The national roads agency is driving the transformation of the construction industry by creating opportunities for smaller businesses and entrepreneurs.
This was the message conveyed by Madoda Mthembu, Northern Region Routine Road Maintenance Manager for SANRAL, when he addressed local government leaders, community members and business in Mbombela during a Taking SANRAL to the People event.
“We want to make space for the small guy in business. We are transforming the construction
industry one kilometre at a time, through the greater involvement of black-owned SMMEs in road construction, maintenance, services and supply chains,” he said.
The gathering at the Mbombela Stadium focused on current and upcoming SANRAL road construction project opportunities in the area. A comprehensive view of the roads agency's operations was presented, with a special focus on its Transformation Policy. This policy sets clearly defined targets for a procurement approach that aims to commit a sizeable value of contracts to suitably qualified black youth and women-owned
enterprises. During the 2017/2018 financial year, SANRAL implemented contracts worth R15.3bn nationally. SMMEs earned a total of R3.8bn through the roads agency and more than R2bn went to 1 079 black-owned businesses.
“Our message is simple: we are committed to engaging, consulting and partnering with our stakeholders to ensure that there is a positive impact on everyone affected by the work that we do,” said Progress Hlahla, Northern Region Manager for SANRAL.
The agency manages about 2 478km of road in Mpumalanga
and has made a considerable impact on infrastructure development with various projects in different stages. One such project is the upgrade of a section of the N4 under the concessionaire Trans African Concessions (TRAC), between Crossroads and Montrose in the Lowveld. Several other construction and rehabilitation projects are ongoing.
SANRAL’s Stakeholder Coordinator in Mpumalanga, Melba Geca, said:
“For us, there is no question about the empowerment of locals. Although we are in the business of building roads, we have the mammoth task of building a better South Africa for everybody. That starts by earmarking opportunities for the small businesses and residents of communities in our jurisdiction.”
An upcoming project in the City of Mbombela is the development of the Karino interchange, located east of Mbombela in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality. This will entail the construction of a new interchange replacing the existing T-junction, which links the road from White River to the N4 highway. The interchange will provide a safer way for traffic to be regulated and better access to the N4.
The agency is looking into the packaging of future projects to drive better inclusion of exempted micro-enterprises or qualifying small enterprises owned by youth, women, people with disabilities, people living in rural areas, underdeveloped areas or townships, and military veterans.
Wheelchair donation a life- changing experience for elderly
Receiving a wheelchair was a life-changing experience for Ntakimba Mamkone, an elderly woman who, for years, had endured being pushed in a wheelbarrow for over 12km to and from a local clinic in Cwele, a village near Mthatha in the Eastern Cape.
Her obvious need for a proper wheelchair was spotted as a result of a SANRAL wellness programme. SMME owner Nombuso Feke, a wellness programme participant working on the R61 routine maintenance project, took it upon herself to assist Mamkone and donated the wheelchair.
“In 2014, my mother had her leg amputated due to diabetes. This awakened me to the hardships people in her community face and I always wished I could do more to help,” said Feke.
SANRAL launched its Wellness Programme in 2011 and has since rolled it out all over the country.
The programme was introduced in the Eastern Cape in 2016.
The purpose of the programme is to bring health care closer to workers and their families, to promote a healthy lifestyle and to improve the wellbeing of SANRAL’s Routine Road Maintenance (RRM) project teams.
SANRAL Southern Region Community Development Specialist Xoliswa Chubana said: "The programme not only concentrates on HIV/Aids awareness, but also on the holistic wellbeing of all employees working on RRM contracts. The Wellness Champion creates awareness around certain symptoms and prevention of communicable and non-communicable dis-eases. HIV Counselling & Testing (HCT) and health screenings are conducted bi-annually on site."
Mamkone, 78, lives with a physical disability and has 12 grandchildren. One
of her grand-daughters dropped out of school to take care of her. She would transport Mamkone in a wheelbarrow to and from the clinic for her appointments.
Feke said: “After SANRAL appointed me to work on the R61 Section 8, not only was I able to support my own family, but also Ma Mamkone, whose situation I could relate to because of my mother’s personal struggle.” Feke is proud to have helped her community and is looking forward to aiding more families.
“SANRAL and SMMEs are working together to ensure better lives for each and every person in South Africa. Family members also participate in the programme. The Wellness programme also provides for family visits by the Wellness Champions and talks are given about the current wellness topic of the month,” Chubana said.
