Potchefstroom is presented with opportunities by SANRAL

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (Sanral) recently hosted a stakeholder-led engagement meeting with residents and SMMEs at The Trim Park in Potchefstroom to share information about opportunities available from the current routine road maintenance and upgrade projects.

Jullecsia Saul, Sanral’s coordinator for the northern region, explained that “Taking Sanral to the People” was in line with its fourth pillar of stakeholder relations. To consult stakeholders about all project- related activities that affect communities, this engagement was essential. “Sanral’s mandate is not only focused on building roads but also to empower local enterprises and create job opportunities for ordinary members of the communities, especially in the areas where the national road network traverses,” she said.

The acting executive mayor of J.B. Marks Local Municipality, Ms Loreal Abrahams, welcomed Sanral’s initiative to engage stakeholders. “This initiative presents an opportunity for stakeholders within the local municipality to be well informed about Sanral’s current and future projects and it assists targeted enterprises to prepare themselves for tendering opportunities to come. We welcome the projects and express our gratitude to the roads agency for carrying their mandate in an open, transparent, and fair manner. We look forward to the impact these projects will make on our municipality,” she said.

As part of the engagement, the Sanral project management team presented an update on the routine road maintenance work to be performed on national roads R53, R54, R500, R501, and the N12. The work includes clearing side drains and culverts, controlling vegetation, marking roads, repairing road signs, and repairing guardrails. According to Gertrude Soko, Sanral’s Northern Region project manager, the contract is worth R56 million.

As part of the scope of the contract, targeted enterprises will be awarded 50 per cent of the contract value for subcontracting. The work started in November 2020 and is scheduled for three years. “In November 2021, we appointed subcontractors with Grade 1 and 2 CIDB for 12 months. That period is almost over and it’s time to appoint new subcontractors for another 12 months to do maintenance work on the roads mentioned,” said Soko.

Sanral will also implement an R800 million upgrade on the R501 between Potchefstroom and Carletonville, which includes widening bridges, building new bridges where necessary, and upgrading the road from a single carriageway to a dual carriageway with a median. Tenders will be advertised on local media platforms like community newspapers. Information regarding the tender advertisements will also be published on municipality notice boards and through the Public Liaison Committee (PLC) structures.

Through information sessions, SANRAL will also share information with stakeholders about the dates for tender advertisements, tender briefing dates, returnable documents, the SANRAL tender evaluation process, and common errors when bidding, such as not attending the compulsory tender briefing or submitting expired or non-compliant documents.

CSI Roads and Civils Director Zinikele Mboshane expressed gratitude to SANRAL for engaging SMMEs in the meeting.  

“The scope of work for the projects which were presented by SANRAL shows how serious the agency  is about transformation and promoting the development of small enterprises. Moving forward, we  encourage joint planning and project delivery coordination between SANRAL, the municipality and  PLC structures for the successful implementation of these projects, and to ensure that those who  qualify are not left behind,” he said.