Facilities Management
BEITBRIDGE
ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE
A total of 54 Land Ports of Entry regulate the flow of people and goods between South Africa and its neighbouring countries. Land Ports are microcosms of towns and rely on infrastructure and building services to function in the most remote areas. This includes:
- Roads, parking, traffic management, gates, fences and stormwater drainage
- Buildings with wet services, air conditioning, electricity and firefighting services
- Bulk water, drinking water purification, sewage collection and wastewater treatment
- Medium and low voltage electrical supply, site distribution and area lighting
- Diesel back-up power generation
Although the infrastructure is conventional, successful maintenance requires a unique approach.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
From 2004 to date, Virtual Consulting Engineers has developed a methodology for the repair, maintenance, operation and servicing of Land Ports of Entry. Our multidisciplinary approach is tailored to:
- Define infrastructure systems over its life cycle with specifications and contract conditions
- A contract with a minimum 36 month duration including repair and maintenance phases
- Remuneration based on performance score-cards for maintaining the required service level
- Payment reductions resulting from excessive breakdown time
- Special measures for facilities management, including cleaning, site keeping and handling of festive season peak traffic
Results have demonstrated value for money and an increased life expectancy of state infrastructure.
PROJECTS
Land Ports of Entry in North West Province (2004 – 2023)
Department of Public Works
Bray, Makgobistad, Ramatlabama, Skilpadshek, Kopfontein, Swartkopfontein and Derdepoort are in semi-arid areas, which require careful management of ground water resources. Treatment requires removal of nitrate and disinfection. Since 2004 our services also included road rehabilitation, stormwater management, and renovations of administration and residential buildings.
Land Ports of Entry in Limpopo (2004 – 2020)
Department of Public Works
Stockpoort, Groblersbridge, Pontdrift, Platjan and Zanzibar allow access to Botswana, with facilities ranging from housing to back-up power supply. At Beitbridge, South Africa’s busiest Land Port, leading to Zimbabwe, we developed groundwater resources and drinking water supply including construction of a new 2Mℓ reservoir, with constructed wetlands for effluent polishing. Pafuri Gate has been repaired following flood damage from the combined Luvuvhu and Limpopo rivers. Other facilities included security fencing, roads and traffic management.
Land Ports of Entry in Mpumalanga (2004 – 2023)
Department of Public Works
Lebombo accommodates movement of approximately 4,740,000 travellers per annum with a total of 580 personnel working at the port. Labour intensive practices under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) have been implemented to a value of 20% of the contract amount. Jeppe’s Reef and Mananga, in the same area, give access to Eswatini.
Land Ports of Entry in KwaZulu-Natal (2004 – 2018)
Department of Public Works
Onverwacht and Golela provide access to Eswatini from KwaZulu-Natal, while Kosi Bay Port links South Africa with Mozambique. The scope of work has included new water purification works, significant repair works to the truck routes, parking areas and road rehabilitation and replacement of gates and fences.
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (2021 – 2024)
South African National Biodiversity Institute
Amongst the world’s most beautiful gardens, Kirstenbosch in Cape Town comprises 36 hectares of landscaping merging seamlessly with the fynbos vegetation of Table Mountain. Virtual Consulting Engineers supported SANBI with the management of improving building facilities, including tea rooms, glass house nurseries, educational buildings, bio-diversity centres, irrigation, renewable energy and ventilation systems.
Parliamentary Housing (2021 – 2026)
Department of Public Works and Infrastructure
Virtual Consulting Engineers were appointed as integrated facilities management consultant for parliamentary residential accommodation over a five-year period in Cape Town, including 591 residential houses, 234 apartments and 136 support buildings. Work included preventative maintenance, corrective maintenance, servicing, training, statutory inspections, tests as well operational damages and all other repairs on all components of the specified installations, through electronic asset management support systems.