PROJECT INFORMATION
| Client: | KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport |
| Main contractor: | Atana |
| JV partners | Semenya Furumele Consulting, Ndizani Civil Works, Leomat Construction |
| Date: | 2020 – 2024 |
| Location: | South Africa | Lesotho |
| Challenge: | Sani Pass’s rugged terrain and harsh conditions made travel dangerous, limiting trade, tourism, and community access. |
| Solution: | A high-altitude engineering feat by Atana transformed the 33km gravel pass into a resilient, all-weather road, balancing durability with environmental preservation. |
| Impact: | Safer, year-round access for businesses, tourists, and residents; boosting cross-border trade, regional tourism, and economic growth – while maintaining the pass’s natural beauty. |
PROBLEMS WE SOLVED
Taming the mountain
Recognising the need for change, Lesotho and South Africa signed an agreement to upgrade Sani Pass in 2005. The goal? To make Sani Pass safer without losing its rugged beauty or harming its delicate ecosystem.
Atana’s challenge? Transform a treacherous climb via sustainable infrastructure that unlocks new opportunities for trade and safer access for communities, businesses, and tourists.
A smarter, safer pass
- Reinforced road design: A layered, weather-resistant surface now withstands the extreme freeze-thaw cycle.
- Advanced drainage system: Smart water management, like Terramesh Gabion retaining walls up to 7m high, prevents erosion and protects local waterways, including the Mkhomazana River.
- Eco-conscious construction: Concrete faces are lined with form liners to mimic natural rock formations and match the surrounding stone.
- Logistical ingenuity: Careful planning ensured equipment and materials could be transported along the same terrain being upgraded.
- Biodiversity preservation: Indigenous plants, trees, and sods were carefully removed before construction and replanted post-build.
Engineering solutions begin with a conversation.
Beyond construction, Atana successfully:
- Empowered local communities through job creation, skills development, and SME involvement;
- Restored the historic Good Hope Trading Station as a tourist attraction;
- Secured Provincial Treasury approvals; and
- Ensured strict construction and quality standards.
Preserving the past, building a legacy
The Sani Pass upgrade earned the SANRAL SAICE 2022 National Award for Most Outstanding Civil Engineering Project.
As the only road that crosses the summit of the Drakensberg Mountain range, Sani Pass’s steep switchbacks, loose gravel, and sudden weather changes meant local communities faced dangerous journeys to access schools, healthcare, and trade routes.
But after nearly two decades of 24/7 operation, its systems were well past their prime. Power systems, water supply, waste management and heating – all critical to survival in Antarctica – were in dire straits.
Calcium and magnesium build-up caused “hard water,” which began to solidify – and clog pipes.
Many roads and vehicles were in poor condition, and safe, reliable transport remained out of reach for thousands.
Atana supported both projects through project management and Clerk of Works services spanning planning, design, procurement, contract administration and construction monitoring.
Designed and delivered by Atana as the primary engineering consultant, the project combines sustainability, speed, and technical ingenuity.
