRAL CEO, Skhumbuzo Macozoma said SANRAL is focused on providing opportunities for the youth to enter the job market and grow their experience in the infrastructure sector.
Youth unemployment is a national crisis. The youth unemployment rate in South Africa averaged 51.91% between 2013 and 2017, reaching an all-time high of 55.9% in the second quarter of 2017.
The National Development Plan 2030 aims to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030.
As an agency of the government, SANRAL is not only responsible for the provision of a national road network. Job creation and transformation are prioritised as additional outcomes of carrying out this essential responsibility.
To fulfil this responsibility, SANRAL is committed to identifying, developing and nurturing the talents of the next generation of engineers and artisans through our investments in education, research and training fields.
SANRAL is also focused on providing opportunities for the youth to enter the job market and grow their experience in the infrastructure sector.
Students and learners benefit
We support students at tertiary institutions across the country and award scholarships to high school learners, who use the opportunities provided by SANRAL to access further educational opportunities.
The agency’s scholarship programme, now in its ninth year, has benefitted 720 high school learners.
The scholarships include money for school fees, uniforms, books, stationery and additional mathematics classes at the Nelson Mandela University’s Missionvale campus, where they attend the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Pipeline Project (STEM PP).
SANRAL’s bursary scheme was initiated in 2007, to provide financial assistance to students. The students are selected according to their academic performance in civil engineering subjects.
To prepare the students for future professional careers, SANRAL helps to facilitate the process of securing vacation work on select projects. This is often a requirement for their degrees.
Mentoring and training
In addition, SANRAL Project Managers mentor bursary holders and provide them with assistance on practical projects as required.
To bridge the crippling deficit of engineering skills in South Africa, SANRAL is providing graduates with invaluable work-integrated learning opportunities.
SANRAL provides mentorship and practical training in road and bridge design for graduate candidate engineers. This training programme was introduced to equip candidates with the necessary skills and competencies to register as professionals with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) within a five-year timeframe.
In another initiative, several graduate engineers from various tertiary institutions across South Africa have been granted a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity by being selected for SANRAL’s rapidly growing internship programme.
This addresses the high demand for practical experience.
Apart from the candidates receiving valuable practical work experience in a dynamic environment, the initiative is also part of SANRAL’s commitment to training and growing South Africa’s pipeline of future engineers who will design, build and maintain the country’s road infrastructure.
In collaboration with the contractors and consultants working on SANRAL projects, the internship programme is designed to assist engineering students to fulfil the practical work experience requirements of their National Diploma.
The internship programme is SANRAL’s way of providing skilled capacity in our communities whilst also driving social and economic transformation.
Our commitment to promote the growth of small and medium-sized businesses, which reduces unemployment and helps build a skilled workforce, is reflected in the growing value of contracts allocated to black-owned companies, and enterprises owned by women and youth.
Through this approach, we are contributing to the transformation of the South African economy and the empowerment of emerging contractors – many of whom are youth who receive their first experience in the construction and engineering sectors by working on SANRAL projects.
The goal of our education, training and community development programmes is to empower South Africans to become active contributors to economic growth and development.
This is an opinion piece by SANRAL CEO, SkhumbuzoMacozoma.
Work on the road will be completed on time despite challenges from natural elements.
The three-year project valued at R450-million commenced in May 2017 and includes the rehabilitation of the Caledon bridge. This involves widening the piers, bases and the deck.
The upgrading of the N6 route between Smithfield and Rouxville by the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) is well underway and on track to be timely completed.
The upgrades entail improving road alignment to improve safety as well as capacity.
The three-year project valued at R450-million commenced in May 2017 and includes the rehabilitation of the Caledon bridge. This involves widening the piers, bases and the deck.
Nthabiseng Sekabate, a site agent whose company is tasked with overseeing the extension of the Caledon bridge, said: “We first installed pilings on the eight piers and extended the base of the piers.
“Our main challenge has been natural elements. When it rains heavily, we get flooding and production slows down on site. This has a financial impact as the site team needs to be paid even we’re not generating income.”
She said her team has learnt a lot while working on the project and her goal is to get exposure to more and bigger projects.
SANRAL’spolicy to advance the broad participation of black-owned enterprisesepitomised in work being carried out on the R573.
SANRAL constantly looks for ways to empower local communities to enjoy the long-term economic benefits from its projects, especially in Routine Road Maintenance (RRM) contracts.
The upgrading of the R573 Moloto Road north of Pretoria is the living embodiment of the broad development strategy of the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL).
SANRAL constantly looks for ways to empower local communities to enjoy the long-term economic benefits from its projects, especially in Routine Road Maintenance (RRM) contracts.
According to Vusi Mona, SANRAL General Manager of Communications, the development of SMMEs as part of the maintenance of national roads is one of the agency’s main priorities.
“The RRM programme was established on the national road network to offer various opportunities for the development of SMMEs, including training, mentoring, counselling and advice,” he said.
RRM refers to work or contracts awarded for the general preservation and maintenance of the road infrastructure. SANRAL manages 22 197km of roads in the country and every metre must be maintained, which provides opportunities for more SMME participation.
SMMEs given extensive training
Mona said: “SMMEs are key drivers of economic growth and job creation. It is a condition of SANRAL tenders that a major portion of the works is set aside for SMMEs.
“The proportion of works (either 80% or 60%) to be set aside for SMMEs is dependent on the size of the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment participation of the main contractor. Ninety percent of the works set aside for SMMEs is carried out by black-owned companies.”
On the upgrading of the R573 Moloto Road, which is one the major projects currently underway, a total of 203 SMMEs have received training to better equip them when bidding for tenders.
SANRAL identified that local SMMEs have little exposure to the tendering process and this disadvantages them when responding to bids.
The training included quality in construction, contracting and documentation, team management, precast concrete kerbs, brick paving, basic tendering processes, construction contracts and entrepreneurial skills.
Thus far, the feedback has been extremely positive for both the accredited and non-credited training conducted, and SANRAL will continue to champion this initiative to empower more local businesses, said Mona.
All interested SMMEs can visit the SANRAL website www.nra.co.za for more information regarding available opportunities with the agency.
Interchange will resemble a massive cruise ship at night withstate-of-the-art lighting spectacularly illuminating the concrete ramps.
A defining feature of this project is that it has one of the longest bridge viaducts ever constructed in South Africa.
The Mount Edgecombe Interchange is an impressive and thrilling structure, and the multiple engineering achievements behind this mammoth project are testament to the exceptional skill and abilities of the entire construction team.
The project engaged 80 designers at the peak of the design phase and not a single road was closed permanently during construction.
The Incrementally Launched Method of bridge building was used to create as little disruption to road users.
Project will increase capacity of interchange
A defining feature of this project is that it has one of the longest bridge viaducts ever constructed in South Africa.
This viaduct, referred to as B0215, has a deck length of 947 meters, which also makes it one of the longest incrementally launched bridges in the Southern Hemisphere.
This upgrade has forever changed the landscape, and will no doubt become a landmark.
Resident engineer Henk Kaal said although there was a lot of scepticism about the project ever getting completed, motorists are now beginning to smile as they start enjoying the improved flow of traffic.
Henk said the initial completion time line for the project was three years. However, it stretched into a fifth year due to several factors, including torrential rainfall, which led to long stoppages on the project.
The project which started in April 2013 with a budget of R800-million has risen to just under R900-million and was expected to be substantially complete by June 2018.
Assistant Resident Engineer Thabo Morolo said the project will increase the capacity of the interchange.
“As we progressed we had to do certain additional work to improve the project. We anticipate the final figure to be just under R900 million,” said Morolo.
Twenty-one SMMEs were allocated subcontracting work to an estimated value of just under R60-million.
The site office adjacent to the M41 has played host to over 1200 visiting students eager to align themselves with this world-class project.
LEDlighting technology
The Mount Edgecombe interchange will resemble a massive cruise ship at night once hundreds of lights spectacularly illuminate the various concrete ramps.
Riaaz Goga, project manager for High Voltage Technology, said the electrical reticulation for the interchange includes a distribution substation as well as six mini substations.
In total there are 400 light fittings on the interchange and 20 000m of cable has been used.
“The lighting system is state-of-the-art. The new LED technology consumes minimum electricity. Also, attention has been paid to the positioning of the lights to protect motorists and pedestrians from glare,” he said.
The cable installation has been done in such a way that the wiring is concealed from public view using concrete sleeves. This is for the safety of motorists and to reduce the possibility of vandalism or theft.
Extensive overloading of trucks on the N2 restricted by dedicated staff who weigh and check trucks for road-worthiness.
Damage to roads because of overloading leads to higher maintenance and repair costs and shortens the life of a road.
The Eteza Traffic Control Centre on the N2 in northern KwaZulu-Natal is helping curb the overloading of trucks that has resulted in a marked deterioration in the condition of the province’s road network.
Damage to roads because of overloading leads to higher maintenance and repair costs and shortens the life of a road.
This in turn places an additional burden on the state as well as law abiding road users who ultimately carry the costs of careless and inconsiderate overloading.
At the overload control facility at Eteza, heavy vehicles of more than five tons gross mass are weighed. Drivers of heavy vehicles will be issued a fine if the vehicle exceeds the permissible mass on gross mass and/or axle unit mass.
The overload control facility is also used to inspect the roadworthiness of vehicles on a 24-hour basis.
Eteza processes 200 trucks a day
Behind a large screen in the control room, Samkelisiwe Ndebele watches trucks awaiting their turn on the weigh-in scale.
Satisfied that the next truck is now ready to be weighed, she speaks into the microphone: “Driver, please move forward.”
The truck roars forward and stops on the scale where Ndebele and colleagues have an unobstructed view through a large glass window.
Once she is satisfied with the reading on the computer, she clears the truck to proceed. This is one of the main duties performed at the centre, which processes an average of 200 trucks each day.
“Weighing the trucks helps the community at large by taking over-loaded trucks off the roads as they often are the cause of accidents. That is how we are trying to limit the problem that we are faced with,” said Ndebele.
Peter Phiri, a truck driver bound for Johannesburg from Richards Bay, said: “The facility at Eteza ensures that we comply and carry the permissible load. I don’t have any problem with the service here. They are quick to take your particulars and weigh your truck.”
David Makhoba, manager of the traffic control centre, which employs 23 people, said apart from weighing trucks, the roadworthiness of vehicle was also checked.
Steven Sipho Nkosi, superintendent of the traffic police in Mtubatuba, said they worked closely with the Eteza traffic control centre to help enforce the law on the roads, particularly the busy N2.
“The common offences are speeding, drunken driving, operating unroadworthy and unlicensed motor vehicles.
“The traffic centre has helped to reduce overloading of vehicles, which damages the roads. The humps on the roads caused by overloading lead to accidents because people lose control of the vehicles due to the bad road conditions.”
SANRAL’s policy aims to advance the broad participation of black-owned enterprises and drive economic development.
SANRAL held roadshows and briefings in all nine provinces over a four-month period. Some of the constructive feedback and comments received were incorporated into the final version.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) has submitted its final version of the transformation policy that intends to reshape the construction and engineering sectors to the National Cabinet for approval.
When implemented, the new policy will set clearly-defined targets for the participation of black contractors, suppliers and professionals in all projects and procurement commissioned by SANRAL.
Skhumbuzo Macozoma, SANRAL’s CEO, said: “The transformation policy underlines that SANRAL can help to build a capable and developmental state and drive economic development through the provision and maintenance of critical infrastructure.
“Through our procurement and supply chain processes we can break down monopolies, transform the construction industry and advance the broad participation of black-owned enterprises.”
Macozoma said the final version was presented to the Minister of Transport, Dr Blade Nzimande, following an extensive process of consultation with industry, contractors and professional bodies.
SANRAL held roadshows and briefings in all nine provinces over a four-month period. Some of the constructive feedback and comments received were incorporated into the final version.
“We addressed some of the concerns that were raised about how our policies would impact the broader construction sector – but also welcomed the broad acceptance of our commitment to transformation,” said Macozoma.
All-encompassing transformation
The transformation policy will be applicable to all aspects of SANRAL’s activities – from large construction projects, to road rehabilitation and maintenance, operations, and professional and consultancy services.
“SANRAL has a wide footprint across the country,” said Macozoma. “Our policies and processes can really be catalysts for the emergence of businesses owned by women, black South Africans, military veterans and youth – to the point where they can compete on equal footings with the established contractors.”
A key feature of the policy is SANRAL’s commitment to facilitate the training and development of emerging contractors to enable them to achieve higher gradings from the Construction Industry Development Board, thus expanding their ability to be participants in major tenders.
Primary contractors who tender for SANRAL work will have to submit their own transformation and training policies as part of their tender submissions.
Breaking down monopolies
SANRAL will also help to level the playing field for emerging contractors through empowerment agreements with suppliers of construction materials and equipment.
This will further help to break down monopolies in the supply chains of equipment, materials, technologies and services, while ensuring the broad-based participation of black South Africans.
Macozoma said SANRAL remains committed to expand the participation of black-owned enterprises beyond the requirements set by existing legislation and industry charters and ensure that it is within what is legally allowed.
The final version of the policy provides for the phasing in of black ownership requirements over four years – moving from an initial 35% ownership to 51% at the end of the period from the date of approval of the policy by the National Cabinet.
The policy will also set limitations to the number of tenders that can be allocated to a single entity at both national and provincial levels.
“We are confident that through our transformation policy and new long-term strategy – Horizon 2030 – SANRAL can contribute to economic growth, job creation, development and the empowerment of our citizens,” said Macozoma.
