Wednesday, 27 July 2022
Written by Bheki Khawula
Photos by Gugu Mtshali and Neliswa Nhlabathi
Mr Sabelo Biyela on behalf of Ugu District Manager Mr Thabani Manyathi, uttered words of welcome to the government officials and the trainees in the Esibanini Hall in uMzumbe Municipality. He told the trainees that the Ugu Office is in the closest proximity to them and that they are welcome to make good use of it. He mentioned that there are a number of programs intended to benefit them and the doors of the office are opened for the trainees and everyone else to come in and access all services. Ms Nomathemba Mchunu from uMzumbe Municipality also welcomed all the trainees in the same note.
Miss Delisile Mncube said that this training is an effort to address inequalities results from the past era injustices. She said that the partnership with NHBRC is thus made necessary in order to benefit Black people, Women, Disabled people and Military veterans. She encouraged the trainees to please attend the training for the whole three days duration. She said that the knowledge gain here is highly proper and relevant for construction business. Lastly she asked the trainees to be interactive for the whole duration of the course.
Mr Mphilisi Hlongwa (uMzumbe Municipality Technical Manager responsible for Human Settlements) thanked Local Economic Development for sharpening local business people. He thanked the trainees for attending and asked them to spread the message from here to other people who are not part of this training. He also said that there is a lot of training needed by these trainees in order for them to grow businesswise.
Vusi Hartely, the NHBRC training facilitator explained that the main aim of NHBRC is for all builders to practice construction professionally and properly. This helps by channelling available money in the construction of more houses and not into fixing the improperly built houses. Vusi says, the type of soil and the area climate and temperature determines the building requirements of the building. He says clay soil is very bad for the house foundation. NHBRC does not waste money by training but it saves a lot of money which could be used to fix errors in the houses as a result of lack of NHBRC training.
On day two and three, Mr Siyanda Khathi from NHBRC took over the facilitation. He covered types of soils, foundations, super structure and NHBRC legal presentation. He was very congratulating of the Working relation that which the Department of Public Works share. He said that NHBRC is always happy to respond by coming to provide the training where the Department of Public Works requires them to do so.
Mr Phumlani Ngcobo is one of the beneficiaries of this program. He is from Ward 10. He has a company called Melakahle. He is very thankful to KZN Public Works for organising this training for them by NHBRC. “As emerging business people, we are now being enabled to be contracted to build homes. We really had a problem being the lack of NHBRC training.” Miss Ningi Shozi (another beneficiary) from Ward 18 is an owner of the company called Mosolina Construction. She is very thankful to Public Works for this precious opportunity for development. She is very hopeful that following the training, working opportunities are going to be channelled towards their direction after they qualify as per the requirements of the department.
In Closing, Mr Sibongiseni Cele, The Chief Weep of uMzumbe Municipality thanked the Department of Public Works for helping them with the solution of a problem they have had for such a long time of lacking the relevant necessities of enabling local uMzumbe business people to participate accordingly in the construction business. Magaye said that there are many housing construction opportunities in uMzumbe Municipality from which local business people are supposed to benefit. He proceeded saying that he is now hopeful that the work given to the local business people in construction will now be more perfect than it was before the training.
This three days event was concluded by the issuing of Certificates of Full Attendence and Active Participation by Miss Delisile Mncube. She congratulated all the training recipients for having being a part of such a precious opportunity and also for having received such a token of appreciation. She said that a journey of thousand kilometres begins with a one step. She admitted that this might look small to other people but it is a scarce opportunity and a walk towards a correct direction. Lastly, she pointed to this event as an effort to respond to the call by the Human Settlements and Public Works Honourable MEC Ntuthuko Jomo Sibiya to assist business people from poor communities to move towards the direction of being multi-millionaires.
