2021 EASTERNEASTERN CAPECAPE Produced by SANRAL The SANRAL network forms the backbone of the country’s transport system. Over the next three years SANRAL will inject R15,6 bn into the arteries of mobility of the Eastern Cape to ensure that the province’s road network is world-class. Province of the EASTERN CAPE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA www.sanral.co.za @sanral_za @sanralza @sanral_za SANRAL SANRAL Corporate HELLO EASTERN CAPE 2021 1 Message from the MEC COVID-19 and subsequent shutdown of a large section of the awarded at a cost of R296.3 million. It commenced at the South African economy at various stages of our lockdown beginning of the year. have impacted the roads infrastructure sector in several ways. • The R61 at St Barnabas Hospital to Hluleka Nature Reserve, To mitigate that negative impact, the Eastern Cape Department where 16km (Phase 1) is being upgraded with a budget of of Transport used the General Conditions of Contract (GCC R205.3 million. 2015) during contract management of its major capital roads upgrading programme. In addition to these, our in-house teams are busy with construction work on various projects, which include the The lockdown led to delays on some projects, and additional following: COVID-19 Health and Safety measures were put in place. • 9km of the road to Madwaleni Hospital; We managed to continue to work closely – albeit virtually in • 26km from Ngqeleni to Canzibe Hospital; many instances – with communities to provide services they need and to unlock some of the service delivery challenges. • 10km from Coffee Bay to Zithulele Hospital; • 13km from R72 to Hamburg; and We created platforms and participated in forums to engage our stakeholders on improving transport and transportation issues. • the Cofimvaba to Asketon road. We also took steps towards realising one of our priorities – At this point, I must say that one of the major challenges we of a capable, ethical and developmental state – focusing on continue to experience is constant stoppages on our projects, ensuring that we build our internal capacity to deliver, through mainly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Having some of upskilling employees and providing support to young people our workers infected and putting them in quarantine and/or who want to pursue careers in the transport sector. isolation as per requirements not only cost us time and money, but impacted the morale of our most valuable assets – our As such, 30 young people underwent training to become Traffic Officers, and 43 employees received training as part of our new men and women on the ground who are carrying out the work. Artisan Development Programme. We are forging ahead with the projects amid these challenges. We all agree that improvements in our transport infrastructure The delivery of four Bailey bridges during the year under review will contribute immensely to job creation and economic has been a great example of our workforce’s resilience and Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe, Eastern Cape MEC for development. Therefore, we are proud that we have motivation. Roads, Transport and Safety. started implementing some of the major capital transport As we continue traversing these challenging times, we remain infrastructure projects, which include: grateful to our law enforcement teams who, since the outbreak • 15km between Willowvale and Dwesa Nature Reserve at a of coronavirus, have been watching over our roads to manage cost of R280.3 million. people’s movement – a crucial element in managing the • 14km on the T125 road, connecting Siphetu Hospital to spread of this virus. We again urge everyone to remain alert the N2 road. This is Phase 4 of the project and has been when using the roads. Message from the CEO fter a well-deserved break, our work commenced in During his visit to the N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WCR) project, earnest in mid-January 2021. Despite the COVID-19 the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Fikile Mbalula, Achallenges, the SANRAL Southern Region continues emphasised that it will continue to create thousands of to deliver on its mandate by implementing significant jobs and economic opportunities for the Wild Coast, in conventional construction, routine road maintenance, line with the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. and community development projects in the Eastern Construction of the Msikaba Bridge is progressing well, Cape Province. while the Mtentu Bridge’s re-tender was advertised after a protracted legal battle. Two of the seven road construction We are fully aware of the critical role that road construction packages are out on tender for commencement during the will play to stimulate economic growth, especially in the latter part of 2021. Over the next five years the N2WCR will Eastern Cape. The COVID-19 pandemic presented a unique become a hive of construction activity as the remaining challenge to carrying out road construction projects. construction packages come on stream. The maximum To this end, SANRAL has established its own COVID-19 use of local resources in an environmentally sensitive Task Force to coordinate its activities on a national scale, manner will be critical to this. and ensure that we maintain the delicate balance between SANRAL continues to strengthen its bond with lives and livelihoods. Standard operating procedures stakeholders through regular interaction at provincial, ensure that all our construction activities ensure maximum district, and municipal levels, sharing planned project protection of the workforce. details as part of cooperative governance and preparing Several major construction projects were rolled out in local enterprises to take maximum advantage of the the Eastern Cape, such as the R63 Fort Beaufort to Alice, opportunities available. the R67 Swart Kei to Queenstown, and the N2 Nqadu to Mbokotwana River. Also, several special maintenance projects were awarded along the R56 and R58, which will Skhumbuzo Macozoma is provide much-needed jobs and an economic stimulus to SANRAL’s CEO northwestern parts of the province. 2 BUILDING SOUTH AFRICA THROUGH BETTER ROADS Tabankulu Port Edward Flagstaff Mzamba Qumbu Bridge Lusikisiki Mtentu N2 Lusikisiki Bridge Interchange Msikaba Bridge Ntafufu Port Interchange St Johns Ndwalane Interchange Existing N2 Existing R61 Greenfields Bridges N2 Wild Coast Road good for SA’s economy he N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WCR) project is well The Msikaba Bridge is currently in the early construction learnership programme, accredited by the South African under way and will continue to create thousands of phase and once complet-ed, at 580m will be the longest Qualifications Authority, affording community members Tnew jobs and economic opportunities, in line with cable-stay bridge in Africa. With a deck height of 194m it NQF level 2, 3, and 4 training. SANRAL pri-oritised work the new Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. will become the third-highest bridge in Africa and 133rd for 50% women-owned and 70% youth-owned (SMMEs). highest in the world. The N2WCR is one of the massive infrastructure projects In Makhwantini, over R28.5 million of the project budget that President Cyril Ramaphosa referred to in South Environmental compliance is a core component of all was spent on targeted enterprises including SMMEs Africa’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. SANRAL operations, and the cable-stay design will ensure and local suppliers. Approximately 10 SMMEs and four “Work has begun on this project so when we talk about that construction of the bridge has no direct impact on local plant hire suppliers participated and benefitted job creation, when we talk about massive infrastructure the pristine gorge below it. from the project, while more than 150 jobs and training build, this is what we are talking about,” said Transport Local resident Mveli Phakathi says he is excited about opportunities were created for locals. Minister Fikile Mbalula during a recent visit. the fruits that the project will bear for the community. “While SANRAL has a mandate to fund, build and The minister visited SANRAL’s multi-billion-rand N2WCR “This project is a huge opportunity for us to find employ- maintain the national road network, we cannot ignore project to assess progress in implementation of one of ment and training opportunities. We will gain valuable government’s key Strategic Integrated Projects (SIP-3), skills in building and construc-tion through this project, the importance of rural roads in facilitating economic which will serve as a critical catalyst for economic growth enabling us to sustain ourselves even when it comes to development access to marginalised communities. Rural at national, provincial and regional level. an end. Those of us who want to build small businesses roads eventually link up with the national road network, will benefit greatly, because this project will enable us to and as we heed the President’s call to use infrastructure The N2WCR is strategically positioned on the N2, provide income for our families,” he said. development as the flywheel that will kickstart our connecting four provinces (Western Cape, Eastern Cape, economy post- COVID-19, SANRAL is proud to be KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga), and traverses Cape The minister also officially opened and handed over widening the net of economic participation opportunities Town, George, Knysna, Port Elizabeth, East London, two recently completed rural access roads in Sigidi and in the road construction sector,” said SANRAL’s Southern Mthatha, Durban and Ermelo. Makhwantini in Alfred Nzo District Municipality of the Eastern Cape. Region Manager Mbulelo Peterson. “I started my visit at the Msikaba Mega Bridge construction site, and I was incredibly impressed with In Sigidi more than 120 locals were involved in SANRAL remains committed to prioritising economic the progress being made, the magnitude of the project construction of the 10km access gravel road to inclusion for the affected communities and will, along and the economic development opportunities created for a surfaced road linking the Sigidi and Mahaha with the other relevant government entities, continue emerging black business and small, medium and micro communities in the Amadiba area of Pondoland.