SANRAL is pushing ahead with its Transformation Policy through which it aims to transform the construction industry by contracting local – and mostly black – companies.   

The mainstay economic activities of the North West province – mining, agriculture and tourism – are all reliant on excellent roads.  

Providing these is what the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (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.  

Projects 

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 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.  

Roads are our primary responsibility, but what is dear to us is enhancing the lives of communities and transforming the construction industry.  

This is an opinion piece by Skhumbuzo Macozoma, SANRAL’s CEO.