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Isibane Soluntu General Trading Closed Corporation

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skills-development

JOB CREATION: Tembani Ndamase, the owner of Isibane Soluntu General Trading cc, is benefiting from SANRAL’S Community Development Programme and has created work for people from impoverished areas in Libode, Eastern Cape.

When Tembani Ndamase started participating in the SANRAL Community Development Programme he not only learnt new skills, but secured an income for himself and his family. On top of that, he created jobs for unemployed people from his community in Mtombe location in Libode.

By participating in the South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd’s (SANRAL) programme, Ndamase was successfully registered and upgraded to Level 4 CIDB grading contractor.

Mirriam Mosia, SANRAL Southern Region Programme manager, said “Supervising 10 small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMME) subcontractors who knew nothing about construction, and turning them into successful contractors was not an easy task. But Tembani was very eager to make it. He was committed and followed instructions to the T.”

Mosia said Ndamase’s commitment showed in the work he delivered. “He never had to re-work any of the projects. I am proud to say that Mr Tembani attended the classes with commitment. I am delighted to see SANRAL making such great impact in people’s lives,” she said.

Ndamase said it is his dream to achieve his CIDB Level 6 grading in the next two years.

“During my training with SANRAL I grew in the construction industry. I developed my leadership and management skills. I feel so great about achieving my Level 4 grading. This means my business is growing and I will be able to work on bigger projects,” said Ndamase.

Ndamase started his construction company Isibane Soluntu General Trading Closed Corporation in 2004 and today he now employs 14 people from impoverished areas.

“I myself am from a disadvantaged area of Libode in the Eastern Cape. Starting my construction business has allowed me to create jobs for people who are now able to put food on their tables. “One of the guys I employ used to physically offload big trucks working very hard during the night and leave in the morning with only a R20. Another depended on neighbours for food and clothing,” said Ndamase.

Ndamase is married and has an eight month old son and two year old daughter.

“Working in the construction business means I earn a steady income compared to the sound hiring business I was in before. I hope SANRAL will continue helping me to grow in the construction industry.”

Ndamase and his team constructed base layers for numerous access roads, sidewalks, road signing and installation of gabions.

SANRAL is involved as both the client and the engineer to CD programmes and during the project in Libode 194 people were employed.

“The building that was constructed as a site office was not destroyed at the end of the construction period, but it was handed over to the community. They are using it as a community centre where communal functions have been held. This programme improved accessibility to the village and now public transport has easier access to the communities and fatal pedestrian accidents have reduced immensely. The constructed access roads ensure that people are now dropped-off at safe locations along the R61 Section 8,” said Mosia.

The CD programme was created by SANRAL to identify deserving candidates from communities, train them and register companies for them. The work gives them an opportunity to practise what they learnt theoretically on site by constructing community access roads, sidewalks and associated road infrastructure. SMMEs work under supervision and guidance during their training on the programme, until they can work independently.

During the 2014/15 financial year SANRAL spent nearly R3 billion on contracts with SMMEs and trained more than 4 000 people in road construction projects, creating almost 20 000 jobs in South Africa.

 

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