Proud partners
MXOLISI SIMON SOKATSHA
As the Northern Cape department of roads and public works, we are incredibly proud of our association with SANRAL. They are an integral part of the road construction industry in our province and through their projects they not only aid job creation and skills development,
but they leave a legacy of skilled citizens who are able to access further developmental opportunities.
The almost complete three intersections at key entry points to The Diamond City will improve the safety of road users and pedestrians. The department is glad to highlight that the improved and upgraded intersections (which were previously classified as high accident zones) will contribute too much safer roads. Furthermore, we had no fatalities during the construction period and we thank road users for their patience and for adhering to the safety instructions of the flagmen on site.
A section of the road that falls under provincial jurisdiction, between Olifantshoek and Kathu, was in need of urgent repair and because of the cooperative relationship we have with SANRAL, they incorporated the repairs into an existing project, and the department simply carries the cost thereof – seamless workflow with minimal disruption to road users.
We are also encouraged by the constant development and improvement of the Road Incident Management System and in a province as vast as the Northern Cape, this infrastructure is crucial to saving lives on our roads. The move towards a computerised system can only improve the already outstanding services rendered by various role players, including Emergency Medical Services and traffic, to the South African Police Service, Routine Route Maintenance and many other entities.
As we come to the end of another year and look forward to a well-deserved break, I want to encourage road users to be vigilant, courteous and to show concern not only for their own safety, but also that of other road users in the Northern Cape, particularly pedestrians. Let us ensure that we all reach our destinations safely.
Mxolisi Simon Sokatsha is the Northern Cape MEC
for Roads and Public Works
We value our stakeholders
SKHUMBUZO MACOZOMA
As we reflect on 20 years of being responsible for the development and upkeep of the national road network, we look back with pride on some of the significant achievements – the road network has tripled from 6 700km in 1998 to over 22 000km currently. We also take key lessons from these projects in a bid to improve the way we engage with our stakeholders going forward.
That underpins our direction for the next 20 years. We have heard the cries from the SMMEs and start-ups, which further inspires our efforts to break down monopolies in the supply chain of materials, equipment, technologies, systems and other areas to ensure broad-based participation by black South Africans. To this end, we are committed to engaging with industry forums and the public at large, and have already forged some positive relationships with key stakeholders in this regard.
Our flagship projects in the Northern Cape are nearing completion. On the N12, the bridge over the Orange River is in the home-stretch and we look forward to formally opening that bridge early in 2019. The three intersections just outside Kimberley: Cape Town Road (N12), the Douglas Road (R357) and the Griekwastad Road (N8), which were upgraded to traffic circles, already have lighting in place and are having the
finishing touches added. Between Olifantshoek and Kathu, we have significantly upgraded major intersections to traffic circles, because of a dire need to reduce motor vehicle accidents and increase safety conditions with regard to road engineering.
Going forward, all SANRAL projects will be facilitated through an inclusive and consultative process, using project liaison committees (PLCs) that are being set up locally in the targeted project areas with relevant stakeholders. In some areas this is easier said than done. It requires a concerted effort, particularly at a local-government level, to assuage people’s fears that political allegiance will be rewarded.
We look forward to rolling out new projects across the Northern Cape in 2019 and we hope that the work we’ve done in terms of stakeholder engagements will pave the way for eligible local labour and SMMEs to seize the opportunities that road construction projects can bring to marginalised communities along the route. We remain committed to training and capacity building and, where the need exists, we will ensure emerging SMMEs have the tools to enable them to compete fairly for economic development opportunities.
Skhumbuzo Macozoma is SANRAL's CEO
BUILDING SOUTH AFRICA THROUGH BETTER ROADS
HELLO NORTHERN CAPE 2018