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The Board of the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) is pleased to announce that four of the five tenders cancelled in June this year, have been awarded this week, following an evaluation process by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).

The following awards have been made:

1. Mtentu Bridge: R3.428 billion – to CCCC MECSA JV

2. R56 Matatiele rehabilitation: R1.057 billion – to Down Touch Investments

3. Ashburton Interchange: R1.814 billion – to Base Major/CSCEC JV

4. EB Cloete Interchange Improvements: R4.302 billion – to Base Major/CSCEC JV

In light of the recent announcement by the Minister of Finance to scrap e-tolls, a decision on the Open Road Tolling tender (TCH Operator) has been put on hold pending clarity on key issues.

“We wish to express our sincere thanks to the DBSA for undertaking the evaluation and adjudication of the tenders and indeed for the speedy manner in which the process was resolved. We are also deeply grateful to the industry for their patience in re-submitting tenders for these contracts and waiting for the adjudication process to be concluded,” said Mr Themba Mhambi, SANRAL Board Chairperson.

When the contracts were cancelled there was understandably a concern by the Executive on the impact this would have on the country’s infrastructure development agenda, Mhambi said.

“We accordingly undertook to both President Cyril Ramaphosa and Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula that we would do everything possible to ensure that we mitigate the impact on the construction industry and the economy. And that meant re-advertising, evaluating and awarding the tenders within four months after they were cancelled. We are happy that we have lived up to that commitment and in the process learnt valuable lessons about how to handle tenders with speed to keep the country’s economic development on the boil,” he said.

SANRAL will continue to prioritise infrastructure development in driving South Africa’s economic recovery. While this process has delayed the implementation of critical infrastructure upgrades, it has to be balanced against healthy governance and the need to ensure compliance with all relevant procurement and legal prescripts when SANRAL awards any and all tenders going forward.

“Our congratulations go out to the successful bidders, and we look forward to seeing the true impact of these projects in the lives of the road users and communities we serve,” said Mhambi.