SANRAL to miss November target for R9.5bn maintenance awards, report says

The roads agency is issuing replacement tenders in stages and faces a parliamentary deadline to answer questions about its programmes.

SANRAL will not meet its 30 November target for awarding 241 routine road maintenance tenders worth an estimated R9.5 billion, Engineering News reported after Tuesday’s briefing to Parliament’s transport committee.

Acting chief executive Lehlohonolo Memeza confirmed the delay and said the agency would seek court permission to extend some existing maintenance contracts on a month-to-month basis, the publication reported.

The procurement programme covers 132 contractor tenders and 109 consultant tenders. The first consultant bids were issued from 14 August, followed by contractor tenders from 11 September.

Existing maintenance contracts had been extended until 30 November while replacement bids were processed.

Parliament’s account of the 29 September meeting confirmed that SANRAL had abandoned its centralised contractor-panel system and was returning to individual open tenders for routine maintenance.

The agency told MPs that it was releasing bids in stages to avoid overwhelming the market and available tendering capacity. Its maintenance procurement had faced a court challenge.

The committee’s scrutiny extended beyond the tender programme. Members also received updates on major construction projects, including the N2 Wild Coast road, the Msikaba and Mtentu bridges, work on the N2 and N3 in KwaZulu-Natal, the Moloto Road and the Huguenot Tunnel.

MPs criticised the presentation for concentrating on selected priority projects while providing insufficient information about contractor development, according to Parliament.

SANRAL undertook to submit an updated report and written answers to the committee’s questions within 14 days.

Committee chairperson Donald Selamolela said MPs would support the agency but urged it to avoid conducting its business through the courts. The committee’s requested follow-up will cover questions left unanswered at Tuesday’s meeting.

Sources: Parliament of South Africa; Engineering News.