Sibiya says KZN SMMEs to benefit from infrastructure projects

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Members of the Portfolio Committee on Public Works visited the hospital to monitor the R60m refurbishment of the facility.

“As the Department of Public Works, we wish to assure the committee, leaders of society and community members in various corners of the province that I am personally taking up the matter of localisation.

“We want to ensure that during the construction and refurbishment of public health institutions, emerging small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in the construction sector at local level benefit from projects implemented by the Department of Public Works on behalf of government departments,” Sibiya said.

Sibiya also acknowledged the weaknesses around the contractor development programme, due to regulations under Covid-19 alert levels.

“The sourcing of building material and equipment from local suppliers, especially for mechanical and electrical works was also challenging. This is the matter which we have offered to focus on, working with Mdoni Local Municipality as we move forward,” Sibiya said.

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Eyesizwe Contractor Development Programme (ECDP)

The MEC said the inclusion of local contractors in the database under the Eyesizwe Contractor Development Programme (ECDP) would ensure the development, nurturing of local talent and ultimately job creation at local level.

The programme is led and facilitated by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works as a means to implement successful contractor development programmes (CDPs) within the province.

ECDP aims to increase and promote capacity, equity ownership, skills improvement, maintenance of capital works, sustainability and performance of registered and emerging contractors, with preference given to youth, women and persons with disabilities, and military veterans registered on the National Military Veterans database.