SOUTH
AFRICA,
WE ARE
ENGAGED
MESSAGES
Skhumbuzo Macozoma
COMMUNITY engagement and development is
part of the very fabric of SANRAL. We go beyond
building and maintaining the national road network.
At SANRAL, we remain cognisant of the fact that
our roads are built to connect people, goods and
services – and this role has a tremendous impact
in the development of our economy. We remain
committed to driving transformation and inclusion in
all our work.
During the 2016/17 financial year, we awarded 172
contracts – worth around R16bn – for new projects.
SMMEs earned a total of R4bn through SANRAL
and more than R2bn went to 1 045 black-owned
enterprises.
The number of learners who participated in
SANRAL’s science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM) educational programmes
increased from 216 in 2010 to 2 299 in 2016.
The agency has also made enormous strides
in the empowerment of locals through training
programmes on our projects. Our work uplifts the
communities we serve, as well as providing safer,
more user-friendly road infrastructure.
And we will continue our upliftment projects
strengthened by our brand new strategy, Horizon
2030, and a draft Transformation Policy. In the
last few months, we have traveled the length and
breadth of the country engaging with stakeholders
in the construction and related industries on how we
can better do business and serve the community.
Throughout the rollout of our programmes and
projects we will continue to consult with communities
close to our road network to establish what their
needs are and how they can be met.
As you read this, we are developing a more
focused Community Development Strategy, with
a view to streamlining our future investment in
community projects. This strategy will guide how
future community development projects (CDPs) are
selected, funded and implemented.
In this edition of Investing in the Community,
we focus on SANRAL’s ongoing efforts to provide
jobs and training, and support STEM education all
over SA, as well as our determination to improve
economic participation with Horizon 2030 and a
Transformation Policy that ensure a more equitable
slice of the pie for all.
Skhumbuzo Macozoma is SANRAL’s CEO
in second place won R750 and
third place got R250.
“The mural competition helped the local community take ownership of the bus facilities they use every day – and will hopefully ensure that these decorated bus stops are not vandalised in the future. The finished bus stops add to the aesthetic of the completed road and beautify the area through which this portion of the R410 runs,” Peterson said.
“A recurring theme in the murals was road safety, which is indicative of the impact that such a road has on local communities. We hope that the completion of this project will contribute to improved road safety for those who live and work along this section of the National Route R410.”
“The mural competition helped the local community take ownership of the bus facilities they use every day – and will hopefully ensure that these decorated bus stops are not vandalised in the future. The finished bus stops add to the aesthetic of the completed road and beautify the area through which this portion of the R410 runs,” Peterson said.
“A recurring theme in the murals was road safety, which is indicative of the impact that such a road has on local communities. We hope that the completion of this project will contribute to improved road safety for those who live and work along this section of the National Route R410.”
FOR almost a year, SANRAL has worked hard at developing its Horizon 2030 strategy and draft Transformation Policy. Although the agency’s primary focus is the delivery of a safe, efficient, reliable and resilient national road transport system, the objectives laid out in these important documents can only be achieved if SANRAL remains relevant to the communities in which it operates on a daily basis. At the heart of the agency’s strategy and Transformation Policy lies the urgency to develop and empower South Africa’s previously disadvantaged people and communities, through training and mentorship, and safe access and mobility, respectively.
SANRAL’s community development projects (CDPs) are essentially training programmes through which people receive South African Qualifications Authority-accredited training in road building. So it was important that the development and implementation of these projects be identified as a key focus area of Horizon 2030. The individuals who took part in the training programmes did not only learn about road building in general, but also took part in the construction of access roads and ancillary facilities, under the mentorship of experienced construction staff.
The agency’s CDPs have massive potential to contribute to the transformation of the construction and related industries. This is why SANRAL states in its draft Transformation Policy that, in addition to the customary standalone CDPs, as of 1 April 2018, conventional projects will include CDP components wherever feasible. And because these projects play such a significant role in both Horizon 2030 and our draft Transformation Policy, the agency is in the process of developing a CDP Strategy, which will inform policy and implementation plans.
While developing a draft CDP strategy, it became evident that the implementation of these projects present SANRAL with numerous opportunities, the most important of which are:
- To improve the agency’s reputation by building stakeholders’ trust in SANRAL at a grassroots level
- To make a significant impact in human capacity building (development) and transforming the construction industry
- To make a significant impact in the promotion of road safety for all modes of transport, particularly for vulnerable communities and road users
- To improve access to the national road network, which promotes mobility and economic development
- To provide or facilitate non-motorised and public transport facilities, which contribute to the socio-economic development of marginalised communities and road users
SANRAL’s enhancement of its CDP programme is not just good news for South African communities of all shapes and sizes, it bodes well for the agency’s relationship with the public we serve.
Marlize Nel-Verwey is a Project Manager at
SANRAL’s Southern Region