SANRAL is proud of the economic development opportunities associated with the upgrade of a 48km section of the N2 highway between Caledon and Riviersonderend.
The road serves as a vital link between the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, with approximately 3 500 cars and 500 trucks using this route every day to travel between Cape Town and the many cities along the southern and eastern coastlines.
In line with SANRAL’s Transformation Policy and its commitment to the economic development of the area, this project has extended developmental opportunities to many local small-, medium- and micro-enterprises (SMMEs).
Randall Cable, SANRAL’s Western Region Manager, is particularly enthused by the opportunities created for local contractors on this project.
"Our focus on inclusive development emphasises the critical role that road construction projects can play in assisting the government to grow a vibrant construction industry in our country. This is just one of a number of projects in the region and along the N2 that we have prioritised to serve a larger socio-economic purpose - developing black-owned emerging contractors and creating construction-related
employment opportunities for members of marginalised communities," he said.
As many as 11 SMMEs are being trained by the main contractor, Group Five, which started work on the 36-month construction project in September 2017.
As part of their training, the SMMEs have been tasked with removing and erecting fencing and guardrails, providing security and traffic-control services, undertaking clearing and grubbing operations and constructing the side-drains.
The project has also created jobs for more than 100 people, the vast majority of whom are from local communities.
According to Duncan Murphy, a technical director with JG Afrika, the consulting engineers on the project, the lion’s share of the work entails widening of the road, which was built between 1978 and 1983, as well as upgrading its intersections to better accommodate the increase in traffic over the years and improve safety for all road users.
“The road was mainly a single carriageway with surfaced lanes and shoulders. Once we are done, it will have a minimum surface-width of 13.4m - including two, 3.7m-wide lanes and 3m-wide shoulders in some places,” said Murphy.
N2 construction boosts Overberg SMMEs
Mzamba access roads have been completed
Ten SMMEs received their SAQA accredited NQF certificates at the announcement of the completion of the construction of a 4.5km community access road in Mzamba in the Mbizana local municipality.
The road construction project, which started in June 2016, took two years to complete. It is part of the community development and SMME training programme, which forms part of small business support strategies to optimise local economic development through the N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WCR) in the Eastern Cape.
In addition to the completion of the access roads, the community hall was also refurbished.
Chief Lunga Baleni said he was happy the project had been completed. “I hope this relationship with SANRAL will continue. I would like to encourage SANRAL to continue with their community development programmes in our area,” he said.
Mbizana local municipal mayor Cllr Daniswa Mafumbatha said they were happy to see the great work done by the SMMEs.
"The roads built are beautiful. We can see that the money was spent well.
We can see the growth in our SMMEs. I appreciate the job opportunities that were created on this project. We like what we see. The certificates are not given to people because of their associations, but their hard work and training,” said Mafumbatha.
Dr Mongezi Noah, SANRAL’s Southern Region Community Development Specialist, told guests that there were more projects on the way and that the completion of the community access roads was just the beginning.
“I encourage SMMEs to tender for work on other projects. The municipality can use the SMMEs from the area who have been developed,” Noah said.
Ward 24 Councillor Ntlahla Hlebo said the community was very happy the road has been completed and the hall had been refurbished.
“Before this new road, our road was gravel. In the past during floods there would be big potholes. During heavy rains it was difficult for an ambulance to drive to a house – people had to arrange for a lift or push someone in a wheelbarrow to the R61 and meet the ambulance there. The training the SMMEs received has made them employable. Now they can look for work anywhere, "said Hlebo.
Nombali Hlongwe, a co-owner of Pumlani Construction, was delighted with her certificate.
“Now that the project is complete, I am looking at upgrading to CIDB level 4. I am looking at more tender opportunities. Now that I have received the certificate,I feel that the world has opened up for me.
This project has been successful for all of us,” she said.
Sethu Sibeni from Ngxathi Trading was very happy to have received his NQF level 3 certificate. Sibeni worked as a supervisor on the project.
"The community appreciates the new road. During heavy rains it was not easy to travel on this road. Having a tarred road
means that public transport can now access the communities easier," Said Sibeni. Sibeni’s goal is to own a block yard and supply local businesses with material.
The two-year project created opportunities for 50% women-owned SMMEs, 70% youth-owned SMMEs and jobs for 130 locals.
Gcobani Socenywa, Project Manager for SANRAL Southern Region, said: "The improvement of skills and knowledge is critical to the building of capacity within the community. This will assist the municipality in supporting sustainable rural, local and economic development."
