SANRAL plans numerous contracts before close of year

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) expects to award a further R3.8bn (approx. US$212mn) by the end of the year

The new flurry of awards follows R1.4bn (approx. US$79mn) the organisation has awarded in tenders in its Southern Region since the start of the 2024/25 financial year. These include the likes of the contract for the construction of the R61 section between Luqoqweni and Bambisana; the upgrading of the N2 section from Bloukfrans to Storms Rivers; and the contract for the slope stabilisation along the R61 section near Cofimvaba.

“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,” remarked Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL’s southern region manager. “Since the beginning of this financial year, we have awarded 12 road infrastructure contracts amounting to a total investment of R1.4bn. Furthermore, 24 tenders are in evaluation stage, and we anticipate these to be awarded in the last quarter of the year.”

More construction contracts to come

The contracts still expected to be issued before the year – most currently in the evaluation phase – 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.

“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,” continued Peterson. “Our focus will largely be around Mthatha as a key economic hub of the province with a total investment of around R5bn 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.”