SANRAL’s transformation journey hits Sedibeng

SEDIBENG.- Achieving transformation in the constructions industry is a priority for the South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL), participants at a stakeholder meeting in the Sedibeng District Municipality (SDM) heard last Friday.
The agency set itself a new vision for 2030 and introduced a transformation policy. These aim to promote inclusive participation by all stakeholders, ensure skills training, and the transfer of knowledge and experience to small construction businesses.
On Friday, the agency visited the SDM, which consists of the Midvaal, Emfuleni and Lesedi Local Municipalities. The aim was to engage local businesses on how they can participate in road construction contracts in the area, as well as strengthen existing relationships with the municipalities.
Progress Hlahla, SANRAL northern region manager, says stakeholders are a key pillar of the agency and this is one way to reinforce the commitment to empowering and developing local communities.
“We are an agency that seeks to improve people’s lives beyond road construction. Such engagements provide the ideal platform to empower small businesses, allocate a growing portion of major projects to emerging contractors and transfer skills and experience so that these contractors will, in future, be independent players,” he says.
A key part of the discussions on the day addressed the expectations that local SMMEs have from SANRAL projects, and to ensure a clear understanding of SANRAL’s mandate. Information was given about planned community development projects, the effects of road furniture theft, protests and road closures, project stoppages by business forums, and building encroachments.
Amongst the 250 attendees, was SDM’s Executive Mayor Sedibeng Busisiwe Modisakeng who referred to the challenges faced by SMMEs, such as delayed payments and access to skills, and said “What makes me happy is that SANRAL is a business ready organisation with the various projects that may be coming up”.
The district’s vision is to become a metropolitan city of choice and SANRAL intends to provide support by investing in the improvement of road infrastructure through the Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg routine road maintenance contracts.
Starting in February 2020, these projects will include grass cutting, patching and pavement repairs, vegetation and chemical control, guardrail repairs, fencing repairs and the cleaning of culverts, concrete drains and channels. Other work involves the collection and removal of debris and litter, road sign cleaning, the removal of illegal signage as well as the maintenance of inlet and outlet structures. SANRAL will issue between three and five work packages for sub-contractors to tender for.
“In the new financial year, SANRAL hopes to go out to tender on a project which entails the overlay of the N1 Vaal River to Klein Rietspruit and do minor bridge repairs. This will further increase opportunities for participation by black-owned businesses,” explains Hlahla.