For the last three years, there has been meetings about the structural revamp of the flats in Eldorado Park extension 2, which many call ‘Klein 2’. We finally had the opportunity to interview the contactors on the project.
Junaid Birkenstock from Birkenstock Trading is one of the subcontractors for the project and he is also a resident of Ward 18. Birkenstock shared: “When we came here the sewage pipes were rotten, it was old steel and cast-iron pipes so we trenched and did core drilling and now put in PVC pipes so that residents don’t have that sewer or gassy odour. The paving was also deteriorating so we managed to repair that, the balustrades and the roofs which was done by another subcontractor.”
The project helped create employment for thirteen residents from the flats which consists of six females and seven males.
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“We had an agreement that I can bring one skilled person only and we must absorb the general workers from the community. I didn’t bring any skilled person here; I am doing the work and I now transferred my skills over to residents at the flats. The unemployment rate is very high here so I think that it’s better that I train the residents so that at least one extra person has employment,” added Birkenstock.
The main contractor Thabiso Kgamedi is the founder and CEO of 4T Group which is a civil and construction company. He explained that the project was awarded to them by The Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSHCO), which is under the City of Johannesburg Housing Department.
Kgamedi noted that the flats are very old and that there are many families living there. He shared that when he saw the living conditions, he was not happy and asked the client if they could do more.
“We are replacing the plumbing systems and the structure of the flats. We are also proposing to the client for us to do electrical work and we would like to close off the area so that the residents can have one access in and out, this will create a safer environment especially for the children. We are also going to paint so when we leave here, we want to see a difference in this community,” Kgamedi added.
Resident and Community Liaison Officer Ensley Britoe who runs the Gail Britoe Foundation at the flats also shared that as part of their social responsibility, 4T Group decided to partnered with the foundation and provide a meal once a week for the children. Britoe shared that he is so thankful to the company.
The deadline for the project was supposed to be for November 25 but due to added work, the project is extended until the end of January.
“People like saying that people from Eldorado Park are so violent and to be honest I thought that the residents are going to give me a run for my money but we are working hand in hand so we have no challenges. We just want to leave them with a good, clean, safe environment,” concluded Kgamedi.
