The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) says it is currently evaluating 96 tenders worth R35-billion, while 86 contracts worth R15-billion have already been awarded since the start of the 2024/25 financial year on April 1.

The tenders currently in evaluation are spread across the country.

Thirty-four tenders are in Sanral’s Northern Region (Gauteng, North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga), with a value of R16.5-billion.

Twenty-four tenders worth R3.8-billion are in the Southern Region (Eastern Cape).

Twelve tenders are in the Western Region (Western Cape and Northern Cape), at a value of R2-billion.

Twelve tenders worth R11.7-billion are in the Eastern Region (KwaZulu-Natal and Free State).

And, lastly, 14 tenders are with Sanral’s head office in Pretoria, at a value of R839-million.

SANRAL CEO Reginald Demana describes the number of available tenders as a “significant achievement”, given the procurement challenges the roads agency faced in 2023/24.

“This achievement…follows a significant setback to our procurement processes in 2023/24 when legal challenges to Sanral’s preferential procurement policy (PPP) brought all tenders to a halt.

“The awarded contracts, worth R15-billion, as well as the tenders worth R35-billion – which are currently at various stages of evaluation – are being adjudicated in terms of the interim PPP.

“This was adopted towards the end of 2023 after countrywide consultations with interested and affected stakeholders.”

Demana says the new tender process is indicative of improved stability at Sanral on an operational level.

“On 1 July, Sanral appointed a chief procurement officer.

“We are determined to improve on the achievement of R51-billion worth of tenders awarded in the 2022/23 financial year.”

Demana says a further R1.8-billion in tenders will be advertised “in the coming days and weeks”.

“Sanral’s objective is not only to ensure that we maintain the existing national road network and to build new road infrastructure to facilitate economic growth, but to use the State’s spending power to see even more impact – this not only in terms of improved infrastructure, but also economic opportunities that transform the economy and change people’s lives.”