On a bright sun-shining day weather, while August, the Women’s month approaches its end, as the warm season announces itself, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Public Works eThekwini region comes together to celebrate the Women’s Day in style.  On Thursday, 25 August 2022, in Durban, Mayville the Women’s Day celebration was held, giving the women employees of Public Works the special recognition and attention they deserve on their very special day.

First of all, Mrs Z.M. Mdunge welcomed all who attended on behalf of Mr G.S. Blose (Regional Director of eThekwini region).  When detailing the purpose of the day, she stated that it was the unity of all women from all races who stood against General Strydom in 1956, protesting against Pass laws and the injustices of the Apartheid regime and that this was a statement on the wall to the effect that the power possessed by women must never be undermined.  She sad that the struggle and success of one woman always positively affect all other women. 

Furthermore, she said that this gathering is not for disputing against one another but to share knowledge and information.  She encouraged women to always unite at all times and stop fighting against one another for unreasonable, senseless and selfish reasons.  “Women must always support each other.  Senior women at work as colleagues are supposed to impact positively on young women who come to work as interns.”  Concluded Mrs Mdunge.

Mr Mthokozisi Ngobese is a South African Police Service (SAPS) personnel member.  His responsibility in this gathering was to address the burning issue of Gender Based Violence (GBV).  He encouraged women to always report or tip-off police about cases of GBV.  He asked them to speak out and let police know about unhealthy and violent situations and conditions in their love or marital relationships.  He asked them to immediately stop tolerating unhealthy relationships. 

Mr Ngobese proceeded by advising women to immediately move out and run away from such unhealthy and violent marriages or relationships.  He discouraged them form hoping for improvement of those unhealthy relationships.  He said that statistics depict that once violence begins in the relationship, it never stops but instead it exacerbates. 

Mthokozisi said that part of the result of so many kids in our streets and drug and alcohol abusing children is the GBV that which is taking place in our homes between parents.  He asked the women to please become a support system to their fellow friends who make a decision to move out of their violent and unhealthy marriages or relationships.

Mrs N. Mlotshwa (Assistant Director: Employee Health and Wellness) facilitated on “women of purpose”.  She said that women ought to appreciate and acknowledge themselves and one another for all the good qualities they possess.  She said all their dislikes in their bodies cannot be removed or changed, therefore, women must learn to accept it and live with it.  She encouraged women to think positively about their lives.  This will bring them to their realisation of their vision. 

Mrs Mlotshwa continued saying that a woman of purpose understands herself and always run her race at her own pace with success but the woman who lacks a purpose will always have issues with other people and is not able to cooperatively work in peace and harmony with other people.  “Women must shy away from cycles without a value.  These are not beneficial as they are also not constructive.” Emphasised Mrs Mlotshwa.  “No one owes women anything but women owe everything to themselves.”  She concluded by mentioning that life is about making choices.  Being sad and being happy is a decision which a women is entitled to make.

Miss Nomfundo Zungu from the audience said that as a young woman, on behalf of other young women, she is asking adult women to respect them, include them in the resolution of probvlems and not instruct or shout at them.  As young women, they also want to be listened to.  Even at work, they are asking to be treated with dignity.  Sais Nomfundo Zungu.

Ms Nomfundo Khuzwayo shared hints on “raising a child”.  She said women have to ask themselves what are the reasons children that don’t belong to them grow improperly without sufficient basic needs.  She asked older women to please share some light and do good deeds to the generation coming after them.   In this way, even parentless children will get love and care which they deserve.  Concluded Nomfundo Khuzwayo.

Ms Khosi Ngcobo also came from the audience and stated that raising a child starts from home.  She said that as parents, we must raise children with love and teach them morals.    She said that when correcting the children, one must use a manneristic approach.  She also asked the young generation to please listen and be obedient to the advice of the older generation.

Tholakele Xaba said that raising a child is a responsibility of all women.  She asked her fellow women to reframe from jealousy, greed and selfishness.  She asked them to share opportunities such as job opportunities, internships opportunities, learnerships opportunities, bursaries opportunities and scholarship opportunities with those children also who are not their biological children.

Women are associated with beauty and purity.  Such could be told for the dress-code of the day in Mayville.  A white dress and a doek vividly projected the beauty of the African woman.  They are mothers of our nation.  They play a most important role in our lives.  At work and in organisational leadership, there they also deserve crucial positions.   In conclusion, Ms Thembeka Mkhulise thanked the program director and all the speakers who participated in the program.  She also thanked all women for having been a spectacular audience. 

Emerging Women Contractors from North Coast Region- Zululand District.

“If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.” –Margaret Thatcher. Thursday 04 August 2022 the Youth, Women, People with Disabilities and Military Veterans kick started the women’s month at the North Coast Region, Zululand District by hosting a training session for emerging women contactors. The Department continues with its focus aimed at fast tracking the emerging contractors from previously disadvantaged communities into the mainstream construction industry. The training focuses on preparing emerging women contactors to be part of the infrastructure revolution.

The training is targeting women ranging from grade one to three in terms of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) grading system who are still emerging. The objective is to train women contractors on various compliance issues in regards to the managing and running a construction business. A request was sent to the Department of Labour to come and share with the women on topics like the compliance processes that they will need to follow when they have employees in their companies and what are the expectations.

Delegation from KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works.

The Department of Public Works prides itself on its commitment in uplifting the lives of women in KwaZulu-Natal, Departmental Supply Chain Management (SCM) for the North Coast Region was there as well to take them through on how to fill-in bid documents and the pricing aspect issues. In the past, it has been noted that there is a skill shortage in filling-inn of bid documents hence there has been a low percentage in female contractors on the Eyesizwe Contractor Development Programme (ECDP) database. This initiative is to ensure whenever there are projects or opportunities available for women that are equipped to respond accordingly to those bid documents.

Among the participants who attended the workshop was Ms Nokuthula Simelane from Ulundi she thanked the Department of Public Works for such opportunities they offer young people from previously disadvantages backgrounds, especially the women and youth, in 2017 Ms Simelane attended a training course under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) where her skills were sharpened in brick laying. With today’s training, she said, “with the information I gained in terms of filling-inn of Bid documents, I am adamant I will be receiving some positive feedback”.

Written by Bheki Khawula

Photos by Neliswa Nhlabathi

On Friday, 19 August 2022, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Public Works held an Expanded Public Works Program (EPWP) quarterly steering committee meeting in Durban, Mayville, Archie Gumede building, uMkhanyakude Conference Room. This provincial steering committee is responsible for job creation mainly pertaining to EPWP matters. Present in the meeting was Department of Public Works as the coordinating department, all other government departments and also municipalities.

Mr Bongani Dlamini (Chief Director KZN EPWP) Narrated the purpose of this meeting as to engage in matters concerning EPWP, to ensure that all set targets are met accordingly, to ensure that the exit strategy is well-understood by all members of the steering committee so that its application can be influenced and implemented all the way from the national level to the ward level of our government. The EPWP exit strategy is necessitated by the fact that beneficiaries are meant to benefit for a limited term and that they must not exit back into poverty when their contracts comes to an end.

Ms Nondumiso Mahlaba (Director KZN EPWP Coordination) made a presentation looking at the KZN province performance and at how all the grants that are allocated for EPWP purposes are spent. She covered 12 departments and 54 local municipalities, amounting to 66 bodies. This detailed how many job opportunities were created and that in that process how much money was spent. Through this very important program, Public Works is able to alleviate poverty to a larger extent. Through the mass job creation Program, EPWP beneficiaries receive training that which makes sure that when their contracts come to an end, they are able to create jobs for themselves through the skills they received during training.

Mr Sduduzo Simelane (Director EPWP National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, based in KZN Province) made a presentation on strategic matters that might have come up out of any engagements at head office at National level. He spoke about the Provincial Steering Committee meeting being a provincial strategic management body for the EPWP in KZN. He said that at a broader level there are national bodies such as the National Coordinating Committee which he spoke about at length. He spoke about the need of the KZN representation from the Coordination Section to regularly attend the meetings of the Coordination Committee. He also spoke about the process of creating the EPWP policy document, mentioning consultative process that will be undertaken country-wide. More interestingly, he also spoke about the draft framework policy for the enhancement of participation of People With Disabilities (PWD).

“The rate of unemployment continues to increase on daily bases due to many factors some of which are out of our control. Be it as it may, Public Works will never shy away from the responsibility of addressing poverty alleviation-related matters.” Said Mr Dlamini. When performance was analysed, it appeared that some bodies are so far failing to meet the set quota of employing PWDs and the above-mentioned framework policy serves to sort out this problem. Mr Dlamini was happy with the turnout of the target audience, their interactiveness and the robust discussion which was pointing to one positive direction of guaranteeing that the delivery of services takes place with speed and efficiency while ensuring that people are taken out of poverty at the same time.

A three-day workshop for contractors ended on a high note with contractors being awarded certificates. On 03-04 August 2022 the KZN Department of Public Works hosted a workshop for emerging contractors at OR Tambo House, Pietermaritzburg.

Majority of construction employees in South Africa employed by contractors are employed by small and medium-sized contractors. This is why the Department of Public Works is intensifying development interventions particularly for emerging contractors. While the department has other capacity development programmes, the targeted group for the workshop were contractors who form part of previously disadvantaged groups i.e. youth, women, people with disabilities and military veterans. The workshop was facilitated by the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) and the contractors were taken through the know-how and steps of running construction projects and businesses. Some of the main areas that were covered were:

• Building Regulations and Registration
• NHRBC Business Services
• Basics of Construction
• Soils & Geotechnical Investigations
• Enrolment and Registrations

Amongst the attendees was Mr Thamsanqa Mngadi of eMangadini Business Solutions who is a Military Veteran expressed his gratitude for the knowledge gained through the workshop. “I am now confident that my company will grow because of the knowledge gained, I am eager to go and apply all the skills and information and I am confident that it will yield great results,” said Mr Mngadi. Silindile Nsibande also an emerging contractor was filed with excitement upon completion of the three-day workshop. “What a great way to kick off Women’s Month with an informative session and a platform for the previously disadvantaged, I am grateful to the Department of Public Works for the opportunity.”