Nomazulu Moyo
MIDRAND, South Africa – In a bold declaration of commitment to transformation in South Africa’s construction industry, leaders from the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) and the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) convened at The Big 5 Construction event Tuesday.
Vusi Mona, General Manager of Marketing and Communications at SANRAL, and Sekadi Phanyane-Shakhane, CEO of SAICE, delivered impassioned speeches outlining their organisations’ dedication to driving change and empowerment in the sector.
Mona, representing SANRAL, emphasised the pivotal role his organisation plays in the nation’s infrastructure landscape. Highlighting SANRAL’s mammoth task of managing over 24,000 kilometers of the country’s 750,000-kilometre national road network, Mona underscored the criticality of infrastructure maintenance and development for South Africa’s economic vitality.
“Roads are indeed the lifeblood of our economy,” he said, echoing the sentiment of former Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasising the indispensable nature of infrastructure for economic growth.
Furthermore, Mona articulated SANRAL’s renewed focus on community engagement and empowerment.
“We are not just building roads; we are building communities and opportunities,” he declared, underscoring SANRAL’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth by creating jobs and supporting Small, Medium, and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs), particularly those owned by youth, women, people with disabilities, and military veterans.
Phanyane-Shakhane, representing SAICE, echoed Mona’s sentiments on transformation and empowerment. She emphasised the imperative of meaningful change in a sector historically marred by inequality.
“Transformation of our society must translate into meaningful change for the disadvantaged,” she asserted, articulating SAICE’s dedication to ensuring that communities and black-owned businesses benefit from the construction industry’s growth.
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“For transformation to continue, there must be a commitment from all players,” emphasised Phanyane-Shakhane, underscoring the need for collective action to embed meaningful transformation in the sector.
Furthermore, Phanyane-Shekhane stated that “South Africa has made significant strides in developing infrastructure over the last 30 years, despite numerous challenges hindering progress.”
“Improving the quality of Africa’s infrastructure requires strengthening infrastructure governance, ensuring openness, transparency, and anti-corruption measures.”
“Professionalisation will play a key role in South Africa’s economic growth, particularly in the development and delivery of key infrastructure projects.”
In conclusion, the speeches by Vusi Mona of SANRAL and Sekadi Phanyane-Shakhane of SAICE at The Big 5 Construction Event underscored a resolute commitment to driving transformation and empowerment in South Africa’s construction industry. Their words serve as a clarion call for collective action, signaling a new era of inclusivity and opportunity in the country’s infrastructure development landscape.
