The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (Sanral) will invest R740 million on six road maintenance projects, including stretches of the N2 in the Eastern Cape, over the next few months.
Sanral announced the projects during a stakeholder engagement meeting attended by municipal officials, small businesses and residents in Joubertina in the Eastern Cape at the weekend.
Outlining the investment, Sanral project manager, Siphesihle Bulose, said the roads agency would implement several road infrastructure development projects in Kou-Kamma Local Municipality.
“These projects include a periodic maintenance contract for the N2 National Road from Bloukrans River bridge to Storms River village intersection, valued at R80 million, and another contract from Storms River village to Wittelsbos, worth R50 million. The scope of work will entail the construction of surface seal, localised surface repairs, crack sealing and edge break repairs,” said Bulose.
“The special maintenance project on the R62 National Road between the border of the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces is expected to start in June this year and over 30 SMMEs are expected to benefit and over 200 job opportunities will be created,” he said.
Bulose said about 250 job opportunities were expected to be created on the special maintenance project on the R62 National Road between Joubertina and Kareedouw.
“The construction tender for the special maintenance of the National Road R62 between Louterwater and Joubertina is in design stage, while the periodic maintenance between Bloukrans River Bridge and Storms River Village is at tender evaluation stage, and the contract for the periodic maintenance between Storms River Village and Wittelsbos is in construction tender stage, closing in March,” said Bulose.
Sanral’s Southern region transformation unit representative, Zenande Mpondo said SMME contractors would be trained and developed to enhance their business acumen and tendering skills.