Civil engineering students are being exposed to practical road construction work on a graduate programme being implemented by the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) in the Umzimvubu Local Municipality.
Twenty-three (23) promising students from diverse educational backgrounds are participating in the training programme on SANRAL’s projects along the N2 corridor between KwaBhaca (formerly known as Mount Frere) to Ngcweleni River near eMaxesibeni (formerly known as Mount Ayliff). The participants hail from Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and the Walter Sisulu University.
SANRAL’s graduate programme is designed to provide young graduates with valuable industry experience in civil engineering and reflects SANRAL’s ongoing commitment to addressing youth unemployment while simultaneously bridging the skills gap within the civil engineering sector.
The structure of the programme accommodates two groups of graduates. SANRAL Project Manager Siphesihle Bulose explains: “We have two different streams. One stream is for those with national diplomas who need to complete P1 and P2 for their practical experience in order to graduate. The other stream is for students from TVET colleges who require 24 months of work integrated learning. We provide these students with the practical experience they need to complete their studies. Once they graduate, we also create an opportunity to give them experiential training.”
Bulose highlighted that the opportunity to implement this initiative arose because the KwaBhaca to eMaxesibeni project is extensive and well-funded. “SANRAL identified this project as an ideal platform to create work experience opportunities for young graduates. The size and scope of the project allow us to offer a wide range of learning experiences tailored to each participant’s educational background.”
One of the programme participants, Yamkhela Jojo from Walter Sisulu University expressed her gratitude for the opportunity. Jojo holds a National Diploma in Civil Engineering and learned about the SANRAL Graduate Programme through a local newspaper. “At the moment, I’m focused on the compaction section, testing materials for road construction. I still need to go to other sections like indicator, asphalt and concrete, but since I started in September 2023, I’ve already learnt so much,” she said.
Zizo Mvango, another participant who works as an assistant resident engineer, is responsible for site supervision of roadworks. Mvango holds a Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Civil Engineering from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. “This training will give me a glimpse of my next step, which will be at the design office. After that experience, I will be able to register with ECSA (Engineering Council of South Africa) and be part of the engineers who will be helping with the SANRAL projects,” she explained.
Bulose says the participants are spread across various roles within the project. “We have 20 graduates working under the main contractor and three working under the consultant. These graduates are involved in a variety of functions, from site management to laboratory testing and survey assistance,” he said.
Bulose elaborated on the roles of the graduates working with the consultant “One of them is a BSc graduate responsible for 70 percent of the conventional works, while a BTech graduate oversees the remaining 30 percent, which includes subcontracting and deviations. We also have a diploma graduate who is primarily focused on the community development project but assists with the main works as needed. As for the 20 graduates under the main contractor, they are gaining experience in areas like assistant site management, laboratory testing, surveying, conducting measurements and helping with level checks for pavement certificates. So, they are exposed to a wide range of civil engineering works.”
Lubabalo Dzingwe, an intern technician and site inspector with a National Diploma in Civil Engineering from Tshwane University of Technology, reflected on his experience in the programme. “I’ve learned a lot about inspections, where we monitor the construction, to see whether it’s done right, and we make sure that the standard of construction conforms with what is required. We also track quantities, which helps with budget monitoring to make sure we’re not overspending during the implementation phase of the project. This training will help me qualify for registration with ECSA as a professional engineering technician,” Dzingwe remarked.
This graduate programme goes beyond merely creating employment opportunities, it aims to develop the next generation of leaders in the civil engineering sector. SANRAL’s focus on nurturing talent in critical infrastructure projects aligns with its long-term vision of building a sustainable pipeline of skilled engineers capable of improving South Africa’s road network.
Lethabo Mohlala, who holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Pretoria and serves as an Assistant Resident Engineer, echoed these sentiments. “SANRAL, keep doing what you’re doing. This is good. This is a great opportunity especially for young people in the field of civil engineering. My training includes everything from material testing to site inspections, ensuring that work is being done to the correct width, length, and compaction standards.”
At the heart of this programme is a mission to address the challenge faced by graduates who struggle to secure employment due to a lack of work experience.
“SANRAL identified that there is a gap, with a lot of people who have qualifications but cannot be absorbed into employment because they don’t have work experience. At the end of this programme, we want to close the gap of graduates who cannot acquire employment because they don’t have experience. We also try and create capacity within the experience that graduates obtain so that it’s sufficient and suitable for them to be able to qualify to register with the Engineering Council of South Africa. The programme looks at a number of things, but the main goal is to close all those gaps we have identified,” said Bulose.
Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL’s Regional Manager for the Southern Region, said, “The SANRAL Graduate Programme stands as a beacon of hope for young South Africans aspiring to build careers in civil engineering. By combining classroom knowledge with real-world experience, the initiative is setting these graduates on a path to success. SANRAL’s commitment to empowering the next generation of engineers is not only benefiting the participants but also contributing to the development of critical infrastructure that will support the nation’s growth for years to come.”
