Gqeberha, South Africa, 12 December 2023 \u2013 Last month, the Coega Development Corporation joined the National Department of Health in welcoming the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME), to assess the progress of two critical Eastern Cape health projects with Coega as the appointed Implementing Agent of Choice. The two projects are amongst several infrastructure projects being implemented across the country and its outcomes are aligned to meeting the goals and objectives of the South African National Development Plan Vision 2030 and the National Infrastructure Plan 2050.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe independent evaluations, undertaken on behalf of the DPME and the Office of the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa, focused on the Bambisana District Hospital and the Zithulele District Hospital, both located in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa,\u201d says Coega Programme Director for the Department of Health Portfolio, Ms. Gugulethu Moyo.<\/p>\n
Mr. Thulani Masilela, DPME Outcomes Facilitator for health projects, says that the evaluations were efficient, and that significant progress had been made against the set milestones. \u201cThe first inspections were undertaken in June 2023, with the most recent inspection aimed at following up on progress and validating progress reports submitted by the Department of Health. We are the eyes and ears of the department. We don\u2019t just accept reports \u2013 we validate them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moyo expresses that the DPME recognised the progress achieved since their last visit, and that the social facilitation processes being undertaken on both of the projects were considered proactive and impactful.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe found consistency between what we saw and what was reported. In some areas, contractors were ahead of schedule, which was impressive. Normally, a story is incomplete if there are no challenges; and there were only a handful of challenges owing to positive and well-organised social facilitation efforts,\u201d adds Masilela.<\/p>\n
According to Mr. Lwando Zeka, Coega Programme Social Facilitator, \u201cSocial facilitation plays a key role in ensuring that projects are supported in terms of the soft issues involved, such as community consultation. The priority is that the recipient communities realise benefits of the project in terms of SMME involvement, a stable labour environment, and ultimately, service delivery.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe engage with ward councillors, hospital boards, traditional leaders, and the community at large to educate people about the projects taking up space in their communities. We had mass community meetings before both of these projects started, and subsequently established a project support committee, and appointed a community liaison officer through the contractor. With Bambisana, we encountered community resistance and related issues, but through social facilitation, we were able to convince the community to allow the project to move forward,\u201d adds Zeka.<\/p>\n
Based on 24 years\u2019 expertise in infrastructure delivery, and with projects underway across the country and into Africa, Coega has demonstrated remarkable success spearheading infrastructure development and maintenance projects for public health, education, and other programmes by virtue of its vision and competence. A significant achievement lies in Coega\u2019s ability to integrate economic opportunities within the execution of these projects, thereby fostering growth and prosperity in local communities. In terms of community benefits, collectively, the two projects have generated over 450 construction jobs, with over 350 people benefitting from training opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cCoega\u2019s Programme team is doing fantastic work, with oversight being provided by the National DoH. They set aside their time for our visit and were very accommodating. There was a mutual understanding that this process is not just about building the hospitals, but about being accountable to communities in the broader scheme of service delivery. I appreciate Coega\u2019s accountability. The DPME will continue to track progress with the construction of the two hospitals, until the projects are completed,\u201d concludes Masilela.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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