FAQ

What is the state of SANRAL’s road network in Mpumalanga? The 2 478km of SANRAL roads in Mpumalanga are fair to good.

What is the preventative maintenance plan to ensure SANRAL roads in Mpumalanga reach international norms? SANRAL focuses on the effective maintenance of its roads through ongoing routine road maintenance contracts. These contracts generally run for three years, with an option for a twoyear extension, depending on the performance of the maintenance contractor and supervision team. Presently, SANRAL has eight routine road maintenance contracts for all its roads in Mpumalanga.

Overload control is important for preventing the premature deterioration of our roads. On the N4 Maputo development corridor for instance, SANRAL has six traffic control centres with 11 laybys for overload control. Some 60 000 trucks are weighed every month and this has been effective in controlling overloading in the corridor and adjoining roads.

What is SANRAL working on in Mpumalanga? Besides the upgrades undertaken by Trans African Concessions (TRAC) on the N4, SANRAL is at work on a number of projects in the province:

  1. R573 Moloto Road
  2. R23 (new bridges) at Standerton and upgrading km 0-4
  3. N11 from Hendrina to Hendrina Power Station
  4. R40 Bushbuckridge ring road

What new projects is SANRAL spearheading in Mpumalanga? Apart from the ongoing projects above, SANRAL is planning the following new projects:

  1. Six projects to improve the N2, from the KZN/ Mpumalanga border to Ermelo
  2. Improvement of the N11, between the Hendrina Power Station and the N4 at Middelburg
  3. Two projects to strengthen the N17 from Chrissiesmeer to Oshoek
  4. Repairing of the R37 at Lydenburg

  1. Dualling sections of the R40 between Hazyview and Buschbuck Ridge
  2. Constructing ring roads on the N2 at Piet Retief, N11 at Ermelo and Middelburg, as well as on the R40 at Bushbuck Ridge
  3. N11 resurfacing of road from Volksrus to Amersfoort
  4. Resurfacing of R40 between Barberton and Mbombela
  5. Resurfacing of the N12 from Gauteng/ Mpumalanga border to eMalahleni

What projects has SANRAL recently completed in Mpumalanga?

  1. N11 from Middelburg to Loskopdam (section 10 of N11)
  2. R23 from Standerton to Greylingstad
  3. R570 from the N4 to Jeppe’s Reef
  4. R23 Volksrust to km 30 (section 1 of the R23)
  5. Resurfacing of Roads D797, D2948, D2683 and D1120

How has the N4 Maputo development corridor helped unlock the economic potential of the region? The corridor has provided the necessary road connection between Pretoria, greater Johannesburg (Witwatersrand) and the Vaal Triangle (Vereeniging), and the Maputo harbour through the middle of Mpumalanga. This enables the efficient transportation of goods, coal and produce. It also provides a good connection to Mpumalanga’s tourist attractions. Importantly, the development of the N4 stimulated the creation of opportunities for contractors, SMMEs and local labour, as well as other related businesses through downstream activities.

Why is the R573 Moloto Road upgrade important? The Moloto Road is an economic route connecting the Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Gauteng provinces. It serves 50 000 commuters daily. This road is notorious for its high fatality rate. Upgrades will have a positive impact on the lives of many people and will reduce travel time and fatalities. The construction of the road will also create employment and opportunities for the development of small contractors, suppliers and other businesses.

How is SANRAL contributing to local job creation in Mpumalanga? Suitably qualified emerging enterprises are given an opportunity to perform some of the work awarded to main contractors. As per the government’s policy for SMME development, main contractors are required to subcontract 20% of the contract value to SMMEs of CIDB grading 1-6. In certain cases, main contractors enter into joint ventures, with an 80/20 split between a 9CE main contractor as the lead partner and lower grading contractors (5CE, 6CE or 7CE) as the JV targeted partner.

During the 2016/17 financial year, 155 small contractors were appointed for routine road maintenance and road incident management in Mpumalanga. In terms of job creation, main contractors are required to allocate 6% of the value of work to the employment of local labour. Importantly, part of the contract between SANRAL and main contractors is that there will be training provided to all the people recruited for projects.

What do better roads in Mpumalanga mean for our economy? Road infrastructure plays an important role in the national economy. For example, coal haulage to the power stations in Mpumalanga is extremely important for the national electricity supply. In addition, Mpumalanga has much to offer tourists. It is vital to have good roads to enable easy access to tourist attractions. Roads are also a conduit to export markets. The 60 000 trucks weighed on the Maputo development corridor per month relate to more than 2 million tons of freight transported in the corridor alone.

How do I bring road conditions to SANRAL’s attention? All SANRAL-managed roads have road signs that display contact numbers on which road conditions on that road can be reported. Otherwise SANRAL’s Northern Region Office can be contacted during office hours on 012-426-6200.

BUILDING SOUTH AFRICA THROUGH BETTER ROADS HELLO MPUMALANGA 2018