Sanral has four upcoming projects in the Greater Tzaneen Municipality and has called on the SMME’s (small, medium and micro businesses) to take advantage of these opportunities.

Madoda Mthembu, Sanral Northern Region Operations and Maintenance Manager, announced the good news during the stakeholders engagement meeting held at the Nkowankowa Community Hall recently.

These projects will range from small road maintenance jobs to big upgrading projects and will be conducted on the national roads R36, R71 and R529.

According to Mthembu local companies who comply will be given preference compared to companies outside the municipality.

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The road maintenance projects are ongoing day to day jobs which range from grass cutting, storm drainage and pavement maintenance.

Meanwhile the bigger projects will include the upgrading of the R36 from Gavaza Village to the Tzaneen CBD and upgrading of the Deer Park intersection.

Some of the small businesses raised concerns about corruption during the tender process. Mthembu assured them that Sanral conducts fair and transparent processes.

“The meeting was good, however I feel that in most cases people who are given an advantage, are people who have grade 6 to 8 and some of us who are small and upcoming are left outside,” explained Ntombi Madume of Fishof 1331 cc.

The meeting was not attended by SMME’s only, but ward councillors and the GTM officials among others.