Blog

TRACN4 is ready to rally in Dullstroom

Talent, experience and courage will be in abundance at the 2021 TRACN4 Rally of South Africa, which will be held on 26 and 27 November in Dullstroom, Mpumalanga. With just a few days remaining until this epic event, and with entries now officially closed, Trans African Concessions is thrilled to announce that this year’s starting line-up will consist of the stuff rally fans dream of.

Given that this year’s race is the last round of the South African National and Regional Rally Championship series, as well as the grand finale of the African Rally Championships (ARC), there is no doubt that it will deliver in terms of high-octane competitiveness.

Most of the SA Rally Championship’s top drivers will be in action throughout the rally weekend, including defending national champions Guy Botterill and navigator Simon Vacy-Lyle in their Toyota Etios R4. This South African team is the representative challenger in the ARC and their grit, talent and pure determination to succeed will make for compelling rallying.

The rally for the top honours in the National Rally Championship (NRC) 1 class (R4/S2000/AWD Cars) on National Level promises to deliver. There will be no love lost when the top contenders of this category – Theuns Joubert and navigator Schalk van Heerden, in a S2000 Toyota Yaris; and Chris Coertse and navigator Greg Godrich, in a Hyundai 120 R4, go head-to-head.

The NRC 2 class also promises to deliver. The race to the top of this category will most likely be between the teams of Nico Nienaber/Gert Nienaber, Roland Himmel/Francois Schoonbee (all the way from Namibia), Jayden Els/Armand du Toit and Benji Habig/Barry White. However, with other talented teams, such as that of George Smalberger/Anriko Opperman, Gerald Klopper/Mari Ducasse and the Swazi-Cowboy team of Jono van Wyk/Kes Naidoo in his Ford Fiesta, this class will certainly not be short on high-octane action.

The current NRC 4 national and regional champion Jonathan Simms, in his 2-litre turbo-charged Toyota Tazz, will also be taking on the various stages of the 2021 TRACN4 Rally of South Africa. By doing so, he will be fulfilling his life-long dream of competing against national and international teams. However, he will be challenged by other talented teams, such as low-flying Anton Raaths and Louis Menge, in a Mazda Capella RX2; the father and daughter team Johann and Natasha Fourie, in their legendary Castrol Toyota Celica ST185 GT-4; as well as Rocco Huzak and Marcel Dangoumou, driving an equal legendary Repsol Toyota Celica ST185 GT-4. These teams will further be challenged by the very quick and spectacular Lukas van der Merwe/Tommy Coetzee pairing in their 80s ex Works 2 litre, rear- wheel-drive Toyota Corolla. Competing against Lukas will be father and daughter team Nick and Bianca Theunissen, in an Opel Corsa 2 litre; followed by sister Yvonne Theunissen navigating for Drian le Grange and in a Golf Mk2.

Father and daughter Edward and Larine Strydom, in their normal, aspirated Toyota Tazz 1600 20V, will compete against the likes of Henry Mostert and his navigator Willem Morgen, in their NR1 12V Toyota Conquest; and daughter and mother team Andrea and Isabel Raaths. These ladies will be seen in their very fast 1600 VW Golf Mk3. Well-known in the championship circuit, this team proves that when it comes to rallying, the fairer sex is as capable, courageous and talented as all the other teams.

The much-loved classic Ford Escort MK1, driven by the experienced Natie Booysen with co-driver Johan Smit, will also be competing this year with this duo amped to take on the Datsun 160U of equally qualified husband and wife team Sarel and Barbara Coetzer. For the first time in NRC history, a VW Syncro Kombi, driven by Stuart Stirling and Robin Knighton, will undeniably provide some entertainment to the crowds.

Given that this is the second time that TRAC takes the rally to Dullstroom, the locals are eager to welcome back the rally teams, fans and enthusiasts. According to them, they are privileged that the event is once again taking place in their backyard, which proves that the area is fast becoming a preferred rally destination which is mostly due to the forests that surrounds the town.

This year’s rally will also coincide with the Dullstroom Village Market, which will be held on 27 November at the Oval, from where the rally will start on both days. The market proved the perfect opportunity to get the town’s buy-in for this prestigious motorsport event, which also has a strong corporate social investment angle as all the proceeds raised will be donated to the Dullstroom Epilepsy Centre.

The market will also be the ideal place for rally enthusiasts to meet before departing to Saturday’s spectator points at the various stages. The location of these can be found on the print and digital versions of the 2021 TRACN4 Rally of South Africa Rally Mag. The print version of this publication will be available at the event, while the digital version can be viewed on www.tracn4.co.za. More information can be obtained from the race secretary by emailing samrallies@mweb.co.za.

Enquiries
Solange Soares
Communications Manager
Tel: +2713 755 3316 (switchboard)
Mobile: +2776 021 2524 (cell)
E-mail: ssoares@tracn4.co.za

MEDIA STATEMENT

SANRAL and SMMEs in Matjhabeng discuss R450 million of contractor opportunities

Bloemfontein 18 November 2021 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) hosted small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in the Matjhabeng Local Municipality to discuss upcoming routine road maintenance (RRM) projects in the area on Tuesday, 16 November 2021. The nine RRM projects are worth approximately R450 million.

The event aimed to engage stakeholders on the Matjhabeng Local Municipality’s role in the economic recovery of the Free State Province. The event sought to empower emerging local SMMEs with knowledge regarding current and upcoming SANRAL projects within Matjhabeng Local Municipality and the roads agency’s transformation policy.

“The information session is used to highlight SANRAL projects that will boost the economy of the province as well as the Matjhabeng Local Municipality. We are also here to strengthen our relationships with the targeted stakeholders to ensure support for SANRAL’s projects and their successful execution within the area,” said SANRAL Eastern Region Transformation Officer, Mr James Takalo. SANRAL will continue to drive its transformation agenda for local SMMEs and community members that live alongside its national roads to ensure that all key and affected stakeholders will benefit. Local SMMEs are entitled to a minimum of 30% of subcontracting in open tender in line with the legal requirements of the country.

“There will be other project-based engagements to be hosted soon where SANRAL will provide project updates and inform stakeholders of the documents needed for sub-contracting. Currently, there are nine RRM projects worth approximately R450 million which are in different stages of award in the area,” Takalo said.

SANRAL’s 14 Point Plan was discussed which talks to the principles of and formation of Project Liaison Committees (PLCs), appointment of Project Liaison Officers (PLOs), subcontracting and labour sourcing on all SANRAL projects. These principles are applied to facilitate better project level liaison with local communities and structures.

“SANRAL will continuously liaise with the appointed PLC to follow the process in the hiring of local labourers for the duration of the projects. Continuous project information sessions and introductions of contract teams to the stakeholders and affected municipalities is crucial throughout the project life cycle to foster conducive relations with targeted stakeholders,” Takalo said.

Aubrey Tshalata, President of the National African Federation for the Building Industry (NAFBI), said he was excited about the pioneering work that SANRAL was doing. “SANRAL is breaking down the monopolies in the construction industry through their transformation policy. We have worked with other state-owned enterprises, but they never did what SANRAL is doing in empowering people to be able to get contracts for work done at the roads agency. It is similar to what we are doing as NAFBI in helping contractors succeed in their businesses,” he said.

Other partners – in mining, finance and training – also attended the event to help the SMMEs succeed in their different programmes.

MEDIA RELEASE

Business fraternity welcomes SANRAL’s Special Maintenance project in Eastern Cape

Eastern Cape, 16 November 2021 – The Special Maintenance project on the R56 national road by the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has been positively welcomed by the Nqanqarhu (formerly Maclear) business fraternity in the Eastern Cape.

At an information session that SANRAL held with local small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) yesterday (15 November), business representatives welcomed the R485 million project, which spans the three municipalities of Elundini, Sakhisizwe and Emalahleni.

Earlier this month, SANRAL met with SMMEs in Indwe and Elliot to discuss the economic benefits and job opportunities that will be created by the special maintenance project. The Nqanqarhu information session was the third leg of the roads agency’s meeting with SMMEs.

“The R56 project will include structural work such as replacing bridge expansion joints to 13 bridges; patching in Nqanqarhu, Elliot and Indwe; completion of subsoil drains installed previously; construction of concrete side drains; construction of down chute and outlet structures on high fills; installation of gabions in cuttings to prevent silt from spilling into the side drains; and replacing the remainder of the existing fencing,” said Welekazi Ndika, SANRAL’s stakeholder engagement specialist for the Southern Region.

“While the entire rehabilitation of the road is envisaged to be completed in 20 months, we have allocated the first three months for the mobilisation period. This is a period in which Tau Pele, the appointed contractor, will interact with the community and set up Contract Participation Goals (CPG), which is the amount that will be allocated to service providers and suppliers. These matters will be discussed within the first three months together with the Project Liaison Committee (PLC),” she said.

Work is anticipated to start in January 2022.

Working together with local community structures in municipalities; PLCs are established to ensure better communication and transparency on SANRAL projects as well as ensuring that work done on projects is done seamlessly.

“The one way of doing this is appointing a Project Liaison Officer (PLO). This role will be advertised and SANRAL encourages local community members to apply. A project liaison officer is an important role because this person is a point of contact between the Project Management Team (PMT), Project Liaison Committee (PLC), stakeholders and communities

MEDIA RELEASE

SANRAL INVESTS R485M ON R56 ROAD IN THE EASTERN CAPE

Eastern Cape, 05 November 2021 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) is investing approximately R485 million on a special maintenance project on the R56 national road – from Indwe to Elliot and from Elliot to Maclear – in the Eastern Cape Province.

SANRAL met with Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in Indwe and Elliot this week, to discuss the economic benefits and job opportunities that will be created by the special maintenance project.

“The aim of our visit was to introduce the contractors and form Project Liaison Committees (PLC) that will represent the interests of SMMEs on these projects,” said Welekazi Ndika, SANRAL’s southern region stakeholder engagement specialist.

The R56 project will include structural work such as replacing bridge expansion joints to 13 bridges; patching in the towns of Elliot and Ugie; completion of subsoil drains installed previously; construction of concrete side drains; construction of down chute and outlets structures on high fills; installation of gabions in cuttings to prevent silt from spilling into the side drains; and replacing of the remainder of the existing fencing.

“While the entire upgrade of the road is envisaged to be completed in 20 months, we have allocated the first three months of the maintenance to mobilisation, in which Tau Pele, the appointed contractor, will interact with the community and set up Contract Participation Goals (CPG). A CPG is the amount that will be set aside and allocated to SMME development,” said Ndika.

Work is anticipated to start in early 2022.

“Guided by our transformation policy and 14-Point-Plan, at SANRAL we always ensure that there is transparency and opportunities for local community members on our projects. We have also spelled this out in our D1000 Document, which encourages the maximum participation of women, youth, people with disabilities and military veterans,” Ndika added.

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 a platform to share information about its transformation policy and Horizon 2030 Strategy.

Eastern Cape, 31 October 2021 – More than 200 small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) attended a two-day information sharing session hosted by the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL). The event was aimed at equipping the SMMEs with the necessary information required for them to complete documents for upcoming tenders on the N2 Wild Coast Road Project.

The sessions were held on Wednesday, 27 October 2021 at the Wild Coast Sun Hotel in Mzamba and on Thursday, 28 October 2021 at the Health Resource Centre in Lusikisiki.

Ncumisa Dlamini, the owner of Sigidi Development, said the events added value: “The sessions outlined what I needed to hear about SANRAL’s projects, upcoming packages, as well as the channels that I can use for tendering”.

Nwabisa Gxumisa, SANRAL’s Wild Coast District Office Manager, says the sessions reached their intended objectives: “We informed SMMEs about our upcoming opportunities, explained our transformation policy and our ongoing transformation endeavours, and we also discussed our procurement tender processes”.

Presenting at the sessions, Craig McLachlan, SANRAL’s lead Project Manager on the N2WCR Project, said the events also fulfilled government’s overall aim to extend economic opportunities and build entrepreneurship capacity in rural and underdevelopment communities across the country. He outlined the agency’s second tier procurement processes and its 14 Point Plan, as well as the role of Project Liaison Committees (PLC) on SANRAL projects.

SANRAL will advertise three upcoming tenders in Mpondoland. These are for the rehabilitation of Ingquza Hill Memorial Road, upgrading of roads within Ntlavukazi village in Lambasi, as well as surfacing of Section DR8004 from the R61 to Bambisana Hospital.

The tender for Package 5 for the Ingquza Hill Memorial Road was published on Friday, 29 October 2021, the tender for Package 4 the Ntlavukazi village roads will be advertised on Friday, 5 November, and Package 2 for the DR8004 road will be advertised on Friday, 12 November 2021. “It is anticipated that all three tenders will be awarded mid-2022. Potential Bidders must download document from SANRAL website and register to receive a link to virtual Tender briefings. All three tenders will be for SMMEs and will be labour intensive,” said McLachlan.

MEDIA RELEASE

CONCESSIONAIRES REMINDED TO PRIORITISE SMMES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

KwaZulu-Natal, 27 October 2021 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) expects economic transformation for rural communities even on concessionaire contracts that date back to 1998. As a result, SANRAL continues to work closely with N3TC to prioritise project participation for black businesses in the Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality.

SANRAL has a 30-year partnership with N3TC, the concessionaire responsible for managing and maintaining a 415km section of the N3 transport corridor known as the N3 Toll Route.

“It is a reality that as government, we cannot attend to all the needs of our people on our own. For that reason, we cooperate, collaborate, engage and forge partnerships with both the public and private sector, to ensure more effective and efficient service delivery – we call this Public Private Partnerships (PPPs),” said Deputy Minister of Transport, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga, when she addressed stakeholders during a Taking SANRAL to the People engagement in Loskop in the iNnkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality yesterday.

SANRAL’s Transformation Policy and government’s Preferential Procurement Regulation dictates that a minimum of 30% of the contract value of all projects must be subcontracted to targeted enterprises, in a bid to prioritise economic development opportunities for black-owned entities.

“We hold our concessionaires accountable with regards to our transformation objectives and we will continue to work closely with them to ensure meaningful economic transformation that changes people lives,” said Mr Themba Mhambi, SANRAL Board Chairperson. In this case, the concessionaire had in the previous financial year, directed investment to the tune of R303 million to SMMEs, while 538 jobs were created. No less than 90% of their routine road maintenance (RRM) packages were subcontracted to black-owned SMMEs.

In the iNkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality, there is one rehabilitation project underway between the Midway and Frere Interchanges. The 15-month project, valued at nearly R180 million, started in October 2020 and is scheduled to be completed in December 2021.

Just under R70 million of the project value (nearly 40%) went to black-owned enterprises, with more than R11 million being set aside for youth-owned businesses.

There are 239 persons currently directly employed on site of which 122 are from the iNkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality. The RRM activities have also yielded 35 jobs in this municipality.

Following a pre-qualification and tender process earlier this year, RRM contracts will be awarded during November 2021. One SMME will be awarded a routine road maintenance contract in the iNkosi Langalibalele area, with a project value of approximately R4 million per year. The contracts are to be awarded for a two-year period, with the option to extend.

With public sector infrastructure development spearheading South Africa’s economic recovery post COVID-19, SANRAL has been prioritising economic opportunities for emerging black businesses on all its projects.

Since the start of this financial year in April, SANRAL has already awarded contracts to nearly 1 000 black-owned SMMEs and created over 13 000 job opportunities on projects across South Africa.

“Furthermore, we are committed to not only award contracts to SMMEs, but through our various MOUs with captains of industry, we will ensure training, mentoring and development of SMMEs to capacitate them with knowledge and skills that will allow them to grow, develop and prosper,” said Dumisani Nkabinde, SANRAL Eastern Region Manager.

Stakeholders in attendance included iNkosi MPM Mazibuko, iNkosi Langalibalele, iNkosi yamaHlubi, nomkhandlu weMangwebuthanani Traditional Council, uThukela District Municipality Mayor, Cllr Alfred Siphiwe Mazibuko, iNkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality Mayor, Cllr Jabulile Membrey Mbhele and several SMMEs from the local business community.

“These stakeholder engagement sessions are important to ensure we stay connected to the people our roads are built for. We welcome robust debate, meaningful contribution and an inclusive project participation process to ensure we collectively build South Africa through better roads,” concluded Nkabinde.

Pretoria, 27 October 2021 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has noted with concern allegations made by the Democratic Alliance (DA), to the effect that SANRAL’s City Power electricity account is in arrears.

SANRAL wishes to state that the allegations made by the DA are untrue.

SANRAL currently holds multiple accounts with the City Power, billed through the City of Johannesburg. Occasionally, discrepancies are encountered within our multiple accounts. This means that at times certain infrastructure accounts will be in credit or debit due to the municipal verification processes and billing cycles. Such discrepancies are continuously monitored, managed and resolved as the need arises.

SANRAL is in constant communication with City Power and has never failed to honour its responsibilities towards the entity.

As a responsible state-owned entity, SANRAL subscribes to the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), and all outstanding accounts are therefore managed within the framework of the Act.

SANRAL has ensured and will continue to ensure that the funds allocated to it by government and received from those road users that are paying their e-toll accounts, are spent in a responsible manner, as prescribed by the PFMA.

MEDIA RELEASE

SANRAL TO UPGRADE RURAL ROADS IN NQUTHU

KwaZulu-Natal, 24 October 2021 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) is upgrading nine gravel roads to surfaced roads in Isandlwana, at a cost of R180 million. SANRAL’s move to extend its reach beyond the national road network to rural roads follows a request from the late King Goodwill Zwelithini in 2019, when a formal agreement was reached that, among others, the gravel road leading to the Isandlwana Battlefield would be upgraded.

Since then, aMangwebuthanani Traditional Council, under the leadership of inkosi yesizwe, iNkosi Mazibuko, has hosted various engagements with SANRAL and has provided guidance as the groundwork for the project unfolded.

The design phase of the project is 80% complete and construction is expected to begin in 2022. In line with SANRAL’s Transformation Policy and government’s Preferential Procurement Regulation, at least R54 million of the R180 million project will be subcontracted to targeted enterprises, in a bid to prioritise economic development opportunities for black-owned entities. Of this R54 million, at least R2.7 million will be ringfenced for women-owned businesses and youth-owned businesses respectively.

“For too long, women have been marginalised, particularly in the infrastructure development space. But we are saying, NO MORE! Similarly, our youth are becoming despondent, given the high unemployment rate. We are saying, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! We encourage young people to start small businesses and we commit to creating opportunities that would allow them to prosper. Women and youth, your time is now”. This was the message that the Deputy Minister of Transport, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga delivered during her keynote address at SANRAL’s stakeholder engagement session in the Nquthu Local Municipality on Saturday 23 October 2021.

“We understand that not everyone is an entrepreneur and to this end, the project will also create 150 job opportunities, at a cost of R14 million, for persons to be directly employed on site. Again, jobs for women and youth will be prioritised, with more than R8 million – the lion’s share of the wage bill – being earmarked for wages in these two groups”, Chikunga added.

With public sector infrastructure development spearheading South Africa’s economic recovery post COVID-19, SANRAL has been prioritising economic opportunities for emerging black businesses on all its projects.

“Since the start of this financial year in April, SANRAL has already awarded contracts to nearly 1000 black-owned SMMEs and created over 13 000 job opportunities on projects across South Africa. Furthermore, we recognise the importance of developing rural roads that will give remote communities access to central business districts and ultimately link them to economic opportunities on the national road network,” said Dumisani Nkabinde, SANRAL Eastern Region Manager.

Stakeholders at the event included Inkosi MPM Mazibuko, nomkhandlu waMangwebuthanani Traditional Council, Nquthu Local Municipality Mayor, Cllr Zama Shabalala and several SMMEs from the local business community.

“The construction of the Isandlwana project must never be interrupted in any way. People are called here by SANRAL to be informed on how they can be involved in this project and how they can benefit economically. I do not want to see those opposing progress sending the wrong message or attempting to derail progress,” iNkosi Mazibuko said.

SANRAL remains committed to breaking down monopolies in the supply chain of materials, equipment, technologies, systems and other areas, to ensure broad-based participation by black South Africans. This goes beyond access to economic opportunities, to the training and capacity building that will allow particularly 1CE and 2CE subcontractors to successfully compete for contracts.

“In delivering on our mandate to finance, improve, manage and maintain South Africa’s expanding national road network, we want to ensure we leave behind legacies of economic empowerment in communities that will allow us to improve the lives of our people, way beyond the construction period,” concluded Nkabinde.

Eastern Cape, 24 October 2021 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) notes with disappointment the electioneering stunt by the Democratic Alliance (DA). In their attempt to garner votes, the DA made a misleading comparison between the R62/Langkloof Road in the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape provincial boundary.

“Comparing the road surface at the boundary point, without context or accurate content, is mischievous and ill-informed at best, but disingenuous and malicious at worst. Creating the impression that the Western Cape Government delivers good roads while SANRAL ignores its road safety engineering mandate is simply devoid of any truth. On the contrary, the International Road Federation (IRF) in 2020 officially recognised SANRAL’s road safety engineering efforts when it bestowed on the agency the 2020 IRF ‘Find a Way’ Global Road Safety Award.

“Furthermore, the deliberate distortion that the colouration of the seal depicts poor or good quality roads must also be rejected. This simply speaks to the colour of the aggregate and the material used. The DA would do well to not make everything about colour,” said Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL Southern Region Manager.

While the R62 is largely a provincial road, the Eastern Cape section was transferred to SANRAL by the provincial government in 2012. Taking into account the primary mandate of developing and maintaining the national road network, as well as the available budget, SANRAL took a decision to start the upgrade and rehabilitation of the R62 from the Humansdorp side, working towards the Western Cape Border.

SANRAL completed the first 33km of the upgrade in 2018, at a cost of R98 million and provided economic opportunities for 22 SMMEs (20 grade 1 CE, 1 Grade 3 CE and 1 grade 5 CE), with a wage bill of R9 059 207.12 for local labour. The works involved milling out of sections of the pavement layers, widening the road and then applying an appropriate seal. Guard rails and signage installation also formed part of the scope of works.

There are three more sections that are due to be resealed. Two of the three sections are in design stage and implementation of these projects are scheduled as follows:

• R62 Section 6 from the WC/EC Boundary to Louterwater – the construction tender will be advertised by June 2022
• R62 Section 7 from Joubertina to Kareedouw – the construction tender will be advertised by March 2023
• R62 Section 6 from Louterwater to Joubertina – the construction tender will be advertised by September 2023

The implementation of these projects is staggered to minimise the inconvenience to road users as a result of traffic accommodation imperatives.

Since the start of the financial year in April, SANRAL has created economic opportunities for nearly1 000 SMMEs in the road construction sector across South Africa where our national roads are located, despite the COVID-19 constraints. Furthermore, in the last six months alone, SANRAL has created 13 293 job opportunities on projects across South Africa, on the national road network.

“SANRAL remains at the forefront of public sector infrastructure upgrades in South Africa’s economic recovery plan post COVID. We take our mandate to develop, finance and maintain the national road network very seriously and will continue to build South Africa through better roads,” concluded Peterson.