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Bringing opportunities to people and people to opportunities

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SANRAL is making a difference to community development through its projects. 

Roads exist to connect communities, to open new horizons, to bring people to opportunities and opportunities to people.

SANRAL’s positive impact on the broader South African society through community development is becoming entrenched and more appreciated as its responsibilities for the management of the national and provincial road network continue to grow.  

Deep in northern KwaZulu-Natal, the daily lives of communities have been enhanced with the sidewalks, bus and taxi lay byes, retaining walls and access roads to schools that have been built by SANRAL.  

12km of concrete walkways have been built on both sides of a section of Route R22 between Manguzi town and the Mozambique border.  

The project started in November 2015 and was completed in June 2017, with an expenditure of R14.42-million. 

Pedestrians at risk  

Ridhwaan Mahomed, SANRAL Eastern Region Project Manager, said before work had commenced on the project, several vehicle and pedestrian accidents had been recorded in the area.  

He said: “Pedestrians, mostly young pupils on their way to and from school, would be seen walking within the motorised vehicle lanes.  

“This was highly risky, especially because many of the pedestrians were young children. Thus, it was decided to construct safe and proper pedestrian traffic facilities.”  

Connecting communities 

Mahomed said the project area was rural, with limited opportunities for income for families to sustain themselves.  

This project was therefore a valuable source of opportunities.  

There was job creation – R2.5-million was paid in salaries towards local labour, of which R736 011 each was paid to youth and women. 

Four local subcontractors were employed and were paid a total of R1.3-million.  

Since there are a high number of unskilled individuals in rural areas, SANRAL ensured that people were trained, and a total of 60 skills-training certificates were issued with R277 241 having been invested in training.  

Mahomed said: “Roads exist to connect communities, to open new horizons, to bring people to opportunities and opportunities to people.  

“SANRAL has always strived to support the efforts by the government to push back the frontiers of poverty and improve the lives of South African citizens in general by promoting community development through all its projects.”  

Thokozani Mbuyisa, owner of Mgadla Trading, one of the SMMEs involved in the project, said he was grateful to SANRAL for the opportunity to work on the project. 

Call for motorists to obey rules on the ‘Road of Death’

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Some motorists are disobeying traffic-calming measures around constructions sites, endangering workers and themselves. 

Motorists are urged to follow road rules during construction on Moloto Road.

The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) is appealing to motorists to adhere to the rules of the road in and around construction sites along the Moloto Road (R573) in Mpumalanga and Limpopo.  

Lawrence Chauke, SANRAL Project Manager for the Moloto Road Upgrades, said: “We’ve noted with concern that some motorists disobey traffic-calming measures, including speed-limit signage and flagmen. Some drive straight through without stopping and we’ve had several close-call collisions on the construction sites.  

“We urge motorists to cooperate during the upgrade, obey the rules of the road and exercise patience.” 

The ‘Road of Death’ 

Dubbed ‘The Road of Death’ due to the high number of accidents, the R573 Moloto Road is one of the busiest routes in the country, connecting Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.  

It has had to cope with increasing traffic in recent years due to the growth of peri-urban communities along the Moloto corridor. 

The upgrade, undertaken by SANRAL, aims to increase safety and reduce the death and accident toll.  

Work has started with the construction of traffic circles in major intersections in Mpumalanga.  

The upgrades will also include closing off dangerous illegal accesses, reducing conflicted movements on service roads, installing and replacing street lights, and moving informal traders to safer areas.  

The upgrade will take five years to complete and will bring some 6000 job opportunities to community members who live along the Mpumalanga and Limpopo stretches of the road.  

The estimated total cost for the upgrading of the 92km stretch in Mpumalanga and Limpopo is R2-billion and will positively influence socio-economic development in the area.  

Thirty percent of the total project cost will create opportunities for small, black-owned businesses. The project also offers across-the-board economic benefits, ranging from unlocking the mineral belt to improved transportation.  

Education is the great equaliser

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Empowered, inspired and developed women and youth are critical to South Africa’s global competitiveness. 

Dr Blade Nzimande believes our economy is characterised by vast racial and gender inequalities in the distribution of and access to productive assets, wealth, income, skills and employment. He said education is a key equaliser.

Since 1994, South Africa has made significant progress by putting in place legislation and policy frameworks for advancing the equality and empowerment of women, children and people with disabilities.  

The South African Parliament adopted without reservation the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.  

Parliament further passed the Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill, which strongly called for equal participation of women in the economy and for equal representation of women in decision-making structures, in both the private and public sectors.  

More than ever, we need to increase our efforts to ensure we continue to strive towards true equality. One such way is through the National Development Plan, which promotes gender equality and greater opportunities for young people.  

Empowered, inspired and developed women and youth are critical to South Africa’s global competitiveness. In efforts to assist in the emancipation of women, the government has established a Ministry of Women aimed at encouraging and providing opportunities for women to participate in the economy.  

In the words of the late Nelson Mandela, whose centenary we celebrate this year: “If we want to build the better life for all of which we so often speak and dream, we will have to ensure that we have a highly educated and skilled population.”  

The development of women 

SANRAL’s skills development programmes last year benefited 4257 people, 1690 of whom were women. Above that, SANRAL is focused on developing female engineers, as well providing skills development and education for the women within the organisation. 

The South African Network for Women in Transport has been established. The concept was born of a need to break existing barriers of entry into the sector.  

This umbrella body was established as a strategic vehicle to engage business and the government on issues that impact women in the transport sector, including entrepreneurship.  

This was an important milestone. It gave women a voice in this important industry. When we talk about emancipation and equality, we also must address the question of participation of black people in the economy.  

Our economy is characterised by vast racial and gender inequalities in the distribution of and access to productive assets, wealth, income, skills and employment. Education is a key equaliser.  

Economic participation 

This, however, must be juxtaposed with economic participation. Little progress has been made in achieving greater operational participation and control in the economy by Africans.  

One way we can contribute in this regard is by transforming our SOEs, with a view to their becoming the key instruments of the developmental state.  

All these efforts are aligned with the ideals of Nelson Mandela, who said: “The power of education extends beyond the development of skills we need for economic success. It can contribute to nation-building and reconciliation. Our previous system emphasised the physical and other differences of South Africans, with devastating effects. We are steadily but surely introducing education that enables our children to exploit their similarities and common goals, while appreciating the strength in their diversity.” 

We must do this so that we do not limit our ability to expand the productive base, sustain economic development, eradicate poverty and contribute to a better life for all. Effectively, the black majority had been excluded from economic ownership and control, fundamentally undermining their ability to accumulate capital. 

Research is vital 

Research remains the key to solving current challenges and mitigating future ones. The appointment of Keith Nare, a PhD candidate at Nelson Mandela University, as Research Associate at SANRAL’s materials lab in Port Elizabeth bodes well.  

More researchers must come onboard and help the country move forward. We must laud SANRAL for its commitment to investment in training and education, as well as in identifying and nurturing the skills of the next generation of engineers and scientists through its bursaries and scholarships.  

This is reflected by the 133 students it is funding at institutions of higher education and training throughout the country. 

This is an opinion piece by Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Transport. 

Sharing knowledge benefits the continent economically

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SANRAL has a duty to empower and support other African countries in their quest to improve infrastructure. 

The Uganda National Roads Authority came out to compare their existing infrastructure and systems with those of SANRAL, to take lessons from successfully implemented construction projects in South Africa and to benchmark against industry best practice.

SANRAL recognises the value of building our country and our continent’s knowledge economy by creating platforms for knowledge sharing and skills transfer.  

Last year, the agency’s Western Region hosted a delegation from the Uganda National Roads Authority (Unra) in the Western Cape.  

This group came out to compare their existing infrastructure and systems with those of SANRAL, to take lessons from successfully implemented construction projects in South Africa and to benchmark against industry best practice as they endeavour to improve their systems and upgrade their national road network. 

While the magnitude of the respective agencies’ road network is very similar (22197km under SANRAL jurisdiction versus 20540km under Unra jurisdiction), there were stark differences in the way the network is maintained, managed and developed. 

SANRAL does not maintain any gravel roads, while Unra still must maintain 16000km of gravel roads.  

SANRAL allocates 54% of its total budget to maintenance, while Unra sets aside only 8% of their total budget for maintenance and upkeep.  

An urgent need to implement a Road Incident Management System was also identified, as was the need to refine procurement policies to counter corruption and ensure compliance to treasury regulations.  

SANRAL’s former Western Region Manager, Kobus van der Walt, said: “Several other issues were identified, and we committed to support and continuous knowledge sharing with Unra beyond what we shared with them for the week they were in Cape Town. 

“We are industry leaders in Africa and as such it is our duty to empower and support other developing African countries in their quest to improve infrastructure. It only serves to benefit our entire continent economically if road infrastructure is prioritised and developed to its maximum potential.”  

Though the post of Western Region Manager has more recently been filled by Randall Cable, SANRAL remains committed to knowledge sharing with sister agencies across the continent.  

Equipment giant partners with Sanral to empower small contractors

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Bell Equipment has handed over equipment to an emerging Gauteng construction company, a first of many to come. 

Founding member of Boitshoko Road Surfacing and Civil Works , Mrs Makume (centre)cutting the ribbon along with Managing Director, Dr Makume and staff.

The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) and earth-moving and equipment manufacturer, Bell Equipment, have joined efforts to ensure easier access for developing black women, youth, disabled and military veteran-owned businesses in the road construction industry through a monumental agreement. 

Bell Equipment handed over equipment to Boitshoko Road Surfacing and Civil Works, an emerging Gauteng construction company, on 6 August. 

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by Bell and SANRAL in July was the catalyst to the agreement between Bell and Boitshoko for the provision of the equipment they required and that was tailored to their needs. 

Removing barriers 

The partnership aims to give contractors access to earthmoving machinery that will enable black business owners to compete for and participate in major construction projects.  

In an attempt to level the playing ground, the agreement allows black-owned contractors various resource options such as financing facilities, renting and leasing opportunities. 

SANRAL’s Transformation Manager, Ismail Essa, said: “SANRAL and Bell noticed a major entry barrier for emerging businesses in the construction industry, where one of the biggest challenges contractors face is access to funding – the correct people with the right expertise and sophisticated construction equipment.  

“This agreement will expose CIDB contractors not only to machinery but finance, training and maintenance services.” 

This comes in response to the financial and physical resource disparity experienced by small businesses owned by previously disadvantaged individuals. The partnership between SANRAL and Bell now grants small contractors easier access to plant equipment. 

Government and business working together 

Reflecting on what this agreement means for his emerging business, MD of Boitshoko, Dr N Phillip Makume said: “When my father, Albert Makume, started this company 24 years ago, he did so courageously, even though it was a struggle to own these important tools of our trade.  

“With this new relationship and with Bell and SANRAL’s support, we feel blessed to now have the ability to compete meaningfully in this challenging road construction industry.” 

Boitshoko Road Surfacing and Civil Works is a 100% black-owned CIDB grade 8 CEPE road rehabilitation, maintenance and construction company based in Mafikeng. It has created around 20 000 job opportunities to date and employs 145 permanent staff. 

Duncan Mashika, MD of Bell Equipment Sales Africa, said: “This equipment handover is a great example of how government and business can work together to build a better South Africa for all.  

“For us it goes beyond manufacturing and selling machinery but rather, it’s about building great relationships that respond to the industry’s need for transformation.” 

Real transformation 

In recent times small construction businesses have found themselves under immense pressure due to the limited amount of work for which they can tender.  

In line with its Horizon 2030 strategy and the national development plan, SANRAL is engaging various stakeholders to find ways and means to empower SMMEs to grow into larger industry players. 

Essa said: “Transformation goes beyond policy, it requires the active mobilisation of all sectors of our economy to enable SMMEs to participate more meaningfully in major construction projects.  

“The private sector plays a pivotal role in this process and we are proud of the partnership we have entered with one of the continent’s largest suppliers of construction equipment. This will have a colossal impact in breaking down the barriers to entry for smaller business owners.”

Limpopo border post will ease traffic in the north

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The upgrade of the Beitbridge border post will contribute to the better flow of people and goods within the Southern African region. 

The project includes upgrades to the roads to and from the crossing, perimeter fencing, gate controls, parking areas and upgrades to security and lighting systems.

Road traffic movement between South Africa and Zimbabwe will be greatly improved with the upgrading of the Beitbridge border post between the two countries. 

Vusi Mona, SANRAL General Manager of Communications, said the intention is to establish a one-stop border post at the transit point, which is South Africa’s primary road gateway to the rest of the continent.  

An average of 15 000 people and 500 trucks cross the border every day. 

The N1 freeway connects Beitbridge with Limpopo and into the Gauteng economic core. Just to the south of the border post, construction of the Musina Ring Road – an 8km, new, single-way road – is nearing completion. 

A better flow of goods and people 

Mona said the upgraded border post will contribute to the better flow of people and goods within the Southern African region.  

Zimbabwe’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, conducted the ground-breaking ceremony. 

A decision was taken to upgrade the border post and expand the infrastructure through a $240-million contract awarded to the Zimborders consortium.  

The project includes upgrades to the roads to and from the crossing, perimeter fencing, gate controls, parking areas and upgrades to security and lighting systems. 

The entire border post will fall under the jurisdiction of the newly established Border Management Agency.  

There are no plans to build another bridge as the existing New Limpopo Bridge has enough capacity to handle the projected future traffic. 

Mona said the new border arrangements will also enable SANRAL to collect toll monies on traffic travelling in a southerly direction from Beitbridge.  

The concession agreement between South Africa and Zimbabwe recently expired and toll fees are currently only collected on the Zimbabwe side of the border. 

Should the government decide to introduce tolling on southbound traffic out of Zimbabwe it will not add additional costs to travellers crossing the border. The funds collected will be used to maintain the roads and bridges at the border post. 

Learning the engineering ropes on the N2

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Trainee engineers rough it out while getting the best education possible at a N2 construction site. 

Sumay Maharaj is an assistant resident engineers [AREs] absorbing knowledge from seasoned colleagues on the site of the N2 upgrade between Mthunzini and eMpangeni on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast. 
There is no better classroom for a trainee engineer than a rough, dusty construction site full of roaring machinery and an experienced crew hard at work. 

Thabiso Dladla and Sumay Maharaj are assistant resident engineers [AREs] absorbing knowledge from seasoned colleagues on the site of the N2 upgrade between Mthunzini and eMpangeni on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast. 

Training on the job 

“We carry out pretty much the same functions as the AREs. We do the inspections, we do quantities, assistant instructions, site instructions and answer any engineering queries we get from the contractor. We basically do what the ARE does,” said Dladla. 

Maharaj, who started on the project in August 2016, and was previously doing pavement and geometric design in Port Elizabeth at the SANRAL Centre of Excellence, said he has already learned many vital lessons since moving north. 

“I’ve learnt the complex nature of civil engineering and how everything comes together to make things work. It’s not just pavement design alone. It’s dealing with structures, drainage and geometrics. It’s basically learning how to put everything together and making it work,” he said. 

Dladla got involved in the project about 10 months after he joined SANRAL’s trainee programme. 

He is excited to work on the challenging project, which he describes as quite diverse and includes several bridges and culverts. 

Dladla said: “I’ve been involved in inspections and assisting the contractor where they need clarification on drawings. When it comes to earth works, we also do inspections on the fill materials and sub grade.  

“Recently, we’ve just started doing the asphalting work, so we are applying the BTB and we do inspections of all the work carried out by the contractor.” 

Challenges and support 

Maharaj said working on the project is not without its challenges. 

“I think the main thing is that the design office works differently to the construction site. Sometimes there’s a breakdown in information, especially with drawings – incomplete drawings and things like that. That’s why it’s essential for engineering staff to be on site to answer all these questions,” said Maharaj. 

He said he would not have come this far had it not been for the support of SANRAL. 

Maharaj said: “The support from SANRAL has been immense and I’m really grateful for it.  

“They’ve supported me in my studies at university with a full bursary as well as given me the opportunity to train in so many different fields. Hopefully, I can register as a professional engineer.” 

Thabiso said the project is projected to end in April 2019 but may extend to June next year. 

Moloto project bearing fruit for communities

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The upgrading of the R573 is yielding economic and skills benefits for the locals in the area. 

SANRAL sourced their unskilled labour from the local municipality through a “fudua process”, which was a fair and transparent process run under the auspices of the Project Liaison Committee.

The upgrading of the R573 Moloto Road is one of the major projects initiated by the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) to develop road infrastructure and revive the country’s economy. 

The 139km stretch of road is one of South Africa’s busiest and important economic routes, connecting Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. The aim is to make it safer and better for pedestrians and motorists. 

According to Progress Hlahla, regional manager for SANRAL northern region, road safety and ease of congestion are a priority, but the project will also yield economic benefits and further achieve social objectives to activate and support local economies. 

Upgrade phases 

The first phase included the construction of temporary bypasses and the upgrading the main carriageway between Siyabuswa and Marble Hall in Limpopo.  

There was also upgrading of four priority intersections, three converted to traffic circles and one to a butterfly intersection in Mpumalanga. 

SANRAL sourced their unskilled labour from the local municipality through a “fudua process”, which was a fair and transparent process run under the auspices of the Project Liaison Committee. 

With the project planned for the next four to six years, there are still more phases to be completed, which will require a significant amount of labour, thus translating into more job opportunities for community members. 

Hlahla said: “There are several planned upgrades along the R573. Three more construction work packages for Limpopo and five more for Mpumalanga will be rolled out.  

“In addition, there will be three community development projects in Limpopo and another five in Mpumalanga, which include the upgrading of access roads among other identified activities, targeting SMMEs CIDB grade 1 and 2 that are seeking opportunities to learn and attain formal SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority) accredited level 3 and 4 qualifications as well as growth.” 

SMMEs benefit 

So far, a total of 203 SMMEs have received training to better equip them when bidding for tenders.  

SANRAL established that local SMME’s have little exposure to the tendering process, which disadvantages them when responding to bids. 

The training covered quality in construction, contracting and documentation, team management, precast concrete kerbing, brick paving, basic tendering processes and entrepreneurial skills. 

The project is already bearing fruit. A new mall will be developed in Mpumalanga and some big brands – including restaurants such as Spur and Wimpy – have erected billboards notifying locals they are coming to the area. 

For employment opportunities, community members can contact the local economic development (LED) office at their respective local municipalities.  

For tendering opportunities all suitably qualified contractors registered with the CIDB and National Treasury’s Central Supplier Database should be on the lookout for tender adverts in newspapers and the SANRAL website. 

SANRAL working with the people for the people

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Partnerships with local communities facilitates smooth running of projects and creates awareness of what the agency offers. 

The roads agency believes partnerships will make it easier for projects to run smoothly.

Work with the people for the people. This basic principle is serving the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) well and it intends expanding it to all its projects.  

Thus, the establishment of a well-functioning Project Liaison Committee (PLC) and partnership with local municipalities has played a critical role in managing challenges on the R573 Moloto Road project. 

It is one of South Africa’s busiest and most important economic routes, connecting Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.  

The project involves closing off dangerous illegal accesses, reducing conflict movement on service roads, installing and replacing street lights, and moving informal traders to safer areas. 

Partnerships 

In the Limpopo section, SANRAL and the local municipalities identified possible stakeholders to form a Project Liaison Committee (PLC).  

The identified stakeholders were contacted and asked to each convene meetings with their respective constituents and formally nominate individuals to sit on the PLC.  

This PLC comprises of 12 organisations and forums including the Business Chamber, Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality, Nafcoc, representatives of formal agricultural forums, (AFASA and LFU), women and youth organisations, the safety forum, a representative from the traditional authority, ward representatives, the municipality, SANRAL, the appointed contractor and engineer.   

The PLC has also been instrumental in creating some 66 jobs for locals in the Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality 

The PLC creates a platform for liaison, execution of work, sub-contracting and the facilitation of employment, especially of local community members.  

Local interests maintained 

This is the platform through which elected officers can ensure that the interests of the local community are looked after while SANRAL achieves its operational goals. 

Speaking about the importance of partnering with the community, Lawrence Chauke, SANRAL project manager, said: “The PLC must be a conduit to receive and channel community needs. It is through these committees that communities can obtain information about the opportunities that SANRAL provides for the youth through bursaries, scholarships, in-training programmes and internships, as well as information about business opportunities for local entrepreneurs.  

“The municipality is represented on the PLC through the office of Local Economic Development (LED) and the office of the MMC (Member of Mayoral Committee) for Infrastructure who has been mandated to give political leadership at a higher level and support SANRAL in ensuring that the implementation of the project runs smoothly,” he continued. 

The MMC and ward councillors, who are ex-officio members of the committee, are also the link between SANRAL and the executive council of the municipality.  

They have the advantage of easily addressing issues that can affect the project, especially when it comes to managing day-to-day problems on site. 

Chauke said: “The biggest challenge is to get the right people who will execute the mandate of their constituents properly and understand the objectives of the project.  

“It is also important to ensure that all relevant stakeholders are represented on the PLC, thus ensuring that the interest of the various sectors within the jurisdiction of the project are well represented.” 

Vandalism on the N2 is a safety risk, costly and causes delays

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SANRAL calls for a culture of pride for road infrastructure after continued theft and damage on the N2. 

Initiatives to combat or remedy the acts of vandalism are costly and should not be necessary if a culture of pride in our road infrastructure is built.

Continued vandalism, theft and destruction of property on the N2 just outside George is an assault on the entire community that stands to benefit from the completion of the pedestrian bridge over the N2.  

The project involves the construction of a pedestrian bridge over both carriageways of the N2 while the road remains in use and will ultimately link the existing and growing communities on both sides of the N2. 

Pedestrian facilities remain a key priority for SANRAL.  

When the contractor has to constantly replace and repair stolen and damaged materials on site, not only substantially increases the costs, but also poses significant road safety risks to motorists, particularly when signage is missing. 

Signage crucial 

Temporary signage is necessary to warn road users of road works and inform motorists of switchovers, lane reductions, construction traffic, etc, as the work is being carried out while the road remains open to traffic. 

Inadequate or missing signage can have disastrous consequences, particularly in bad weather conditions or at night. 

Initiatives to combat or remedy the acts of vandalism are costly and should not be necessary if a culture of pride in our road infrastructure is built. The road is ultimately there to serve the entire community.  

Security personnel have been deployed, but as the road signs range over a 2km stretch of road they cannot possibly guard each sign post. 

Randall Cable, SANRAL’s Western Region Manager, said: “When we embark on road construction projects, it is always with the road user and the pedestrian in mind. This project speaks directly to our commitment to creating safe travelling facilities for pedestrians.  

“It is an affront to all those pedestrians who are in dire need of safe facilities when a few rogue elements plunder and vandalise the property that is intended to help save lives. We appeal to the adjacent communities to report these criminals and help us to bring an end to the vandalism.” 

Any acts of vandalism and theft can be anonymously reported to Crime Line by sending a SMS to 32211 (SMS charged at R1) or calling Crime Stop on 08600 10111.