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SANRAL: We are more than just the e-toll guys

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The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) launched their 100 page book celebrating their 20 years of existence at a glittering event in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Port Elizabeth this evening.

Among the dignitaries present were Skhumbuzo Macozoma – SANRAL CEO and Eastern Cape MEC for Roads and Transport, Weziwe Tikana.

Doris Simpson: “The book elevates SANRAL’s work in education and training.”

SANRAL, whose mandate is to develop, manage, maintain and expand the road systems in South Africa, has been on the road for a month celebrating 20 years of existence at events in each province.

In his address Skhumbuzo Macozoma touched on a number of issues, saying:

If we leave the politics of e-tolls aside there hasn’t been a scandal at all in the 20 year existence of SANRAL.

SANRAL has expanded from 6700 km of roads in 1998 to 22000 km of roads in 2018 and from 100 employees in 1998 to 399 employees in 2018.

Macozoma said that part of the reason why SANRAL has been able to deliver is as a result of stable leadership with Nazir Alli for 18 years at the helm before retiring and making way for Macozoma these last two years.

SANRAL’s netwoork only has poor to very poor roads RATIO of below 4% – better thah internationaly accepted norms.

For every National Road SANRAL does there will be a Community Project attached to it.

SANRAL intends training more than 100 engineeers and release some of them to municipalities – some of which have no engineers at all.

Macozoma highlighted the years from 1998 to 2010 as a bumper period for SANRAL with a lot of government capital backing.

On the other hand Macozoma said that this past decade has not been a good one for SANRAL characterised by slower delivery than before due to corruption, political influence, economic slowdown and e-toll resistance.

SANRAL has a plan to generate income through doing work outside of South Africa’s borders.

Macozoma was emphatic about continuing to toll saying that SANRAL had grown into a R15 Billion entity as a result of public and private investment.

The warning from SANRAL was clear; “If we do not resolve the e-toll situation in Gauteng then in 5 years there will be no work done on roads and they will degenerate,” said Macozoma.

With regard to the e-toll question in the Western Cape Macozoma is of the opinion that e-tolls will help solve the traffic congestion in Cape Town citing the fact that Cape Town is now the most congested city in South Africa.

SANRAL wants to change the face of the construction industry today with Macozoma saying that the future industry should bear no resemblance to the construction industry of now and the past. “We want a clean break. It is not our intention to kill established business but want big business to see the advantage of being an enabler,” concluded Macozoma.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.