The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) announced last month the appointment of four small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) in the Eastern Cape to manufacture interlocking concrete blocks, known as dolosse.
The roads agency, which has a responsibility to protect its asset against destructive wave action, is manufacturing the dolosse used to protect the sea-facing N2 and the parallel railway line adjacent to the Settlers interchange, in Port Elizabeth, from destructive waves.
The dolosse are manufactured at the Markman Casting Yard, in Markman, Port Elizabeth.
“Twenty people, five each from the four SMME subcontracting companies, received training. The SMME subcontracting companies were selected for the 17 SMME packages, which were identified and advertised as part the N2 Bramlin to Soutwerke special maintenance project,” says Sanral Southern Region project manager Thabiso Ngozwana.
Training is an integral part of Sanral projects, including a community development component.
The one-month training was held in July this year and included practical sessions on the cleaning and assembly of concrete formwork, basic concrete technology, concrete mixing, placing, finishing and testing.
The training was provided by Meroe Skills Development at the Heart Lights Training Centre, in Walmer.
Concrete TrainingThe project’s main concrete subcontractor is Dynaform.
“It was important for Sanral to host the concrete training and to empower local SMMEs in the manufacture of precast concrete products and to increase local participation on the N2 project,” Ngozwana points out.
The course was offered as part of Sanral’s Small Contractor Development, Training and Community Participation programme and is aimed at creating sustainable enterprises.
Phefong Construction owner Portia Ngcwabe, who has a postgraduate degree in management, had five of her staff attend the concrete training programme.
“By attending the workshop, my staff can produce good products and do any concrete work. In the past, the staff would receive on-the-job training from the contractors, but this was an opportunity for them to gain skills and a qualification,” she says.