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Infrastructure Development And Economic Empowerment For Military Veterans And People With Disabilities

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Gqeberha, 12 September 2024 – Military veterans and people with disabilities were told, at a meeting in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM), how they can benefit from South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) projects in the area.

SANRAL hosted an impactful engagement session, called “Taking SANRAL to the People”, at the Feather Market Hall on Monday (9 September 2024). The meeting discussed the road agency’s ongoing projects, job creation and its role in fostering economic growth through infrastructure development.

NMBM Council Speaker, Eugene Johnson, expressed appreciation for SANRAL’s efforts, emphasising the agency’s commitment to uplifting marginalised communities.

“For me, this unique stakeholder engagement is about re-establishing and confirming the belief that every person has the potential and capacity to add value to the development and wellbeing of our communities. It is commendable that SANRAL has brought together women and men of our marginalised communities to address the full participation in projects in terms of empowerment and creating opportunities for entrepreneurship,” Johnson said.

“People with disabilities stand to benefit,” Johnson added, noting SANRAL’s pivotal role in advancing South Africa’s socio-economic transformation.

Acknowledging the persistent challenge of skills shortages in the region, Johnson urged that it is imperative for marginalised groups to seize the opportunity to contribute to the skills revolution. “Only a skills revolution will take us to the required level of economic growth,” she emphasised.

The session also highlighted SANRAL’s ambitious budget allocations for the Eastern Cape. Project Manager Danfred Adams shared that R8.1 billion had been invested in road infrastructure in 2023/24, with R10.3 billion set aside for 2024/25 and R12.5 billion for 2025/26. These funds will go toward routine road maintenance, road strengthening, special maintenance and infrastructure improvements not only in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan area but in the rest of the Eastern Cape.

Among the key projects discussed were the reseal of the N2 from St Albans to Linton Grange and road improvement on the R335 from Addo to Motherwell.

Adams has also acknowledged the challenges such as theft, vandalism and extortion which have caused significant setbacks to the project R335 from Addo to Motherwell.

“We are working closely with communities, law enforcement and local structures to manage these challenges. SANRAL is committed to ensuring that projects benefit the people of Nelson Mandela Bay,” he said.

Andile Duka, SANRAL’s Stakeholder Relations Coordinator in the region, concluded by affirming SANRAL’s commitment to fostering inclusivity in its projects. SANRAL is deliberate in ensuring the participation of various sectors, with the 14-Point Plan providing guidance for better project liaison with local communities. This policy ensures that previously disadvantaged individuals take part in SANRAL projects, emphasising principles of subcontracting and labour sourcing.

Through these initiatives, SANRAL continues to play a pivotal role in South Africa’s transformation, focusing on both infrastructure development and the empowerment of marginalised communities.

Thandile Makwabe, SANRAL’s Transformation Officer in the region, mentioned that transformation was at the centre of any construction project as it was one of the pillars underpinning the agency’s Horizon 2030 strategy. He called on the SMMEs to strive to move up from Grade 1 and 2 to create a safe space.

“We had assigned mentorship and training of SMMEs to main contractors and, in some cases, this was not happening hence the Board has now instructed that the function be removed from the contractor and placed under SANRAL directly. SANRAL also offers a SETA accredited pre-tender training for free that talks to resource management and finance management to build up rates before tendering,” said Makwabe.

Military Veteran Kunase Dlala elaborated on the security situation that has gripped the metro, calling for cooperation to tackle criminal activities.

“This is a great development by SANRAL but at the centre of it we are terrified. We need to establish a partnership with SANRAL and the Metro to deal with crime prevention using our capabilities. Law enforcement agencies must work with us at grassroot level to defend our communities.”

“I’m happy to be part of this engagement to learn about SANRAL. As a businesswoman, I now know there is training offered to anyone, even those without business and to people with disabilities. Going forward we’ll be able to use all available avenues to develop and grow our businesses. The information was helpful,” said Zoleka Ncwadi, business owner of Lakhe’s Construction, who is living with disability.

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