The transport minister, Fikile Mbalula, officially opened the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited’s (Sanral) R375m Karino Interchange project on the N4 on Friday November 4.

The minister, Sanral and Trans African Concessions (TRAC), showcased how public and private partnerships within the public infrastructure development space benefit road users and local communities through the construction and expansion of the national road network.

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A total of R116.24m was spent on 44 local subcontractors, while R22.34m went to local labour, which included 236 males, 42 females, 143 youth and one person living with a disability.

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“Today we are here to mark the completion of the Karino Interchange in this beautiful part of Mpumalanga, the Province of the Rising Sun. We are not only showcasing a project completed on time and within budget, but also to demonstrate government’s commitment to create job and enable economic participation of black businesses. The interchange is the most important link between Mbombela and KaNyamazane and will provide a direct link from the R514 route to the N4 national road. The R514 also provides access to the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport.”

Read more in the next print edition of Lowvelder.