From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.

Sashnee Moodley:

Pharmaceutical, biotech and biohacking company Cilo Cybin is in the process of listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in the hopes to expand its business, both in South Africa as well as abroad.

The company has ambitious plans to grow its cannabis business, as well as introduce new health technology and devices.

Company CEO and president Gabriel Theron speaks to Creamer Media’s Donna Slater about the Cilo Cybin’s growth plans.

Cilo Cybin CEO and president Gabriel Theron:

Sashnee Moodley:

Theron explains how the company plans to use the capital raised by the JSE listing

Cilo Cybin CEO and president Gabriel Theron:

Sashnee Moodley:

The South African National Roads Agency Limited in August completed and launched the N1 Musina ring road, in Limpopo, and the road parastatal held a media visit to showcase the benefits, challenges and complex processes involved bringing the almost 20-year-long project to fruition. Tasneem Bulbulia was at the launch.

Tasneem Bulbulia:

The R700-million project entailed the construction of about 8 km of greenfield single carriageway freeway to form the western ring road around the town of Musina.

The main aim of the project was to divert the N1 traffic away from the town’s CBD, as thousands of heavy vehicles use the N1 daily and pass through the CBD.

The ring road will now alleviate congestion, protect the town’s road from heavy vehicles; ensure more efficient and less fuel-intensive travelling; and contribute to improved mobility and the safe movement of goods, services and people in and around Musina.

The project entailed the construction of three major bridges, two interchanges, major earthworks, layer works and asphalt surfacing, 6 km of secondary roads, stormwater and subsoil drains, road furniture finishes and noise barrier walls.

There is also scope for future expansion, should traffic volumes increase.

The project was noted to have generated 281 jobs for locals, while 132 people were trained by accredited training service providers.

The project also aims to facilitate greater trade and economic activity between South Africa and its northern neighbour Zimbabwe, through the Beitbridge border post, as well other countries in the Southern African Development Community.

This is showcased along the route through various hand structures, representing a hand of friendship being extended between South African and Zimbabwe.

The project was first introduced by Sanral in 2004. Construction on the project began in 2016, following the appointment of Basil Reed as the contractor. However, Raubex Construction was later appointed when Basil Reed went into business rescue.

Other complexities of the project included replanting several baobab trees and designing the road around trees that could not be moved; as well as replacing protected species that were removed.

Also, a community relocation project was undertaken for homes that were removed along the route.

In terms of infrastructure, the previous, informal existing landfill site had to be relocated, given that the road traversed part of this.

A fortuitous benefit of the project was therefore that a new, formal landfill site was created, with Raubex also providing the municipality with a guide and capacity for future expansion of the site.

Other infrastructure relocation entailed moving large powerlines that interfered with the route, with the team engaging with State-owned utility Eskom in advance to ensure that this was handled correctly.

There were also large cuttings going over an old copper mine, dating from the late 1800s, which required various investigations to ensure there would be no impact on the road, such as the formation of voids or tunnels.

Sashnee Moodley:

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy. Don’t forget to listen to the audio version of our Engineering News daily email newsletter.