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MEDIA RELEASE
SANRAL projects to create jobs for local residents in Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality

Limpopo, 10 June 2022 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) hosted a stakeholder information sharing session in the Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality on Wednesday, 8 June 2022. SANRAL uses the information sessions to strengthen communication with stakeholders and consult in a timely manner regarding project-related activities from which local communities can benefit.

During the session, stakeholders raised questions regarding the principles of project liaison, subcontracting and labour sourcing systems in SANRAL projects. Stakeholders noted that there should be a coordinated approach between SANRAL and the local municipality in the formation of Project Liaison Committee (PLC) structures, and that the process should be inclusive and transparent.

SANRAL Stakeholder Coordinator, Moloko Masenya highlighted that SANRAL is guided by the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act to work with the municipality each time projects are implemented locally. One of the project-related activities in which SANRAL receives guidance from the municipality is on the formation of PLC structures. The formation of PLCs is applied in a fair and transparent manner and according to the PLC guidelines.

“The important task for SANRAL is to deliver value to South African citizens and road users through the successful implementation of quality road infrastructure and to positively have an impact on communities where we work by creating jobs for local communities and subcontracting opportunities for local SMMEs,” she said.

SANRAL Project Manager in the Northern Region, Evelyn Sambo said SANRAL projects will create jobs for local labour and training for unskilled labour in Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality.

“While we build national roads as SANRAL, we make sure that the members of the community are given job opportunities to be part of the road infrastructure development and benefit from it. Over and above the main contractors, we also ensure that sub-contractors are selected from the local area to help SANRAL build and maintain the national roads.”

The Executive Mayor of the Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality, Honourable Marlene van Stranden, welcomed SANRAL’s initiative to engage stakeholders. She noted that this initiative presents an opportunity for stakeholders within the local municipality to be well informed about all SANRAL’s current and future projects and it assists SMMEs to prepare themselves for tendering opportunities.

“As Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality, we rely on partnerships that will create much-needed job opportunities for locals. SANRAL is bringing a number of projects in our municipality, not only will these projects yield opportunities for employment and subcontracting, but they will upgrade our roads, meaning that all the tourists and some of the stakeholders who travel on the roads will travel safely,” she said.

The following projects have been earmarked for execution:

Routine Road Maintenance (RRM)

There are currently three RRM projects affecting Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality. The duration of these is 36 months and they are estimated to cost between R40 million to R50 million each. Opportunities for subcontracting RRM projects include the clearing and grubbing, protection against erosion and erection of guardrails.

• Routine Road Maintenance of National Roads N11 from the Ephraim Mogale Municipal Boundary to Mogalakwena Municipal Boundary, R33 from N11 Intersection to Modimolle, and R101 from Middelfontein to Mogalakwena Municipal Boundary.
• Non-Toll Routine Road Maintenance of National Roads R101 from Bela-Bela to Middelfontein, R516 from Thabazimbi Municipal Boundary to Bela-Bela, R520 from Lephalale Municipal Boundary to R33 Intersection at Vaalwater, and R33 From Modimolle to Lephalale Municipal Boundary.
• Routine Road Maintenance of National Roads N1 Section 23 from Bela-Bela to Cyferfontein, N1 Section 24 from Cyferfontein to Middelfontein, N1 Section 25 from Middelfontein to Rielvlei.

Upgrade projects

There are currently four upgrade projects affecting Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality. The projects are in the detailed design phase. Opportunities for subcontracting on these projects include road reserve fencing, extension of existing pipe culverts and erection of guardrails, road markings and road signs.

• Improvement of National Road R101 Section 8 from Bela Bela to Modimolle. Construction planned to start in January 2023 and is estimated to cost R600 million.
• Improvement of National Road R33 Section 12 from N1 to Section 13 in Modimolle. Construction planned to start in April 2023 and is estimated to cost R272 million.
• Improvement of National Road R33 Section 13 from Modimolle to Wittklip. Construction planned to start late 2023 and is estimated to cost R190 million.
• Upgrading of Vaalwater Town. Construction planned to start in April 2023 and is estimated to cost R150 million.

SANRAL will continue to provide and manage a safe national road network to enable and contribute to economic growth and social development.

MEDIA RELEASE

RECONSTRUCTION OF SLOW LANE ON THE N3 FROM SANCTUARY ROAD TO LINK ROAD

Pietermaritzburg, 07 June 2022 – The reconstruction of the slow lane on National Route 3 (N3) Section 3 from Sanctuary Road to Link Road will result in road closures, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has said.

The contractor is scheduled to paint the temporary road markings and replace damaged road studs from 7 June 2022 to 9 June 2022. “Both the northbound and southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane for short periods of time. The work is estimated to take three nights starting from 7 June 2022 until 9 June 2022.

The work will be done between 21h00 and 04h00. Two lanes will be open for traffic on both northbound and southbound carriageways between hours of 04h00 and 21h00,” said Thabiso Dladla, SANRAL’s Eastern Region Project Manager.

The current closure in the lanes has reduced the roadway to two lanes, and only the middle and the far-right lanes will be in use. The contractor must reduce the traffic to only one lane to be able to work safely. The closures will be of a rolling nature, meaning they are not permanent but rather moving with the contracting team as they paint and replace the road studs.

Light motor vehicles are urged to use the alternate route only during the closure.

“Motorists travelling from Howick towards Pietermaritzburg, can take the Cedara off-ramp, and travel on Old Howick Rd to Athlone Circle. Vehicles travelling northwards will have to take the Dr Chota Motala off-ramp to miss the temporary closure,” said Dladla.

Heavy vehicles stopping at the arrestor bed on the southbound carriageway will be safely guided into the designated lane with assistance from the contractor’s safety officer.

“We appeal to road users to note and comply with the advance warning signs and speed restrictions when travelling past the construction work zones and apologise for the inconvenience this may cause,” said Dladla.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Immediate

Blasting on the R63 between Fort Beaufort and Alice

Eastern Cape, 7 June 2022: The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) wishes to notify travellers that blasting is scheduled to take place between Fort Beaufort and Alice today, Tuesday, 7 June 2022.

It is anticipated that blasting will take place between 13:00 and 16:00, approximately 18km from Fort Beaufort, when travelling towards Alice.

The road will be closed during the blasting. The duration of the closure will be kept as short as possible.

Motorists travelling southwards towards Alice and King Williams Town may consider using the following alternative routes:

• From Queenstown, follow the N6 to Cathcart, turn right on the R345 to Alice or continue on the N6 to Stutterheim and, on exiting the town, turn right onto R346 to King Williams Town.
• From N10 junction with the R63 towards Fort Beaufort on R63, follow the R67 from Fort Beaufort to Grahamstown to join the N2 to King Williams Town.
• From Whittlesea, follow the R67 towards Seymour, turn left onto the R351 towards Cathcart on the N6, then turn right and continue on the N6 to Stutterheim, turn right onto the R346 to King Williams Town.

Motorists travelling northwards towards Queenstown and westwards towards the N10 or Whittlesea may consider using the following alternative routes:

• From King Williams Town to Queenstown, follow the R346 to Stutterheim, turn left on the N6 to Queenstown.
• From Alice to Queenstown, follow the R345 to Cathcart and turn left onto the N6 to Queenstown.
• From King Williams Town towards N10, follow the N2 towards Grahamstown, turn right on the R67 to Fort Beaufort, then turn left onto the R63 towards the N10.
• From King Williams Town towards Whittlesea, follow the R346 to Stutterheim, turn left onto the N6 to Cathcart. Before entering Cathcart, turn left onto R351 to Whittlesea. On reaching the R67, turn right to Whittlesea.

“Motorists are requested to plan their trips, accordingly, consider alternative routes and use caution when making use of the roads,” said Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL Southern Regional Manager.

SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience caused.

MEDIA RELEASE

REPAIRS TO ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE IN KWAZULU NATAL UNDERWAY

Pietermaritzburg, 4 June 2022 – Repairs to the road infrastructure devastated by the April floods in KwaZulu Natal are well underway, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced.

“Since the April floods that damaged several roads in KwaZulu Natal, the SANRAL team has worked tirelessly to put in place make-safe measures across the N2 and N3 network. Traffic deviations and traffic accommodation were necessary in some areas of the network,” said Dumisani Nkabinde, SANRAL’s Eastern Regional Manager.

SANRAL has assured communities, especially those who feel neglected, that all roads in all areas will be attended to. SANRAL has devised a priority matrix to fix and repair all affected routes to ensure that the entire network is open to traffic.

“We are mindful that there are areas that are restricted to traffic and some reduced to one lane. However, SANRAL’s team is working tirelessly to ensure accessibility in these areas. The repairs on the uMhlanga River Bridge, where the N2 north carriageway was reduced to a single lane, are going according to plan. It is envisaged that it will be open to traffic in the week commencing 6 June 2022,” said Nkabinde.

SANRAL urges the public to practice caution when driving through the areas where repairs are taking place across the networks.

“SANRAL wishes to express sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the multiple vehicle accident that took place near Pietermaritzburg and speedy recovery to the injured. We would like to thank the motorists for their patience during the restoration period. This is a temporary inconvenience,” said Nkabinde.

Section 24 of the N2 Northbound Carriageway between Umzinto and Umgababa was open to traffic on Friday, 27 May 2022, after the road had undergone thorough project completion inspection and all the requirements, including road safety features, were met

Welekazi Ndika, SANRAL Southern Region’s stakeholder relations coordinator, addressed the community
of Maqhinebeni Village on Sunday, 22 May 2022. Meetings were held with communities of Payne and
Viedgesville on Sunday, 29 May.

MEDIA RELEASE
SANRAL shares road construction plans with Mthatha, surrounding rural communities

Eastern Cape, 2 June 2022: The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) shared its robust plans for road infrastructure development projects, tallying to more than R1 billion, for the town of Mthatha in the Eastern Cape Province.

Plans to upgrade the N2 Section 18 from Viedgesville to Mthatha and the Community Development (CD) project were outlined at information sessions that SANRAL hosted with community members of Maqhinebeni, Qweqwe, KwaPayne and Viedgesville villages near Mthatha. The meetings were held on Sunday, 22 May and Sunday, 29 May.

“The N2 from Viedgesville to Mthatha project will include an upgrade to a four-lane divided by the median or physical barrier to a dual carriageway, improvements to intersections and interchanges on the road, construction of agricultural underpasses, provision of pedestrian bridges, strengthening of the existing pavement, road signage and marking, and streetlight, to mention a few. The estimated allocated budget on this project is R1.1 billion and the project is still in the design phase. The main contractor has not yet been appointed,” said Welekazi Ndika, SANRAL Southern Region’s Stakeholder Coordinator.

“The community development project, on the other hand, will entail the construction of community access roads that are adjacent to the N2 national road. The tender for the main contractor is at the procurement stage and the estimated project value is R250 million. These projects will create much needed jobs for the local community, and they will also be trained to work on these projects,” said Ndika.

The projects will also help greatly in alleviating road accident carnages on this section of the N2 national road, which is often caused by stray animals.

SANRAL’s 14 Point Plan, which is SANRAL’s interventions that seeks to ensure that previously disadvantaged individuals benefit from its projects, will assist in ensuring transparency and inclusivity with local communities that will work on the projects.

Ndika urged community members to work together with their project liaison committees (PLCs). “Through our 14 Point Plan, we envisage to already have established PLCs when the project starts. The PLC will assist in creating a platform for project liaison, works execution, subcontracting and facilitating employment opportunities for local community members. All community representatives – including the youth, women, people with disabilities and military veterans – must be represented in the PLC,” she said.

Attending the information session in Maqhinebeni, AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo urged community members to work together amicably for the greater good and development of their communities and urged for their patience and work together with SANRAL.

Steps to have ongoing stakeholder outreach programmes with affected landowners and the relocation of affected properties on the N2 national road Viedgesville to Mthatha project will also be undertaken by SANRAL to share information with these affected community members. This is done in consultation with local traditional leaders.

Vuyokazi Mayeza, SANRAL’s social facilitator on the project, said SANRAL started consultations with community members and other key stakeholders on this project back in 2019. She urged those present to also make other community members aware of the progress that SANRAL has done in making this project a reality.

SANRAL continuously strives to strengthen its relationship with stakeholders who are affected by its projects through these information sessions. The sessions are not only a platform for the roads agency to share information about job opportunities on its projects, but also to share information about its transformation policies and Horizon 2030 Strategy.

Since introducing the Horizon 2030 Strategy, SANRAL has empowered local communities and SMMEs with information, giving them opportunities and enabling them to partner with more established construction companies on its projects.

Videos of the information sessions can be found here:

https://we.tl/t-byfX9f7kDZ (Maqhinebeni meeting)
https://we.tl/t-tKwaOJlBz2 (Qweqwe meeting)
https://we.tl/t-3p1RW4ZOOK (Viedgesville meeting)

Media Release
One for the road is not worth it: SANRAL

Pretoria, 2 June 2022 – Amid the multiple horrific road accidents reported over the weekend across the country, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) road safety team made efforts to encourage road users to be safe on the roads.

The team partnered with the Genesis All Black event which took place at Newtown in Gauteng to encourage safety behaviour among road users, particularly when attending events where alcohol is consumed.

The key message on the evening was “One for the road is not worth it” which aimed to discourage the traditional call of having one more drink before hitting the road.

Vusi Mona, SANRAL General Manager of Communications, said the team was constantly looking for ways to promote road safety and discourage drinking and driving, and what better way to reach road users than at events.

“We must not shy away from engaging the public at these mass gatherings, because they are hot spots and often a genesis for drunk driving and reckless behaviour which can result in fatalities or loss of life,” he said.

He said unsafe behaviour, such as driving under the influence of alcohol, is the leading cause of road incidents and the roads agency continues to battle this on an ongoing basis.

Several road crashes were reported across the country over the past weekend including the deadly incident which claimed the lives of 16 people on the N3 between Peter Brown and Chatterton off-ramps in Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday.

Mona said road safety remained a key pillar for SANRAL, and continuous efforts will be made to save lives on South African roads.

MEDIA RELEASE

SANRAL REGRETS THE LOSS OF LIVES ON THE N3 BETWEEN PETER BROWN BRIDGE AND CHATTERTON OFF-RAMPS

Pietermaritzburg, 30 May 2022 – SANRAL regrets the loss of lives that occurred in the early hours of May 28 on the N3 between Peter Brown and Chatterton off-ramps in Pietermaritzburg where 16 people were burnt to death and others injured.

“SANRAL held an emergency meeting yesterday afternoon (Sunday, 29 May 2022) to ascertain whether or not traffic accommodation (traffic signs, lighting, concrete barriers) was the cause of the accident. The roads agency has since established on this construction zone it has employed safety measures that are far more beyond just legal or contractual compliance. SANRAL can confirm that the accident was not caused by poor signage or traffic accommodation,” said Dumisani Nkabinde, SANRAL’s Eastern Regional Manager.

The fatal accident was a secondary accident (the first involved a truck) and its cause could be anything from human error or speed but not traffic accommodation.

“As is the norm, SANRAL will cooperate with any investigation that may follow. SANRAL wishes to express its condolences to the bereaved families and wishes the injured a speedy recovery,” added Nkabinde.

MEDIA RELEASE NATIONAL ROUTE 2 (N2) SECTION 24 UMGABABA IS OPEN TO TRAFFIC

Durban, 27 May 2022 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced that section 24 of the National Route 2 (N2) Northbound Carriageway between Umzinto and uMgababa is now open to traffic.

“The road has undergone thorough project completion inspection and we have satisfied ourselves, as SANRAL, that all the requirements (especially road safety features) have been met. The deviation is one lane only which is a temporary measure to allow mobility and take pressure away from the R197 and R102,” said Dumisani Nkabinde, SANRAL’s Eastern Regional Manager. Permanent reconstruction of the affected section of the N2 is well underway, as it stands, the Engineers are currently busy with geotechnical investigations to finalise detailed design for the permanent repairs.

On 18 April 2022, on declaring the national state of disaster, President Ramaphosa designated SANRAL as the agency to lead the extensive work required to repair roads in the province, starting with an immediate focus on the N2 and N3 freeways. Since then, SANRAL has worked with the provincial and municipal authorities in KwaZulu-Natal to advance the rebuilding and rehabilitation work required to restore normality to the lives of the people in the province.

“During the heavy rains and floods in April, the far-left lane of the N2 on the northern carriageway collapsed and settled by over a meter and moved down the embankment. SANRAL would like to thank the motorists for their patience while we are working on a permanent solution for the northern carriageway,” said Nkabinde.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY

Continued lane closure on the N7 Piekenierskloof Cutting, for slope stabilisation

Western Cape, 27 May 2022 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) hereby informs road users of a continued lane closure on the N7 Section 7 at the Piekenierskloof Cutting in the Western Cape.
SANRAL is currently executing a slope stabilisation project on the rock cutting, that involves removing loose boulders, anchoring other boulders onto the rock face, drilling of drainage holes and shotcrete of selected areas in the rock face.
“While we had anticipated completing the works by the end of May, we have discovered that the rock cutting is too fractured and therefore requires additional work,” said David Le Cordeur, SANRAL Project Manager.

The extra works include:

• additional spot anchor bolting
• shotcrete protection of shale bands
• mesh panels to secure the boulders
• a mesh drapery system will be installed

The lane closure, which is approximately 1km in length, remains in place until 31 July 2022. This is to give the contractor sufficient working space while stabilising the slope of the rock cutting. Two-way traffic be maintained throughout the construction period.

Traffic towards Piketberg will be diverted onto the passing lane on the left-hand side of the road. The traffic towards Citrusdal will be diverted on the normal lane towards Piketberg, and the normal lane towards Citrusdal will be closed off. Directional signage is in place to warn road users of the diversion, as well as delineators dividing the two-way traffic.

“We appeal to road users to be vigilant, patient and compliant with speed restrictions in the construction area. This is a short-term inconvenience, that will ultimately ensure the long-term safety of road users,” said David Le Cordeur, SANRAL Project Manager in the Western Region.

MEDIA RELEASE
SANRAL TO INSPECT NATIONAL ROUTE 2 (N2) SECTION 24 UMGABABA BEFORE OPENING

Durban, 26 May 2022 – Section 24 of the National Route 2 (N2) Northbound Carriageway between Umzinto and Umgababa, is still to undergo engineering protocol before it is open to traffic, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced.

“The information that the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula will be conducting an opening of the N2 section 24 in uMgababa on Friday, 27 May 2022 was not generated by SANRAL. The road was never opened officially, because SANRAL did not give clearance. Therefore, the allegations that the Minister of Transport is coming were not formally communicated by SANRAL,” said Dumisani Nkabinde, SANRAL’s Eastern Regional Manager.

SANRAL spokesperson Vusi Mona said: “We distance ourselves from any communication to the effect that the road was opened and then closed because it needed to be officially opened by the Minister. The truth is it was closed because our engineering colleagues had not yet approved it opening for traffic. The Minister had absolutely nothing to do with the short-lived opening and thereafter closure of the road.”
Mona added that as soon as the engineering requirements had been satisfied the road will be open to traffic. “If and when the Minister visits the road he will find it already operating,” Mona added.