SUPPLIERS & CONTRACTORS CEMENT & CONCRETE
New Beitbridge border post to speed up traffic flow In a landmark project that promises to transform the experience of passing through the Beitbridge border between South Africa and Zimbabwe, leading contractor Raubex was commissioned by Zimbabwe to construct three new immigration facilities. The cement for the project’s 125 000m2 of roads and parking area comes from Roodepoort, 550km to the south. AfriSam
The second phase – facilities for bus transport.
When completed, the facility will provide three new immigration facilities, each custom designed to speed up the flow of traffic, according to Raubex construction manager Herkie Sandenbergh. The first area, dedicated to freight trucks, has already been handed over, and processes approximately 500 trucks a day. Currently underway is the second phase which is focused on bus transport, which will be complete by May 2022. The third phase will be the facility for light traffic, and will be handed over in November this year. “Each stream will have its own terminal building where all customs and immigration documentation will be dealt with, thereby streamlining the processes by applying specific expertise in each area,” says Sandenbergh. He adds that there is considerable related infrastructure around the town of Beitbridge that is also included in the scope of work. This includes an 11.5 million litre reservoir with associated pipelines, an oxidation dam for sewage treatment, a fire station, an animal quarantine facility and a new staff village for border post personnel. As a key partner in the project, AfriSam has supplied some 7 000 tons of its High Strength
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There are about 1 160 people on site - over 570 labourers from the local area and almost 350 skilled Zimbabweans employed at peak phase.
R42.5 Cement from its Roodepoort plant near Johannesburg. The company will have delivered around 10000 tons of bulk cement by the time work is completed – delivered in 34 ton tankers. Adele Wentzel, AfriSam’s Sales Manager Manufacturing for Gauteng, says the distance from site and the complexities of border crossings have been challenging. Congestion at the border – which delayed
trucks for up to a week – was a particular challenge in the early stages. “We’ve worked closely to ensure consistent quality and on-time delivery, while complying with the various customs requirements at the border,” says Wentzel. “Our close coordination – combined with daily interactions with the site – have kept the project proceeding well.”
