A productive partnership
PROF JOB MOKGORO
Our provincial road and transport infrastructure are critical enablers of future economic growth in the North West Province and as the 6th Administration, we have set ourselves clear targets to accelerate balanced growth in line with the objectives of the National Development Plan.
The North West is a province with immense potential for growth in key sectors of the economy – most notably tourism, agriculture, and mining.
The provincial Spatial Development Plan provides the framework for growth, but we are keenly aware of the fact that access to socio-economic opportunities must be created on safe and accessible roads.
For this reason, we value the productive partnership that has grown between the province and SANRAL over the years.
In the recent State of the Province Address, we announced that some R4.54bn was spent on the improvement and maintenance of our world-class road infrastructure.
The N4 toll road is the primary economic artery in the region and also connects us with Gauteng and serves as a gateway to the SADC through Botswana. We therefore welcome the major upgrades to the road that are currently underway in the Madibeng Local Municipality area.
Similar upgrades are taking place on key roads in the Kenneth Kaunda, Ngaka Modiri Molema and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Districts.
Through our road networks, we are able to move agricultural and mining products to the markets and open up new destinations for the growing number of tourists who are eager to visit our beautiful and diverse province.
The SANRAL initiatives complement the province’s own Roads Recovery Plan to improve transport infrastructure and significantly reduce maintenance backlogs.
We intend to spend an additional R732m in the current financial year on the upkeep of road infrastructure including bridge construction, rehabilitation and the upgrading of roads from gravel to surface.
A distinctive feature of SANRAL’s projects is its ability to create jobs in local communities and support the growth of local suppliers, local entrepreneurs and local contractors. These projects make valuable contributions to the broader provincial economy and enable local communities to gain valuable experience on major construction projects.
Our newly-elected administration is ready to serve the people of the North West. We are ready to accelerate the economic development of the province and looking forward to a growing partnership with SANRAL to achieve our objectives.
Prof Job Mokgoro is the Premier of
the North West province
On roads, communities and transformation
SKHUMBUZO MACOZOMA
The mainstay economic activities of the North West province – mining, agriculture and tourism – are all reliant on excellent roads. Providing these is what SANRAL does for the national network it is responsible for. It is in line with the approach sketched by former Minister of Transport, Dr Blade Nzimande, during a recent visit to the province where he emphasised that the Strategic Integrated Programme (SIP4) will accelerate infrastructure growth and stimulate the regional economy.
To ensure this, the continuous and routine maintenance of these roads is vital, as is the upgrading of those road that are carrying ever more traffic. This edition of Hello North West highlights some of these activities - what has been competed, what is currently under construction and what is planned.
At the end of last year, the road works on the R34 near Schweizer Reneke were completed, making for safer driving and less congestion.
The R505 from Wolmaransstad to the N14 is being upgraded and we look at the progress and the benefit this project entails for road users and communities in two local municipalities.
We do the same for the upgrading of the N4 from Pampoennek to the R512.
Of particular interest is the profiling of planned projects for this financial year as well as where to find the necessary tender information. This is important, especially for local SMMEs, as SANRAL is pushing ahead with its Transformation Policy through which it aims to transform the construction industry by contracting local – and mostly black – companies.
Our routine road maintenance programme continues to keep the national road network right up there on the global scale of excellence. You can read all about this and some of the SMMEs that are involved.
This edition is mostly about roads, our primary responsibility, but also highlights what is dear to us: enhancing the lives of communities and transforming the construction industry.
Skhumbuzo Macozoma is SANRAL’s CEO
BUILDING SOUTH AFRICA THROUGH BETTER ROADS
HELLO NORTH WEST 2019