Roads: Carrying the lifeblood to our nation
There is a strong positive correlation between
a country’s economic development and the
quality of life of its people.
Economics involves the production, distribution and
consumption of goods and services. There is a huge
requirement for the transport of resources from one
area to another. People travel daily for work, shopping
and social reasons.
That’s why major investment is made by the government in roads infrastructure upgrades, especially in rural and underdeveloped communities.
on upgrading provincial and national roads. The spin-off is that state-led infrastructure investment creates thousands of
employment opportunities, while improving the quality of life of citizens. The KwaZulu-Natal provincial government’s commitment to radical socio-economic transformation is resolute, and combines planning for the medium- to long-term, while emphasising implementation of quick wins.
Radical socio-economic transformation is also now the strategic policy thrust of the KZN department of transport. It is pervading the bloodstream of our department both internally and in terms of our relations with all our stakeholders including suppliers, service providers, and most importantly citizens.
KZN is strategically the import and export gateway to the country and Africa at large.
In this regard, our integrated transport sector socioeconomic transformation approach is underpinned by a focus and emphasis on empowering black South Africans and is aimed at transforming the transport sector in line with the demographics of the province.
It is encouraging that SANRAL has also committed to going beyond the minimum requirements for transformation set by existing legislative and regulatory frameworks and has clearly defined targets for the participation of black contractors, professionals and suppliers in all its projects.
Mxolisi Thomas Kaunda
is the KZN MEC for Transport
SANRAL invests billions
The road network in KwaZulu-Natal is undergoing major refurbishment and expansion, with the rewards being safer motoring, time-saving, improved business links, better-connected towns and cities and unlocking land for new homes and businesses.
The agency contributes to the prosperity of the economy and the wellbeing of KwaZulu-Natal and the rest of South Africa by supporting continued improvement to our national road transport infrastructure. A total of 1344km of roads fall under SANRAL’s purview in KZN, of which 396km is tolled.
There is no dispute that infrastructure development and service delivery are crucial for generating economic growth, alleviating poverty, reducing the scourge of inequality and increasing international competitiveness.
Investment in road infrastructure upgrades, especially in rural and underdeveloped communities, bridges the inequality gap in society, creates jobs and addresses poverty.
Another reason for the reliance upon roads is that more than 80% of goods are transported on the road – for efficiency, cost, reliability, tracking and door-todoor service.
SANRAL is progressively reshaping the KwaZulu-Natal landscape with current and pipeline projects worth R23.1bn that will redefine the safety and convenience aspects of road transport infrastructure.
A new interchange at Kwabhoboza has been completed at an investment of R242m and will improve the safety of pedestrians and motorists.
Extensive overloading of trucks has resulted in a marked deterioration in the condition of the province’s roads. Thus, overload control is vital. Law enforcement
and overload control is fully operational at the newly constructed overload control centre at Mooi River.
The newly opened traffic control centre at Eteza, which includes an adjacent interchange, is worth R412m. This will curb overloading on the N2 north, thereby extending the life of the pavement and improving safety.
The major upgrade to the Mt Edgecombe interchange at an investment of R1.1bn is complete and the frustration of motorists waiting in long queues at traffic lights is a thing of the past.
Construction work for the upgrade of a 34km section of the National Route N2 between the Mtunzini Toll plaza and the Empangeni interchange is under way. It began in March 2016.
Another project aimed at reducing crashes and improving road safety in KZN is the elimination of curves at Umhlali River Bridge and Umvoti River Bridge on the N2 North.
In terms of other major projects in the pipeline, an investment of R29.8bn has been estimated for the upgrading of the N2 from Isipingo to Mhloti and the N3 from Durban to Cedara outside Pietermaritzburg.
The improvement of roads helps develop SMMEs and creates jobs.
SANRAL has practically demonstrated its faith in SMMEs as contributors to economic growth and all its efforts in SMME development are in line with the government’s vision to create an environment conducive to economic independence, job creation and social cohesion.
The driving force behind the agency’s efforts within KZN over the last decade was Logashri Sewnarain, who served as its Eastern
Region’s Regional Manager and recently left SANRAL. She has made an immense contribution to the agency over the past 20 years. The reins have been passed to Dumisani Nkabinde, who will continue to lead the Eastern Region to great heights.
Skhumbuzo Macozoma is SANRAL’s CEO
