Two new Routine Road Maintenance (RRM) contracts in the John Taolo Gaetsewe (JTG) District of the Northern Cape will create scores of opportunities for subcontracting and local labour over a period of five years, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (Sanral) has announced.
Sanral is currently evaluating tenders received for these contracts and hopes to appoint contractors later this year.
Speaking at a recent stakeholder engagement session with small business owners in Mothibistad, just outside Kuruman, Sanral project manager Rudi Joubert unpacked the significant opportunities for project participation, job creation, skills development, training and enterprise development that come with projects of this magnitude.
“The work will focus on maintenance of the N14 and will include grass cutting, removal of alien vegetation, cleaning of culverts (a tunnel carrying a stream or open drain under a roadway), clearing of litter at rest areas and keeping the road reserve and the fences clean.
“Maintenance of the N14 will be done on an ongoing basis and small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) should prepare to take advantage of the opportunities for subcontracting,” Joubert said.
The first of the two projects runs between Olifantshoek and the North West border and spans about 250 kilometres.
The second project starts between Danielskuil and Kuruman, through Kuruman, past Hotazel, continuing to the Botswana border.
“Both projects will be solely focused on RRM, so they do not deteriorate over time. If there is a pothole, it will be fixed and if there are cracks, they will be sealed,” Joubert said. – SAnews.gov.za
