RECLAIMING, RECYCLING AND REUSING - SANRAL plays a key role in saving our planet

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RECLAIMING, RECYCLING AND REUSING - SANRAL plays a key role in saving our planet
FEB/MAR 2020

RECLAIMING,
RECYCLING
AND
REUSING
SANRAL plays a key role
in saving our planet

There is a concerted effort to
increase the rate of recycling
and reclamation, and incorporate
alternative material in building our
roads and bridges. This is great for
saving resources and the planet.
Read the full article on pages 8 and 9.
RECLAIMING, RECYCLING AND REUSING - SANRAL plays a key role in saving our planet
IN THIS ISSUE

       Talk to us
       pressoffice@nra.co.za

       Compliments from road users                                                              2      Toll roads save time and money
       Hennie de Kock, Philadelphia                                                                    The 2020 Toll Tariffs adjustments effective
       At the end of a year with lots of dark patches, economic stagnation and                         01 March 2020 published
       never-ending witness of corruption and stagnation, I now daily live a dream
       come true, completion of the N7 highway between Cape Town and Malmes-
       bury.
       This is an enormous achievement for all the small little towns along this                6      The National Household Travel Survey
       route, places like Philadelphia and Kalbaskraal as well as Atlantis and
       Malmesbury further north. Not to mention Cape Town and actually the
                                                                                                       Evolution of the transport system
       whole of the Western Cape …
       It was competed with precision, thoroughly and within the agreed timeline.
       All thanks to SANRAL, the engineers and contractors involved, who with                   7      Road-tripping for retirees
       distinction gave us all a ‘First World’ economic life artery.
                                                                                                       Perfect time for some leisurely road-trips

       Reinhold Swart, Stellenryk
       This last year I regularly dropped in at my old friend Jerry who lives just
       outside Malmesbury … I was amazed at the construction of the new N7.                     17 N2 improvements at Mhlali and Mvoti River
       Engineering ingenuity, what an awesome sight!                                               Crossing
       The completed part, from the Philadelphia off-ramp towards Kalbaskraal,                         Improvements to resume
       was exceptionally well constructed. Neat off-ramps, exits and bridges, not
       to mention the stormwater channels and the network of traffic circles …
       Even the barrier walls were finished off beautifully. …
                                                                                                19 SANRAL’s Technical Excellence Academy
       I would also like to mention the surprise of driving back from Sandbaai
       last weekend, on a brand-new double highway between Sir Lowry’s Pass to                         Developing engineers for the future
       Somerset West. The most frustrating bottleneck at the bottom of the pass,
       now is something of the past.
       Yippee, and thank you very much to all our committed roadbuilders and
       construction workers.
                                                                                                20 The motivating force of Siya Kolisi
                                                                                                       “One day I want to be like that”
       Ed’s Note: Both letters first appeared in “Die Burger” newspaper and were
       shortened and translated.

    FoodForward SA
    FoodForward SA (FFSA) does ‘Foodbanking’: it              informal settlements suffer from persistent hunger or
    collects surplus edible food from farmers, retailers      malnutrition.” FFSA’s mission is zero hunger by 2030.
    and manufacturers and gives it to registered
                                                              FFSA partners with the UN on its global initiative on
    organisations which serve the needy. FFSA is the
                                                              Food Loss and Waste Reduction. It is upgrading its
    largest food redistribution charity in South Africa.
                                                              foodbanking model and expanding to assist over
    FFSA Managing Director Andy du Plessis says that          2 000 organisations to reach one million people every
    30% of all food produced in South Africa goes to          day within five years.
    waste. Last year it recovered 4 220 tons of surplus       Last year FFSA launched its ‘Second Harvest’
    food — which is a mere 0.05% of the estimated 10          initiative, to include farmers and primary producers.
    million tons currently ending up in landfills or being    This enabled them to broaden the range of food
    incinerated.                                              offered as well as increase its nutritional value.
    “People are going to bed without food across South        What’s not to love about this
    Africa,” says Du Plessis. “Up to 70% of people in         fabulous project?

                        For more information or to get involved visit www.foodforwardsa.org

2                                                                             FEB/MAR ‘20 | ISSUE 30
RECLAIMING, RECYCLING AND REUSING - SANRAL plays a key role in saving our planet
WHAT’S UP

               Toll roads save time and money
T
        olls are not new. Since the ancient times of
        turnpikes – where gatekeepers turned the pike
        to allow travellers to pass after paying their
toll – tolling has been used internationally to fund road
projects.
In South Africa our government is faced with many
pressing challenges and demands on its budget –
including a range of social needs. This means that
roads can sometimes slip down the agenda. However,
toll roads and the tolls that they collect are a way of
ensuring that specific road projects can be provided
for and maintained, bringing with them the benefit of
speedier, easier and safer travel.
Across the globe – from Colombia to China, the
USA to UK – toll roads save commuters’ time and
money, reduce congestion and create safer driving
environments, improve fuel efficiency and pollution,
and support business growth.
In South Africa, only 13% of the 22 214 km
network is made up of toll roads.
Toll roads world-wide operate on the user-pays
principle; in other words, road users pay a direct user
fee for the portion of the road they utilise.
The toll tariffs or fees are used to ensure that these
roads are optimally maintained and expanded, and
this saves money in the long run. Costs of delayed
road maintenance can be up to 18 times higher than if
routine preventative maintenance had been done.

 Roads need to be kept in optimal condition at all times.
        Roads deteriorate over time due to wear and tear from traffic loading (especially trucks) and climate (rainfall and UV radiation).
             The maintenance of roads is not a once-off occurrence – it is a continuous process to ensure optimal performance.

Toll tariffs on our national roads are adjusted        “We use the inflation rate as a guide, so that
annually – and this year the adjustment came           the toll tariffs remain the same in real terms,
into effect on 1 March 2020. Approved by               meaning there is effectively no increase to
Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula, they were        the rate from when the initial toll tariff was
gazetted on 7 February 2020.                           implemented,” explained Vusi Mona, General
                                                       Manager Communications at SANRAL.
These adjustments are in line with the
Consumer Price Index (CPI), as obtained from           As an example, the toll users pay on the N4
Statistics South Africa. The CPI percentage            Toll Route allows development of the road’s
used to work out the 1 March 2020 toll tariff          infrastructure and a well-managed road
adjustment is 4.31%.                                   network, which in turn ensures a safer, faster,
                                                       more convenient route and a shortened travel
                                                       time from Tshwane to Maputo
                                                       in Mozambique.
                                                       Broader payback for South Africa and
                                                       Mozambique comes from substantial
                                                       investments in socio-economic development
  Collection of toll fees                              of the communities along the route, and
  allows us to:                                        expansion of industry, commercial business
  • Clean drains to ensure effective                   and jobs in the region.
    drainage of rainwater
  • Cut grass to improve visibility and
                                                   VEHICLE CLASS APPLICABLE TO CONVENTIONAL TOLL PLAZAS
    reduce the risk of veldfires
                                                   Vehicle classes at conventional toll plazas are determined by the number of axles.   Discounts offered at
  • Seal surface cracks and fix potholes
                                                                                                                                        specific toll plazas for
  • Maintain road signs and markings                CLASS 1    All light vehicles                                                       frequent users, as well as
                                                                                                                                        qualifying local users, still
  • Respond to crashes and clean-up debris         HEAVY VEHICLES
                                                                                                                                        apply. Applications for
  • Resurface the road on a periodic basis          CLASS 2    2 AXLE                                                                   discounts can be made at
                                                                                                                                        the toll plaza offices.
  • Add additional lanes when required.
                                                    CLASS 3    3 and 4 AXLE

                                                    CLASS 4    5 or more AXLE

For details on the applicable tariffs, see Government Gazette No. 43002 of 7 February 2020.

                                                                  Building South Africa through better roads                                                            3
RECLAIMING, RECYCLING AND REUSING - SANRAL plays a key role in saving our planet
PERSPECTIVES

                                                                                                                                The 2019/20
                                                                                                                                 Arrive Alive
                                                                                                                                 Road Safety
                                                                                                                              campaign statistics
                                                                                                        Photo: Mikael Ullén
                                                                                                                                   in brief
    The Stockholm Declaration:
                                                                                                                              Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula
                                                                                                                              recently reported on the statistics for the
                                                                                                                              2019/20 Festive Season Arrive Alive Road

         A global compact
                                                                                                                              Safety Campaign.
                                                                                                                              There was a massive reduction in major
                                                                                                                              fatal crashes or collisions with five or

      to prevent road deaths
                                                                                                                              more fatalities during the festive period:

                                                                                                                              2018/19                              2019/20
                                                                                                                              27 major crashes              13 major crashes

    T
                                                                                                                              182 fatalities                    76 fatalities
          he Third Global Ministerial          international community to focus on       hosted under the theme ‘Achieving
          Conference on Road Safety was        reducing the impact on youth.             Global Goals’ and was co-sponsored
          attended by more than 1700                                                     by the Government of Sweden and               The 2019/20 statistics on
                                               Minister Mbalula described the
    government ministers, civil society        document as an important milestone        the WHO.                               Fatality rates as compared to 2018/19
    leaders and other stakeholders from        and echoed the importance of joint                                                   Decline
    over 140 countries, including a South      action at global and local level. “The                                                                Free State
                                                                                                                                    35%
    African delegation headed by Minister      Stockholm Declaration recognises the
    of Transport Fikile Mbalula.                                                                                                    23%              Mpumalanga
                                               importance of global cooperation …
                                               and the need for government and the                                                  19%              Western Cape
    The summit called for urgent action,
                                               private sector to work together,” he           The Stockholm                         16%              North West
    renewed political commitment and
    more innovative approaches to prevent
                                               noted.
                                                                                               Declaration                          13%              Northern Cape
    the 500 million road deaths and injuries   The Minister added that government             objectives at a                        7%              Eastern Cape
    projected to occur in the next decade.     would be working on integrating the
                                               objectives of the agreement into its              glance:                             5%              KwaZulu-Natal
    Addressing delegates in her opening        own road-safety strategies.
                                                                                          • Halve road deaths and serious                         Increase
    remarks, the European Commissioner
                                               Addressing the dire consequences             injuries by 2030                                  12%       Limpopo
    for Transport, Adina Vălean, appealed
                                               of road accidents is a particularly        • Reduce the impact on children                                   Gauteng
    for a coordinated effort to address                                                                                                        1%
                                               pressing public health challenge in          and young people aged 5–29
    the crisis of road deaths worldwide.
                                               low- and middle-income countries,
    “We can no longer accept the                                                          • Focus on speed management,
    unacceptable. I consider it our duty
                                               which account for 93% of the world’s         including 30 kmph speed limits    Other festive season facts
                                               road fatalities. The Declaration makes       in key areas
    to find solutions to improve road          specific reference to the unequal                                                                     2018/19      2019/20
    safety, and we must act now, at local,                                                • Ensure all vehicles produced      No. of
                                               progress being made across regions in
    European and global level,” she said.                                                   and sold worldwide are            vehicles                      1.3        1.5
                                               the area of road safety.                     equipped with recommended         stopped and               million    million
    The conference saw the signing of the      South Africa has a particularly poor         safety features by 2030           checked
    Stockholm Declaration, whose primary       safety record, ranking 159 out of 175      • Increase investment and adopt     No. of road-
                                                                                                                              blocks                      775       1 924
    focus is on halving road traffic deaths    countries in terms of total road deaths      a coordinated approach to road
    and injuries by 2030, in line with the     in a 2018 report released by the World       safety                            Impounded
                                                                                                                              vehicles                  2 967       3 814
    global targets agreed in the United        Health Organisation (WHO). The cost        • Accelerate progress toward
    Nations Sustainable Development            to the economy is in excess of R168          safer, cleaner and more
    Goals (SDGs).                              billion, underscoring the damaging           affordable transport                     Types of vehicles involved
                                               impact of road crashes on long-term                                                        in fatal crashes
    Recognising that road traffic injuries                                                • Focus on developing new
                                               national economic growth.                    technologies to make road
    are now the biggest killer of children                                                                                                    Light motorcars           42%
                                               The Third Global Ministerial                 users safer
    and young adults worldwide,
                                               Conference on Road Safety was                                                                  Light delivery vehicles   20%
    the Declaration also calls on the
                                                                                                                                              Minibuses or combis        9%

                                                                                                                                     Fatalities were made up by

                                               From boots and sneakers to sparkly stilettos, a towering pile of shoes
                                                                                                                                     1%       Cyclists
                                               assembled in Stockholm’s central station set the scene for an important
                                                                                                                                              Drivers
                                               global summit on road safety that took place in the Swedish capital city on          25%
                                               19 – 20 February 2020. The exhibit sent a powerful message: each pair of             34%       Passengers
                                               shoes represented one of the 3 700 people who die on the roads every day.            40%       Pedestrians

4                                                                             FEB/MAR ‘20 | ISSUE 30
RECLAIMING, RECYCLING AND REUSING - SANRAL plays a key role in saving our planet
STAKEHOLDER

                                       SANRAL hits the road

 Road construction projects in O.R.Tambo
 District to create over 8 000 jobs
 S
       ANRAL will over the next three years undertake         projects inject into the regional economy, and also        SANRAL Southern Region Manager Simon Peterson
       more than 150 road construction projects in the        cautioned SMMEs to ensure that they are 100%               said: “We understand that before we build roads
       Eastern Cape with at least 37 of those located         compliant in order to tender for these economic            as economic arteries in our communities, we
 in the O.R. Tambo District Municipality. These projects      development opportunities.                                 have a responsibility to make sure people are at
 are expected to create over 8 000 jobs and see                                                                          the forefront of our development plans. We are
                                                              All unskilled labour, and as far as possible skilled       particularly driven to break down barriers of entry for
 approximately R2.8 billion flow to small, medium and
                                                              and semi-skilled labour, will be sourced locally, as       broad-based participation by black South Africans.
 micro enterprises (SMMEs), the bulk of which will be
                                                              will local SMME contractors and suppliers of goods         We do however need a concerted commitment
 from from the local area.
                                                              and services needed to meet the required contractor        from all our stakeholders to cooperate within the
 This was the message which was welcomed at                   participation goals on SANRAL projects.                    parameters of the structures that are put in place,
 SANRAL’s recent stakeholder engagement event                                                                            specifically the composition of Project Liaison
                                                              To ensure social and economic inclusion for the            Committees (PLCs). While not every entity can serve
 in O.R. Tambo region in Mthatha, with Traditional
                                                              people of O.R. Tambo District, SANRAL’s projects           on the PLC, this body is mandated to act in the
 Leadership, SMMEs, provincial and local government,
                                                              are guided by a commitment to its Transformation           interests of all stakeholders.”
 business and civil society at large.
                                                              Policy that seeks to advance black business, SMME
                                                                                                                         In the spirit of consultation and cooperation, SANRAL
 In her opening address to a packed venue, Executive          training and mentoring, a 14-point plan that prioritises
                                                                                                                         continues to take its flagship ‘Taking SANRAL to the
 Mayor of O.R. Tambo District Municipality, Councillor        community engagement and an overall strategy that          People’ campaign all over South Africa, engaging
 Tokozile Sokanyile expressed gratitude for the               is aligned to the Government’s National Development        with communities and creating a platform to foster
 economic lifeline that SANRAL’s road infrastructure          Plan.                                                      meaningful dialogue.

                                                              A road fit for a king
                                                              SANRAL is bringing economic relief to the people           event by the Inkosi Mazibuko, as well as His
                                                              of Nquthu in KZN with a road resurfacing project.          Majesty’s sons, Prince Buza and Prince Simengaye.
                                                              Following engagements and discussions between
                                                              SANRAL and His Majesty King Zwelithini towards the         A project of this magnitude will not only improve the
                                                              end of last year, it was formally agreed that the gravel   local and regional infrastructure but will also create
                                                              road, leading to the Isandlwana Battle Field, would be     an economic lifeline to the people of Nquthu and the
Prince Simengaye Zwelithini shares some insight with SANRAL
Board Chairperson Mr Themba Mhambi and SANRAL Board Member    upgraded.                                                  greater Umzinyathi District.
Alderman Rob Haswell.
                                                              As part of the flagship “Taking SANRAL to the
                                                                                                                         It is anticipated that approximately 150 people,
                                                              People” campaign, SANRAL recently held a
                                                                                                                         including women, youth, and persons with
                                                              stakeholder engagement session with the Nquthu
                                                                                                                         disabilities, will benefit from training and work
                                                              community to foster dialogue between traditional
                                                              leadership, small, medium, and micro-enterprises           opportunities, as well as contractor development
                                                              (SMMEs), the public sector, and civil society, to          opportunities for SMMEs.
                                                              unpack the economic development opportunities              Regional Manager Dumisani Nkabinde reiterated
                                                              associated with this particular project, as well as        SANRAL’s commitment to break down monopolies
                                                              future road construction projects in the area.             in the supply chain of materials, equipment,
                                                              This road upgrade initiative was lauded by the Royal       technologies, systems and other areas to ensure
                                                              Family, who were represented at the stakeholder            broad-based participation by black South Africans.

                                                                Building South Africa through better roads                                                                         5
RECLAIMING, RECYCLING AND REUSING - SANRAL plays a key role in saving our planet
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

    The National Household                                                                                                A snapshot of the NHTS
                                                                                                                          conducted in 2013
    Travel Survey:                                                                                                        The last NHTS conducted in 2013 indicated that

    What you need to know
                                                                                                                          individuals who attended educational institutions
                                                                                                                          and used public transport were most likely to use
                                                                                                                          taxis (69,5%), followed by those who used buses
                                                                                                                          (24,7%), while 5,8% used trains.

    W
              hether you live in the heart of bustling         of the year to conduct in-person interviews with                              69,5%            24,7% 5,8%
              Johannesburg or among the lush green hills       South Africans about their transport challenges and
              of Zululand, transport is what connects you      behaviours.
    to many important things in life – from family and         The survey results will be critical for the planning
    friends to jobs and learning opportunities. And with       of new and improved transport services and
    more and more South Africans moving around, access         infrastructure.
    to affordable, safe and reliable transport is more vital
                                                               “The information collected will aid the government in
    than ever.
                                                               identifying public transport programmes that require
    To deliver an integrated, safe, reliable and effective     immediate intervention and where more resources
    transport system Statistics South Africa (Stats SA)        should be deployed in improving services and
    in collaboration with the Department of Transport is       efficiency,” explains Statistician-General Mr Risenga
    conducting a research survey to collect data on the        Maluleke. The fieldworkers who will be conducting
    travel patterns of individuals and households across       the survey in person, will record the responses on a
    the country. The outcomes of the survey will be used       handheld device.
    as a planning platform for new transport services and      The NHTS 2020 is South Africa’s third household
    infrastructure required in the future.                     travel survey, with the first one conducted in 2003
    Officially known as the National Household Travel          and the second in 2013. The latest data will help the
    Survey (NHTS) 2020, the research survey will provide       Department of Transport, which commissioned the
    important insights into citizens’ travel needs and         research, to understand how the transport landscape
    experiences. Hundreds of Stats SA fieldworkers             has changed in the past seven years to enable better
    have been crisscrossing the country since the start        infrastructure planning and resource reallocation for
                                                               public transport.
                                                               The 2013 survey shed important light on the preferred
                                                               modes of public transport in the country, revealing that
                                                               the vast majority of South Africans relied on taxis over
                                                               buses and trains. The data collected as part of NHTS
                                                               2020 will help to inform interventions designed to give
                                                                                                                          NHTS 2020 at a glance
                                                               passengers better-quality services.
                                                               “It will help decipher needs and issues in services
                                                               such as the scholar transport system, the taxi
                                                               industry and the passenger rail network to enable the
                                                               Department of Transport to plan interventions that will
                                                               ensure continuity and quality of services,” adds             survey duration                    52
                                                               Mr Maluleke.                                                 January–March                  districts
                                                                                                                                  2020

                                                                                                                                 65,000                        500
                                                                                                                                sampled                   fieldworkers/
                                                                                                                                dwellings                 enumerators

                                                                                                                          HOW TO IDENTIFY
                                                                                                                          A STATS SA
                                                                                                                          FIELDWORKER
                                                                                                                          • Stats SA issued identity card
                                                                                                                          • Black bib and a cap with Stats SA logo

                                                                                                                          To verify a fieldworker, contact the NHTS
                                                                                                                          call centre: 0800 110 248 (toll-free number) or
                                                                                                                          visit www.statssa.gov.za (for online verification).

6                                                                              FEB/MAR ‘20 | ISSUE 30
RECLAIMING, RECYCLING AND REUSING - SANRAL plays a key role in saving our planet
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

                                                                                                                                                        JUST LIVING
                                                                                                                                                        THE SLOW LIFE

      Road-tripping for retirees

                                                                 N
                                                                           o longer bound by office hours and annual
                                                                           leave? With your job in your rear-view mirror,                20,451 views
                                                                           your retirement is the perfect time to take some
                                                                                                                                         Living the life
                                                                           leisurely road-trips. You can go and see all those
                                                                  sights around this beautiful country of ours that you may
                                                                  have missed out on up till now.
                                                                                                                                           There are some brilliant blogs written
                                                                  One thing that retirees and seniors have in abundance, is
                                                                                                                                           by retirees who love to travel, full
                                                                  time. Retirees can travel more slowly, be gone for longer
                                                                                                                                           of tips and inspiring tales. Some
                                                                  periods, and not be confined to a week or two at a time.
                                                                                                                                           armchair travelling around their blogs
                                                                                                                                           could be just what you need to get the
                                                                                                                                           travel juices flowing. For starters, see:

                                        on            working out your route.
Here are a few ideas to get you started
                                                                                                                                            Lifepart2.com
You can decide how energetic or leisurely you want                 feeling wrung out, steer your way to white sands, beautiful
your trip to be, and the level of comfort that you want to         beaches and the resort life.
experience. This degree of freedom may take some getting
                                                                   Whether you want rest or excitement, solitude or crowds, low
used to – but once the bug bites, road-tripping can really
                                                                   cost or luxury, there is something for everyone when it comes
get into your system.
                                                                   to retirement travel. The world really is your oyster! Best of all,
If you are feeling energetic, a long road-trip punctuated by       you can travel during weekdays and in off-peak seasons when
hikes may be just the ticket. However, if your career left you     the prices are lower and the crowds are smaller.

                                                                                                                                            hendricksonadventure.com

Iconic destinations
South Africa is full of amazing and breath-taking
places that should be visited at least once in your
life. Choose the ones you want to see and plan your
journey around them. Here are just a few ideas:

                                                                                                                                            seniorswithlatitude.com

            Eastern Cape
            • Addo Elephant Nationa
                                    l   Park
            KwaZulu-Natal
            • uKhahlamba Drakensb
                                  erg      Park
            Mpumalanga
            • Blyde River Canyon Na                     Western Cape
                                    ture   Reserve                       ain
           Mpumalanga & Limpopo                         • Table Mount                                                                       Retiredandtravelling.com
                                                        • Robben Island                      ns
           • Kruger National Park                                           Botanical Garde
                                                         • Kirstenbosch                    n
                                                                           ch, Simonstow
                                                         • Boulders Bea
                                                          • Cape Point
                                                                             ds
                                                          • Cape Winelan
                                                                     us  in w  hale season
                                                           • Herman                       m
                                                                            and its museu
                                                           • Swellendam
                                                              complex
                                                                              ads and lagoon
                                                            • Knysna, its he
                                                                              National Park
                                                                                                                                            Oneroadatatime.com
                                                            • Tsitsikamma
                                                                              , Oudtshoorn
                                                             • Cango Caves

                            Have fun researching – then make that road-trip a reality!
                                                                                                                                            Noparticularplacetogo.net

                                                                 Building South Africa through better roads                                                                            7
RECLAIMING, RECYCLING AND REUSING - SANRAL plays a key role in saving our planet
COVER FEATURE

      RECLAIMING,                                            Reclaiming, recycling and reusing is not just for household items – although of course

      RECYCLING
                                                            every bit helps the planet. Over the years SANRAL has been implementing recycling of
                                                           material wherever possible on road improvement projects. SANRAL’s Horizon 2030 strategy
                                                          places increased emphasis on resource efficiency, with a concerted effort to increase the
                                                         rate of recycling/reclamation and to incorporate alternative material. Increasingly higher

      AND
                                                        targets for these will be set going forward.

                                                         These efforts are aligned to SANRAL’s       the provision of road infrastructure.
                                                         Corporate Strategy, Horizon 2030, SANRAL    Horizon 2030 puts emphasis on resource

      REUSING...
                                                        Environmental Policy and Environmental       efficiency, the pursuit of which will help SANRAL to
                                                       Sustainability Framework.                     achieve multiple objectives, including compliance,
                                                      So SANRAL operates on the basis of an          lower operational risk and costs, improved
                                                     Environmental Sustainability Framework          reputation, innovation and climate resilience.

      as we build
                                                    which indicates how environmental                These objectives are also in line with relevant
                                                   issues are incorporated into SANRAL’s             government initiatives, specifically the National

      our roads
                                                  planning, design, construction, maintenance        Strategy for Sustainable Development (NSSD) and
                                                 and operations, which ensures sustainability in     the Green Transport Strategy (GTS).

                                                                      In addition to a renewed commitment to comply with environmental laws,
                                                                      SANRAL’s Environmental Policy makes several other commitments to:

                                                                      • reduce negative impacts and/or enhance positive ones
                                                                      • review, monitor and set appropriate targets to continually improve on
                                                                        environmental performance
                                                                      • use limited natural resources efficiently and to pursue alternatives
                                                                      • reduce risks and/or build resilience to climate change
                                                                      • implement selected environmental offset projects
                                                                      • use innovation and research as means to inform strategies, targets and/or
                                                                        action plans.

                                 SANRAL recently initiated a study tour and workshop, in collaboration with consulting engineers, industry
                                 experts and academia, to look at how to optimise the use of recycled/reclaimed materials in various construction
                                projects. The discussions at the workshop had a bias towards the N2/N3 Freeway Upgrades project. The approach
                               to constructing a long section of road like the N3 is to break it into shorter sections. This allows for better
                              management of the project while also achieving other objectives such as managing risk and opening increased
                              access to opportunities for Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs). As a result, each section of the
                             project will be assigned a SANRAL project manager, consulting engineer and an appointed contractor.

                            This two-day event, which commenced on 21 January 2020 with a study tour of four facilities involved in material
                           recycling, ended on 22 January with a workshop at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Howard College Campus, reported
                           Mpati Makoa, SANRAL’s Environmental Manager.

                                                      The four facilities visited were:

                                                                                             GREEN URBAN MINE

                     A concrete and demolition                  produces mixed              does tyre recycling and      improves on the characteristics
                    waste-processing company                          concrete        produce three products, one                   of recycled asphalt
                                                                                        of which is suitable as an         (formerly National Asphalt)
                                                                                      additive for road surfacing

8                                                      FEB/MAR ‘20 | ISSUE 30
RECLAIMING, RECYCLING AND REUSING - SANRAL plays a key role in saving our planet
COVER FEATURE

Use of reclaimed materials helps save massive amounts of
money and natural resources, by reducing the amount of
waste sent to the landfill, reducing mining of virgin material
and haul distances. This is SANRAL’s contribution to the fight
against climate change.
“Participants included SANRAL’s team from Materials, Environmental,
and Structures departments and industry players from the facilities visited,
members of academia, representatives from eThekwini Municipality and
researchers from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

“The presentations and discussions culminated in a graphic representation
of the material requirements and availability along the road, and the
formation of workgroups to drive different elements, including the adoption
of guidelines
on the use of reclaimed concrete.”

Added Mogole Mphahlele, the Environmental Management Specialist at
SANRAL: “This workshop will drive further knowledge and information-
sharing among consultants, to encourage coordinated planning for the
various road construction contracts. In this way we will be able to optimise
the use of materials.”
Mogole said that the workshop set the scene for the following:
• Specific and ongoing liaison between different projects/contracts for
  sharing excess material and/or optimising transfer of excess material
  from one contract to another.
• Reuse of concrete, that is reclaimed from demolished bridges.
• Reuse of asphalt.                                                                                                                       About
• Use of other materials recovered from sites, for example, metallic
  materials from manhole covers, signs and many more.
                                                                                                                                      N2 and N3
• Exploring the potential use of alternative materials such as tyres and                                                                Freeway
  glass.
• Getting local communities involved.
                                                                                                                                       upgrades
• Incorporating water and energy-saving as part of SANRAL’s efforts on                                                                   project
  resource efficiency.                                                                                                         Upgrades of the N2 and
• Providing further input for specifications and standards for further                                                      N3 in KwaZulu-Natal form
  research.                                                                                                             part of National Government’s
Mpati said: “We look forward to continuing to engage with and influence                                                        key Strategic Integrated
                                                                                                                                         Projects SIP2:
colleagues and other industry players to boost the rate of recycling and
                                                                                                                         Durban–Free State–Gauteng
reclamation and the incorporation of alternative material in building roads
                                                                                                                     Logistics and Industrial Corridor.
and bridges for our country. Together we can make it happen!”
                                                                                                                          SIP2 aims to strengthen the
                                                                                                                      logistics and transport corridor
                                                                                                                between South Africa’s main industrial
                                                                                                                    hubs, improve access to Durban’s
                                                                                                                 export and import facilities and raise
                                                                                                                         efficiency along the corridor.
                                                                                                              The upgrade of the N2 will focus on a 55
                                                                                                                           km length, from Lovu River
                                                                                                                       on the South Coast to Umdloti
                                                                                                                                  on the North Coast.
                                                                                                                 The N3 upgrade will focus on an 80 km
                                                                                                              section from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.
                                                                                                            It is estimated that the N2 and N3 upgrade
                                                                                                            projects will produce over 15 000 jobs over
                                                                                                                       the duration of the construction.

                                                               Building South Africa through better roads                                                  9
RECLAIMING, RECYCLING AND REUSING - SANRAL plays a key role in saving our planet
10   FEB/MAR ‘20 | ISSUE 30
REVIEWS

  Books for
  the long road
We can always depend on the welcoming pages of a book to take us to a happy place. Our selection for this
issue were all published very recently, and three of them are by local authors and set in South Africa. The
fourth will take you to a whole new world – with a whole new way of expressing itself – straight from the pen
of New York Times bestselling author Nathan W. Pyle.

Beast                                The Enumerations                      A Sin of Omission
Tendai Mtawarira                     Máire Fisher                          Marguerite Poland
with Andy Capostagno
                                     Local author Máire Fisher             This author received The Order
Beast is the story of how a humble   introduces Noah Groome, who           of Ikhamanga in Silver for her
man from Zimbabwe became a           can’t open a door unless he           excellent contribution to the
rugby icon. Tendai Mtawarira is      pushes on the handle 5 times,         field of indigenous languages,
known throughout the rugby world     must count to 5 under his breath      literature and anthropology. In
simply as Beast – or, more often     (and sometimes louder than            her latest book, Stephen (Malusi)
than not, “Beeeaaassssttt!”, as      that) and keeps 5 pebbles in his      Mzamane, a young Anglican             Strange Planet
crowds from Durban to Auckland       pocket. And that’s just the start     priest, must journey to his           Nathan W. Pyle
cry whenever he gets the ball.       of the 5s. A violent incident at      mother’s rural home to inform
                                                                                                                 Just published, and coming
In 2018 he became the most           17-year-old Noah’s school sets        her of his elder brother’s death.
                                                                                                                 straight from the mind of New York
capped prop in Springbok history,    into motion a chain of events         First educated at the Native
                                                                                                                 Times bestselling author Nathan
earning his 100th Test cap for the   that will test him and his family     College in Grahamstown, Stephen
                                                                                                                 W. Pyle, Strange Planet is an
Springboks, and in 2019 became       deeply. When Noah is sent to a        was sent to England in 1869 for
                                                                                                                 adorable and profound universe in
the most capped Super Rugby          treatment centre, he is not the       training at the Missionary College
                                                                                                                 pink, blue, green, and purple. Based
player in South Africa. Along the    only one challenged to face his       in Canterbury. On his return
                                                                                                                 on the phenomenally popular
way, he has been moved from          anxieties: his family must also       to South Africa, relegated to a
                                                                                                                 Instagram of the same name,
back row to front row, bullied       confront the secrets lurking          dilapidated mission near Fort
                                                                                                                 Strange Planet covers a full life
by xenophobic politicians, and       beneath their seemingly perfect       Beaufort, he had to confront not
                                                                                                                 cycle of the planet’s inhabitants,
undergone three bouts of heart       veneer.                               only the prejudices of a colonial
                                                                                                                 including milestones such as
surgery. The book shares insights                                          society but discrimination within
                                                                                                                 ‘Being Gains a Sibling’, and ‘The
into Mtawarira’s personal journey.                                         the Church itself. Conflicted
                                                                                                                 Being Family Attains a Beast’.
                                                                           between his loyalties to the
                                                                                                                 Through simple yet effective
                                                                           amaNgqika people, for whom his
                                                                                                                 illustrations and a delightful
                                                                           brother fought, and the colonial
                                                                                                                 vocabulary all its own, this book
                                                                           cause he is expected to uphold,
                                                                                                                 offers a sweet and hilarious look
                                                                           Stephen’s journey to his mother’s
                                                                                                                 at a distant world not all that unlike
                                                                           home proves decisive in resolving
                                                                                                                 our own.
                                                                           the contradictions that tear at his
                                                                           heart.

                                                   Building South Africa through better roads                                                             11
12   FEB/MAR ‘20 | ISSUE 30
Building South Africa through better roads   13
CONCESSIONAIRES

     Bakwena helps
     rebuild Mankwe Hide in
     Pilanesberg National Park
     In September 2018 Pilanesberg National Park was
     hit by a wildfire that spread from outside and burnt
                                                              for the perfect photo opportunity and to view wildlife
                                                              and birds in their natural habitat.                       New facilities at
                                                                                                                        Thanda Primary
     the thatch, structure and screen fence of Mankwe         Perry Dell of Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust thanked
     Hide to the ground.                                      everyone who contributed and said: “The Bakwena

                                                                                                                          celebrated!
     Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust was asked to help raise       N1N4 toll road was pivotal in making this hide
     funds for rebuilding the hide, with an estimated total   rebuild possible. Thanks to the workers at Basella
     cost of R770 000.                                        Construction that built the hide in the blazing sun,
                                                              with wildlife including lions, crocodiles and hippos
     Bakwena and its contractor Basella Construction          all around you. You did a fantastic job!”                Learners and staff at Thanda Primary School in
     were able to reduce this cost by R200 000 and add                                                                 Hectorspruit, Mpumalanga, have plenty to smile
     R50 000 towards the rebuild. Others involved in the      Bakwena supports initiatives to safeguard and
                                                                                                                       about. Three new classroom blocks with two
                                                              develop the environment and heritage along the
     rebuild included the field rangers, Ivory Tree and                                                                classrooms apiece, each with their own JoJo tank,
                                                              N1N4 corridor, and is proud to partner with and
     Legacy Lodges guides, to name but a few.                                                                          have been completed as phase four of a R6 million
                                                              support Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust, whose hard           upgrade to the school carried out by Trans African
     The rebuilt hide reopened on 10 January 2020.            work, dedication and commitment to preserving the        Concessions (TRAC). This formed part of their
     Mankwe Hide provides a comfortable place to wait         country’s wildlife is recognised and appreciated.        corporate social investment responsibilities to
                                                                                                                       communities along the N4 Toll Route. The busy N4
                                                                                                                       runs through the Onderberg like a life-giving artery,
                                                                                                                       and is operated as a toll concession by TRAC.

                                                                                                                       Phase one of Thanda Primary’s upgrade saw
                                                                                                                       construction of an ablution block with enviro toilets.
                                                                                                                       In phase two the Foundation Phase block with a
                                                                                                                       road safety-themed playground was built. Phase
                                                                                                                       three comprised building an eco-friendly, self-
                                                                                                                       sustainable kitchen and seating area, where the
                                                                                                                       school’s 763 learners are served a daily meal as
                                                                                                                       part of the National School Nutrition Programme.
                                                                                                                       The new classrooms complete the project.

                                                                                                                       Although funded by TRAC, other key role-players
                                                                                                                       include Earth Switch Architects, who designed the

                                Small streams merging
                                                                                                                       new facilities, and Laduma Construction, who built
                                                                                                                       them. Extensive planning went into the design to
                                                                                                                       ensure that the learners in this rural area enjoy first-

                                  into larger rivers                                                                   rate facilities. For example, the new classrooms
                                                                                                                       stay cool even in the brutal heat often experienced
                                                                                                                       in the Lowveld’s Nkomazi area.

                                                                                                                       Apart from giving Thanda Primary an opportunity to
 The N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) changes lives by                                                                        enjoy modern, new buildings, this upgrade has also
 ploughing revenue back into communities which the                                                                     had a profound impact on the Nkomazi community
 Route serves and connects.                                                                                            through the gift of education.
 The Midlands Meander Education Project has
 provided classroom and extramural enrichment
 in the region for the past 15 years. The Underberg
 Primary School Mastery Unit is raising levels of
 English literacy in the local Family Literacy Project
 and surrounding schools.
 Midlands Community College in Nottingham
 Road has taken a lead in computer literacy lessons
 for teachers from Bruntville Primary School in Mooi
 River.
 Singakwenza is changing the face of childcare
 facilities, crèches and early-learning centres
 through the development of educational toys using
 waste. They host workshops teaching carers,
 parents, teachers and members of the communities
 along the N3 Corridor how to make these toys and
 encourage children to use them as a fun way of
 learning.
 At St Davids Diocesan School in Greytown, N3TC
 funds have enriched academic programmes and
 improved infrastructure, as well as providing
 bursaries for deserving recipients.
 The Drakensberg Boys Choir School has partnered
 with N3TC for close to ten years. Boys with singing
 and musical talent are encouraged to attend, and
 this opportunity can change their lives.
 The image of small streams merging into larger
 rivers, leading to a massive flow of everything that
 is good about South Africa, comes to mind.

14                                                                           FEB/MAR ‘20 | ISSUE 30
ROAD SAFETY

 New bicycles to get De Aar learners
        to school and back
W
          hen it comes to road safety, there can            same, particularly as abject poverty puts school            the bicycle is to get to school and back, which should
          be no greater priority than protecting            uniforms out of reach for some children.                    help to make learning a bit easier.
          pedestrians, and particularly children. In
                                                            The pure elation and ecstasy on the faces of the            The Shova Kalula bicycle programme is an initiative
rural communities, like De Aar in the heart of the
                                                            learners could be seen all over the school grounds.         of the Department of Transport aimed at assisting
Karoo, in the Northern Cape, many children walk long
                                                            For many boys and girls, this is the first bicycle they     learners who walk more than three kilometres but less
distances to get to school every day, often with no
                                                            have ever owned, and the Minister appealed to them to       than five kilometres to school daily. Learners who walk
adult supervision. With parents who may leave for work
                                                            treasure it and pleaded with parents to help maintain it.   more than five kilometres to school qualify for state
before the children head to school, younger children
                                                            He also reminded the children that the primary use of       subsidised scholar transport.
are sometimes left in the care of older siblings, or even
walk to school by themselves – a situation that has
                                                                                                                        Since the programme’s inception in 2001, the
become normal, yet still cause for great concern.
                                                                                                                        Department of Transport has distributed over 100 000
And so, with a visible and audible passion for road                                                                     bicycles to learners throughout South Africa.
safety, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula recently
                                                                                                                        In the next three years, the department aims to
descended upon De Aar on a bicycle, flanked by
                                                                                                                        distribute 24 000 bicycles across the country.
Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul and a few
learners from surrounding schools, who had been                                                                         “With pedestrians accounting for around 40% of road
identified to receive bicycles from the Department                                                                      fatalities in South Africa, SANRAL takes road safety
of Transport.                                                                                                           very seriously. Along with key road safety stakeholders,
                                                                                                                        we remain fully committed to the call for the Decade
Minister Mbalula, joined by Northern Cape MEC for
                                                                                                                        of Action for Road Safety which is endorsed by the UN
Transport, Safety and Liaison, Nontobeko Vilakazi, as
                                                                                                                        Road Safety Collaboration, with the primary goal of
well as Education MEC Mac Jack, handed over 249
                                                                                                                        halving road deaths by 2020. To this end we reach out
Shova Kalula bicycles to learners from six schools in
                                                                                                                        to schools across the country, to facilitate basic road
De Aar. The distributed bikes were among 500 bicycles
                                                                                                                        safety training to learners, teachers and parents,” said
which will be handed over to qualifying learners across
the Northern Cape this financial year.                                                                                  Randall Cable, SANRAL Western Region Manager.

Over and above the bicycles, many learners received                                                                     SANRAL wishes these learners safe travels with their
school uniforms to ensure that all children look the                                                                    new bicycles!

                                                               Building South Africa through better roads                                                                         15
REGIONS

 Asphalt facelift
 for N2 between
 Gordon’s Bay and
 Houwhoek
 T
        he N2 remains one of the most          see black-owned SMMEs come through                                                               limited to under 15 minutes. The work
        scenic routes in the Western           the ranks. To this end we have already                                                           was fully completed in December 2019,”
        Cape, if not the whole of South        exceeded our R42.3 million target, with                                                          continued Massingue.
 Africa. With a significant portion fondly     R60.5 million of the contract value being
                                                                                                                                                SANRAL is mandated to not only develop
 dubbed the Garden Route, this national        allocated to black sub-contractors,”
                                                                                                                                                the national road network, but also to
 road carries a great deal of traffic both     said Tiago Massingue, SANRAL Project
                                                                                                                                                maintain it, and more importantly to
 commercial and recreational, particularly     Manager.
 between the Western and Eastern Cape,                                                           R187 m                   R60.5 m               ensure that this maintenance is done
                                               Glad Africa was the consultant on this            total spent on             of the contract     timeously, in order to save costs. Delaying
 displaying breath-taking natural flora                                                          asphalt overlay              value being
                                               R187 million project, with Haw & Inglis as            project              allocated to black    critical maintenance by three to five
 that simply compels one to make several                                                                                   sub-contractors
                                               the main contractor, and no less than 18                                                         years makes it six times more expensive
 stops along the way.
                                               sub-contractors who directly benefitted                                                          to fix the road, and delaying it by five to
 To ensure a superior road user                from work packages and training. Not                                                             eight years sees that figure exponentially
 experience, this project, which from          only was there a huge focus on safety                                                            compound to 18 times more.
 May 2018 until July 2019 saw nearly           training, but also specific skills such as
                                                                                                                                                These sobering figures make one think
 R13.5 million spent on labour costs,          gabion work and flag person training.
                                                                                                                                                twice before complaining about the
 involved an asphalt overlay between
                                               “The project has progressed well, and we                                                         inconvenience of roadworks when it
 Gordon’s Bay intersection and
                                               have made a concerted effort to minimise               18                      R13.5 m           seems to the untrained eye, that the road
 Houwhoek Pass.                                                                                 sub-contractors               spent on labour
                                               inconvenience to the public, with much          directly benefitted                costs         is not in need of repairs. It would appear
                                                                                                 from work and
 “We are acutely aware of the importance       of the road closures being done during                training
                                                                                                                                                that a stitch in time indeed saves nine.
 of our projects in developing the road        night-time. Stop/go points were in place                                                         Maintenance is done timeously, in order
 construction industry, particularly to        during the day and these have been                                                               to save costs.

                  Planned RRM projects for Limpopo
                           municipalities
     SANRAL is investing est. R415m              According to Thabo Mahlakwana,             developing emerging black contractors,
     into routine road maintenance               SANRAL Project Manager, many black-        it requires a long-term approach to
     (RRM) projects in Limpopo for the           owned companies in the construction        sustainable development.
     2020/2021 financial year to ensure          and maintenance sectors have
     the maintenance and sustainability          received their first experience working    To date SANRAL has more than
     of quality roads. These RRM projects        on SANRAL projects. The training and       50 subcontractors who have been
     bring opportunities for SMMEs and           empowerment programmes that come           upskilled, trained and capacitated
     promote socio-economic development,         with RRM projects enables them to be       through the enterprise development
     which enables communities to enjoy          eligible for larger and more complex       programme which the agency has
     long-term economic benefits from            contracts in the future.                   championed.
     projects.                                   If we are going to succeed in

                                         Twenty-one projects will be rolled-out in the 2020/2021 financial year.
                                                                   These will be in the following municipalities:

     Capricorn District                 Mopani District                   Sekhukhune District                      Vhembe District                    Waterberg District
     • Blouberg                         • Ba-Phalaborwa                   • Elias Motsoaledi                       • Makhado                          • Bela-Bela
     • Lepelle-Nkumpi                   • Greater Giyani                  • Ephraim Mogale                         • Musina                           • Lephalale
     • Molemole                         • Greater Letaba                  • Fetakgomo Tubatse                      • Giyani                           • Modimolle-Mookgophong
     • Polokwane                        • Greater Tzaneen                 • Makhuduthamaga                         • Thulamela                        • Mogalakwena
                                        • Maruleng                                                                                                    • Thabazimbi

                        These projects will pave the way for entry level contractors to be mentored and grow alongside bigger and more
                              established contractors, to put them on an upward trajectory that will ultimately see them prosper.

16                                                                           FEB/MAR ‘20 | ISSUE 30
REGIONS

Work on the N2
improvements at
eMhlali and eMvoti
River crossings
to resume
M
         otorists can now breathe a sigh    traffic will be accommodated on contra-
         of relief as construction works    flow on each carriageway which will
         on the N2 at the Mhlali and        allow the contractor full access to the
Mvoti crossings will be resuming soon.      construction work areas. Work will
South African Roads Agency (SOC)            initially be undertaken to complete the
Limited (SANRAL) has awarded Raubex         outstanding work on the northbound
(Pty) Ltd the contract for the completion   carriageway and thereafter proceeding
of the unfinished roadworks on the N2 at    to the southbound carriageway.
the eMhlali and eMvoti River crossings.
                                            Motorists are advised to be observant
The contract administration will be         of the advance warning signs, as well as
undertaken by Naidu Consulting              the lane closures, and should exercise
Engineers (Pty) Ltd. Work will              caution when travelling through the
commence in the first quarter of            construction work zones. Reduced
2020 once the contractor finalises the      speed limit restrictions will be imposed
appointments of SMME contractors            through the construction zones.
from the project area. Work will            Motorists are urged to observe all
continue for a period of 10 months upon     warning signs for their own safety and
resumption of the construction work.        the safety of the workers on the road.
The project estimated completion date is
08 February 2021.                           SANRAL wishes to thank all motorists
                                            in advance for their co-operation and
Construction will be carried out in         patience over the last two years with
clearly defined construction zones.         the restricted travel at these two
In order to complete the outstanding        crossings and apologises for any
works in the shortest possible time,        inconvenience caused.

    RRM provides
    work for more
    than 5 000 in
    the Eastern Cape
During the 2019/20 financial year, to       provided routine operations contracts to        (RRM) of the road network,” Mbulelo         interchanges, repairing damaged road
date, work has been provided for 690        188 black SMMEs valued at R212.7m.              Peterson, SANRAL Southern Region            signs, repairing damaged guardrails,
SMMEs ranging from CIDB 1 to 9 CE                                                           manager said.                               regular mowing of grass in the road
                                            There were 1 198 training courses for                                                       reserve including the median and
sub-contractors, with a total spend                                                         In the Southern Region, there are about
                                            individuals in the Southern Region. The                                                     emergency assistance at accident
on the SMMEs of R3.4bn on SANRAL                                                            23 routine road maintenance contracts
                                            training was valued at more than R5m.                                                       scenes.
national projects.                                                                          which look after: pavement layer repairs,
                                            SANRAL in the Eastern Cape (Southern            crack sealing and patching of asphalt       The work is done through management
The number of job opportunities realised    Region) manages a road network of               pavements, cleaning of all drainage         contractors who utilise SMMEs to
in the Southern Region was 5 326, of        4 952 kilometres; this is 22% of the            structures, including removal of grass      execute the work. “The RRM projects
                                            22 214 kilometres national road network.        and debris from grids, clearing bridge      offer inexperienced SMMEs an entrance
this, 2 785 youth were employed. The
                                                                                            drainage ports and scuppers, repairing      into the sector because resources are
total spent on job creation was more        “SANRAL’s mandate also entails                  damaged fencing, clearing refuse            low, as are most of the skills needed,”
than R245m. SANRAL Southern Region          performing routine road maintenance             from the road reserve, lay-bys and          Mbulelo said.

     690                                    188                                 5 326                                   2 785                                1 198
      SMMEs                             Black SMMEs                           job opportunities                       youth employed                      training courses

                                                               Building South Africa through better roads                                                                         17
PADKOS

                                                Food on the go
                                                Do you feel like you’re constantly on the go – travelling between clients or in the car after
                                                school running everywhere?
                                                When you or the kids need a snack or quick bite, don’t rack up calories and costs by buying takeaways.
                                                These quick, easy and healthy options are perfect for when you’re on the move. They are also great for
                                                holiday and weekend road-trips.

                                                                                           Sweet and spicy snack nuts
                                                                                           Handy snacks that everyone will love.

                                                                                           Prep.:        10 min
                                                                                                                                   METHOD
                                                                                           Cook time:    17 min
                                                                                                                                   • Preheat the oven to 175°C.
                                                                                           Yield:        16 servings
                                                                                                                                   • Line a baking sheet with tinfoil and
                                                                                                                                     lightly coat with cooking spray.
                                                                                           INGREDIENTS                             • Combine walnut halves, pecan halves,
                                                                                           1 cup untoasted walnut halves             almonds, and cashews in a large bowl.
                                                                                                                                   • Add salt, black pepper, cumin, and
                                                                                           1 cup untoasted pecan halves
                                                                                                                                     cayenne pepper.
                                                                                           1 cup unsalted dry-roasted              • Toss to coat.
                                                                                             almonds
                                                                                                                                   • Heat sugar, water, and butter in a small
                                                                                           1 cup unsalted dry-roasted                saucepan over medium heat until the
                                                                                             cashews                                 butter is melted.
                                                                                           1/2 teaspoon freshly ground             • Cook for 1 minute and remove from
                                                                                             black pepper                            heat.
                                                                                                                                   • Slowly pour the butter mixture over the
                                                                                           1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
                                                                                                                                     bowl of nuts and stir to coat.
                                                                                           1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper             • Transfer the nuts to the prepared
                                                                                           ½ cup white sugar                         baking sheet and spread into a single
     Green eggs and ham muffins                                                            ¼ cup water
                                                                                                                                     layer.
     These healthy make-ahead egg muffins are low in carbs and high in protein.                                                    • Bake the nuts in the preheated oven for
                                                                                           1 tablespoon butter                       10 minutes.
     Prep.:     5 min                          METHOD                                                                              • Stir them until the warm syrup coats
     Cook time: 10 min                         • Preheat the oven to 200°C.                                                          every nut.
     Makes:     6 muffins                                                                                                          • Spread into a single layer, return to the
                                               • Grease a 6-cup muffin pan with
                                                                                                                                     oven, and bake until the nuts are sticky
                                                 oil or non-stick cooking spray and
     INGREDIENTS                                                                                                                     and roasted (about 6 minutes).
                                                 set aside.
     5 large eggs                                                                                                                  • Allow them to cool before serving.
                                               • Place the eggs in a large
     Salt and pepper to taste                    measuring cup or mixing bowl
     1 teaspoon garlic powder                    and whisk together with garlic
                                                 powder, Italian seasoning, salt
     1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
                                                 and black pepper.
     125g diced cooked ham
                                               • Divide the ham, cheese, and
     1 cup grated cheddar                        spinach evenly into the muffin
     (or any cheese you like)                    cups.
     1 cup chopped spinach                     • Pour the whisked eggs over them.
                                               • Sprinkle with more cheese if
                                                 desired.
                                               • Bake in a preheated oven for
                                                 12–15 minutes, or until set.

                                               These are great to eat cold.

                                               Note: Customise this recipe by
                                               using whatever filling you have in
                                               the fridge.

18                                                                        FEB/MAR ‘20 | ISSUE 30
EDUCATION

           Former TEA candidate engineer John Rammutla, a BSc Civil Engineering graduate from the                               The TEA is located at its Southern Region office
               University of Cape Town, was a Projects Manager in training at SANRAL, PE 2016.                                         in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.

    SANRAL’s Technical Excellence
 Academy shapes future civil engineers
SANRAL’s Technical Excellence Academy (TEA) provides much needed practical                   Candidates are given the opportunity to be of service to SANRAL regional
experience for graduate civil engineers to put their theoretical knowledge into              project managers by enhancing their project delivery. Once graduates complete
practice on actual SANRAL projects.                                                          their design training they are placed in the most beneficial environment as they
                                                                                             approach the site or project management phase.
In March SANRAL will welcome 17 new engineering candidates to the TEA, which
will push the number of graduates in training (specifically in the design phase) to          TEA candidates continue to take on design projects that have the possibility of
over 30. Some have been seconded to consulting engineering firms to broaden                  remaining ‘in-house’. An example here is realignment of a rural T-junction near
their horizons.                                                                              Elliot, which one trainee has taken on with the intention of moving into the project
                                                                                             management stage with a thorough understanding of the design process that is
The TEA programme offers a variety of road engineering projects, all with unique
                                                                                             undertaken to arrive at the best solution.
challenges, whether technical, social or environmental. Candidates are placed
among colleagues and peers with an abundance of experience and advice to                     SANRAL will continue to work towards the certification of their training
offer.
                                                                                             programme. Such certification will allow candidates to have their progress
The candidate engineers are from all over South Africa. Some will be divided                 logged incrementally when they submit Technical Experience Reports
into project design teams, while others will be placed on construction sites or              after each stage of work-based training. The aim is also to appoint more
as project managers in training in different regional offices. Four engineers                specialist mentors.
completed their three-month training at the materials testing laboratory in
February. Approximately 23 candidates will exit the design phase to join the                 The TEA is not only looking at training for technical staff but also for non-
SANRAL regions for exposure to project management.                                           technical staff in obtaining professional registration in their fields of expertise.
“The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport candidates have applied for an                    The newly established Skills Development Unit at SANRAL will ensure a
extension of their stay at the TEA until December 2020, to remain in an enabling             dedicated team of employees overseeing all aspects of the training programme
environment until delivery of their departmental design project,”                            at the TEA. There is much to look forward to!
said Andrew van Gruting, TEA Senior Mentor.
“Commencement of high-value construction projects in 2020, especially on the
N2 and N3 upgrade between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, will make the site-
based period of training challenging. Problem solving will be the order of the day,”
Van Gruting said.

    The TEA candidates in the
                              design phase of training are
    among others:                                          working on,
      • Future realignment of the
                                    N2 to avoid congestion in
      • Strengthening of existin                                Knysna.
                                 g road pavement on the R5
         Vivo (NR) to improve freigh                          21 between Dendron and
                                      t-carrying capacity.
     • Investigation of widening
                                  of the N2 between Thornhill
     • Preliminary designs for                                 and Jeffrey’s Bay.
                                 upgrading the road between
        and the proposed Mkambat                                Holy Cross Hospital
                                      i interchange on the N2 Wil
    • Corridor studies on the R7                                  d Coast Highway.
                                   2 between Kidd’s Beach and
    • Periodic maintenance of                                     East London Airport.
                                  the N2 Tsitsikamma toll roa
        Valley and Storms River vill                           d between Nature’s
                                     age is being investigated for
   • KZN Department of Transp                                      later in the year.
                                   ort guests in the TEA are pro
       investigation stage of upgrad                             gressing through the
                                       ing roads D832 and D913 in
   • The R62 Langkloof route                                       southern KZN.
                                is being investigated in ord
      necessary future interventio                           er to determine the                    ELECTRICAL CONNECTION: SANRAL TEA candidate Sonwabile Dlanjwa (right) explains
                                    ns.                                                              how the electric circuit board works to Nathina Tanda (left) and Siseko Tenge, both in
                                                                                                                         Grade 7 at Grahamstown SDA Primary School.

                                                                 Building South Africa through better roads                                                                                   19
LIFESTYLE

          The motivating force of Siya Kolisi

                                                                                                                                                                Photo: GCIS

                                                                                        “One day I want to be like that”
                                                                                          “You can touch and change a child’s life even if you don’t know who
                                                                                          he is or where he is from, but he looks at you and says:
                                                                                          ‘One day I want to be like that’.” – SIYA KOLISI

     What motivates                          Like most things in life, achieving your
                                             goal, reaching your dream, or fulfilling
                                                                                        “We gave everything we had and
                                                                                        we not only saw South Africa come
                                                                                                                                   •   Make a plan and set out
                                                                                                                                       specific goals.
     the captain who lifted                  your ambition take time and effort.        together when we brought back the              For example: During the next week,
                                             You need to build your dream, plan for     trophy, but we inspired a lot of kids to
     the Rugby World Cup?                    your success, and work to fulfil your      live their dreams.
                                                                                                                                       I will do at least 20 minutes of
                                                                                                                                       vigorous exercise on [DAY] at [TIME]
                                             ambition.
                                                                                        “Now a kid from the township, who              in [PLACE]. Being specific makes it
     In an interview with sportswriter       There is no better role model here than    didn’t have shoes to walk to school            twice as likely that you will follow
     Craig Ray, writing for the UK           Siya Kolisi, who led the Springboks        and who didn’t eat each day can stand          through.
     newspaper, The Guardian, Siya           to victory over England in the Rugby       here and be a Rugby World Cup-winning
                                             World Cup 2019 final. The Springboks       captain. …
                                                                                                                                   •   Pay attention to detail.
     Kolisi said “being a professional
                                             have also just been recognised as                                                         Don’t wrap yourself in red tape. Keep
     sportsman can be tough and
                                             World Team of the Year at the 2020         “To all sportsmen and women, just              it simple, focused, and try to create
     occasionally you question if it’s all                                              keep on doing what you’re doing
                                             Laureus World Sports Awards.                                                              a routine.
     worth it. But then I just think about                                              because it’s not just about you. There
     where I’ve come from and about                                                     are people looking up to us and we         •   Make a schedule of when and
     the people that look up to me.          In his speech at the Laureus               touch people’s lives in ways that              what you aim to achieve.
     For me to be able to help people        Awards Kolisi said:                        governments and politicians can’t.”            It can be daily, weekly, or whatever.
                                                                                                                                       Stick to it.
     inspired by me, I have to play every    “To all the nominees and winners,          Kolisi ticks all the boxes for achieving
     week. That is my duty”.                 you have all inspired myself and my        his goals and motivating others,           •   Stay positive and focused.
                                             teammates on our journey. When Mr          summed up in five simple rules that            There will be challenges and
     He said he also finds his
                                             Mandela spoke 20 years ago about the       will help you to do the same:
     motivation in his family:                                                                                                         roadblocks, but don’t give up on your
                                             power of sport to unite, I can honestly
                                                                                                                                       dreams and goals.
     “I want to set a positive example –     say I felt it first-hand.
     I want to be my kids’ hero and an                                                                                             •   Share your dreams and goals
     inspiration for all South Africans.”
                                             “In 1995 I was a bit too young to                 Then, as Kolisi                         with those close to you, especially
                                             remember that win, but in this group
                                             we had Afrikaans-speaking guys,
                                                                                          says, just keep on doing                     those who will encourage and
                                                                                                                                       support you to make it a reality.
                                             Xhosa guys and guys from farms. We            what you’re doing, and
                                             all lived through different challenges,                                                   “You can build something beautiful
                                             but we came together because of the         you too will inspire others
                                                                                                                                       from every stone blocking your path.”
                                             game that we love, which is rugby…                 to be like you.                        — Goethe

20                                                                     FEB/MAR ‘20 | ISSUE 30
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