WATCH: Sanral and Wirtgen shake hands in empowerment deal
Among other things, the deal will empower black-owned emerging contractors.
The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) shook hands with the Wirtgen Group at their business premises on Maple Street in Pomona on October 19 in a deal that will enable small construction businesses to grow.
According to Louw Kannemeyer, engineering executive of Sanral, the agreement between them and the German-owned machinery company will see equipment, financing and training afforded to small and medium construction contractors.
Equipment will include everything from sweepers, milling machines and recyclers to pavers, plants and crushers.
In return, these businesses will execute Sanral-owned projects. This partnership follows a decision by Sanral to grow small construction businesses through their own tender and development processes.
“This is an important step in the broader national aim to transform the construction and engineering sectors,” Kannemeyer said.
“It will also enable emerging black contractors, including enterprises owned by women and the youth, to participate more fully in major projects,” he added.
Wirtgen was equally as excited to set the project in motion.
“If contractors are not well equipped, the country also faces the danger of sub-standard road infrastructure,” said Wirtgen’s national sales manager Waylon Kukard.
“We are confident that this memorandum of understanding will increase the number of participants across the value chain of the road construction sector and contribute to fair competition,” Kannemeyer concluded.
