FIRST CLASS: SANRAL’s community development and SMME training programme is giving construction SMME’s and new construction start-ups in the Wild Coast skills and opportunities to participate in the development of the N2WCTR. Pictured here is SANRAL’s Gcobani Socenywa with Learner SMME’s recipients Nombali Hlongwe, Mongezi Gcuma, and Ntomb’zonke Ngwekazi.
The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced its commencement of the roll-out of a R120 million community development and SMME training programme forming part of the small business support strategies to optimise local economic development through the N2 Wild Coast Toll Road (N2WCTR) in the Eastern Cape’s OR Tambo District Municipality and Alfred Nzo District Municipality.
“The aim of the projects are to provide local labour and local SMMEs with the necessary skills to partake in the forthcoming N2WCR opportunities,” said Mr Gcobani Socenywa, SANRAL Project Manager.
SANRAL’s SMME training programmes in Mbizana, Lusikisiki and Port St. Johns are empowering 31 local business owners of construction SMME’s and new start-ups (CIDB levels 1 – 3). SANRAL has appointed three training service providers to train, mentor and develop “Learner Sub-contractors”.
Following stakeholder consultation and candidate selection, the business owners selected to the programme will be provided with National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 3, 4 and 5 training, leading to a full learnership, which is an official qualification, which is accredited by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). The programme will also be inclusive of a selective training to CIDB grading 3-6 local SMME’s.
SANRAL is also preparing local labour forces for these SMME’s. The programme will also train an additional 330 individuals to help create a local skilled and semi-skilled labour force for the N2WCR. SMME’s that employ their own labour from local communities will also be supported as labour will also receive accredited training.
“The programme’s ultimate goal will ensure that SMME’s benefit and participate in forthcoming Mtentu and Msikaba mega bridge, the new greenfields section and legacy projects such as road maintenance of the N2WCR,” said Gcobani Socenywa, SANRAL’s N2WCR Community Development Project Manager.
“Business owners are attending business management, tendering skills and financial management training. We have included these modules because we want to create sustainable, capable and empowered road construction SMME’s and start-ups,” said Socenywa.
Sivuyile Xuku, Port St Johns Local Municipality, enterprise manager said the SANRAL project “seeks to assist and empower our people to alleviate poverty and create employment.”
