Nokubonga Madlala, 24, poses on the completed pedestrian walkway near Marburg. She recalled the many serious accidents on the stretch of road before construction began. “Once a truck lost control and hit a group of school children who were on the side of the road. Many children were killed and several were injured. The sidewalks and widening of the road have made a big difference.”
Pedestrian deaths on roads is a concern for The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) and safety is always a huge consideration in any project.
SANRAL has undertaken work between the Murchison and Marburg interchange in KwaZulu-Natal. It involved construction in two lanes to improve the capacity of the road, which carries high volumes of traffic, especially sugarcane and timber trucks.
Also, the concrete sidewalks, which were 1.6m-wide along the entire road, were found to be inadequate due to the high volume of pedestrians. New 2.3m-wide sidewalks were constructed with guardrails to offer protection from the traffic.
Taxi rank and bus facilities were provided at Murchison, while bus and taxi bays were also constructed along the road.
Dumisani Nkabinde, SANRAL’s eastern region project manager, said: “The existing Kwabhoboza intersection was very busy and the high speed of the vehicles travelling the N2 made the crossing extremely dangerous, not only for vehicle users but also pedestrians trying to cross at this intersection.
“The improvements at the interchange resulted in better walkways for pedestrians, improved safety for pedestrians and motorists and a reduction in accidents.”
Nkabinde added that these improvements were in keeping with the roads agency’s community development ethos, to ensure proper pedestrian facilities and safe access points for communities living along the national road network.
Happy pedestrians
SANRAL has been inundated with comments from happy pedestrians for a job well done.
Mpumelelo Ngwazi, said: “I definitely feel safer walking along a road with a proper sidewalk. There were many crashes on this road before it was widened and the sidewalks were constructed.”
Andile Bomvana, believes pedestrian lives will be much safer with the broader sidewalks.
“There used to be so many accidents involving pedestrians on this road, especially near Marburg. Now, even when there are crashes, at least the pedestrians will be safe, because the sidewalks are designated for us,” he said.
Zethu Majola, said the widening of the road and construction of the sidewalks made it safer children to walk to and from school.
“There has been a definite drop in crashes since the road was widened. We also have peace of mind knowing that our children are safe when they go to school,” said Majola.
Potholes found on secondary roads are the responsibility of provincial, district and local authorities.
Many motorists have a story to tell about damage caused to vehicles from driving over a pothole, and the extra expense arising from repairs.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) has a dedicated team of experts that travel along every kilometre of the country’s primary network, looking for any signs of pavement deterioration, especially potholes.
In the rare occasion that a pothole develops on the 22 203km road network, it is fixed within 48 hours.
Randall Cable, the engineering manager in SANRAL’s Western Region, said: “We are keenly aware of the dangers potholes pose to motorists travelling at cruising speeds on the freeway.
“This is why we place such a strong emphasis on preventative maintenance, to ensure our roads remain in great shape throughout the year.”
Drivers who hit a pothole at speeds in excess of 100km/h can easily lose control of their vehicles and cause serious crashes.
Divided sections
The 22 203km road network has been divided into 300km sections and teams move along it in one direction on alternate days, coming back on the same route.
During these journeys they conduct detailed inspections of the road surface, looking for tell-tale signs of a developing pothole. This task becomes especially important after heavy downpours, when the water might have damaged the asphalt.
The team also looks out for any other issue that might pose a hazard to road users, such as missing road signs or guardrails, debris left after a crash or a tyre burst, and the occasional dead animal.
Cable said: “The quicker you can identify a safety risk, the quicker you can make the correct intervention.”
Whose responsibility?
Whenever SANRAL takes over the responsibility for a road previously managed by a province, the first step is always to start routine maintenance – clearing blocked storm-water pipes and culverts, cutting back vegetation, clearing litter and debris from the road reserves and fixing road signs and markings.
Potholes found on secondary roads are the responsibility of provincial, district and local authorities.
However SANRAL does and is always willing to share its research, knowledge and expertise with such agencies as part of its broader efforts to promote all aspects of road safety in South Africa.
The majority of the pedestrian walkway is being constructed at the entrances to the towns of Qumbu and Mount Frere and other villages, with high pedestrian traffic.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) is building a 20km walkway along the N2 from Mzeke to Mount Frere in the Eastern Cape, showing pedestrian safety remains a top priority for the company.
Through the initiative, SANRAL has also created work for 234 people from the Mhlontlo and Mzimvubu Local Municipalities.
The project’s value is approximately R35-million and the expected duration is about 18-months. Construction on the pedestrian walkways started in October 2016.
Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL southern region manager, said: “This project has changed the lives of the communities in many ways by providing skills development, employment opportunities, local SMME business development and local economic growth as well as training people to work on other projects.”
Project walkway
The pedestrian walkway is 1.8m wide along the 20km stretch of national road along the N2 section 19, between Qumbu and Mount Frere towns.
The majority of the pedestrian walkway is being constructed at the entrances to the towns of Qumbu and Mount Frere and other villages, with high pedestrian traffic.
According the Department of Transport, the Eastern Cape had the second highest number of pedestrian deaths in South Africa between 1 December 2015 to 11 January 2016
The death toll for the 2015/16 financial year was 278 in the Eastern Cape, with KwaZulu-Natal at 302.
An accredited skills programme
The training provided on the project includes a CETA Accredited Skills Programme for Construction to SMME company owners, supervisors and foremen.
Training includes the development of construction tender documents; workplace training, mentoring, and assessments of SMME contractors during construction. Retraining, final assessment and certification of SMME on completion of the skills programmes; and CIDB upgrades on completed of the works by SMME entities.
Peterson said: “The response from the community has been very positive. In order to achieve this high level of buy-in, SANRAL facilitated the introduction of the appointed service provider to the projects stakeholders and beneficiaries.
“The aim was to involve the community as much as possible. A Project Liaising Committee (PLC), which is the driver of the project at the community level, has been established.”
This PLC consist of the following local structures: Municipal representative, affected Ward Councillors, affected Traditional Leaders, Community Development Workers, Project Liaising Officer, Service Provider (Imbawula) and SANRAL.
Peterson said: “These representatives are the leaders of the community and the community respects its leaders. So, their involvement in the projects planning stage was a very strategic decision for the community to own the project. Communities respect the fact that the project was introduced to them by their community leaders and they see the sense of ownership from the leaders.
“The Project Liaising Committee sits every month to discuss project and community issues. The local labour employment was done through the community’s normal recruitment processes. So, the community is very happy for the projects and the participation level is very high. The proof of the communities support of the project is evident in the high level of performance from the people who are working on the projects as this is a labour intensive programme.”
Malahleha is not a newcomer to the national roads agency. In July 2010, he joined SANRAL as Administration and Project Manager, in which capacity he demonstrated his aptitude for managing complex projects.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) is consolidating its role as a leader in governance and strategy with the appointment of Thabiso Malahleha as Head of Strategy.
Malahleha will be a key advisor and report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of SANRAL, Skhumbuzo Macozoma.
Malahleha is a graduate of the universities of Natal, Cape Town and Stellenbosch, where he honed his skills in Finance and Economics.
He completed his Masters in Development Finance, focusing on Implementation of Open Road Tolling through the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, from the University of Stellenbosch Business School in 2011.
More open and responsive
Announcing the appointment, Macozoma said: “At this juncture in SANRAL’s history, Malahleha is the right person to assist in making the organisation a more open and responsive government entity.”
As Head of Strategy, Malahleha will ensure that SANRAL’s strategic and performance planning, reporting, measurement, analysis, assessment of progress and use of performance information will improve further on the results already achieved. His extensive and varied experience in the transport and built environments brings additional strength to the agency.
Commencing 1 May 2017, Malahleha will bring to the job his understanding of infrastructure finance and co-ordination gleaned from his stint as a director in the Integrated Infrastructure and Network Development Chief Directorate at the Department of Transport (DoT).
He has worked on numerous projects that speak directly to his suitability for this position, including the Winelands Toll Concession Project and a study on Direct Impact of Investment in Key Economic Transport Infrastructure during his 6-year tenure at the DoT.
Not a newcomer
Malahleha is not a newcomer to the national roads agency. In July 2010, he joined SANRAL as Administration and Project Manager, in which capacity he demonstrated his aptitude for managing complex projects.
As Head of Strategy, Malahleha will collaborate regularly with the Engineering Executive, Road Network Manager and Chief Financial Officer, on evaluating the efficiency of use of resources across all agency activities.
“I look forward to this challenge and being at the centre of the decisions and actions related to the long term performance and progress of the organization,” said Malahleha.
The crème de la crème of South Africa’s civil engineering students. Winners at the 2016 SAICE Awards.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) was the talk of the town at The South Africa Institute of Civil Engineering (SAICE) Transport Division’s awards recently.
These awards are a way of celebrating excellence in the transport engineering world. SANRAL was in more ways than one a prominent feature of the awards.
In his opening remarks, SAICE’s Transport Division Chairman, Robin Chetty said, “SANRAL plays an important role in the value chain of Transport Engineering, its role in enabling infrastructure development in the sector is pivotal in ensuring a sector that thrives and ensures that standards are held up and quality is continually improved”.
The President of SAICE, Sundran Naicker further underscored the immense importance that SANRAL plays in firstly, careers of Transport Engineers and generally in the civil works spheres as these relate to road works.
SANRAL CEO Skhumbuzo Macozoma gave the key note address. The emphasis of his address was on growing SANRAL to be a 30 billion plus concern by 2030.
He said: “Central to this would be to attract, nurture and continually invest in human capital, research and development and transformation of the sector by ensuring vigorous and meaningful participation by SMME’s. Further to that, would be commercialising SANRAL’s expertise gained throughout the years and expanding its footprint in the continent and beyond.”
Highest honour of the day
Jacobus Johannes “Koos” Smit, Operations Executive at SANRAL received what was arguably the highest honour for the day, the Chairman’s Award.
The Chairman read a citation written by former SANRAL CEO Nazir Ali, which stated: “A life dedicated to excellence, diligence and service”.
Prior to his receiving of the award, speaker after speaker spoke glowingly of “Oom” Koos’ dedication and contribution to the field of engineering. Many were surprised that Koos resigned from the Department of Transport to join a yet to be incorporated SOC, SANRAL, this meant he had no position, salary and certainty. Koos is a beacon in the sector and was thus fittingly celebrated.
The awards attracted more than 250 attendees, quite a remarkable feat for a midweek midday event. This was testament to the importance these awards are to the sector and how peer recognition is a morale booster to these professionals.
SANRAL does not see the construction of more freeways and additional roads as a panacea for urban mobility or a cure for congestion.
The successful delivery of mega housing projects and substantial investments in tourism as the engine room for growth in Gauteng will be largely dependent on the quality of the province’s road infrastructure.
Over the past three years Premier David Makhura has laid out his vision for a much more integrated Gauteng City Region where partnerships between the public sector, business, labour and civil society will determine both the direction and the pace of development. This was, again, a dominant theme in his recent State of the Province Address.
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 in ensuring Gauteng mobility remains at the core of future planning processes is welcomed. 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 metropoles.
Passenger rail, the Gautrain, bus rapid transit systems, commuter buses and taxis are all elements of this mix. But so is 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 person trips are road-based.
Private vehicle ownership accelerates at an even faster pace as more and 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 network as the primary transport arteries should not be taken too lightly while longer 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 much more 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 does not take into account the realities of the regional economy.
The direct impact of modern freeways on a regional economy is well-illustrated by the developments that followed the construction of GFIP. The success of major recent residential developments such as Heritage Hill near Roohuiskraal, 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 directly attributed 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 grow 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 O R Tambo airport and contribute to the growth of the West Rand District, identified as a priority corridor by the Gauteng government.
How these freeways are to be funded will be decided by the National Government in consultation with the province. SANRAL is an agency of government and implements policy 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 2 and 3. 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, road 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 that is similar to what existed prior to the start of construction on the current GFIP network.
SANRAL is looking forward to work 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.”
SANRAL has developed a Candidate Training Masterplan and one of the disciplines of road engineering taught is storm water drainage.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) provides crucial training to engineering graduates at its Training Academy in Port Elizabeth.
SANRAL established its Training Academy in 2014, starting with three engineering graduates who completed their civil engineering studies under a SANRAL bursary. This number has since grown to 27 graduates including three from the Eastern Cape Department of Transport who have been seconded to the Training Academy to gain experience in the planning and design of road infrastructure.
Ivan Ellis, Training Academy mentor and professional civil engineer, said: “The advantage of being part of SANRAL’s Training Academy is that it affords young graduates the opportunity to participate in a structured training programme under the supervision of experienced professional civil engineers.
“They gain experience which will allow them to achieve the expected outcomes required to register with the Engineering Council of South Africa and to take their rightful place in the civil engineering industry.”
In an industry that has always been male dominated, Ellis finds it very encouraging that 10 of the 27 graduates at the Academy are women.
Ellis said: “SANRAL has developed a Candidate Training Masterplan to enable candidates in meeting the Engineering Council of South Africa outcomes.
“Participants undergo intensive training in the investigation and design aspects of projects under SANRAL’s continuous National Road programme of works.”
The Masterplan covers all disciplines of road engineering, primarily focused on:
Geometric design;
Traffic analysis and capacity;
Materials investigation and utilisation;
Pavement and materials evaluations and design; and
Storm water drainage (including sub-surface drainage).
Some of the projects that the graduates are currently working on include the N2 Sections 12 and 13, from Nanaga to Komgha River and the R75 between Uitenhage and Graaff Reinet.
These include all facets of design where young engineers produce designs, drawings and contract documentation for the projects to advance to the construction phase. In most cases, the graduates are given the opportunity to visit sites to observe the outcome of their work.
The participants
Derusha Govender from Durban was a SANRAL bursary recipient.
Govender said: “The post-graduate engineering experience provided by SANRAL to its graduates, is not comparable to any other organisation. One simply can’t get the same experience elsewhere.
“The training programme which SANRAL has is very structured in assisting graduates to gain experience in key training areas (site, laboratory, design) required for registration as a professional engineer. I am proud to work for a company which places a great amount of emphasis on the professional development of the young talent which joins the company, not only enhancing technical skill, but also in nurturing leaders of the future.”
Govender graduated in 2014 with a BSc civil engineering degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). Before joining the Training Academy in Port Elizabeth, she gained site experience at the Mount Edgecombe Interchange for 17 months (between February 2015 and August 2016). Thereafter she worked at the Soilco Materials Investigations (Pty) Ltd from the beginning of September, 2016, for a period of five months.
Nonkululeko Nzimande and Origin Sengwane both graduated with BEng in Civil Engineering degrees from the University of Pretoria in 2014.
They are both SANRAL bursary recipients and received three months of road materials laboratory experience, two months of land and survey experience and 18 months of site experience before joining the Training Academy this year.
Nzimande, who is from Richmond in Kwazulu Natal, said: “The SANRAL programme is good and structured in comparison to that of private companies. My goal is to be a materials specialist one day”.
When Nzimande is not working at SANRAL she is busy studying towards a B Eng Honours degree at the University of Pretoria.
Sengwane from Johannesburg is currently in his final year of BEng Honours at the University of Pretoria. He hopes to start working on his Master’s degree (MEng) next year.
“The mentors at SANRAL are really knowledgeable. This is a good programme because of the resources at our disposal. The experience we gain allows us to decide whether we’d like to work as a generalist civil engineer or specialise one day,” said Sengwane.
The nature of the work offered to candidates at the Training Academy equips candidates to fulfil the design-related requirements towards becoming registered as Professional Engineers.
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.
An essential part of Sanral’s N2 Wild Coast Toll Road project is the construction of two record-breaking mega-bridges over local rivers. One will become the highest bridge in the southern hemisphere, and the other possibly the longest cable-stayed suspension bridge in Africa.
Two spectacular mega-bridges are about to be added to South Africa’s growing national road network.
These are part of the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited’s (Sanral) N2 Wild Coast Toll Road (N2WCTR) project. They will offer visual and engineering delights to citizens and tourists alike.
The first mega-bridge will cross the Mtentu River just outside of Xolobeni. The second will cross the Msikaba River near Lusikisiki.
The Mtentu Bridge will be one of the longest main-span balanced cantilever bridges in the world, and the first of its size in South Africa.
Reaching heights of around 220 metres, it will become the highest bridge in Africa and the whole of the southern hemisphere. The current highest is the Bloukrans Bridge, which has a 217-metre deck height.
The construction of the 1.1-kilometre-long bridge in a remote location is a major undertaking requiring specialised engineering skills and building techniques, according to Edwin Kruger, Sanral’s Bridge Network Manager.
“No South African firm has ever done a balanced cantilever bridge of this magnitude before,” says Kruger. “As such, South African tenderers have joint ventured with international firms to bring skills and expertise into the bridge’s construction.”
The second mega-bridge, the Msikaba Bridge, will be 580 metres long.
“This bridge will cross the spectacular and pristine Msikaba river gorge and will be the longest span cable-stayed suspension bridge in South Africa – and possibly Africa,” says Kruger.
“Cable-stayed bridges are distinct in their use of towers and cables to support the bridge deck. This single span bridge will be anchored back into rock on either side of the gorge.”
One of the environmental requirements when building the Msikaba Bridge was that SANRAL does not touch the unspoiled Msikaba gorge at all.
Infrastructure for economic development
The bridges form the backbone of greenfields portion of the N2WCTR. The Wild Coast project is a national priority coordinated and directed by the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission.
It is one of the government’s 18 Strategic Integrated Projects to support economic development and boost service delivery in South Africa’s poorest provinces, such as the Eastern Cape.
“The bridges form part of the greenfields section of the Wild Coast Highway project,” says Kruger. “Extending from Port Edward through Port St Johns, this section is a brand new road and without the bridges we cannot complete the highway.”
Putting the environment first
One of the environmental requirements was that Sanral does not touch the unspoiled Msikaba gorge at all. The cable-stayed design will ensure that the construction of the bridge will have no direct impact on the environment in the gorge, almost 200 metres below.
Environmental lobby groups have expressed concern related to the N2WCTR’s impact on the Pondoland Biome. But Sanral has used specialist studies conducted during the environmental impact assessment to ensure that the route avoids the most sensitive areas of the Pondoland.
More than this, rehabilitation measures include a search and rescue programme for threatened or protected flora species. A biodiversity offset agreement has also been established with the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Board. This will ensure that the Pondoland Biome is preserved for generations to come through the declaration, rehabilitation and ongoing protection of some 15 000 hectares of new conservation areas.
Conservation measures are put in place before any work begins on the highway, according to Craig McLachlan, Sanral Southern Region’s Project Manager. “Before we start any construction we will send a specialised team into the area to retrieve bulbs, succulents, and other plants that can be relocated,” he says.
“We have set up nurseries that then preserve and further propagate these plants. These plants are then used for rehabilitation, and when we have an excess they will be translocated into protected areas such as the Mkambati Nature Reserve.”
Access for tourists and communities
According to Kruger, pedestrian sidewalks will be constructed on each side of the bridges and view sites off the bridges will provide special viewing points for tourists. The sidewalks will also serve to connect communities on either side of the gorges.
“The Msikaba and Mtentu bridges will become tourist attractions in their own right, and will offer opportunities for the associated tourism industry in the area,” says Kruger.
The Mtentu and Msikaba bridges and the overall greenfields portion of the N2WCTR will play a vital role in improving travel time, connecting previously divided communities in the region and opening up the Wild Coast’s opportunities for eco-tourism, adventure tourism and community-based tourism.
More than this, the road will connect the Wild Coast to the broader economy. As McLachlan says: “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 currently 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.”
A boost for the local economy
Kruger says the labour requirements of the project means jobs will be created in the local community. “Since both bridges have a large concrete component labour will be needed for fixing steel and placing the concrete for the bridges,” he says. “Semi-skilled and unskilled labour will be sourced locally.”
McLachlan adds that as part of Sanral’s small, medium and micro enterprise (SMME) development programme, local small businesses will be given the skills needed to join the project’s development. This will be in the form of full learnerships focussing on a both road construction and business skills.
“The SMME development programme will help to ensure that jobs created by the N2 greenfields project can be filled by local contractors,” he said.
SMME participation is an essential component of all Sanral projects. Over R1.5-billion will be spent on SMMEs during the construction phase the 110 kilometres of new roads and bridges.
This will in turn help create an estimated 50 000 direct and indirect jobs locally and regionally during and after construction. McLachlan explains that as wages earned typically have a multiplication effect in the local economy of two to three times, this job creation will further boost the local Wild Coast economy.
SANRAL is to launch six major road projects in the Eastern Cape this year, with the agency’s total investment in the province’s road infrastructure set to amount to R1.6-billion.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (Sanral) has announced road infrastructure development programmes with a total investment value of R1.6-billion for the national road network in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and the Sarah Baartman District Municipality, both in the Eastern Cape.
The announcement was made at one of Sanral’s annual consultation and engagement briefings with municipalities in the Eastern Cape.
Sanral met the Nelson Mandela Bay mayoral portfolio committee for discussions that included the municipality’s cooperation with traffic control and approval of rezoning or subdivision of land alongside national roads network.
Better road safety
According to Mbulelo Peterson, Sanral Southern Region Manager, the roads agency will break ground for six new construction, maintenance and upgrading projects in its 2017/18 financial year.
Three of the projects along the R334, R342 and R336 will improve the quality of the national road network from Somerset East, Kirkwood and Patterson to Addo, and from Addo to Motherwell in Nelson Mandela Bay. The remaining projects are focused on the R75 and N2 for Uitenhage, Joe Slovo and Colchester.
“The forthcoming projects will not only advance road safety but also deliver a world-class national road network to the province,” Peterson said. “Along with the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission’s strategic integrated N2 Wild Coast Toll Road project, investment in the national road network in the Eastern Cape is poised to steer the region into a golden era of prosperity through mobility.
“A safer and effective road network is key to enhancing foreign and domestic direct investment, socioeconomic growth and development as well as government service delivery.”
In upcoming tenders, Petersen said, Sanral will set goals for small, medium and micro enterprise (SMME) participation, as well as for community training programmes, to ensure the use, maximization and development of SMMEs.
Details of the road projects
Sanral will launch the following six national road network projects in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and Sarah Baartman District Municipality later this year:
N2: The construction of the Colchester Interchange, including bridges, pedestrian bridges and walkways, over 18 months, is scheduled to begin in October 2017.
R75: A 10-month resurfacing of the Uitenhage off-ramp to Graaff-Reinet Road, including repairing failures, asphalt overlay and rejuvenating old seals, as well as road marking, signage and guardrails. Work will begin in November 2017.
R75: An 18-month rehabilitation of the dual carriageway from N2 to Joe Slovo. This will include rework of the in situ base, installation of subsurface drains and catch-water drains, erosion protection works, as well as road marking, signs and guardrails. It is scheduled to commence in 2017.
R342: A 24-month special road maintenance project from Addo to Patterson which will entail repairs to poles and failures, improved access, appropriate sealing, fencing as well as road marking, signs and guardrails.
R335: A 34-month upgrade of the road between Motherwell to Addo. This will include widening of the road, new vertical and horizontal alignment, new pavement layers, improving safety aspects near intersections, resealing of the road surface as well as road marking, signs and guardrails.
R336: A 24-month road improvement project between Addo and Kirkwood scheduled to begin in November 2017. It will involve widening the road, reconstructing bridges, improving accesses, appropriate sealing and fencing as well as road marking, signs and guardrails.
“Sanral remains deeply committed to designing, delivering and maintaining a world class road network in the Eastern Cape,” Peterson said. “Importantly, we are committed to a responsible form of development which factors enterprise and skills development into the equation.
“In the 2016/2017 financial year, Sanral spent R3.56-billion on contracts with SMMEs, R1.9-billion of which was earned by 1 004 black-owned enterprises. We trained 4 120 people, including 1 531 women, in road building and other skills through 6 237 courses at an investment of approximately R12.9-million.”
In the agency’s 2016/17 financial year, Sanral delivered infrastructure projects to the value of around R300-million in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. These included the R80-million slope stabilization engineering project of the R75 on-ramp into Uitenhage, and the R198-million road works project of the N2, Section 11, from Bramlin Interchange to Coega.
Law enforcement operations over Easter saw 61 340 motorists charged with offences that included failure to wear seatbelts, use of cell phones while driving, speeding and overloading.
With deaths on South Africa’s roads over the Easter weekend rising this year, the government is looking at changing legislation and sentencing as part of a long-term strategy to limit the social and economic cost of traffic accidents.
About 235 people lost their lives on South Africa’s roads during the Easter long weekend, according to the official preliminary road crash statistics released on Friday 23 April.
This is an increase of 79 (51%) from 156 over the same period the previous year. The statistics were recorded from 13 to 17 April 2017.
“Our preliminary report shows that many people who died on our roads were victims of hit-and-run incidents, jaywalking or motorists who were driving at speeds that were too high for the circumstances,” said Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi.
“The report illustrates a new pattern in which crashes shifted from the identified historical hotspots into new routes and build-up areas on times that previously did not have a high number of crashes.”
Half of those who died on the roads this Easter were passengers, followed by pedestrians at 24.5%, drivers at 19.8% and cyclists at 5.7%.
Deputy Minister Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga attributed the high number of passenger deaths to the bus accident that killed 15 people near Ntunjambili, as well as the nine people killed in the South Coast horror crash in KwaZulu-Natal over Easter.
Most of the passengers who died were travelling in motorcars. Cars were contributed to almost half (49%) of the fatal crashes, followed by light delivery vehicles (20%). Minibus taxis contributed only 7.6% and buses 1.1%.
“Very glaringly, most crashes and fatalities happened in residential areas and remote areas, from 11pm until 5am,” said Maswanganyi. “This new phenomenon requires us to spread our wings jointly, informed by uniform working norms and standards.”
Provincial statistics
Fatalities increased in all provinces except the Free State, where they declined from 11 deaths in 2016 to only eight this year.
The Eastern Cape recorded an increase from 24 fatalities in 2016 to 27 this year. Limpopo had 30 deaths, Mpumalanga 28, the Northern Cape 11, KwaZulu-Natal 59, Gauteng 38, the Western Cape 22 and North West 12.
Charges and arrests
Law enforcement operations over Easter saw 61 340 motorists charged with offences that included failure to wear seatbelts, use of cell phones while driving, speeding and overloading.
More than 2 800 drivers were arrested for crimes that included drunken driving, inconsiderate, reckless and negligent driving, possession of false documentation and driving without licences or public driver’s permits.
“Our courts will show them no mercy and will give them the harshest penalties permissible,” said Maswanganyi.
Long-term strategies
To develop a long-term strategy to help limit road fatalities, the Department of Transport, working with the Department of Justice, is finalising the introduction of minimum sentences for negligent and reckless driving.
Road Traffic Management Corporation CEO Makhosini Msibi said drunken driving will be reclassified from a Schedule 3 offence, which is less severe, to a more punitive Schedule 5 offence. This will help ensure that those who negligently cause crashes on the roads spend time behind bars and do not get bail easily.
Other strategies include amendments to the National Road Traffic Regulations, published in November last year. The amendments are aimed at regulating the transport of people in the load bays of light delivery vehicles for financial gain.
The regulations, which will come into effect in May 2017, will help reduce the number of passenger deaths during crashes.
National Road Safety Strategy 2016-2030
The National Road Safety Strategy 2016-2030, which was also approved by Cabinet, will address the challenges and gaps identified by the department on the implementation of the previous road safety strategies.
The Parliamentary process, led by the Portfolio Committee on Transport to extensively consult on the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Amendment Bill, has also started. AARTO is aimed at introducing demerits intended to improve the conduct and behaviour of drivers on the roads.
Minister Maswanganyi said the interventions were necessary because of the social and economic cost of road injury and death.
“The burden also impacts heavily on our health system and social welfare, where more and more people rely on our social security net for survival,” he said. “This is costing the country a lot and financially it is not sustainable.”
The Road Accident Fund alone spends about R33-billion every year on claims, money that would be better spent on government priorities to address the triple challenge of employment, poverty and inequality.
