THE South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) says that an upcoming R1.2 billion road upgrade project will create 500 jobs and sub-contracting opportunities for 60 small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in the Alfred Ndzo District.
SANRAL shared details of the project at a recent gathering where the contractor was introduced to local communities. The contract entails the upgrade of a 39.4km stretch of the N2 between kwaBhaca and emaXesibeni, in the Alfred Nzo district.
The scope of the work includes the widening of the existing cross-section, with surfaced shoulders, and the introduction of climbing lanes and construction of three new bridges, as well as three major culverts.
Eastern Cape-based Rumdel Cape Construction (Pty) Ltd has been awarded the main contract of the 45-month long project. It is expected that at least 60 sub-contracting opportunities will be created for local SMMEs. At least 500 people will be employed on the project.
Umzimvubu Local Municipality acting council speaker, Nkosomzi Nomnganga, has urged the business forums and communities to work together to ensure the smooth flow of the project, which will bring about much-needed job opportunities and better road infrastructure.
“SANRAL has responded to our proposals for better roads, which include employment opportunities. On behalf of the municipality, I want to urge our business forums and communities to ensure that no-one disrupts the project if they are dissatisfied or unhappy about it.
“We urge all stakeholders, including the Project Liaison Committee (PLC), to co-operate with SANRAL to remove all obstacles and resolve all disagreements, so that the work doesn’t stop and results in unnecessary financial losses,” said Nomnganga.
Alfred Ndzo Business Forum chairperson, Siyabonga Hlalekela, said he has taken one of the four seats allocated to business in the Project Liaison Committee (PLC).
The composition of the PLC accommodates four business representatives to ensure that SMMEs in both the towns of kwaBhaca and emaXesibeni are represented.
“As the Umzimvubu business forum, we are happy that we are going to benefit from what is invested and we are hoping that this project will ensure growth for some of our SMMEs.
“We will continue engaging with other businesspeople who are not part of our forums to ensure the smooth progress of the development. Our message to everyone in business is that one doesn’t need to belong to a certain business forum to partake in the project, and SMMEs must not hinder the development if their company is not awarded a subcontract,” said Hlalekela.
Rumdel Cape director, Prince Mzwandile Faku, has assured the SMMEs that they will benefit from the project, but warned that only those fit for purpose will be awarded subcontracts.
“Our aim is to leave a legacy of infrastructure that lasts longer than the guaranteed period, and we want local people who participated in the project to have something after we have left the area,” said Faku.
SANRAL stakeholder engagement and communication officer, Welekazi Ndika, urged the Umzimvubu traditional leaders, transport representatives, ratepayers, and the affected Wards to elect their representatives to the PLC.
“We want to make sure that all the critical stakeholders are represented in the PLC, and members of the PLC must communicate with their constituencies, because in the end we don’t want any disgruntled individual to mobiliz and block the N2,” she said.
The project forms part of the multi-billion-rand infrastructure investment that SANRAL continues to make in the Alfred Nzo district, one of the poorest regions in the country.
– ISSUED BY FTI CONSULTING
ON BEHALF OF SANRAL
