Construction and maintenance work on the 18 km stretch of the N8 route between Thaba Nchu and Tweespruit is set to start in October this year, announced the South African National Roads Agency Limited SOC (Sanral) on Thursday (27/07), after a stakeholders’ information session held in Bloemfontein.
The session shared information regarding projects within the Mangaung Metro to empower local small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs) and communities with the knowledge to prepare for subcontracting and employment opportunities. The state-owned road agency indicated that the appointment of a main contractor to deliver the project will be completed in due course. The project is part of the ongoing maintenance, rehabilitation, and upgrading of the N8 route between Mangaung and Maseru.
The infrastructure project falls under the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM) and the Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality’s management. It is envisaged to benefit about 40 000 individuals nationally, over the course of a three-year period through pre-tender coaching of SMMEs.
Stephne Wilmot, Sanral project manager, said the agency creates potential subcontracting opportunities for SMMEs.
“Many SMMEs already benefit from the training, which capacitates attendees to run and manage their businesses more effectively,” said Wilmot.
Previously marginalised, young people, especially women and people with disabilities, are being targeted as part of empowerment.
“Our aim is to ensure previously marginalised sectors of our economy X including black businesses owned by women, youths, and persons with disabilities X play a meaningful role and succeed in a construction industry that has largely been non-transformative.
“We will continue to do this, guided by our transformation policy and our Horizon 2030 strategy,” said Thandeka Ngema, acting stakeholders’ relations coordinator for the Eastern region.
According to Ngema the empowerment of young people, women, and persons with disabilities forms part of the agency’s Horizon 2030 strategy.
