On Wednesday 28 September 2022, the Extended Public Works (EPWP) Unit located at the Midlands Region hosted the Eyesizwe Contractor Training Workshop under the tutelage of the relevant Deputy Director, Ms Jane Ntetha.
The EPWP and Eyesizwe programmes are strategically interlinked government initiatives designed to provide specific information, training and promotion of skills development targeting designated groups which include, youth, women, people living with disabilities and military veterans.
At an event held at the Newcastle Town Hall, it came to light that, the primary objective of the workshop is to address challenges facing emerging contractors, continuously develop their skills and knowledge, on the same token, ensure provision of proper guidance and compliance in line with relevant government prescripts. This automatically addresses critical stumbling blocks which tend to cripple daily operations of contractors located within the built and construction environment.
The event was attended by local contractors of multiple grades and stakeholder representatives from the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) and Newcastle Business Forum.
Left, Ms Jane Ntetha, Deputy Director EPWP and Ms Gugu Mthethwa Deputy Director Supply Chain Management
The Deputy Director, Youth, Women, People with Disabilities and Military Veterans, Mr Mthinteni Nzuza made a presentation on the ECDP and outlined the holistic information and data capturing process.
Quoting from his presentation, the Eyesiwe Contractor Development Programme is a Public Works initiative aimed at developing small businesses and emerging contractors. The programme is designed for training and mentoring of contractors which fall within the designated bracket catered for, in the EPWP scope of work, this directly speaks to Women, Youth, People living with Disabilities and Military Veterans. The initiative is anchored around the relevant policies promulgated by the National Department of Public Works and the Construction Industry Development Board.
Mr Mthinteni Nzuza Deputy Director: Youth, Women, People with Disabilities & Military Veterans presenting on Eyesizwe Contractor Development Programme
The ECDP presentation highlights the current statistics of Phase 3 of the programme, with credible information captured which, to date, gives comfort and registers complete justice to the entire system.
As part of the public consultation process, Mr Nzuza apprised attendees of the EPWP daft policy which has been recently published for public comment. The policy seeks to strengthen, develop, and direct programme implementation using explicit policy stances. This is also intended to overcome challenges encountered during the programme implementation drive rolled out in previous years.
The Midlands Regional Deputy Director, Supply Chain Management Ms Gugu Mthethwa made a detailed presentation focusing on critical steps the Department of Public Works takes to engage in tender processes. She lectured contractors on completion of tender documents and relevant paperwork associated with such processes.
Contractors were afforded an opportunity to participate in a "question-and-answer" session, a platform created to reflect on bread and butter issues which require government intervention. Issues raised range from database used to collect and capture credentials, claiming that, it is not user friendly. They requested the Department to consider hosting more accredited training workshops in the near future.
The Amajuba Business Forum representative confirmed that, forging such a strategic partnership with the Department will assist in eliminating all existing obstacles which impede effective provision of much-required support for emerging contractors.
The Eyesizwe Contractor Development Programme has over the years, recruited and developed small businesses while ensuring socio-economic sustainability to the society at large.
Article by Ntokozo Biyela and Images by Sane Mbhense