Road improvement uplifts youth, community and business

More than 330 local residents, mostly youth, have been employed and some 30 provided with generic, engineering and entrepreneurial skills training since the commencement of the R505 Wolmaransstad to Jakkalsfontein N14 project.

“We have also made a concerted effort to empower SMMEs from the Ngaka Modiri Molema and Kenneth Kaunda municipalities by involving them in various parts of the project,” says Progress Hlahla, the Regional Manager of SANRAL’s Northern Region. “It was our goal, as with all of our projects, to go beyond roads and we are proud of what we continue to achieve in this regard.”

Youth made up 71% of all labour employed on the project, a considerable number in view of South Africa’s youth unemployment figures. Statistics South Africa reported that more than one in every three young people did not have a job in the first quarter of 2019.

Through its transformation policy, SANRAL has been working to reshape the construction and engineering sector by setting targets for the participation of black contractors, suppliers and professionals in all projects commissioned by SANRAL.

Over R49m (incl. VAT) has been spent on black-owned SMMEs to date with more to be allocated as the project progresses.

Speaking about how this project has directly uplifted small businesses and employees locally, Hlahla, says:

“Our approach is to facilitate the training of emerging contractors to enable them to achieve higher gradings from the Construction Industry Development Board.
This gives them a better footing to participate in major construction tenders in future. Primary contractors who tender for SANRAL work must submit their own transformation and training policies to ensure that the benefit is also extended to their employees.”

The agency embarked on the R571m project to upgrade the important north-south link connecting the N12 and N14 national roads in the North West in November 2016.
The improvements, which include the resurfacing of 91km of the R505, repair of pavements, reshaping of open side drains, replacement of existing fencing and the installation of new guardrails at major culverts, is estimated to reach completion later in 2019.

The new R34, a safer and more pleasant drive

In 2017, SANRAL began the rehabilitation of the R34 national route from Schweizer-Reneke to Vryburg with the aim to make it smoother, safer and less congested. We are pleased to report that despite some challenges, road users now have an improved traveling experience, says Progress Hlahla, SANRAL Northern Region Manager.

The improvement of the road which links the N14/ N18 in Vryburg and the N12 at Wolmaransstad was completed in January 2019. The project involved upgrading the road surface of the 31.8km length of the road from a 6m surfaced cross-section to a 12.4m surfaced cross-section. It also included the reconstruction of the slow lane / parking bays on either side of the road, removing and realigning the guardrails at the railway bridge, construction of sidewalks and the replacement of storm water pipes.

The road upgrade which was meant to reach completion in December 2018 was delayed by a month due to some persistent rain. “Although the project was delayed by a month, this road, like all other SANRAL roads, has been engineered to international road quality standards. It is always a pleasure to hand over an asset of the highest standard for use by South Africans and our visitors”, says Hlahla.

Since the project’s completion, road users and businesspeople in town have stopped by to tell the contractor and the engineer how much of a difference this project has made in the region.

Fifteen local SMMEs were subcontracted on the project and employment was created for 129 local labourers. A total of R7.7 million has been earned by people who have taken up these job opportunities.

Planned construction projects in the region and where to find SANRAL tenders

Roads bring opportunities for small businesses and promote socio-economic development. SANRAL understands the importance of building good-quality roads that will help drive economic growth in the North West province, and the agency plans to invest in several projects.

The following projects are in the design phase and are planned for construction in the province:

  • Special maintenance of the R512 Section 3 from R104 to Brits
  • Reconstruction of the R511 section 3 from Beestekraal to NW/Limpopo Border
  • Improvement of the R52 section 3 - Koster to Rustenburg
  • Upgrade of the N4 section 12 from R512 to N4
  • Upgrade of the R501 section 23 from Carletonville to Potchefstroom

All interested SMMEs should visit www.nra.co.za for SANRAL tender information.

BUILDING SOUTH AFRICA THROUGH BETTER ROADS

HELLO NORTH WEST 2019