‘Employ locals first’, says Midrand Local Empowerment Forum

Thulani Mabena, the chairperson of the Midrand Local Empowerment Forum, said the forum has been fighting for the involvement of small businesses within the community for months.

“We have been fighting for community development and the involvement of local SMMEs in projects happening in Midrand,” said Mabena.

The Midrand Local Empowerment Forum started talks with Probuild on 24 April at their Noordwyk construction site. Mabena said the construction company was approached to enter into negotiations with the forum with the aim of coming up with constructive ideas and implementations that will guarantee the involvement of community members and local businesses in the project.

The forum urged Probuild to involve at least 30 per cent of locals in all construction projects in Midrand, as there are a lot of unemployed youths who are in need of skills training and employment, as well as local entrepreneurs who may benefit from construction companies using their services and materials.

Concerns of the Forum are as follows:

• Local entrepreneurs have not been involved in the construction project
• Community members have not benefited from the construction because no local people were employed on the project.

Mabena said the forum proposed the following:

• A community representative be appointed by Probuild Construction Group
• A community representative sit in during the adjudication process
• Labour law officers to run an inspection of the project.

The construction company has been given a 23 June deadline to respond to the proposals made by the forum. The forum has threatened to continue protests if their concerns are not addressed.

Probuild was contacted for comment but could not be reached.

Will these protests assist in creating employment or will it slow down infrastructure development? Tweet us @MidrandReporter