The success of the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) has had a positive spin-off for small businesses in the Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) by creating employment for the local residents and surrounding areas.
The Coega Dairy and Cheese expansion, worth R25 million in zone 3 of the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) continues to benefit Small Micro Medium Enterprises (SMMEs), thus contributing to the local economy of the Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB).
In addition, “our focus on SMME’s has produced a significant increase in the number of youth owned SMME companies. Two of the three companies mentioned above are owned by youth and women shareholders. To us at CDC, it is encouraging to see an increase in youth owned businesses,” said Andile Ntloko, CDC SMME unit head.
“The specific companies involved in the construction of the Coega Dairy and Cheese expansion include Jklaas-Black, Miya’s Electrical, and Umthombo Holdings,” he adds.
Jklaas-Black is a mother and son – run property development, civil and building construction services company established in 2003. It has grown from a staff compliment of two to five full-time employees and an average of 30 temporary workers throughout the years.
“We are a family-run entity, with aims to expand in the industry and grow nationally,” says Jeremiah Klaas, son of the founder Nokwezi Klaas. The experience gained on the Coega Dairy and Cheese expansion has helped with the growth of the company, he adds. Jklaas-Black was responsible for the construction of the new office block, two guardhouses and a substation to the value of R4,2 million.
Miya’s Electrical specialises in all forms of large-scale electrical installations and maintenance. Established by Ernest Ntusikazi in 2002, the company has worked extensively throughout the Eastern Cape.
The scope of work at the Coega Dairy included the upgrading of the power supply from 800KW to 1600KW, the installation of a ring main unit, transformer, low voltage panel and street lighting.
Umthombo Holdings is a Nelson Mandela Bay – based construction company owned and managed by Nombulelo and Litemba Singapi. It provides construction services in both the residential and infrastructure sectors.
As a relatively new company it appreciated the opportunity to work on the Coega Dairy and Cheese as part of the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) SMME Package Programme for local SMME Development under the employ of Pro-Khaya as the main contractor.
“We are proud of the role we are playing in the development of small businesses in the Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) and Eastern Cape at large. The CDC’s commitment of 35% on the overall project spend allocated to SMME’s is an example of the organisations seriousness in providing opportunities to SMME’s. In the previous financial year 2014/15 which ended in March 2015, the CDC exceeded its target of 35% and achieved 42% SMME spent,” said Dr Ayanda Vilakazi, CDC unit head marketing and communications.
Alan Straton
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