SANRAL Investing in the environment

Changing South Africa into an equitable society is at the heart of the National Development Plan, as well as SANRAL’s new strategic vision,Horizon 2030, and its accompanying transformation drive. The aim of the new strategic vision is to transform the construction industry by growing small businesses, with the emphasis on black- and women-owned SMMEs. The objective is to ensure a competitive, contestable market with a substantial and sustainable number of black participants, with no barriers to market entry and thus a healthy level of competition that results in competitive pricing.
The roads agency is unwavering in its commitment to ensure the inclusive participation of black South Africans in the opportunities generated by SANRAL’s annual financial investment in the construction sector and related industries.
It encourages joint ventures between big companies and SMMEs, with the emphasis on local small businesses. It seeks to create more opportunities for black businesses in the supply chain, more participation by women and youth, job upskilling, basic training and assistance for SMMEs.
Horizon 2030 also elevates stakeholders into a core business pillar, as the agency recognises the need for ongoing dialogue and engagement to address concerns and establish buy-in for the road ahead.
It is for this reason that SANRAL went to all nine provinces to invite stakeholders to engage with the draft Transformation Policy and provide input, to shape the final policy

to be tabled at cabinet level.
Starting out with four transformation engagements in October in Gauteng, more than 30 sessions were held that allowed SANRAL to listen to the concerns of all stakeholders, to take them on board and address them.
Some of the recurring themes include uncertainty about how serious the agency is about making its new vision a reality, insistence that local labour and businesses should get priority and a desire that engagements should not just be a once-off but should be continuous.
To this end, SANRAL is confident its policy will be approved and implemented during the 2018/19 financial year.
Already the agency has set up several project liaison committees (PLCs) that will play a pivotal role in ensuring the participation of locals on projects. More will be set up, comprising representatives from SANRAL, the consultants, contractors, traditional leadership and other relevant stakeholders.
As part of its ongoing stakeholder communications, SANRAL will continue to convene dialogues, roundtable discussions and information sessions, not only to address supply chain opportunities for SMMEs, but to promote its bursary, scholarship and internship programmes.
Overall, the reaction at the engagements has been positive and communities welcome the opportunity to be informed of the roads agency’s operations and the opportunities these create for the local economies.

The success of SANRAL’s transformation policy rests on six levers:

1. Ownership: buy-in from the large construction sector
2. Equitable access to contracts: across the Construction Industry Development Board grades
3. Community empowerment: with emphasis on local sourcing
4. Supply chains: black business access to equipment and materials
5. Healthy competition: including toll operations and other supporting sectors in SANRAL’s business
6. SMME and emerging contractor development

The first few weeks of 2018 saw a number of important meetings between SANRAL and Eastern Cape communities to discuss the opportunities flowing from the construction of the N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WCR).
This consultation will continue throughout the year as work intensifies on the R9bn road project that will transform the regional economy and bring major positive spinoffs for communities served by the new infrastructure.
In 2017, SANRAL facilitated more than 100 engagements with various stakeholders – including national and provincial departments, local municipalities, councillors, traditional leaders, business chambers and community members across the region.
We kept the momentum. On 23 January 2018, SANRAL hosted political and civic leaders from Ingquza Hill, Port St Johns and Mbizana, as well as from the OR Tambo District Municipality. This was followed by a stakeholder session at the Wild Coast Sun, which was attended by members of the business chambers, traditional leaders, political leaders, Amadela Ngokubona and other interested parties.
At both meetings, SANRAL presented an update on the N2WCR and discussed the

land acquisition process related to the project. Senior officials from SANRAL also highlighted the agency’s new long-term strategy – Horizon 2030 – and our recently released draft Transformation Policy.
We got overwhelming support for the Transformation Policy and its potential to transform engineering and construction in South Africa.
Stakeholders called for greater collaboration between SANRAL and the municipalities connected to the project.
SANRAL is in the process of establishing and training Project Liaison Committees (PLCs) for the Mtentu Bridge construction and the two roads packages already under design. During 2018, PLCs will be established for the construction of the Msikaba Bridge and the design phase of all the remaining sections of the road and further bridges between Port St Johns and Port Edward.
During the rest of 2018, SANRAL will hold quarterly stakeholder engagement meetings within the Alfred Nzo and OR Tambo districts. In February, SANRAL engaged communities in Lusikisiki and Flagstaff through its Taking SANRAL to the People campaign. This programme aims to encourage dialogue and continuous engagement on the road development and its future impact.