N2/N3 freeway upgrade a boon for small businesses
For the next five to eight years, SANRAL will be undertaking a large-scale upgrade of the N2/N3 Corridor, in a project valued at R30bn. Determined that this project should have positive economic spinoffs for smaller businesses, the overall project is being split into a number of detailed design and construction packages. This opens up tremendous potential for small-, medium- and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) to secure a piece of the pie.
In June, SANRAL got close and personal with thousands of entrepreneurs and job-seekers during stakeholder consultative engagements in Pietermaritzburg, Hammarsdale and Durban, sharing information about business and job opportunities and providing information about potential contracts. Discussions even went into the process for registering with the Construction Industry Development Board and how to submit a tender.
SMMEs also had access to an exhibition area where they could engage with the South African Forum of Civil Engineering Contractors, the National African Federation for the Building Industry, Ithala Business Finance and construction industry equipment companies such as Bell Equipment, Barloworld, Wirtgen and Pilot Crushtec.
As one of South Africa’s key infrastructure development projects, the N2/N3 freeway upgrades will
have enormous economic spin-offs for KwaZulu-Natal during the construction phase and it is SANRAL’s intention to use this as an opportunity to develop and grow black-owned SMMEs in the construction, engineering and related industries.
Dumisani Nkabinde, SANRAL Regional Manager in the Eastern Region, says: “It is estimated that a project of the magnitude of the N2/N3 freeway upgrades will create approximately 15 000 job opportunities in KwaZulu-Natal. It is also envisaged that SMMEs will benefit enormously, allowing them to grow their businesses and create jobs.”
The upgrades will, says Ravi Ronny, SANRAL Eastern Region Design, Planning & Construction Manager, take into account the strategic nature of the corridor and the fact that it boasts the highest volume of traffic anywhere in KwaZulu-Natal and
Free State. Furthermore, it is equally important that SANRAL adopts a strategic approach in its efforts to build a capable and developmental state and drive economic growth through the provision and maintenance of critical infrastructure.
“SANRAL’s transformation policy sets clearly defined targets for the participation of black contractors, professionals and suppliers in all of its projects,” says Ismail Essa, SANRAL’s Transformation Manager.
On capital projects, SANRAL will in future only do business with companies that are at least 51% black-owned.
Inspiring the youth, women to seize opportunities
SANRAL’s flagship Taking SANRAL to the People programme came to eDumbe, KwaZulu-Natal with the express aim to inspire young people, women and other previously disadvantaged individuals to participate in road construction projects. The focus was squarely on providing opportunities, particularly to those in rural areas.
Working hand-in-hand with the Department of Transport, SANRAL used the opportunity to interact with the town’s business community, share information about the road agency’s continuing role in infrastructure development and discuss ways in which to spark job creation and skills development by seizing the opportunities on offer. To drive home this message, a career expo will also take place in eDumbe by this August.
With high unemployment and illiteracy rates, the rural community of Paulpietersburg in the eDumbe Municipality is just one example of a community which battles with access to information about government services. But, in order to accelerate transformation and in line with SANRAL’s transformation policy, Melba Geca, SANRAL’s Northern Region Stakeholder Coordinator, says it is critical to enable communities to benefit from SANRAL projects.
Through the road agency’s Horizon 2030 vision, SANRAL hopes to speed up transformation of the country’s economy by linking people to opportunities, starting with women, young people and marginalised communities.
Speaking at the eDumbe event, the then Deputy Transport Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga, said: “SANRAL recognises the critical role that it plays in the construction and related industries and is mindful of its impact to South Africans. Through Horizon 2030, SANRAL uses the management of the country’s national roads assets to speed up transformation of the country’s economy.”
