Did you get formal training or on-the-job experience before you started your business?

I’m self-taught in terms of business skills, but it is through SANRAL’s mentoring and guid- ance programme that I acquired technical and engineering skills. I also received training when my company got involved in the incubation programme of the Coega Development Corpora- tion in Port Elizabeth.

How many employees are working on the R504 section 3 (Schweizer-Reneke) project?

We have 11 workers on the project. Our foreman is permanently employed, while the other 10 employees are locals who have been contracted for the duration of the project.

What does the Schweizer-Reneke project work entail?

We are responsible for the repair of signs, guardrails and broken fencing and are currently constructing concrete V-drains.

Has working with Penny-Farthing helped your company to secure other contracts?

Definitely. Penny-Farthing Engineering is one of our mentoring contractors; it has helped us secure SANRAL RRM work in other regions. We’re doing similar work in Lichtenburg, Aliwal North and Upington – all SANRAL projects.

What are your biggest challenges as a business owner?

Tendering in other areas is a challenge, as the focus is more on local SMMEs and the procurement model favours the lowest bidder. Securing finance from banks to purchase bigger plants and getting accounts from suppliers is also a major stumbling block, because these institutions are not confident doing business with SMMEs.

What advice would you give other start-ups in your industry?

Invest in your business by buying assets that can be used to sustain your growth. Compliance is also important when it comes to securing projects.

What’s the 10-year plan for your company?

We’d like to reach CIDB (Construction Industry Development Board) level 7, so we can be a principal contractor.

IT’S actually not enough to just build a world-class road. Routine maintenance is absolutely essential to keep that road in world-class condition, to ensure the safety of all who use it. From the closing up of potholes and patching the road surface to replacing traffic signs, guardrails and fencing, ongoing road maintenance is effectively being managed by eight contractors appointed to maintain the 2 598km of SANRAL roads in the province.

For example, Kingsway Signs, in partnership with Lenash Signs, are replacing guidance boards (big green signage), as well as regulatory and warning signs on designated roads. This is a 13-month project that ends in February 2018.

Tony Whelan of Lenash says this contract is the main source of revenue for their sign-manufacturing division. Through Lenash Signs, 24 locals received contract work on the various project sites between January and June 2017, and a total of 48 locals will receive short-term employment.

Litter collection is another important routine maintenance activity. Along the N12 alone, from the Northern Cape border to Bloemhof, Wolmaransstad up to the Gauteng border on the other side of Potchefstroom, around 3 000m³ of rubbish was collected in the first six months of 2017.

SANRAL Project Manager for Operations and Maintenance Gertrude Soko said: “Litter picking along the N12 is employing 15 people full- time. This work is being done under a 12-month subcontract, which is renewable annually, based on

the performance of the subcontractor. “This is part of the main routine road maintenance contract, which runs for three years with an option to extend by two years.”

Penny-Farthing Engineering, which has worked on SANRAL maintenance contracts for many years, is currently the main contractor on three maintenance contracts, covering 14 routes in the province. The company has also subcontracted 13 small businesses for this work, awarded for the period May 2015 to April 2018.

“Through these maintenance contracts, SANRAL not only ensures the provision of safer roads for motorists and pedestrians; it offers viable and sustainable opportunities for small businesses, main contractors and consulting engineers,” Soko said.