Some of the learners who attended were from left, Lindokuhle Siya, 16, a Grade 10 learner from EZ Kabane High School, Mpatlalatsane Tsieane, 17, a Grade 11 learner from Newton Technical High School and Inette Mapoe, 16, a Grade 11, St James Roman Catholic High School.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) hosted their first annual Indlela Yam, My Way, My Journey convention in Port Elizabeth.
High school learners from Nelson Mandela Bay attended a career development conference with leading businesswomen and academics.
The aim of the Indlela Yam, My Way, My Journey convention is to promote career development for learners and to expose them to various professions in the roads and transport industries.
Speakers and topics
Some of the topics by the guest speakers included: Know Yourself by motivational speaker Kuhle Bavuma, Careers: my future – how and where to go by SANRAL’s Nandipha Frans and Rhona Erasmus, and Why women in roads and Paving your way forward by civil engineer Lindokuhle Mahlangeni and candidate engineer Zintle Nxadi.
Other speakers included SANRAL civil engineer, Lindelani Tsanwani, who spoke about Siyaphambili with training and community development.
SANRAL’s candidate engineer, Nozipho Ngomane, spoke about running your journey with endurance while civil engineer, Noloyiso Bavuma, spoke about entrepreneurship in engineering.
The beginning
SANRAL’s candidate engineer, Malesiba Mabe, and SANRAL SR’s technical excellence academy secretary, Nandipha Frans, initiated the Indlela Yam, My Way, My Journey Convention.
“The convention promotes career development for the learners. As a roads agency, we also want the learners to know about the different career paths and opportunities in this industry,” said Mabe.
The programme exposed learners to different careers and promoted healthy living lifestyles while working towards their goals.
Among the topics discussed were gender inequality, the importance of knowing yourself, training and community development, entrepreneurship in engineering, how to reach your goal against all odds, and how to stand out from the rest without giving into peer pressure.
Learners speak
Mpatlalatsane Tsieane, 17, a Grade 11 learner from Newton Technical High School said she was inspired and motivated by the guest speakers.
“Civil engineering and construction management are two of my career choices. Before today’s convention I had no idea where to apply for bursaries to study civil engineering. I have learned that being a civil engineer is not an easy road but a possible one and I am inspired to work hard towards my dream,” said Tiesane.
Inette Mapoe, 16, a Grade 11 learner from St James Roman Catholic High School said she would like to be a doctor or social worker. She called the event “awesome”.
“Coming here was inspiring. To hear where these speakers come from and what they’ve reached with God’s will shows you can do anything,” Mapoe said.
Lindokuhle Siya, 16, a Grade 10 learner from EZ Kabane High School, would like to pursue a career as a doctor, or as a lawyer or pursue a career as an engineer.
“I learnt I don’t need to be somebody else, I just need to be myself, and stay focused and do what I need to do to finish high school well,” said Siya.
“At SANRAL we are passionate about career development and training. Today’s programme was another commitment from SANRAL to empower young minds,” Frans concluded.
Monica Stemela advises start-ups and emerging entrepreneurs to invest in their business by buying assets that they can use to sustain its growth.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) is about bringing about positive change to people, communities and businesses through the upkeep of the national road network.
Monica Stemela is one of the products of the roads agency’s commitment to creating inclusive opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs.
This is in line with the government’s emphasis on entrepreneurship and the advancement of small, micro and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs).
SANRAL requires main contractors working on its projects to utilise small businesses, particularly those owned by women.
SMMEs benefitting
Stemela, owner and founder of HLS Building and Civil Construction, is currently subcontracted by main contractor Penny-Farthing Engineering for routine road maintenance (RRM) on four SANRAL projects.
Through Penny-Farthing’s mentorship programme, HLS received six subcontracting opportunities amounting to a total of R38.8-million from 2005 to date.
This includes the ongoing RRM work on SANRAL roads in the North West between Wolmaransstad and Bloemhof, from Lichtenburg to Biesiesvlei and Coligny, as well as Aliwal North in Eastern Cape and Upington in Northern Cape.
RRM is essential to keep roads in good condition to ensure the safety of all who use them. From closing of potholes and patching the road surface to replacing traffic signs, guardrails and fencing, ongoing road maintenance on the 2 598km of SANRAL roads in the North West is effectively being managed by eight contractors.
Stemela said: “Penny-Farthing has mentored our company and has been pivotal to our growth and development, particularly within the RRM space.”
Challenges along the way
Her journey in the built environment has not been without challenges since she established the business in 2005.
“Pursuing opportunities in other parts of the country has been one of the main challenges as the focus of government procurement is on local SMMEs, coupled with the procurement model which favours the lowest bidder in terms of price,” said Stemela.
Other stumbling blocks she mentioned include securing finance from banks getting accounts from suppliers. “These institutions are not confident about doing business with SMMEs.”
However, Stemela is proud her company has secured 13 contracts over the past 12 years. Starting out with a R2.9-million low-cost housing development for the Emalahleni municipality in 2005, the company has since focused on RRM because of the job opportunities in this field.
Re-invest in the business
The self-taught entrepreneur said: “Start-ups and emerging entrepreneurs should invest in their business by buying assets they can use to sustain its growth.
“Compliance in terms of tax affairs and National Treasury regulations are also important when it comes to securing projects.”
HLS’s headquarters are in Port Elizabeth and it employs five full-time workers. For its RRM work, it employs local labour, of which 50 locals are currently employed on its two North West projects.
HLS is recognised as a Grade 5 contractor by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) which means the company can pursue construction projects up to the value of R6.5-million.
Looking ahead, Stemela would like to reach CIDB Grade 7 in order to be pursue projects up to R40-million and compete as a principal contractor.
SANRAL supports the development of future engineers by awarding scholarships and bursaries to academically deserving students.
Women who are looking to take up civil engineering have to work harder than men if they are to be taken seriously in a male-dominated industry.
This was one of many topics covered at a recent South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) scholarship and bursary induction held at the agency’s Central Operations Centre in Midrand.
SANRAL hosted a group of 20 high school learners and university students from Gauteng and Limpopo who were among the recipients of the agency’s scholarship and bursary programme in the last financial year. Among the attendees were SANRAL employees and the students’ parents.
In the last financial year, a total of 133 students in university throughout South Africa were awarded bursaries by SANRAL. Of that total, 33 were women.
Nontobeko Mathenjwa, a key speaker at the event, who is an engineer and project manager at SANRAL, reiterated the importance of the emancipation of women in South Africa and particularly the encouragement of young women to pursue careers in engineering.
“Be prepared to work harder as a woman in order to be respected or taken seriously as it is a male-dominated industry,” said Mathenjwa.
“Educating one girl can change her life – but others benefit as well,” she said.
Recipients speak
Kamogelo Pakgadi from Limpopo, who goes to S.J. Van Der Merwe Technical High School, said the SANRAL scholarship has helped her family tremendously.
“I am very grateful. I am raised by a single dad who is paying for my sibling’s tertiary tuition fees. I am very glad that through the scholarship, the financial burden is taken off my dad.”
Pakgadi wants to study civil engineering at University of Cape Town or Wits University, the latter at which she has already been accepted.
Another aspiring civil engineer, Otsile Huma from Pretoria, a grade 10 pupil at Crawford College, has chosen to pursue engineering as he wants to see South Africa competing on a global scale in terms of improved and quality infrastructure, particularly roads.
“Through consistency, hard work and asking for help where I do not understand, I will ensure that I maintain good grades to get awarded a bursary from SANRAL,” said Huma.
More on SANRAL’s bursaries and scholarships
SANRAL supports the development of future engineers by awarding scholarships and bursaries to academically deserving students.
The scholarship pays for the learners’ annual school fees, school uniform, books and stationery, and sports. For university students, the bursary covers tuition fees, books, accommodation and includes a monthly allowance.
Applications for 2018 will be closed on 30 September 2017. High school learners need to obtain a minimum of 70% in mathematics and physical science, 65% in English, as well as an overall average of 75%.
Students at university who are studying civil engineering and perform exceptionally well academically are encouraged to apply for the bursary.
Learners from rural areas are also encouraged to apply.
Route 75 is known as one of the major national roads within the Eastern Cape’s interior and connects Uitenhage with Port Elizabeth.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited’s rehabilitation of the R75 between Port Elizabeth and Despatch is set to create significant opportunities for SMMEs in Nelson Mandela Bay.
SANRAL Southern Region Manager, Mbulelo Peterson, said: “The implementation of road safety measures and rehabilitation of the national route R75 Section 1, which constitutes 13km, will create work for a minimum of 37 local SMMEs between 1CE PE and 6 CE PE CIDB grading within the Nelson Mandela Bay.
“Local labour from within wards 11, 14, 25, 28, 30, 31, 33, 36, 41 and 52 will receive opportunities for employment and skills training.”
The procurement process for the SMMEs has already commenced. This two-year project should be completed in May 2019.
“Route 75 is known as one of the major national roads within the Eastern Cape’s interior and connects Uitenhage with Port Elizabeth,” said Peterson. “The national route R75 is widely used by motorists travelling between Uitenhage and Port Elizabeth including pedestrians.
“The 37 local SMMEs will get the opportunity to participate in a development project that will boost their experience and revenue.”
Some of these sub-contracting opportunities include, but are not limited to: the removal, relocation and/or installation of traffic signals, accommodation of traffic, road widening excavation and installation of sub-soil drains, drainage systems, and concrete linings for open drains, animal fencing, and concrete palisade and road markings.
“There is also an introduction of a sanitation and waste disposal and environmental project which will also allow SMMEs to participate,” Peterson said.
More than 200 people were employed on the project. Training was provided to 136 local labourers of which 73 were women.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) has completed its roadworks on the N2 from Komgha River to Grahamstown and Keiskamma Pass to Keiskamma River.
The R96-million project, which lasted for 14 months, entailed resurfacing the road, construction of culvert inlet and outlet structures, installation of drains, and replacement of bridge joints.
SANRAL also cleared dense vegetation along fence lines to protect the fence from fire damage. It also repaired the entire fence line to ensure livestock does not enter the road reserve.
Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL Southern Region Manager, said: “We are pleased to announce the completion of the resurfacing of 41km of the N2 section between Komgha River and Grahamstown [and] the N2 section 14 from Keiskamma Pass to Keiskamma River.
“The expected road maintenance lifespan is between eight to 10 years before any major maintenance work will be carried out on the road. Other benefits of the upgrading will result in a smoother riding surface with less wear and tear on vehicles.”
More than 200 people were employed on the project. Training was provided to 136 local labourers of which 73 were women.
“The contractor had set aside traffic accommodation, guard rail repairs, bush clearing, fencing and rest area improvement work for target enterprise sub-contractors,” said Peterson. “Four Target Enterprise subcontractors were engaged on the project with a total expenditure of approximately R11.7-million. Of these, three were women-owned companies with a combined expenditure of approximately R10.2-million.”
In addition to the formal training, the contractor’s personnel provided on-going on-the-job training and mentoring.
The formal courses included training in traffic accommodation (Flagman STOP/GO), traffic accommodation (Flagman stop/Go/Radio), first aid, occupational health and safety, financial life skills and roadside safety for construction workers.
The Mtentu Bridge is set to knock the Bloukrans Bridge off the pedestal of being the highest bridge in South Africa and one of the highest in the world.
The South Africa National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) has awarded the tender for the much anticipated Mtentu Bridge, which forms part of the N2 Wild Coast road (N2WC) project.
Construction of the bridge is set to start in early November 2017, and is scheduled to run approximately 40 months.
Vusi Mona, SANRAL’s communications manager, said: “The tender, valued at R1.634-billion, has been awarded to the Aveng Strabag Joint Venture (JV). The JV partners consist of Aveng Grinaker-LTA, a major South African-based construction company and Strabag, a leading construction company in Europe with extensive experience in major balanced cantilever methodology bridge construction.”
At just over one kilometre, the Mtentu Bridge will be one of the longest main span balanced cantilever bridges in the world and will reach a height of approximately 220m. It is the first of its kind in South Africa at such a magnitude.
“Critically, it is going to create employment and business opportunities in the area. The whole of the project will be a growth engine for the Eastern Cape both during and post construction,” Mona said.
A major undertaking
The construction of the bridge in a remote location is a major undertaking that requires specialised engineering skills and building techniques.
The bridge forms the backbone of the greenfields portion of the N2WC road project, which is coordinated and directed by the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission. It is one of government’s 18 Strategic Integrated Projects that support economic development and address service delivery in the poorest provinces.
The Mtentu Bridge and the overall greenfields portion of the N2WC road project will improve travel time, connect previously divided communities in the region and open up opportunities in business and community-based tourism for the Wild Coast.
Mona said: “By improving the travel time between Durban and East London by up to three hours for heavy freight and by providing a high mobility route through an area that is extremely isolated and underserved by road infrastructure, the route will have significant social and economic benefits and will act as a catalyst for local and regional development.”
Job creation
The N2WC road project will be a major job creator in an area with an extremely high unemployment rate.
SANRAL’s direct job creation forecast is 1.8 million man-days or 8 000 full time equivalent jobs over the four to five year construction period.
More than R400-million will be allocated to wages for unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers employed directly on the N2WC road project. A further R1.5-billion is destined for local SMMEs comprising local contractors and local suppliers of goods and services to the road and bridge construction projects.
“SANRAL’s R120-million community development and SMME training programme, which is currently underway, is providing local labour and local SMMEs with the necessary skills to optimally participate in this and other forthcoming N2WC road project,” said Mona.
New tender
Meanwhile, SANRAL has announced that the tender for the Msikaba Bridge, set for construction near Lusikisiki, will be retendered as the agency received no fully responsive tenders.
“The SANRAL Board resolved that the roads agency was obliged to retender the bridge rather than condone matters of non-compliance found in the bids that were received,” said Mona.
A new tender for the Msikaba Bridge will be advertised within the next two to three months.
SANRAL is working with the community and the town council of Griekwastad to make the roads pedestrian friendly.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited is making roads safer for residents of Griekwastad thanks to a new community development project.
The small town, with its 6 000 inhabitants, straddles the N8 between Groblershoop and Kimberley in the Northern Cape.
SANRAL Project Manager, Imelda Julies, said the plan was to make the road more pedestrian friendly. With the help of the community and the town council, it was agreed that the N8 (which carries a large amount of heavy-vehicle traffic) should be made safer, so that it can cater for vulnerable road users such as children, the elderly and people with disabilities.
Julies said a concept plan has been accepted and the project is in the design phase.
“This phase will include consultation with the local town council and members of the community. Once the process has been completed, we will move to construction.”
Gideon Witbooi, a resident of Griekwastad, who has been a foreman at the Siyancuma Local Municipality for 42 years, said he was particularly excited about the agency’s plans to improve the pedestrian infrastructure in town.
Witbooi said that trucks often speed through the town with no regard for pedestrians or other traffic.
“Also, when it rains, storm water runs everywhere. We are very pleased with SANRAL’s plans and are looking forward to seeing the improvements,” he said.
There are businesses situated along both sides of the N8 and any upgrades for pedestrians would also include parking spaces for vehicles visiting the businesses.
Julies said: “Included in the proposal is the upgrading of the sidewalks, high visibility signs, safe pedestrian crossings, parking spaces and the upgrading of the storm water drainage in the town.”
According to Chris Hlabisa, private vehicle ownership accelerates at an even faster pace as more people move into the middle class and the impact of these trends on traffic patterns should not be underestimated.
Successful delivery of mega housing projects and substantial investments in tourism in Gauteng will be largely dependent on the quality of the road infrastructure in the province.
A vision for Gauteng
Over the past three years, Premier David Makhura has laid out his vision for a much more integrated Gauteng city region, where partnerships among the public sector, business, labour and civil society will determine both the direction and pace of development.
One of the consequential announcements he made concerns the envisaged development of 31 mega housing projects, to be delivered within the medium-term framework. From earlier announcements on this plan, it is clear that each of these developments will yield no fewer than 15 000 units, either within an existing cluster, or as a new nodal development project.
Such projects will have inevitable impacts on all aspects of mobility in the province. At SANRAL, we have to calculate this into our medium- and long-term planning for the upgrading of the existing network and the planning and construction of new freeways.
Premier Makhura’s multi-pronged approach to ensuring Gauteng’s mobility remains at the core of future planning processes is welcome. It contains a combination of policy choices to curb urban sprawl, densification along transit nodes, initiatives to address the spatial legacies of apartheid and substantial investments in quality public transport, both within the individual cities and between the urban metros.
Passenger rail, the Gautrain, bus rapid transit systems, commuter buses and taxis are all elements of this mix. But so are roads, especially the planning, construction and funding model for expansions to the existing Gauteng freeway network.
The province’s own projections, as contained in the Gauteng 2055 Vision, show sustained population growth over the next decade, from the current 13.2-million people to 15.5-million in 2020 and 18.7-million a decade later. Already 88% of the total freight tonnage in South Africa is transported on roads and 94% of daily motorised trips are road-based.
Private vehicle ownership accelerates at an even faster pace as more people move into the middle class. The impact of these trends on traffic patterns should not be underestimated.
And the importance of the national and provincial road networks as the primary transport arteries should not be taken lightly when long-term plans for densification, public transport and rapid rail systems are being implemented.
SANRAL does not see the construction of more freeways and additional roads as a panacea for urban mobility or a cure for congestion.
The issues are too complex to be reduced to single-faceted responses. Similarly, any solution that reduces the importance of well-managed roads – and a planned process of new freeway development – also fails to take into account the realities of the regional economy.
The impact of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project
The direct impact of modern freeways on a regional economy is well-illustrated by the developments that followed the construction of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP).
The success of major recent residential developments such as Heritage Hill near Rooihuiskraal, Waterfall City next to the Allandale Road off-ramp and Serengeti Estate in Ekurhuleni can be directly attributed to the availability of an upgraded freeway, while extensions to major retail centres such as Menlyn and Mall of Africa would not have been feasible without GFIP.
A global study based on the 2016 TomTom Traffic Index recently found that Johannesburg is no longer the most congested city in sub-Saharan Africa and that improvements in traffic movement can be attributed directly to the construction of GFIP, the introduction of open-road tolling and the addition of intelligent transport systems linked to SANRAL’s management of the network.
Some of the most exciting recent announcements made by Premier Makhura to grow Gauteng’s tourism potential – and the province’s role as a regional logistics hub – are heavily dependent on the extension of the freeway network.
Plans for the extension of the GFIP network through the addition of 158km of new road and upgrades to 223km have been on the drawing board for some time. These roads will further reduce traffic pressures near OR Tambo airport and contribute to the growth of the area, identified as a priority corridor by the Gauteng government.
Funding
How these freeways are to be funded will be decided by the national government, in consultation with the province. SANRAL is an agency of the South African government and implements policy that has been decided on by cabinet including the ‘user pay’ principle as defined in the National Development Plan.
Different opinions over funding should, however, not delay the planning and preparations for the construction of GFIP stages two and three. It will take an estimated five years for construction to start once the green light for the programme has been given.
Construction will have to be preceded by more rounds of public consultation, updated environmental impact assessments, land acquisitions and procurement processes.
In the meantime, congestion in parts of Gauteng that are vital to the implementation of the Gauteng Vision 2055 is building up. If this is not addressed, a traffic situation can soon develop similar to that which existed prior to the start of construction on the current GFIP network.
SANRAL looks forward to working together with the Gauteng government to develop an infrastructure network that is, in the words of Premier Makhura, “the lifeblood of the province’s social and economic transformation agenda”.
This is an opinion piece by Chris Hlabisa, a SANRAL Board Member.
This is the first time that SANRAL has incorporated virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality technology in an awareness campaign.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) has embarked on a public awareness initiative in the Eastern Cape to educate road users and communities on the N2 Wild Coast Road project.
An exhibition providing a visual representation of the much-anticipated road is currently on display at the Port Elizabeth Airport.
The display at the airport ended on 7 August. The Port St Johns activations will be from 14 to 18 August. The display was at the Greenacres Shopping Centre’s food court in Port Elizabeth in July. The display was also in East London in June with more than 900 people visiting the stand, before heading to Port Elizabeth.
This is the first time that SANRAL has incorporated virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality technology in an awareness campaign. These were used to give road users an idea of the two mega bridges, the Msikaba and Mtentu, to be built in the Wild Coast.
User experience
Collin Randall, an author from Port Elizabeth said the virtual reality experience has been “very exotic”.
“This has been an amazing experience. It makes South Africa a richer place. The most important thing about the N2 Wild Coast, except for the economic benefits is that it will save lives,” he said.
Sigqibo Ngqezana, from Dwesi Extension in Port Elizabeth said this was the first time he experienced virtual reality. “Wow, it was truly an amazing experience. I loved the fact that I could see the bridge holistically. This is very exciting. I think the N2 Wild Coast project will benefit the Eastern Cape tremendously,” he said.
Charles Meintjies, who works as a car salesman in Port Elizabeth welcomed the project. “I used to travel between East London and Mthatha for about more than three hours. I also used to work in the Transkei area and remember that the roads were very bad,” he said.
Zukile Manyela who lives in Port Elizabeth, is very positive about the N2WCTR. “The project will benefit me because I travel a lot. I have been praying for this for years. I am very relieved because this means I can reach Durban quicker. I love the coastal route. Plus it’s safer. We can get to explore the beauty of the Wild Coast,” he said.
Jobs being created on the project stands out for Any Ntwanambi. “People in that area need this. I think it will be good for the Eastern Cape. I love what SANRAL is doing for us as the people,” said Ntwanambi.
“I have educated myself about this on the SANRAL Facebook page. I am really excited about this project.” said Willie van Heerden, a construction project manager in Port Elizabeth.
“I think this will be beneficial to the people in the area as it will boost them economically. [It] will assist with things like overgrazing which are currently a problem in that area as it will give them more space. It will make the Wild Coast more visible. This will spark an interest and more people are going to go there. I think progress is good,” he said.
Progress made
Some of the progress over the last six months included the awarding of three contracts for the training of SMMEs and the construction of local access roads, which has started in Port St Johns, Ingquza Hill and Mbizana.
Contracts for the construction of four haul roads to the bridge sites, including the relocation of affected houses and graves, will be complete by October. Tenders for the construction of the Msikaba and Mtenu bridges are currently in adjudication.
The Environmental Authorities Coordinating Committee and the Environmental Monitoring Committee have conducted two site inspections to the construction haul roads. They monitored progress and compliance with the Environmental Record of Decision and the approved Environmental Management Programme.
An independent environmental auditor was recently appointed to add further muscle to the environmental oversight on the project.
World-class bridges
The Msikaba River Bridge will consist of a cable-stayed 580-metre-long structure spanning a deep gorge. The Mtentu River Bridge, also on the N2 Wild Coast Toll Road and around 12km to the north of the Msikaba River, will be a multi-spanned concrete structure approximately 1,130 metres long. It will comprise a 260-metre main span and two 150-metre secondary spans constructed as a balanced cantilever on the two main piers that will be approximately 160-metre high. A further total of 570 metres of approach viaducts will be constructed on either side of the central three spans using incremental launching methods.
The Mtentu Bridge will be higher than the Bloukrans Bridge, making it the highest bridge in Africa and the southern hemisphere once complete. The main span of the Msikaba Bridge at 580 metres will be the longest main span in Africa and the southern hemisphere. There are however other bridges in the southern hemisphere and Africa that have longer total spans.
Wild coast
The N2WCTR project is a 410km upgrade of roads from East London to Port Edward. It includes a brand new section of road between Port St Johns and Port Edward via Lusikisiki where currently very little road infrastructure exists due to the numerous deep gorges in the area.
The project is set to change the face of the remote coastal area between Port St Johns and Port Edward and significantly improve the prospects of its impoverished communities. The project will also see bypasses built around Idutywa and Butterworth, both of which are infamous for their traffic congestion and long delays at peak times.
The new route will save approximately 85km and up to three hours driving time between Durban and East London compared to the present one.
The new road is expected to deliver:
Job creation
Improved service delivery and access to towns and services
Improved connection to family and friends
Better job opportunities and education facilities
Significantly faster travel times and lower transportation costs
A major positive impact on the economies of local towns
Major conventional tourism and eco-tourism opportunities
For each subsection of the road there will be community development components in the form of local access roads, pedestrian facilities, community halls and small businesses like brick-making and concrete product yards.
The N2WCTR is an integrated and catalytic development, empowerment and upliftment project of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC).
The new route will also open up new and alternative economic opportunities for the residents of the municipalities of Port St Johns, Ingquza Hill and Mbizana – statistically, three of the poorest municipalities in the country. These opportunities may include conventional tourism, eco-tourism, agriculture and other business opportunities both locally and regionally.
Minister of Transport, Joe Maswanganyi visited the site on the N3 where an unused pedestrian bridge collapsed.
The Minister of Transport, Joe Maswanganyi, visited the site on the N3 where an unused pedestrian bridge collapsed in the early hours of 9 August 2017.
The incident had resulted in a full closure of the N3 north and southbound between the M2 Gildenhuys and N3 Gillooly’s interchanges.
Minister Maswanganyi said government was relieved that no fatalities had occurred.
“We are however saddened that five people were injured, three seriously with one in a critical condition. On behalf of government, we wish those who were injured a speedy recovery. Through our agencies, we shall reach out to them to offer the necessary assistance”, said Maswanganyi.
A forensic investigation to determine the cause of the collapse is underway. The Minister appealed that the investigation should be allowed to take place and discouraged any uninformed speculation as to the cause of the bridge collapse.
Following a briefing Minister Maswanganyi received from SANRAL, the Ekurhuleni Metro and officials from the Gauteng Provincial Government assurances about the safety of the road, the road is now open.
“I commend SANRAL for the work it has done in clearing the debris in as short a period of time as possible. This has ensured that we minimise the disruption of traffic flow on a route with an average daily traffic of 200 000 vehicles. Delays in opening the road would have greatly inconvenienced thousands of motorists and delayed the movement of freight on what is one of our busiest roads in Gauteng,” said Maswanganyi.
Maswanganyi also commends all officials from the three spheres of government for the cooperation they displayed from the time the incident was reported and during the rescue and clearing operations.
“Their display of cooperative governance was admirable,” he said.
The Minister also thanked the media for keeping road users informed about the incident.
