Bay West Mall developers subcontract construction work to SMEs

Azola Tybosch

The Bay West Mall primary contractor Murray & Roberts, through the mall's community liaison officer (CLO) Azola Tybosch, is looking to SMEs throughout the city - particularly from the Northern Areas' suburbs and townships - to register on their database for possible work during the R1.3-billion construction phase.

Engaging SMEs and creating jobs

The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NAFCOC), the Northern Areas People Development Initiative (NAPDI) and the National Black Contractors and Allied Trades Forum (NABCAT) have already been engaged with on the matter.

Tybosch said more than 200 SMEs and individuals had already registered on the database, the suitable candidates of which Murray & Roberts were already using on site; but Tybosch said she wanted more registrations on the database.

The developers have committed to spending at least R325 million on BEE equity involvement of the R1.3 billion, while R260 million of the R1.3 billion is set to go to procuring local business and services. Up to 1500 local jobs are set to be created during the construction phase out of a total of 3000 direct jobs. A further 7000 indirect and induced jobs will be created.

Upon completion of the 87,500m² shopping centre in early 2015, a further 1500 permanent jobs will be created to staff about 260 retail outlets.

For more information, go to www.abacusassetmanagement.co.za.