The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (Sanral) announced on Wednesday, 25 June, that it is embarking on an urgent routine road maintenance project on sections of the N6 and N8 national roads, within the Mangaung Metro region.
The sections of the routes are part of the networks the Free State government handed over to the agency for maintenance during November last year.
Just over 1 200 kilometres of the province’s roads were transferred to the agency between October 2023 and November last year. The takeover of maintenance is owing to the provincial government’s failure to eradicate the backlog to maintain and repair the central region’s deteriorating roads.
Edgar Dube, Sanral’s project manager, said the urgent maintenance project was necessary to bring these sections of the road to a “drivable standard,” making it safer for motorists, adding that this will be worth R130 million.
He said the project will economically benefit the locals, addressing local small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and community members in Mangaung Metro.
“Key works to be done on the roads include surface repairs, base repairs, the erection and cleaning of guardrails, cleaning of culverts, grass cutting, erection and repair of fences, and other general maintenance work. The project will take over a year to be completed.
“Local SMMEs and community members will benefit through job opportunities that will be offered on this project,” said Dube.
He said through this project, Sanral will ensure that previously marginalised communities – including women, young people, military veterans, and people with disabilities – play a meaningful role and benefit from it.
Thandeka Ngema, the agency’s acting stakeholder relations coordinator for the Free State, said the benefit will be through the 30% stake in subcontractors.
“About 30% of the contract value will go to local contractors, particularly those on grades one to four. Although our focus will be on grades one to four for this project, we have not neglected contractors from grade five to nine. Sanral has now completed its consultation process on the Contractor Development Programme, and the programme will be rolled out to assist contractors from grade five and above. This is indeed part of our ongoing endeavours to transform the construction industry and for local SMMEs to benefit from our projects,” said Ngema.
According to Ngema, the agency was in the process of opening a provincial office in Mangaung.
“This is in line with the roads agency’s decision to move the organisation from a regional office-based model to a provincial office-based one. The office will allow Sanral to enhance its endeavours with the Free State government, municipalities and the various communities that are affected by its projects.”
