SMME contractor already eyeing more opportunities on SANRAL projects

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01-11-2024
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Ladysmith, 31 October 2024 – When the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) finally signs off on all the upgrades on the N11, a small contractor from the rural KwaZulu-Natal town of Umsinga will look back at his contribution with pride and gratitude.

Vuyani Mabaso’s company, Golden Millennium Trading, is constructing culverts under the main contractor, Raubex Construction, on the R750-million upgrade of a 28km stretch from Ladysmith to Elandslaagte in the Alfred Duma local municipality.

The N11 is a national route running from the Botswana border at Groblersbrug through Mokopane in Limpopo, Middleburg and Ermelo in Mpumalanga and Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal. It ends at the N3 just after Ladysmith.

The three-year project Mabaso is working on will resolve chronic traffic congestion and reduce road carnage on this corridor critical for economic growth of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

It links the port of Durban via the N3 with the mining towns of Mpumalanga and other neighbouring countries. The upgrade entails widening the Modderspruit and Barend Marais Bridges, constructing a new road-over rail bridge, upgrading two existing intersections and the addition of new lanes. Roads within Ladysmith are also being upgraded.

Shaun Collins, Raubex’s contracts manager on the project, said the road was not only being widened and resurfaced but also being realigned to enhance visibility at high-risk collision spots.Deviation roads have been constructed to minimise delays for the duration of the project, which started in June 2023 and is due for completion in June 2026. Collins said an important component of their work on the N11 involved the employment of local labour and providing opportunities to emerging contractors.

It is SANRAL policy that 30% of the contract value, in this case R225-million, should be set aside for targeted enterprises owned by black women, youth, military veterans, those with disabilities and those still getting off the construction blocks with lower gradings by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB).

Almost R43-million has been spent on the subcontractors already – and Mabaso is one of them. “This is the biggest job I have ever done since I started my company back in 2001. It is also my first opportunity with SANRAL, constructing culverts on this N11. The contractor has given me tremendous support by offering training not only to me, but also to my employees who are shutter hands and also mix concrete.

“They have also received health and safety certificates, which will open further doors for them long after this work has been completed,” he said.

“My company is Grade 5 now, but I see myself moving up to Grade 6 or 7 after my experience here. This is massive for me. Previously I worked on municipal roads and constructed a football field in Msinga. I am now exploring bigger opportunities and will certainly submit a bid for the next phase of the N11 upgrade.”

Mabaso has a word of encouragement for other up-and-coming subcontractors. “Hard work pays off. You should never be discouraged when things don’t go well initially, your day will come,” he advised them.

For Lwazi Nkosi, a Mangosuthu University of Technology civil engineering diploma graduate from nearby Matiwane’s Kop, the upgrade of the N11 provided him with an opportunity to gain experience as an intern.

“Working here I have learnt a lot more about structures – from development and construction. I previously worked on roads. Now I hope to learn more about what happens after the completion.“My internship runs until December. After that I want to further my studies and obtain a higher diploma in civil engineering. Thereafter I want to work as a site agent on projects like this.”

He applauded SANRAL for bringing this project to his locality. “There are many people from areas around here who have found employment on this construction site. They came here as general workers but will leave as skilled labour. That is how this project has impacted the community positively,” he said.

It is estimated that 850 full-time equivalent direct jobs would be created on this project with an estimated R200-million set aside for local labour wages.

Mabaso is already thinking about SANRAL opportunities beyond this N11 upgrade.