Public Works Minister Thembeleni Nxesi visits infrastructure projects in KwaZulu-Natal Vusi Shabalala reports
Vusi Shabalala reports
The Minister for Public Works, Mr Thembeleni Nxesi, commonly known by his peers and political big-wigs as “Thulas” has indeed shown the characteristics of a workaholic. On Thursday the 6th of December 2012 Minister Nxesi was joined by all nine Public Works MECs (MINMEC) at a forum hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works in Durban. The MINMEC forum mainly focuses on evaluating all service delivery projects by Public Works. Hardly two years in office, the KZN MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Mr Ravi Pillay felt honoured to be second on the throne in hosting such a memorable occasion. This follows after the Mpumalanga Province hosted the first MINMEC during 2011. On arrival of all the delegates at the Mayville office, a brief meeting to addressing the day’s programme was convened thereafter all directions headed to eShongweni. The forum had an opportunity to visit two delivery site projects which included Shongweni Dam Clinic- a newly constructed health facility which is the first of its kind in the Shongweni area that replaced the mobile clinic which was servicing the community for quite a number of years. On an environmental perspective, it is quite evident that Shongweni Dam and Game Reserve - just 30 minutes from Durban - offers water sports, fishing, games drives and camping - a piece of true Africa. It is also reasonable driving minutes from the spectacular beaches of the South African Indian Ocean coastline.
Above: Construction underway at Shongweni Clinic
From awe inspiring cliffs and waterfalls, to lush forests, this reserve is home to rhino, buffalo, giraffe, waterbuck, wildebeest, warthog, and a variety of birds. Shongweni Dam is also an excellent venue for overnight camping, game viewing, picnics, nature trails and variety of non-motorised water sports. It should be mentioned and noted that the area is also a cultural land for some of the Zulu community like any others who felt that the land is bestowed to them as their everlasting heritage. Culturally, the Shongweni community is led by Mr Ndinga who serves as an Induna for the community under the thumb tribal king, iNkosi Shozi. However on a political spectrum the community matters are under the leadership of a local Councillor Fana Moyo. Deliberations between community members and the Ward Councillor on basic service delivery needs by the Shongweni community were conducted on a continuous basis until the right time came along when the need for a proper health care facility came as a priority for the community. The construction of a clinic was then taken on board by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works. As a step forward in service delivery implementation, the Department of Public Works: eThekwini Region invited bids for the provisioning of the Shongweni Dam Area: Shongweni Dam Clinic in the Construction of a new clinic (Phase 9). The bid number: ZNTD 01056W was formally advertised and the closing date was for the 16th of March 2011.
The Shongweni Dam Clinic is situated in Ward 7 of the Western Cluster of eThekwini Municipality and it is being built on the Ingonyama Trust Board owned land proffered for by His Majesty, the King Goodwill Zwelithini kaDinizulu Zulu. During the year under review, the King accompanied by the Shongweni Mayor also paid a homage visit to Shongweni early in 2012. This is a service delivery project that intends to provide the community with a heath facility that equally complies with the standards of the Department of Health. The clinic is equipped with all the relevant medical equipment to ensure that the community health needs are met. It covers features that include 6 Consulting rooms, 1 Emergency room, 2 Voluntary Counseling and Treatment (VCT) rooms, 1 Community room, 1 Tuberculosis (TB) Treatment, 1 Urine Testing room, Treatment room, ablution, refuse and parking facilities, the entire facility is wheelchair friendly and it complies with Labour Intensive Construction Methods. The progress status is that the site is currently at 75% completion rate. The following tasks on the program have so far been completed: Site establishment All Building foundations Superstructure Brickwork and Roofing The community participation included amongst others the following key areas: Tribal Authority including the Ward Councillor Moyo, Inkosi Shozi of the area and the Clinic Committee formed part of the Project Steering Committee; The unskilled labourers for this project were sourced from the local community; The employment of local labour on this project is co-ordinated by a female Community Liaison Officer Mrs. Phewa, who is also a resident of Shongweni; Local Project Steering Committee (PSC) members and the Community Liaison Officer (CLO) regularly attended the site progress meetings; and The local leadership continuously provided support in urgently resolving labour issues on site.
Above: Mrs Phewa the Community Liaison Officer for the
Shongweni community
The project has thus far registered the following community benefits: Employment of unskilled people to do bricklaying and carpentry and it sourced building material from local suppliers; Unskilled labourers from the community have been trained on technical skills such as bricklaying, plastering and carpentry and they have been mentored on site by qualified employees; They are Musa Ngubane, Stanley Mtambo and Sibusiso Joni; The targeted number of employment created in the project is 45 people but to date 62 people are employed; Currently the ratio on labour is 69% local and 31% outside the local area. The Department of Public Works ensured that all activities taking place on site complied and promoted the Extended Public Works Projects (EPWP). It included the following: The project is being implemented in line with EPWP Guidelines; The site has been branded with EPWP signboard and EPWP protective clothing was provided to labourers; All employees on site have signed the employment contracts in line the Department of Labour; and The site is compliant to the minimum daily wage for unskilled labours as they are paid R90 per daily task. The demographics of labour currently employed are as follows: Jobs created = 62 Youth employed = 39 Women employed = 29 Physically challenged persons = 3 Men above 35 years = 18 In terms of Occupational Health and Safety Act, the following was always adhered to: Safety plan was approved by Public Works on 13 January 2012 and it is always kept on site in liaison with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Labour which was also notified of construction work; No incidents and accidents were reported; All legal appointments are in place; Employee training on toolbox as well as induction has been done; Site is barricaded and signage in place; and Employees wore the necessary personal protective clothing
The most added value of these project is that of not only creating job opportunities but also fast-tracked direct service delivery on the priorities of Government including Education, Health, Rural Development and Safety and Security. Minister Nxesi also had the audacity to showcase amongst others a National Department of Public Works’ current infrastructure delivery project which is a South African Police station in the Durban Central. This is a major project that was undertaken for completion by the National Department of Public Works as a pillar infrastructure project.
(fltr) Sibusiso Joni, Musa Ngubane and Stanley Mtambo
The trio have been trained on technical skills such as
bricklaying, plastering and carpentry and they have
been mentored on site by qualified employees
Above is the Safety Officer, Mr Kreasan Naidoo on-site
