Johannesburg,South Africa

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited(SANRAL) has announced that has injected R28 billion into the construction industry which is meant to benefit small businesses.

SANRAL has maintained that is committed to transform the construction industry through one of its policies which aims to accommodate even small players in the sector.

According to SANRAL's statement,as part of SANRAL's efforts to deepen transformation and in terms of its Interim Preferential Procurement Policy(PPP),at least 30% of these will be allocated to smaller black-owned construction companies.Through these contracts,SANRAL aims to ensure that small businesses graduate to become major construction companies.

SANRAL's Chief Executive Officer(CEO),Reginald Demana,said that wherever the SANRAL projects are,the agency has a mandate that sees value flowing through to small,medium and micro enterprises(SMMEs),local contractors and local communities.

The statement reads,the announcement comes after SANRAL closed 77 tenders worth R6.43 billion in December 2023.The agency is on a mission to accelerate work in the construction industry early in the first half of 2024.Demana says SANRAL intends to put out at least another 70 tenders to the market in the next couple of weeks.This will result in about R28 billion of tenders advertised under the Interim PPP in the current 2023/2024 financial year.

"There is quite a lot of work we want to dish out.By March,we want to have R28 billion worth of tenders in the market.However,some will be closed towards April when we enter the new financial year,"said Demana.

Four Regions To Benefit In New Tenders

SANRAL has confirmed that the Western Region which includes Western Cape and Northern Cape will get contracts worth R600 million.

SANRAL also confirmed that the Southern Region which covers Eastern Cape will get its contracts worth R2.8 billion.

SANRAL also mentioned that the Eastern Region which includes Free State and KwaZulu-Natal will get contracts worth R2.1 billion.

SANRAL said that the Northern Region which includes Gauteng,Limpopo,Mpumalanga and North West will get contracts worth over R500 million.

Construction of N2 Beacon Way Intersection in Plettenberg Bay

On Friday,12 January 2024,the SANRAL has confirmed that has awarded R98 million construction contract for road improvements on the N2 Beacon Way intersection in Plettenberg Bay,in the Bitou Local Municipality.

SANRAL said that the contract was awarded to Martin & East in December 2023.Construction is expected to take 10 months to complete,of which a two-month period is for site mobilisation,which will shortly be underway.During this time,the main contractor will develop a labour database from which to source local labour,as well as do an assessment of the skills available for subcontracting purposes.

N2 South Bound Phongolo River Bridge,KZN

On Thursday,11 January 2024,SANRAL has announced that barriers will be placed on the N2 South Bound shoulder of the Phongolo River as part of ongoing infrastructure repairs.

"The barriers will be placed on the South Bound shoulder between Tuesday,16 January 2024,and Thursday,18 January 2024.During this period,traffic will be accommodated by means of a Stop/Go control between 9am and 3pm,"said Serisha Sukraj,SANRAL Eastern Region Project Manager.

The Road Agency has advised the road users to plan their routes accordingly and allow for extra travel time.

"We appeal to road users to adhere to the road signs and speed limit when approaching and travelling through the construction site.SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience this may cause and ask for your understanding as we work to make the necessary upgrades,"said Serisha Sukraj.