R128 million road revamp offers economic opportunities for Northern Cape SMMEs

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17-09-2024
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Diamond Fields Advertiser
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The SA National Roads Agency introduced the main contractor for a significant R128 million routine road maintenance project, covering key routes across the Tsantsabane and Kgatelopele local municipalities in the ZF Mgcawu District, to its stakeholders at information sessions in Postmasburg and Danielskuil.

THE SOUTH African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (Sanral) has introduced the contractor for a R128 million routine road maintenance (RRM) contract, which spans the Tsantsabane and Kgatelopele local municipalities in the ZF Mgcawu District, to its stakeholders at information sessions in Postmasburg and Danielskuil.

The five-year project, covering 177km, includes maintenance on the R31 from the Kgatelopele-Ga-Segonyana border to the Kgatelopele-Dikgatlong border, the R385 from the Danielskuil intersection to Postmasburg, and the R325 from Postmasburg to the N14/R325 intersection.

At the stakeholder sessions in Postmasburg, Sanral’s transformation officer for the Western Region, Morné Windvogel, introduced Ndoko Projects (Pty) Ltd as the main contractor for the project, which commenced on September 1, 2024.

Windvogel highlighted that Ndoko Projects, once a subcontractor, now stands as a main contractor, demonstrating Sanral’s commitment to enterprise development and the growth of small contractors.

Sanral project manager Martin Maswanganyi explained that the project is currently in the mobilisation phase, which lasts six months.

During this period, the main contractor will establish the site office, assess the scope of work and requirements, conduct a skills audit in the target area, develop the contract participation goals (CPG) plan, and advertise work packages for subcontracting.

Maswanganyi emphasised that, in line with Sanral’s transformation objectives, at least 50% of the contract value will be allocated to local subcontractors.

In Postmasburg, SMMEs expressed eagerness to engage with the project and were keen to know when the work packages would be advertised so they could submit their tenders.

Elizabeth Tshazibana from Umhlobo General Traders and Hillie Lekhula-Olyn from Hillarious Trading (Pty) Ltd viewed the project as a valuable opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities.

Project liaison committee (PLC) members were introduced and discussed their commitment to maintaining fair and transparent processes for subcontractor and local labour appointments.

PLC member Simozana Mdala assured the community that oversight would be provided to ensure opportunities are widely disseminated and that nepotism or favouritism would not influence the hiring process.

Luphelo Ngalo, Sanral’s stakeholder coordinator for the Western Region, noted that a new labour and enterprise database will be established specifically for this project, under the careful oversight of the PLC, rather than using existing databases.

Sanral reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging its procurement power to initiate more projects, aiming to enhance infrastructure development and unlock broader economic benefits.