Written by: Bheki Khawula
Photos: Gugu Mtshali and Neliswa Nhlabathi
Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre, in Port Shepstone is the venue wherein KZN Public Works held the Disability Contractors Training on Thursday, 20 July 2022. The Honourable MEC Ntuthuko Jomo Sibiya is a disability economic empowerment activist both by his actions and his utterances. Since his commencement of his role of leading KZN Public Works, he made a call of “disability inclusivity” in all matters pertaining to the economic development of the previously disadvantaged people of our province, the majority of whom are Blacks. He has always pleaded guilty to the crime of propelling Black Economic Empowerment (BEE). Sotobe says: “The redress of economic status of our people is not well-done, in the exclusion of the Disability Sector”.
Cllr N. Caluza kick-started the program by welcoming all, the target audience and the government officials in the venue. Ms Nokwanda Dube (Director: KZN Public Works Southern Region) presented the purpose of the event and said that: “ this event came as a result of the request to Public Works by the invitation from the Ugu District Disability Sector. She proceeded, saying that it is the mandate of MEC Sibiya that Millionaires must be realised also from the Disability Sector as a result of the quest of economic development of previously disadvantaged people of our country, with more emphasis to our KZN Province. In conclusion, she affirmed ring-fencing of opportunities as means to reach the targeted audience, being the Disability Sector in this instance.
Miss Delisile Mncube (Director: Youth, Women, People with Disabilities (PWD) and War Veterans presented the Eyesizwe Contractor Development Program. She stated that the fact that the Disability Sector has the lowest representation amongst other sectors that which are catered for by the Eyesizwe Contractor Development Program, highly concerned MEC Sibiya and as a result he made a call for this shortage to be corrected, hence this directorate is in the helm of organising this KZN province-wide district-to-district crusade.
Ms Lethabo Maseko from Small Enterprise Development Agency SEDA presented, telling the target audience that SEDA can intervene in the quest of Disability empowerment by assisting with the crafting of business plans and also by training with business marketing. Their funding comes in form of loans and grants. The loans interest rate is 5%. One can apply for these in SEDA offices. SEDA gives equipment and not money in order to avoid financial mismanagement. SEDA can also provide mentorship in order to enhance professional business management to the target audience of this program.
Mr Mzwandile Mngadi presented Contraction Industry Development Board (CIDB). He started by defining CIDB and correcting all the misconceptions of what CIDB stands for. He educated the target audience by amongst other things telling them that cutting grass has nothing to do with construction and therefore cannot give them any credits in as far as CIDB grading is concerned. He further told the target audience that CIDB status is measured in terms of grades and classes. He then explained that for one to get a CIDB upgrade, one needs to meet the stipulated requirements. Mr Mngadi also alerted the target audience the importance of writing down all contractual agreements that which are entered into wherein construction work is engaged. This helps to indicate the expected roles, timeframes and payment terms during the project.
Ms Zanele Doncabe from Supply Chain Management presented on the filling-in of the document and the required attachments. She stated that in the Ugu District there are only two people from the disability sector who are registered as contractors and this must be improved. She encouraged disabled people to stand up for themselves and answer to the call of their economic empowerment opportunities targeting them. She emphasised that when filling-in the documents, prospective contractors must not do this while in a hurry but this process must be given thorough attention. She discouraged the audience from self-victimisation by last minutes pressures. Finally, she advised prospective contractors to carefully staple or bind all attachments together and ensure the validity of the required certificates.
After interactive discussions and questions by the program’s audience, Mr Bongumusa Mzobe (Chair Person: Ugu District Disability Forum) concluded the program by uttering the words of thanks to KZN Department of Public Works as the author of the program and the main convener of such spectacular gathering. He stated that the Disability Sector as the highly marginalised and naturally disadvantaged community will surely benefit from this economic developmental engagement by this caring government of the people. Lastly, he thanked the Department for the beneficial relation with the Disability Sector, discouraged the Disability Sector form selfishness and encouraged it to always share this important information with those people who were not part of this gathering.
