The South African National Roads Agency Soc Ltd (SANRAL’s) has empowered SMMEs in the Eastern Cape to manufacture dolosse.
The roads agency which has a responsibility to protect its asset against destructive wave action is manufacturing the dolosse which are used to protect the sea facing N2 and parallel railway line adjacent to the Settlers Interchange in Port Elizabeth from destructive waves.
The dolosse are interlocking blocks of concrete and are being manufactured at the Markman Casting Yard in Markman.
“Twenty people, five each from the four SMME sub-contracting companies, received training. The four SMME sub-contracting companies were selected for the 17 SMME packages which were identified and advertised as part the N2 Bramlin to Soutwerke (PE Bypass) special maintenance project,” Thabiso Ngozwana, SANRAL Southern Region project manager.
Training is an integral part of SANRAL projects including Community Development Projects.
The one month training was held in July this year and included practical sessions on the cleaning and assembly of concrete formwork, basic concrete technology, concrete mixing, placing, finishing and testing.
The training was provided by Meroe Skills Development, at the Heart lights Training Centre in Walmer.
The project’s main concrete subcontractor is Dynaform.
“It was important for SANRAL to host the concrete training and to empower local SMMEs in the manufacture of precast concrete products and to increase local participation on the N2 project.”
The course was offered as part SANRAL’s Small Contractor Development, Training and Community Participation programme and is aimed to create sustainable enterprises.
Portia Ngcwabe, has a post graduate degree in management and is the owner of Phefong Construction had five of her staff attended the concrete training programme.
“By attending the workshop my staff can produce good products and do any concrete work. In the past the staff would receive on the job training from the contractors but this was an opportunity for them to gain skills and a qualification,” she said.
“This is a great opportunity for black women especially in the civil engineering industry which is dominated by men,” said Ngcwabe.
Nwabisa Mgubasi, a qualified architectural draftsman and, co-owner of Sokhazimla Trading CC also attended the concrete training and said she now knows how to mix concrete properly. “I learned the ratio of how to get the different strengths of concrete,” Mgubasi said.
“This is an amazing opportunity and I am now also in a position to impart my knowledge to the next person,” she said.
Nathi Lusizi who works for Magna Civils said the course was very informative. “I not only know how to mix and make concrete but also know how important it is to vibrate the concrete to make sure there are no bubbles trapped in the concrete mix.”
Eight of the 2,5 ton dolosse are manufactured daily, cured on site and transported to the final placement next to Settlers interchange.
Alan Straton
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