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AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS:

Since the establishment of democracy and the merging of the former Natal Roads Branch and KwaZulu Transport to form the now KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport we have performed well. Our achievements have received considerable acknowledgement by independent assessors.
These achievements include:

  • Being awarded the Gold, Silver and Best Practice Awards in the Premier’s Batho Pele Good Governance Awards.
  • The Chief Director: Communication being awarded the Provincial/Local Bua Award by the GCIS at the Annual GCIS Communicators Awards in 2003.
  • GCIS awarded the Communication Support Directorate a Bronze Provincial/Local Ubungcweti Award at the Annual GCIS Communicators Awards in 2004. The newsletters produced and the website have received several accolades and commendations from various stakeholders, and the website was voted as the most interactive and informative in terms of road safety information in December 2003 on SAFM.
  • Impumelelo also selected the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport as one of the top 300 affirmative action companies in South Africa. What makes this very special for our Department is the fact that we are the only provincial department nation-wide that was acknowledged to have performed within the top 300 affirmative action companies in 2005.
  • Impumelelo also awarded their coveted top prize to our "Zibambele" programme for the reduction of poverty and improvement in the quality of life of poor people in 2005.
  • Our Participatory Educational Techniques (PET) Project for Road Safety was chosen as the best community youth project in the country by the Road Transport and Education Committee.
  • Being awarded the SAICE Awards for Best Projects for the construction of the Gracelands Bridge (Mooi River) and for Qwasha Bridge (Ulundi).
  • Being awarded the PMR Golden Arrow Award for the highest ratings received under the category of “Provincial Department’s that have been most effective in achieving their goals over the past 12 months in KwaZulu-Natal” in 2006.
  • Our KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate earned a trophy for its contribution towards empowering women in law enforcement at the 2nd Annual Leadership for Women in Law Enforcement Conference held in Johannesburg in 2008.
  • Our KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate scooped three awards at the 2008 national Road Traffic Law Enforcement Conference held in Bloemfontein, namely:
  • The Minister of Transport’s Award for Service Excellence is based on outstanding results in roads safety strategies, implementation plans, evaluation of results, identification of additional training opportunities, empowerment of personnel, motivation of staff and relations with its respective political principals, role-players, stakeholders, media and road-user community was award to the KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate as a whole;
  • The Premier’s Award for Going the Extra Mile went to RTI traffic officer Mike Schaffer and was based on his commitment and dedication to make a difference against all odds without regard for compensation or recognition;
  • The Chairperson’s Award for the Most Innovative Idea Award was scooped by RTI traffic officer Gora Khaki.
  • Our KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate was awarded the following awards at the 1st International Road Safety Management Conference in August 2009:
    • Traffic Officer of the Year;
    • Best Traffic College in South Africa;
    • Best Facilitator in South Africa;
    • Going the extra mile beyond the call of duty;
    • Runner up for the best innovation.
  • From 2008 to 2011 the Department has won a KAMOSO award for the best maintenance programme, namely the Zibambele Maintenance Programme. The KAMOSO Awards is an annual event of the National Public Works Department to recognise excellence in the carrying out of EPWP projects.
  • Cost Centre Hluhluwe won the Gold Award for Service Excellence at the Premier’s Service Excellence Awards 2010/11.
  • The Human Resource Management Directorate secured 2nd place in the category Best HR Practices in the Province at the 7th Human Resources Convention, bringing home to the Department a Silver Trophy and certificate.
  • Cost Centre Pietermaritzburg won the Bronze Award for Service Excellence at the Premier’s Service Excellence Awards 2013 held at the ICC in Durban on 23 July 2013.
  • The Road Safety Directorate was awarded first prize for the implementation of the most innovative and best Road Safety Project for young road users in the country!
  • Mrs Marlini Pillay was nominated under the Road Safety Education and communication category for 2013 RTMC Road Safety Awards and brought home the winning prize. We congratulate her and her team for their tireless efforts in making Road Safety a priority amongst young road users.
  • The Ungqimu idada no Usiyazi idada also known as the Silly Duck, Clever Duck road safety education project was awarded a bronze medal at the Premier’s Service Excellence Awards 2014 under the category of Best Public Service Implemented Program/Project of the Year.
  • Senior Provincial Inspector Mr. R. Oosthuizen was entered under two categories of the Premier’s Service Excellence Awards 2014, namely Best Public Servant of the Year and Best Creator and Innovator of the Year. He was awarded with a bronze medal and certificate of commendation for Best Creator and Innovator of the Year as well as being awarded as the runner-up in the category of Best Public Servant of the Year and was awarded with a certificate of excellence.
  • Mr. E.T. Zulu from RTI Empangeni was awarded the bronze medal at the Premier’s Service Excellence Awards 2014 under the category of Best Public Service Leader of the Year.
  • The Pietermaritzburg Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) team was recognised for having the best implemented community outreach project in the country at the 2014 National Batho Pele Excellence Awards. The RTI team was presented with a Silver award for implementing the Shintshimpilo Project, a scholar learner driver development programme.
  • At the Premier’s Services Excellence Awards 2016 the following Departmental staff and teams were recipients of awards:
  • Ms. Thembisa Mgwili from the Cost Centre: Hluhluwe received a Certificate of Commendation under the category, Best Frontline Service Delivery Employee of the Year;
  • Mr. Lindinkozi Buthelezi from the Cost Centre: Hluhluwe received the Silver Award under the category, Best Public Service Implemented Program/ Project of the Year for the construction of Godloza Access Road;
  • The Road Safety Directorate were awarded the Bronze Award under the category Best Batho Pele Team of the Year. We congratulate and thank them for making Road Safety a priority through their tireless efforts.

ROAD TRAFFIC INSPECTORATE:
The KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate earned a trophy for its contribution towards empowering women in law enforcement at the 2nd Annual Leadership for Women in Law Enforcement Conference held in Johannesburg in 2008. RTI’s Information Officer, Zinhle Mngomezulu was honoured after making an informative presentation on behalf of the RTI team. Her presentation focused on the background of women in law enforcement who were previously taken for granted or deprived of the opportunities afforded to their male counterparts, and the current status of women in law enforcement.

At the 1st International Road Safety Management Conference held in Cape Town in 2009 the following awards were awarded to the KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate:

  • Traffic Officer of the Year;
  • Best Traffic College in South Africa;
  • Best Facilitator in South Africa;
  • Going the extra mile beyond the call of duty;
  • Runner up for the best innovation.

At the 2008 National Road Traffic Law Enforcement Conference held in Bloemfontein the KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate scooped three awards, namely:

  • The Minister of Transport’s Award for Service Excellence is based on outstanding results in roads safety strategies, implementation plans, evaluation of results, identification of additional training opportunities, empowerment of personnel, motivation of staff and relations with its respective political principals, role-players, stakeholders, media and road-user community was award to the KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate as a whole;
  • The Premier’s Award for Going the Extra Mile went to RTI traffic officer Mike Schaffer and was based on his commitment and dedication to make a difference against all odds without regard for compensation or recognition;
  • The Chairperson’s Award for the Most Innovative Idea Award was scooped by RTI traffic officer Gora Khaki;
  • At the 2012 CPSI Awards held on 2 November 2012 by the Department of Public Service and Administration, the Road Traffic Inspectorate: Pietermaritzburg was the proud recipient of a Ministerial CPSI Award for Innovations.

The Park Rynie Road Traffic Inspectorate was lauded as the best performing road traffic inspectorate station in the entire country, having scooped four awards at the National Road Traffic Management Corporation Awards 2013. The four categories in which the station was awarded were for:

  • Going the extra mile which was won by Provincial Inspector Timothy Simpson;
  • The Most Innovative Idea went to Senior Administration Clerk Jenny Pillay;
  • Traffic Officer of the Year was won by Station Commander Aboo Aboobaker; and
  • The Service Excellence Award was won by the entire station.

At the Premier’s Service Excellence Awards 2014 held on 24 July 2014 at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Durban International Conference Centre:

  • Senior Provincial Inspector Mr. R. Oosthuizen was entered under two categories of the Premier’s Service Excellence Awards 2014, namely Best Public Servant of the Year and Best Creator and Innovator of the Year. He was awarded with a bronze medal and certificate of commendation for Best Creator and Innovator of the Year as well as being awarded as the runner-up in the category of Best Public Servant of the Year and was awarded with a certificate of excellence;
  • Mr. E.T. Zulu from RTI Empangeni was awarded the bronze medal at the Premier’s Service Excellence Awards 2014 under the category of Best Public Service Leader of the Year;
  • The Pietermaritzburg Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) team was recognised for having the best implemented community outreach project in the country at the 2014 National Batho Pele Excellence Awards. The RTI team was presented with a Silver award for implementing the Shintshimpilo Project, a scholar learner driver development programme.

At the Premier’s Service Excellence Awards 2015 held on 16 July 2015, the Road Traffic Inspectorate: Park Rynie’s Speed Timing Team won the Premier’s Silver Award for Service Excellence.

At the Premier’s Services Excellence Awards 2017 the following Departmental officials and teams were recipients of awards:

  • In the category of Most Functional, Professional & Ethical Department of the Year, Transport won Gold;
  • In the category of Best Batho Pele Team, the Cost Centre Hluhluwe won Silver;

 

At the Annual Premier’s Service Excellence Awards held at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban during July 2018 the Department received the following awards:

  • Gold in the Best Implemented Programme of the Year category was awarded to Marlini Pillay from Road Safety.
  • The Hluhluwe Cost Centre continued to excel and was awarded Silver for being the Best Batho Pele Team of the Year.

Certificates of appreciation were also presented to other participants from the Department:

  • Gugu Zuma received a Certificate in the Best Operational Employee of the Year;
  • Petronella Sithebe in the Best Public Service Innovation/Creativity of the Year; and
  • Bongani Msani in the Best Implemented Project of the Year.
  • A Batho Pele Principles Assessor certificate was awarded to Anthony “iNduna” Ntshangase.

The Department scooped the Best Construction Project award during the 3rd KwaZulu-Natal Expanded Public Works (EPWP) Kamoso Awards ceremony in 2018.  The Department walked away with the prestigious award for the upgrade of access road L2852 (Mahlokohloko Road) which falls under the jurisdiction of Hluhluwe Cost Centre.

INFRASTRUCTURE:

MAIN ROAD 577 - DUMISANI MAKHAYE DRIVE
Main Road 577, which was named after apartheid struggle hero, Dumisane Makhaye, was developed to provide critical access for local residents to jobs and economic activity in the New Germany and Pinetown areas of Durban. Dumisane Makhaye Drive spans the uMngeni River and provides a strategic link between Duffs Road in KwaMashu to Dinkelman in New Germany. It cuts off a massive 16 kilometres for traffic using N3 to connect to N2.  The road connects, among others, the communities of Newlands, KwaMashu, Inanda, KwaDabeka, Clermont and Pinetown, and is set to ease traffic congestion in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.  Significantly, the road will serve as a new alternative route to the King Shaka International Airport for traffic coming from the Pietermaritzburg and Pinetown areas, which will now ease traffic congestion on the N2/ N3 interchange.
Part way through the contract the first dedicated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes in Durban were added to the design and construction process.  It is to their credit that the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and the eThekwini Transport Authority as well as the designers and contractors not only met the challenge head on, but came through the experience proud of their achievement.

AWARDS:
Main Road 577 won the First Place Award in the Technical Excellence Category at the SAICE Annual Awards in 2017.  The Project Team comprising Royal HaskoningDHV in joint venture with Henwood and Nxumalo, won the award for Provincial Main Road 577 that was commissioned by the Department, and the BRT Lanes: Corridor C3 for eThekwini Transport Authority.

TUGELA RIVER PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
The Tugela River Pedestrian Bridge was the first steel pedestrian suspension bridge in the Maphumulo district, and was essentially aimed at connecting the Mvumase community with the surrounding local infrastructure that it has been isolated from thus far. Besides the direct social and economic benefits for the community, witnessing the process of design and construction in their region of the Tugela River Pedestrian Bridge not only provided vital access by the communities to essential services, but has reportedly inspired an interest amongst the local youth to gain knowledge in the domains of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

AWARDS:
The Tugela River Pedestrian Bridge, commissioned by the Department, and executed by Hatch, who supervised the project through its entire lifespan, starting with the initial feasibility assessments, through the design phase, extending all the way to the construction process. , won the Engineering Excellence Award at the Consulting Engineering South Africa (CESA) and AON Awards in 2018.

TUGELA RIVER BRIDGE (MABHOBHANE)
Members of the Bangindoda community, situated on the Eshowe side of the Tugela, which includes more than 200 learners, faced the risk of drowning daily, when crossing KwaZulu-Natal’s largest river by boat to access basic services such as schools, clinics, pension pay points and the post office which are on the Maphumulo side of the Tugela River. Through ingenuity and innovation Naidu Consulting developed a solution that comprised of the construction of a 330m long composite structural steel truss and reinforced concrete slab deck bridge with spans of up to 40m, the longest composite bridge to be constructed over the Tugela River.

AWARDS:
This Bridge received two SAICE National Awards in 2019 in the Technical Excellence Category for Highly commended: Joint winners, and Community Based Project. The Project Team comprised:

    • Naidu Consulting
    • Umso Construction (Pty) Ltd
    • Franki Africa
    • Inkunzi RMC
    • Churchyard & Umpleby (Pty) Ltd
    • Form-Scaff

SANI PASS PHASE 2A STRUCTURES
In the Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) Awards in 2019, under the category for Engineering Excellence with a value less than R50 million, the commendation award was won by Royal HaskoningDHV in conjunction with SFC Engineers - Ndizani Civil Works JV for the Sani Pass Phase 2A Structures on the Southern Drakensberg for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport.

SAICE AWARDS 2022
The South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) hosted its annual awards ceremony on Friday, 2 September 2022 at Montecasino in Johannesburg. The SANRAL SAICE 2022 National Awards look at celebrating and rewarding the outstanding individuals and projects in the built environment sector that ground-breaking and that seek to improve good practice in the development of civil engineering.
The awards that were won by the design consultants in which KZN DOT was the Client are:

  • Technical Excellence Category: Sani Pass Phase 2: Roadworks – KM 13,6 to KM 25,0 – Project (Designed by Royal HaskoningDHV)
  • Most Outstanding Civil Engineering Project award in the Community Based Category: Construction of the Msunduze River Bridge No. 3202 on Local Road L3110 project (Designed by Naidu Consulting)
  • Most Outstanding Investigative or Planning Report or Study: Investigation and Design of Remedial Works for Wall No. 2 on Main Road P73 project (Designed by SMEC)

PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES
A Success Story/Highlight of Achievements of Public Transport Services Programmes

  • Empowerment programmes of historically disadvantaged individuals (small bus operators and taxis). There are 11 new empowerment contracts that are currently operational, following the conclusion of a 7-year contract.  This is under the Mainstream Bus operation.
  • On Learner Transport, there are 72 Learner transport contracts that are owned by Black Africans.

 

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