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The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has met with small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) during stakeholder-led information sharing sessions in the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality on Thursday, 18 August 2022.

The information sharing sessions are part of SANRAL’s efforts to consult with its stakeholders and to find solutions that seek to ensure that the communication regarding project-related activities reaches the right local people and small businesses on time.

During the session SANRAL Project Manager, Kwanele Simelane, mapped out the strategies currently in place to ensure that there is inclusivity in SANRAL’s upcoming Routine Road Maintenance (RRM) project affecting the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality.

“The purpose of the information sharing sessions is to promote joint planning and project delivery coordination. SANRAL and the appointed main contractor aims to create employment through the RRM project for targeted labour groups that include black women, youth and people with disabilities,” Simelane said.

“SANRAL has identified strategies that will address the need to promote the growth of small businesses within the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality. 50% of the contract value will be sub-let to targeted enterprises. In terms of the contract, the targeted area for the RRM project is Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality for the Grades 1 and 2 targeted enterprises, and Gert Sibande District Municipality for the Grades 3 and 4 targeted enterprises.”

A minimum of 10% of the contract value will be advertised for Grades 1 to 2 targeted enterprises for the maximum package duration of 15 months without the option to extend. A minimum of 20% of the contract value will be advertised for Grades 3 to 4 targeted enterprises for the maximum package duration of 30 months.

Councillor for Ward 8 in the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality, Zamokuhle Methula, welcomed SANRAL’s initiative to engage stakeholders. He called on the local community and small businesses to support the road agency’s projects and work together with the appointed contractor and the Project Liaison Committees (PLCs) to achieve successful project execution without delays.

“Effective and reliable service delivery is one of the challenges South Africa faces. SANRAL being here today to conduct an information sharing session shows that it is willing to accept the responsibility to fulfil the delivery of road maintenance services to communities within which it operates,” said Methula.

During a robust question and answer session, SMMEs expressed their appreciation of SANRAL’s transparency and its efforts to ensure that no one is left behind when projects are being implemented.

A small business owner and a member of the Vulindlela Disability Forum, Sibusiso Mhlongo, was one of the small business owners who attended the information-sharing sessions, and he also welcomed the RRM project that SANRAL is bringing to the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality.

“The scope of work for this contract shows how serious SANRAL is about promoting the growth of small businesses. Litter picking, cleaning of road signs and guardrails, accommodation of traffic, road markings, and removal of wrecks and abandoned vehicles are suitable contracts for SMMEs in our municipality with limited resources and experience. Working on this RRM project is a good start and will equip small businesses with training to expand and tender for bigger contracts in the future,” said Mhlongo.

The following RRM project has been earmarked for execution:

RRM for R33 national road from Msukaligwa Municipal Boundary near Warburton over Carolina to Belfast, R38 national road from Steve Tshwete Municipal Boundary over Carolina to Mbombela Municipal Boundary, and N17 national road From Msukaligwa Municipal Boundary near Warburton to Oshoek border post.

Issued by FTI Consulting on behalf of the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL)