2019

Youth in action

2 / TOWARDS TOMORROW 2019

SANRAL prides its self on its world-class national road network. For SANRAL to continue to be ranked among the best in an increasingly competitive global environment depends primarily on the quality of our education system.

Youth Month 2019 presents us with a unique opportunity to reflect on what SANRAL’s youth investment has been in the past.

Skills development, research and knowledge accumulation must be a national priority if we want to maximise on the opportunities presented by the fourth industrial revolution. In recent years, our focus has shifted towards the production of skilled human resources who are able to play a leading role in the creation of knowledge that can be used to benefit the broader society.

The government continues to make strides in ensuring that tertiary education is more accessible to students who were excluded in the past. SANRAL has invested immensely in the youth over the years. In the past year, the agency has awarded scholarships worth more than R4m to high school learners, enabling and encouraging them to take mathematics, science and English as senior subjects.

SANRAL recognises the value that leading-edge research brings to the design, construction and management of South Africa’s primary road network. As a country we will not be able to attain the growth objectives set out in the National Development Plan 2030 without a well-planned and -maintained road infrastructure network.

It is important that we encourage and inspire the next generation to follow careers in technical fields such as engineering and construction. We must create opportunities throughout the entire education value chain, from primary school to advanced research and development.

Universities of technology and colleges for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) play a critical role in preparing young people for careers in sought-after trades. We have taken a conscious decision to focus on these institutions.

Importantly, SANRAL has recognised the need to bridge the gap between the academic training offered at universities and colleges and the demands of professional careers in the construction and engineering sectors.

SANRAL has awarded bursaries to students to study engineering, construction and the built environment. Internships are made available to students on many of the major road construction projects that are currently under way across the country.

The establishment of the Technical Excellence Academy (TEA) in Port Elizabeth was an imaginative move by SANRAL to address a critical area of skills development in our country. At the TEA, engineering graduates now

OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD OUR COUNTRY

LUNGILE MADLALA

receive the practical experience they require to obtain professional registration as engineers.

The programme serves as a valuable bridge between the academic training of engineers and their professional careers through on-the-job training and access to SANRAL’s specialised software and laboratory facilities.

This is a long-term investment in the next generation of engineers and artisans who will have to plan and manage the country’s physical infrastructure in the decades to come.

It fits in well with SANRAL’s other research and academic pursuits – through its partnerships with universities in the fields of pavement engineering, construction, road safety and smart mobility. Together these innovation hubs contribute to the growth of a dynamic engineering sector with world-class expertise in road design, construction and transport management.

SANRAL’s investment in education and research is a prime example of what can be achieved by both state-owned entities and the private sector committed to the creation of a prosperous and growing South Africa.

My hope is that Youth Month 2019 will inspire many young South Africans to grab the opportunities opening up and make valuable contributions to building the country of the future.

Lungile Madlala is a member of SANRAL’s Board of Directors

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS / 3

Makhosandile Nondinyana (left), a SANRAL intern and civil engineering student at KSD TVET College, explains to Rainbow Academy learners Evile Yotsi (far right) and Joshua Mkhibe how the periodic table helps civil engineers. The learners are accompanied by their teacher, Ivan Mutyaba.

Southern Region Communications Co-ordinator Michelle Ah Shene shares information on SANRAL scholarships and bursaries with learners from Mida High School and their teacher, Bryan Chishakwe

The role of innovation in mobility for our evolving cities was the background against which participants were encouraged to think ‘out of the box’.

Through the WhereIsMyTransport API, they gave participants access to all the main public transport platforms – bus, taxi, train, walking routes, etc – that could be integrated to best achieve usable public transport solutions.

The hackathon ran for a whole weekend and participants presented their solutions to a panel of judges on the final day. The winning team, which conceptualised a mobile solution that delivers turn-by-turn public transport directions via SMS or WhatsApp, walked off with a R20 000 cash prize and a year’s worth of free access to the WhereIsMyTransport Public Transport API.

SANRAL understands the importance of South Africa’s knowledge economy, built from knowledge sharing, skills transfer, collaboration and innovation. The agency is fully committed to developing this part of the industry. Recently the roads agency and Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) partnered with WhereIsMyTransport to host the ETC Hackathon in Cape Town. With the theme Collaborate & Innovate, participants in the Hackathon were invited to create innovative smart mobility applications using both Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) toll gantry data and WhereIsMyTransport public transport related data.

SANRAL, which manages the world’s 10th largest national road network, has for some time been operating in the digital space, with the use of its Freeway Management System that includes dedicated cameras on 520km of the busiest freeways across the country. Here real-time traffic data is collected and used to determine how best to respond to incidents on the road.

The Hackathon was sponsored by ETC, which was established in 2009 to supply and manage an integrated tolling system on behalf of SANRAL. The system handles 550 000 transactions per hour, which equates to 155 transactions every second. ETC made a random selection of transactional data available to the participants, with which they could work with to create a mobile solution that aids safe and improved road user experiences. Some of the proposed avenues include drawing usage/behaviour patterns, analysing traffic volumes, customer service centres and identifying foreign vehicles.

Learners from across the Eastern Cape visited the SANRAL stand at SciFestin Grahamstown in March. Many were astonished to learn that civil engineers use the periodic table as a basic tool for construction materials design.

SciFest is an annual national festival that was established in 1996. The aim is to promote awareness among learners of the value of science, innovation and technology in South Africa. This year’s theme, Discover Your Element, was inspired by the United Nations’ decision to proclaim 2019 the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements.

SANRAL used the festival as an opportunity to share information about civil engineering and the agency’s scholarship and bursary programmes.

SANRAL’s scholarship programme considers high school applicants with a 70-75% aggregate in maths and science, a 65% mark in English and an overall mark of at least 75%. It pays for school fees, books, stationery, uniforms and sports uniforms.

SANRAL’s bursary scheme was initiated in 2007 and benefits students with outstanding academic performance who are pursuing tertiary studies in civil engineering and related fields.

CAREERS THAT START WITH THE PERIODIC TABLE

SANRAL HACKATHON FOR YOUTH

4 / BUILDING OUR COUNTRY’S FUTURE

WESTERN REGION The Western Region’s bursary and scholarship induction event was held at SANRAL’s regional office in Bellville on 11 May. Thirty students and learners, some accompanied by parents and guardians, gathered to get an up-close look at what SANRAL envisions for the next generation of civil engineers.

Once the ice was broken with some awkward ‘speed-dating’, the candidates were ready to be impressed by the extent of SANRAL’s footprint in South Africa.

Everyone’s interest was piqued when Western Region Manager Randall Cable talked about the use of technology and its potential in road construction. Students enjoyed a delicious lunch on the rooftop terrace, where even the Cape’s sunny weather made a guest appearance.

NORTHERN REGION SANRAL’s Northern Region hosted its induction luncheon for recipients of agency scholarships and bursaries, in Pretoria. The event took place at the new Regency Apartment Hotel in Menlyn, where they were inspired by the hotel’s young owner, Siyanda Dlamini. A scholarship recipient himself, Siyanda shared his experience and the lessons he’s learnt so far. Previous recipients of SANRAL bursaries and scholarships also spoke about what was it is like to work in the engineering industry.

SOUTHERN REGION On 8 June scholarship and bursary recipients were hosted by SANRAL Board Chairman Themba Mhambi at a luncheon at the Hemingways Hotel in East London.

Inspiration came in the form of former bursary recipient and current candidate engineer at SANRAL’s Technical Excellence Academy, Sthembiso Zulu, who shared his journey with learners: “I truly believe that I have something special to give to my country, the fact that you are here shows you definitely have something to give. The lack of funds should not be a reason to prevent you from what you want to achieve. What separates you from everyone else is that you believe that you will be something. Don’t focus on those who don’t see anything in you, rather focus on those who see your potential. Remember, history is made by people like you.”

H E R E ’ S W H ATH A P P E N E D

EASTERN REGION Future engineers in the Free State have been given a great opportunity by SANRAL to develop skills in the civil engineering sector. At an induction event hosted by the agency in Bloemfontein, eight pupils from secondary schools and a university student were awarded scholarships and a bursary.

Guest speakers included Gcina Sentletse, SANRAL Project Manager: Scholarships; Dr Cobus van Breda, Programme Director: Science-for-the-Future at the University of the Free State and SANRAL Senior Bursary Administrator Rhona Erasmus.

SANRAL is committed to developing students who express an interest in civil engineering and its related fields. The agency offers bursaries and scholarships to support these students and learners, who will become integral to South Africa’s infrastructure development in future.

SANRAL’s bursary and scholarship inductionSScholarships and bursaries address the concerns of students who are unable to finance their studies. But financial worries should not plague our hardworking students. Their only concern should be furthering their education and finding their niche.

H E R E ’ S W H ATH A P P E N E D

H E R E ’ S W H ATH A P P E N E D

H E R E ’ S W H ATH A P P E N E D

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES / 5

• The R410 upgrade between Queenstown and Cacadu (formerly Lady Frere)

• District road 08023 between Flagstaff and the proposed N2 WC interchange at Mkambathi

• N2 Section 8 encompassing the future Knysna and Plettenberg Bay bypasses

• Pikoli and Qhorha road upgrading community development project, to be implemented through a construction manager

• R75 Section 2 Upgrade from Uitenhage to Kirkwood

• Regional Freeway Management System

• Assistance to Professional Service Provider for the Regional Slope Management System

• Assistance to Project Manager for the Regional Road Signs Programme

• Route Determination projects for alleviation of bottlenecks along key corridors

• Assistance on stakeholder engagement for the Regional Freeway Management System

WHAT TEA CANDIDATES ARE WORKING ON…

for professional registration, which means they are likely to achieve the training outcomes required by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) sooner than candidates not in a similar enabling environment.

Secondly, SANRAL benefits from the programme by having access to an increasing pool of highly talented candidate engineers and technologists while they are establishing themselves in the industry.

The training entails geometric design, traffic analysis and capacity, materials investigation and usage, pavement evaluation and materials design, stormwater drainage (including sub-surface drainage), among others.

Andrew Van Gruting, senior mentor at the TEA, said: “During the training, we have the solemn obligation to provide the environment required to achieve 11 ECSA outcomes.”

A joint working group has been established with ECSA, working towards academy certification.

During the next two years, SANRAL will work with ECSA to draft documents that will lead to certification of training programmes – not just for SANRAL but for other eligible companies too. Candidates will still have to apply to ECSA to become a registered engineer, but the progress will be monitored more closely.

The goal is to build a second building in the next five years to accommodate all the TEA candidates.

FUTURE PLANS

Observing candidates grow and develop through work-integrated learning is but one of the highlights of SANRALs Technical Excellence Academy (TEA), according to Kobus van der Walt, who heads the programme.

In February this year, SANRAL welcomed 18 new engineering candidates to its training academy in the Eastern Cape – pushing the number of engineers interned at its TEA in Nelson Mandela Bay to 31, with another 15 expected to join next year.

The candidate engineers are from various provinces in South Africa. They have been divided into project design teams. Most have joined the design academy on the TEA premises for 21 months. Candidates who joined the TEA immediately after university will gain on-site work experience after their design and laboratory training.

Thirteen female and 40 male engineering candidates have completed training at the academy since its establishment in 2014. This year, five female candidates joined. Candidates are provided the opportunity to be of service to the SANRAL regional project managers as part of their on-the-job training. “They participate in technical clusters, focus groups and special projects. We adapt our purpose within the Southern Region as needed,” Van der Walt said.

The TEA candidate engineers also take on design projects that have the possibility of remaining “in-house”. “Another highlight,” said Van der Walt, “is to learn of the professional registration of former interns on a regular basis.” The overall benefits of the TEA are twofold. Firstly, engineering graduates are provided with much-needed training to qualify

HIGHLIGHTS OF SANRAL’s TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE ACADEMY

6 / YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES

Kobus van der Walt, who heads up the Hub, said: “I cannot overstate the importance and relevance of credible research in the work we do. A clear and direct strategy is needed to ensure economic growth in our industry and our research can be used to inform this strategy. We want to create solutions that speak directly to the needs of the road user. For too long engineers have created transport solutions they think will serve the needs of the public. Our approach is to stay engaged with road users at all levels, and through research and partnerships, we aim to create an environment where the road user has a vested interest in getting the best use out of our national road network.”

While advancement in road user technology seems predominantly geared at motorists, it is important to note that in South Africa, pedestrians make up a massive component of road users. Therein lies a major driver of road safety through the use of technology.

Engineers with postgraduate studies in research topics relevant to transportation technology advancements, such as automated pedestrian detection and drone applications, play a major role in how we apply technology in saving lives. The technology already exists – SANRAL is now well positioned to embrace it.

Smart technology and the road user can no longer be separate concepts. Road users harness smart technology on their devices, in their vehicles, in their offices and homes. It stands to reason that this technology should be integrated into the travel experience during our everyday commutes. This is ultimately where the world is headed and South Africa should be no different.

Introducing the TIH to industry creates a platform for graduate engineers to showcase some of the innovation-focused pilot projects that are in development there. The projects include the use of a robotic flagger at road construction sites, intelligent road studs to provide additional guidance to the road user and the planned use of 3D road markings.

Other presentations include: • Video analytics for vehicle inspection and pedestrian detection• Drones for engineering applications• Floating car data• Road sensors• Electrical and automated vehicles• Alternative materials, ie nanotechnologies• Augmented and virtual reality

SANRAL’s TECHNICAL INNOVATION HUBRising to the challenge of rapidly evolving smart road technologies and global innovation, SANRAL has established the Technical Innovation Hub (TIH), which is driven from the Western Region Office in Cape Town.

Although not a physical space, the TIH can be likened to a think tank of young intellectuals, mentored by senior professional engineers, and inspired by the possibilities that exist when technology is harnessed to improve lives and promote progressive development in transport.

“I cannot overstate the importance and relevance of credible research in the work we do. A clear and direct strategy is

needed to ensure economic growth in our industry.”

BENEFICIARIES / 7

WHERE DO YOU COME FROM?

Warrenton, Northern Cape.

WHAT DREW YOU TO CIVIL ENGINEERING?

As a high school agric learner, I never loved what I was doing. I was drawn to civil and mechanical engineering because those fields are extremely interesting and diverse. At tertiary level, I selected civil engineering because of the broadness of the industry.

WHAT’S THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU’VE LEARNT THIS SEMESTER?

It was my first time using ProjectLibre, which is project management software that engineers use. I had some complications with understanding the manual, but with some help from YouTube, the program was a breeze.

WHICH SUBJECTS DO YOU ENJOY MOST AND WHY?

I enjoy my geometric design course, because it broadens my knowledge about basic shapes, surfaces, volumes and curves in the creative design industry.

IF YOU HADN’T BEEN AWARDED YOUR SANRAL BURSARY, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’D BE DOING THIS YEAR? WHAT WAS THE BACK-UP PLAN?

I was involved in a project at Magareng local municipality. If I hadn’t been awarded this bursary, I would have continued to work hard to obtain another one.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF 10 YEARS?

I see myself as an independent woman with my own engineering company.

REFILWE MOTSHAOAME, student at the Central University of Technology, Free State

Refilwe is one of the students who received a bursary during the 2019 academic year

WHAT ARE YOU READING AT THE MOMENT?

Only my text books.

CONTROLLED BLASTING SEEMS PRETTY FASCINATING IN THE ENGINEERING SECTOR. HAVE YOU LEARNT ABOUT BLASTING IN YOUR CURRICULUM YET?

Unfortunately, I haven’t yet.

IS YOUR COURSE A DEMANDING ONE?

Yes, of course! Civil engineering is a high-pressure field that requires extreme dedication in class and on site.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU HAVE LEARNT IN LIFE?

I’ve learnt to be patient, believe in myself and my dreams, and to continue to work hard to make them possible.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO LET OFF STEAM?

I enjoy going out with friends.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FIVE-YEAR-OLD YOU WOULD WANT TO TELL YOU NOW?

“You should have enjoyed me as much as possible; now there is no time to go back. I’m sure life becomes harder as you grow older.”

WHO ARE YOUR ROLE MODELS?

My mother is my biggest supporter, motivating me through difficult times and making sure I am focused. Also, through life experiences I have learnt to love the woman I have become and to continue to strive for the best. So I’m my own role model.

8 / BENEFICIARIES

RUBERT GERTSE, 1st year civil engineering student at Stellenbosch University

Rubert is one of the students who received a bursary during the 2019 academic year

DESCRIBE THE JOURNEY THAT BROUGHT YOU HERE.

I always knew that I could do more with my life and recognised the importance of hard work very early in my academic journey. Nobody in my family has ever gone to university so I am flying the flag for the entire family. After finishing school I took a gap year and worked in the construction industry. This was all the confirmation I needed to make an academic choice, and today I am a proud Matie.

WHAT WAS THE TRANSITION LIKE FROM SCHOOL TO UNIVERSITY?

I am still adjusting. There is massive responsibility on you to attend all your lectures, focus and stay with the programme. Nobody checks up on you, so you are in charge of your own decisions – and you have to live with the consequences.

WHAT WAS YOUR GAP YEAR LIKE?

It was a steep learning curve. I learnt valuable lessons about responsibility.

WHAT’S THE MOST HECTIC ACADEMIC CHALLENGE SO FAR?

Taking a year off makes your brain rusty. I found that I had to work so much harder to refresh my mind after finishing school – particularly with mathematics.

Hailing from Elsies River, Rubert is making the most of this new phase in his life. Growing up on the Cape Flats comes with its own set of challenges – and that’s before the challenge of matric maths and science – but this driven young man has made it this far and is determined to go all the way.

BENEFICIARIES / 9

MANDISA HLABANGANA, civil engineering student at WITS University

Mandisa is one of the students who received a SANRAL bursary during the 2019 academic year

WHAT DREW YOU TO CIVIL ENGINEERING?

It was my passion for structures. Since I was young, I wanted to be part of building infrastructure that would make the lives of my community better.

WHAT’S THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU’VE LEARNT THIS SEMESTER?

I was really fascinated by the use of algorithms to make work much easier in our industry. Calculations that are done manually take time. Algorithms help to make us more efficient.

IF YOU HADN’T BEEN AWARDED YOUR SANRAL BURSARY, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’D BE DOING THIS YEAR?

I would still study civil engineering. This is the only thing I want to study. I would have had to knock on other doors for bursaries, but I have decided that I want to be a civil engineer. I would not let anything stand in the way of realising this dream.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?

I see myself becoming CEO of SANRAL.

WHAT ARE YOU READING?

Capitalist Nigger (by Chika Onyeani). It is teaching me how to be empowered as a black person.

IS YOUR COURSE A HIGH-PRESSURE ONE?

Yes, definitely. Trying to keep afloat and excelling in all your modules isn’t easy, but I’m giving it my all.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO LET OFF STEAM?

I go to church and I listen to music.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FIVE-YEAR-OLD YOU WOULD WANT TO TELL YOU NOW?

She would be proud of me. I have been through a lot, but still I stand.

WHAT DO YOU TAKE AWAY FROM TODAY’S INDUCTION?

I was inspired by the stories of women in engineering. As women, we are undermined, so to see women who are doing well in the industry is a major motivation for me.

10 / BENEFICIARIES

WHAT DREW YOU TO CIVIL ENGINEERING? WHAT DID YOU HOPE TO LEARN?

That I would be able to create. Civil engineers create the world around us, from buildings to roads, to railways and tunnels. That I would bring designs to life, as well that I would be doing something that challenges me in a field that would allow me to grow. The fact that civil engineering is a very broad field and includes a ton of specialities which all are very challenging and keep you on your feet. I have always loved being creative and bringing my ideas to life, and civil engineering is actually giving me a chance to do that in my own unique way.

WHAT’S THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU’VE LEARNT THIS SEMESTER?

I have learned how to do levelling, traversing and tacheometry in surveying. As well how to do different soil tests, in order to build roads and dams on! The most interesting one for me was water engineering, when we were working on pipe flow as well as pumping systems.

IF YOU HADN’T BEEN AWARDED YOUR SANRAL BURSARY, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’D BE DOING THIS YEAR?

My plan was always to study no matter what. Even if I had to apply for a student loan, which was actually my back-up plan. I also applied for NSFAS in hope that I would get accepted if SANRAL did not to accept my application.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?

Ten years from now I see myself as a qualified civil engineer with some experience in the civil engineering field, and hopefully I would be in the process of opening my own construction company.

Tumelo from Motherwell in Port Elizabeth is a second year Civil Engineering student

TUMELO GENGE, civil engineering student at Nelson Mandela University

WHAT ARE YOU READING?My hobbies are reading, drawing and cooking. I have not been able to have a chance to read for a while now because of my academics, since I’m between my exams and all.

IS YOUR COURSE A HIGH-PRESSURE ONE?There is a lot of pressure. There is a lot of competition amongst the students. Everyone wants to make it and do well. So yeah, my course is a very high pressure one. And the modules in my curriculum are very challenging. But what I love most about my fellow students is that despite the pressure and all, we are all able to help each other where we can, because at the end of the day we all want to make it and see each other succeed also. And since our course is very challenging, you should be able to ask when you get stuck, and if I don’t understand my lecturer, I’m able to turn to my peers for help.

WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU HAVE LEARNED SO FAR?

One of the interesting things I have learned are life lessons. Varsity has taught me and shown me more about life than I knew, it has taught me to be patient, it has taught me to strive, to not wait for something but to chase after it, and finally how to be grateful. And I am still learning more along the way.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO LET OFF STEAM?

Whenever I feel stressed or there’s too much pressure, I jog or go to the gym or sometimes I just take a shower.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FIVE-YEAR-OLD YOU WOULD WANT TO TELL YOU NOW?

She would probably say, keep going. Never stop dreaming and never let anyone tell you what you can and cannot do.

HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU, KIDS / 11

HEIDI HARPER

YOUNG PEOPLE MATTER AT SANRAL

contracting partners, or specialised procurement training to capacitate youth-run SMMEs to successfully tender for subcontracts on large-scale projects, we recognise the incredible value that our youth play in building current-day South Africa, not just in someday leading South Africa.

In our quest to develop South Africa’s knowledge economy, we will continue to invest in research and education to unlock the potential that lies within the road construction industry, with a particular focus on creating platforms for young South Africans to grow and prosper.

Heidi Harper is SANRAL’s Corporate Service Executive

SANRAL is best known to the man on the street as the builders of South Africa’s roads. However, to SANRAL it’s about the people, not the asphalt.

With two decades of road building behind us, we’ve re-engineered the strategic direction of the agency to ensure we continue to build South Africa through better roads. However, the key to our sustainable future is the development of the next generation of civil engineers – more specifically, the creation of a leadership reserve.

SANRAL’s history is built on a substantial investment into research and education. We recognised the need to feed the engineering sector with skilled, qualified and highly engaged engineers, and in understanding the need for a pipeline of human development, learning platforms were created from school scholarships, bursary schemes and university chairs.

We remain committed to nurturing a pool of talent through mentoring and training, and maintain our plans to attract and retain talent. Through our endowments of the SANRAL Chair in Transportation at the University of Cape Town, the University of Stellenbosch Chair in Pavement Engineering and the Chair in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education at the University of the Free State, we endeavour to increase the country’s pipeline of engineering skills.

Bridging the divide between graduation and working in the field is a critical transition, and in response to this need for seamless integration into the industry, the SANRAL Technical Excellence Academy (TEA), which is housed in Port Elizabeth, provides dedicated mentorship and practical training in road and bridge design for graduate candidate engineers, who are SANRAL bursary students.

We also recognise that in making civil engineering more inclusive for young people, we need to look beyond university. As such, there is a concerted effort to ensure that as many young people as possible benefit from construction projects that pass through their communities. Be it the funding of learnership opportunities along with our consulting and

12 / CONCESSIONAIRES

aimed at improving environmental management at their schools. Some of these projects include saving electricity and water, recycling waste and developing food gardens.

In February the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Urban Conservation team visited three Wessa Eco-Schools in Hammanskraal to celebrate Leap Day for Frogs and teach learners about why the amphibians are such a vital part of the environment.

Following this, the three schools (Reneilwe, Itireleng and Selang primary schools) cleared litter from their local wetlands.

In April, the same team hosted information workshops at the Wessa Eco-Schools in Hammanskraal to provide eco-coordinators with the skills and tools they need to implement various programmes at their schools.

In addition, representatives of the owlproject.org addressed teachers about the Township Owl Box Project, which is aimed at educating learners and teachers about owls and creating owl-friendly environments.

Initiatives at the Eco-Schools in Moedwil, Swartruggens, Groot Marico and Zeerust along Bakwena’s N4 route have gained momentum, and nine schools received awards at a Green Flag award ceremony held in March. Additional initiatives such as the Tags4Pads and Paper4Bread were also adopted with enthusiasm by the schools.

BAKWENA BACKS ENVIRO EDUCATIONEnvironmental education is important to Bakwena, which manages two major routes that are critical to the economy of South Africa’s northern provinces – the N1 between Pretoria and Bela Bela in Limpopo and the N4 going west from Pretoria to the Botswana border.

Teachers and learners from 21 schools along the Bakwena N1/N4 route are learning about environmental conservation, thanks to a partnership between Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire, the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa) Eco-Schools programme and the Endangered Wildlife Trust.

Bakwena has supported Wessa’s Eco-Schools Programme for six consecutive years. In addition to raising awareness around environmental issues, the programme provides learners with valuable knowledge and skills about gardening and recycling, which they can in turn teach their families and local communities.

It started in 2013 at five previously disadvantaged schools in Hammanskraal along the N1. The programme was so successful that in 2015 the project expanded to include another five schools in Hammanskraal and in 2017 an additional 11 schools along the N4 route in Moedwil, Swartruggens, joined.

Through the programme, teachers, learners, community members and partner organisations undertake various projects

CONCESSIONAIRES / 13

VuMA continues to change the lives of the teachers, and ultimately their learners, after spending a full term in residence at Vula Lodge, Hilton College.

Since 2014, when VuMA opened, a total of 132 mathematics teachers have passed through the academy.

Of these, three have been promoted to senior subject adviser positions within the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education, four have been promoted to principal posts and four are no longer teaching. The remainder, however, continue to use their laptops, skills and insights to teach mathematics to more than 25 000 learners in KZN.

As an example, Sandile Sikhosane continues to teach in a remote rural school beyond Himeville, in the foothills of the Drakensberg. Sandile uses his VuMA laptop so effectively that VuMA employs him to tutor other teachers and learners during school holiday workshops at Hilton College.

Sandile has been massively empowered by his attendance of VuMA and he is living proof of the extent to which one can determine one's own destiny, given the right tools.

The N3 freeway between Cedara in KwaZulu-Natal and Heidelberg in Gauteng has been managed by the N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) since 1999.

N3TC’s funding for the Vula Maths and Science programme has helped provide laptops for teachers attending the Vula Mathematics Academy and Grade 12 Mathematics and Physical Science Week.

The Vula Mathematics Academy (VuMA) is a technology-based response to the mathematics teaching crisis at township and rural schools in the greater Midlands area of KwaZulu-Natal. The funds spent on laptop computers ensured that the recipients of these could participate fully in the teaching and learning activities which made up an 11-week, in-residence programme at VuMA.

The beneficiaries were exposed to a wide range of opportunities by having their own laptops. The equipment became the means by which they were able to accumulate a vast array of teaching resources electronically and take them back to their schools on completion of their time at VuMA.

CHANGING THE LIVES OF THE TEACHERS AND ULTIMATELY THEIR LEARNERS

VUMA ALONG THE N3

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TRAC E-LEARNING PROGRAMMEground-breaking technology such as intelligent smart-boards, monitors, microphones, high-speed online communication and computer equipment. All these elements enabled the first group of learners and teachers to attend real-time classes in one location while a facilitator in another location took them through their class via video conferencing.

Given the huge success of the pilot project, TRAC has rolled it out to rural schools along the N4 Toll Route, with classes no longer being held at a TRAC facility, but at participating schools themselves.

The fully functional TRAC E-Learning Programme currently reaches 890 learners at five schools:1. Wozanibone (Bronkhorstspruit)2. Mphanama (Middelburg)3. Suikerland Secondary School (Malalane)4. Komati Akademie (Komatipoort)5. Khayalami Secondary School (Belfast)

TRAC not only manages the N4 highway but is also involved in education. It became part of the latest innovation in distance learning in South Africa in 2015, with the launch of the TRAC E-Learning Project at the Middelburg Plaza E-Learning Centre in Mpumalanga.

This initiative is one of TRAC’s key CSI projects. It has brought a new dimension to high-quality distance education, through technology that supports and develops interactive communication through video conferencing.

TRAC’s E-Learning Project provides Grade 12 learners with an opportunity to improve their marks in maths and science. The technology was developed by Ligbron Learning Academy in Ermelo and also offers a “teach-the-teacher” programme, where educators can attend lessons to enhance their teaching skills.

A section of the Middelburg Plaza was transformed into an E-Learning Centre for this initiative and was equipped with

OUR VISION / 15

PREPARING GRADUATES FOR THE WORLD OF WORK

outcomes required by the engineering profession regulatory bodies such as the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) sooner than those who did not have the opportunity.

Some of the training provided by TEA includes skills in geometric design, traffic analysis and capacity, engineering materials investigation and usage, pavement evaluations and materials design, and storm-water drainage.

ECSA, on the other hand, provides these students with training in investigating and analysing engineering problems, designing solutions to these engineering problems, and being able to address foreseeable social, cultural and environmental effects of engineering projects.

SANRAL is committed to nurturing the next generation of civil engineers in South Africa.

Skhumbuzo Macozoma is SANRAL’s CEO

Providing valuable critical skills and job opportunities for young people remains a cornerstone of South Africa’s democratic government.

Certainly, 25 years into our democracy, we still uphold the call that President Nelson Mandela made in his inaugural State of the Nation address: “Without the young there can be no future. Their needs are immense and urgent; they are at the centre of our reconstruction and development plan.”

Echoing Madiba’s sentiment, former Transport Minister Dr Blade Nzimande remarked at the Transport Education and Training Authority (Teta) skills summit in March this year that South Africa contributes a large portion of its national budget towards education and skills development. Approximately 1.5% of our gross domestic product (GDP) goes towards the education and training of young people.

“By making training and skills development available, be it in the form of learnerships, internships, scholarships, short courses or workplace training, we can help young people to upskill themselves so that they stand a better chance of escaping poverty, thus also meaningfully contributing to, and benefiting from economic growth and development,” the minister said.

As an entity of the Department of Transport, SANRAL is committed to developing South Africa’s knowledge economy and continues to invest in research and education.

The SANRAL Technical Excellence Academy (TEA) in Port Elizabeth provides dedicated mentorship and practical training in road and bridge design for graduate candidate engineers, who are also SANRAL bursary students.

In this year alone, 19 engineering students have joined the TEA. Since its establishment in 2014, a total of 50 students have finished their training through the academy.

Students who join the academy are provided with much-needed training, which means that they are likely to achieve the

SKHUMBUZO MACOZOMA

16 / INFORMATION SHEET

SANRAL is the abbreviation for the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited. Let’s get down to serious business about your future by making SANRAL part of your career planning!

WE KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT... DO YOU KNOW ABOUT US?

APPLYING FOR A SCHOLARSHIP?

I F Y O U D O , Y O U C O U L D Q U A L I F Y F O R A

S C H O L A R S H I P T H R O U G H S A N R A L !

SO WHAT DOES SANRAL OFFER?

SCHOOL FEES (Including

boarding fees if applicable)

SPORTS UNIFORM (One set)

UNIFORM (One set for summer and one set for

winter)

BOOKS & STATIONERY

NO ADDITIONAL ITEMS WILL BE PAID FOR ie:

Day to day transport / iPad / TabletLaptop / Cellphones

HOSTING YOU at a gala dinner/

luncheon

PLEASE NOTE:

SANRAL does not pay for the learners’ parents travel arrangements and accommodation for the dinner/luncheon.

MATHS

70-75%& ABOVE

PHYSICALSCIENCE

70-75%& ABOVE

ENGLISH

65%& ABOVE

OVERALLAVERAGE OF

75%& ABOVE

APPLICATION OPENS 1 JULY AND CLOSES 30 SEPTEMBER

how to apply for sanral

bursaries andscholarships

DO YOU ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING ACADEMIC RESULTS?

APPLYING FOR AN INTERNSHIP?

I F Y O U D O , Y O U C O U L D Q U A L I F Y F O R A

S C H O L A R S H I P T H R O U G H S A N R A L !

APPLICATION OPENS 1 JUNE AND CLOSES 30 SEPTEMBER

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BURSARY• A comprehensive CV• Certified copies of recent academic record, confirmation of

registration• Certified copy of South African identification document• South African citizenship• Motivational letter• Parents’ or guardian’s certified copy of identification document• Parents’ or guardian’s proof of income

ELIGIBILITY• Applicants should not be a recipient of any other bursary or financial

assistance from any institution• Applicants must be registered or about to register at a recognised

tertiary education institution in South Africa• Applicants must be South African citizens

SELECTION CRITERIA• Academic proficiency as proven by latest academic report• Financial circumstances (means test)• Field of study• Behavioural competencies• Representation (female, rural, disabled and race)• Validation of ID and qualification• Preference will be given to previously disadvantaged students, in line with

SANRAL’s Employment Equity Policy, and consideration will be based on academic performance and financial need (as per SANRAL Bursary Policy)

• We provide an opportunity for interns to use the workplace as an active learning environment

• We provide opportunities for new entrants with a view to acquire skills that would make them employable

• We assist students to obtain required practical experience and to complete their qualifications

These programmes provide SANRAL with an opportunity to compile a database of prospective employees for future recruitment purposes.

To fulfil roles related to the expansion, maintenance and development of the national road network, SANRAL needs to employ professionals with a civil engineering degree with the following qualifications:

• Structural Engineering• Traffic and Transport Engineering• Road Engineering• Geotechnical Engineering• Project Management• Environmental Engineering• Hydrology and Stormwater Engineering• Hydraulic and Water Engineering

To fulfil the roles related to the Intelligence Transport System (ITS) including Electronic Toll Systems, SANRAL acquires professionals with qualifications in:

• Electrical Engineering• Computer Engineering• Electronics Engineering

Postgraduate qualifications in related fields are a definite advantage and SANRAL bursaries are available to study full-time or part-time if you are a permanent staff member of SANRAL.

Our requirements for vacation work and internships

• A comprehensive CV or you can request an application form from us

• An application stating your requirements

• Provide duration of the assignment needed

• The application must be forwarded to us approximately 2-3 months before commencement date

• A copy of your valid driver’s licence

• You will be required to do a presentation after the assignment

Our requirements for full-time-job applications

• A comprehensive CV and motivational letter

• Certified copies of your South African ID, matric certificate and academic transcripts

• A copy of your driver’s licence if applicable

• Please forward your application to SANRAL addressed to the Corporate Services Executive PO Box 415 Pretoria 0001

APPLICATION PROCESSConsideration will be given to needy South African students who have successfully completed their first year of university studies or those currently registered for 2nd, 3rd, 4th year and postgraduate studies. However, strongly motivated applications from first year students studying towards the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Engineering degree in civil engineering and registered with a university will be considered.

Bursary applicants will not be considered if they fail any subject in the current academic year. If in Grade 12 applicants should achieve the minimum of 70% in both mathematics and physical science and minimum of 70% for English.

APPLYING FOR A BURSARY?

THE BURSARY AWARDED TO EACH STUDENT WILL COVER• Tuition and registration• Accommodation and meals• Books and equipment plus compulsory excursion and

seminars• Living allowance