The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has awarded tenders to the value of R1,4-billion in its Southern Region (Eastern Cape) since the start of the 2024/25 financial year, with R3,8-billion more in contracts expected to be awarded by the end of the year.
The awarded tenders include the contract for the construction of the R61 section between Luqoqweni and Bambisana to the value of R174-million, the upgrading of the N2 section from Bloukrans to Storms River to the value of R93-million and the contract for the slope stabilisation along the R61 section near Cofimvaba to the value of R44-million, all awarded in mid-August 2024.
“Our accelerated road infrastructure build programme is on track to bring the state of the province’s road network to a pristine and safe driving standard while improving accessibility in rural and remote areas of the Eastern Cape. Since the beginning of this financial year, we have awarded 12 road infrastructure contracts amounting to a total investment of R1,4-billion,” says Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL’s Southern Region manager.
“Furthermore, 24 tenders are in evaluation stage, and we anticipate these to be awarded in the last quarter of the year,” says Peterson.
Contracts currently in the evaluation phase for design and for construction are valued at R3,8-billion. These include the upgrading of the R61 sections from All Saints to Bhaziya and between Qumanco and Ngcobo, the upgrading of the Pikoli to Glenmore access road from the N2 intersection, and the upgrading of the R62 from Louterwater to Kareedouw. These are anticipated to be awarded by end of the 2024 calendar year.
The Southern Region will be advertising 14 tenders with an estimated value of R1,2-billion over the next few weeks. These include the contract for the upgrading of the R62 section from Joubertina to Louterwater, the upgrading of the N2 section from Mbokotwana River to Qumbu, and the widening of the N2 from Viedgesville to Mthatha to a double carriageway to ease traffic congestion in the Mthatha CBD.
“The bulk of the investment will be in the Eastern part of the province, which is the most populous area of the Eastern Cape and where the road infrastructure is lacking. Our focus will largely be around Mthatha as a key economic hub of the province with a total investment of around R5-billion to improve mobility in and out of the city along the N2 from Viedgesvile to the city centre and later in 2025 on the R61 from the Mthatha Airport to Madeira Street,” says Peterson.
Seventeen (17) routine road maintenance contracts, with an estimated value of R1,2-billion, will be taken to market over the next few months as the current contracts reach their conclusion.
Peterson reports that SANRAL’s major projects in the province are progressing well with the R1,2-billion upgrade of the N2 section between KwaBhaca and Ngcweleni River near EmaXesibeni, the R1,2-billion upgrade of the R56 from Matatiele to the KwaZulu-Natal boundary and the R1,3-billion upgrade of the R63 from Bhisho to the N6 intersection having created over 500 job opportunities to date.
“Our flagship N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WCR) project is picking up speed with three major contracts underway, including the Msikaba Bridge, the Mtentu Bridge and the construction of the road linking the bridges (Package 5). Earlier in August we announced the imminent construction of the R2,2-billion road from Lingeni village to Msikaba Bridge anticipated for early 2025,” adds Peterson.
To date, the Msikaba Bridge contract has created opportunities for 44 local suppliers, 48 service providers and 61 subcontractors to the value of R665,6-million. Over R115-million in wages has been paid.
While on the Mtentu Bridge project, R250-million has been spent to date with 248 local labourers employed. To date, 445 job opportunities have been created and 41 targeted enterprises have been appointed on Package 5 between the Msikaba and Mtentu bridges of the N2WCR project.
