The City of Ekurhuleni has increased the number of small contractors in the local economy.
The executive mayor, Clr Mzwandile Masina, said his administration will ensure that Ekurhuleni residents enjoy better economic spin-offs as the Metro is a huge contributor to the provincial and national economies.
Clr Masina was speaking in Germiston recently, at the unveiling of the 100 successful aspirant contractors who have been incorporated under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Vukuphile Phase 3 Learner Contractor Development programme.
The mayor congratulated the contractors. He said the city had increased the number of EPWP Vukuphile Phase 3 Learner Contractor Development Programme applicants from 20 to 100 per intake, in line with his undertaking in the 100 Days programme .
Ekurhuleni spokesperson, Mr Themba Gadebe said Vuk’uphile is a three-year contractor development programme, which admits aspirant contractors for mentorship into fully-fledged contractors.
“Phase one and two of the programme saw 20 emerging contractors sharing projects worth R210-million in three years. Under phase three, the 100 contractors have an allocation of R500-million worth of construction business to share,” said Mr Gadebe.
According to Clr Masina, the Vukuphile programme is a systematic agenda to deal with triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment at a grassroots-level.
“This approach enables us to leverage our budget spent to stimulate the transfer of skills and empower local communities in a manner that enhances their productive capabilities, to eventually become fully-fledged construction companies,” said Clr Masina.
Ms Jabulile Manana, a 23-year-old graduate contractor said she was humbled to be offered this opportunity, which needs to be grabbed with both hands.
“I thank the City of Ekurhuleni for offering me this chance. I was always passionate about construction, although I stayed at home for a long time. This opportunity will grant me a platform to put my Civil Engineering knowledge into practise,” said Ms Manana.
Upon the lapsing of the three-year term, the participants will be equipped with adequate administrative, technical, contractual, managerial and entrepreneurial skills that will enable them to operate sustainable business entities.
Meanwhile, Ekurhuleni has also committed no less than R12-billion on procurement to benefit local entrepreneurs.
“This includes R1-billion per annum on 500 youth-owned business; R500-million per annum on black industrialists; R100-million per annum on Grant-in-Aid; and R100-million per annum on bursaries and scholarships,” said Clr Masina.
“This was the beginning of the long trek to economic transfer to the people of Ekurhuleni, which is a move aimed at amplifying the government’s Radical Economic Transformation programme,”said Clr Masina.
