The Coega Development Corporation (CDC), operator of the award winning Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) announced today, that over four hundred and fifty two (452) much needed jobs have been created as a result of the booming construction in the SEZ.
The projects currently at various phases of construction include the (1) Customs Control Area (CCA), (2) BAIC Ring Road Project, (3) BAIC construction site (Automotive sector) all of which are in Zone 1, (4) MM Engineering (Energy Sector) in Zone 3, (5) Kenako Construction and (6) Osho Cement (Metals sector) both of which are in Zone 5.
“The CDC has worked tirelessly over the years to ensure that, on the one hand, we create employment opportunities for our people and on the other hand we diversify our sectors in order to address the scourge of unemployment and poverty in the EC,” says Dr Ayanda Vilakazi, CDC unit head marketing & communications.
The announcement by the CDC follows the recently released Poverty Trends in South Africa report by Statistics South Africa this week, which raised alarming stats on the poverty levels of the country with a staggering 55% (30,4 million South Africans) of the population living in poverty.
“We are certainly alive to and mindful of our role in society and the mandate in terms of socio economic development, given the environment under which we operate. Therefore, every job created is critical in putting food on the table of many of our citizens who rely on the opportunities provided by the Coega SEZ through these projects,” adds Dr Vilakazi.
Projects and employment numbers:
- Customs Control Area (CCA) – 90
- MM Engineering – 89
- BAIC Ring Road Project – 4
- BAIC Construction site – 144
- Kenako Concrete – 76
- OSHO Cement – 49
Total – 452
Emerging contractors play an integral part to sustainable development and this is achieved through the CDC’s SMME capacitation programme. Our dedicated SMME Unit was specifically established to develop and support SMMEs, in line with our vision as a catalyst for championing of the socio-economic development.
Three of the six projects mentioned-above were awarded to SMME’s in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, namely MM Engineering, Customs Control Area and the BAIC Ring Road Project.
The scope of work on these projects includes brickwork, electrical, structural steel, civil works and landscaping, amongst others.
MM Engineering, South Africa’s first factory to manufacture liquid petroleum gas cylinders has allocated contracts worth R22 246 847 to SMMEs on the project. Work on the factory started in May 2017 and is due to be completed by February 2018. SMMEs contracted on the project to-date include Ascon Civil Engineering and Y.K.W. Projects, and they represent a portion of the 39% SMME participation achieved.
Another project is the building of the CDC’s Custom Control Area administration block in Zone 1 in the Coega SEZ, where the contract value to SMMEs is R5 707 007. Work on the Customs Control Area building started in February 2017, and is due to be completed by October 2017. SMMEs that are involved in the construction include YKW Projects, Thamahlangu Trading, Dicky’s Electrical and they represent a portion of the 39% SMME participation achieved. With 3 more SMME packages under procurement, for painting, fencing and tiling.
Lastly, the CDC has awarded work worth over R27 million to a Nelson Mandela Bay SMME – Masiphumelele Trading, for the construction of storm water, earthworks and the ring road up to the border of the BAIC SA plant in Zone 1 of the Coega SEZ.
Vilakazi notes that in the last financial year 2016/17, the CDC’s SMME procurement spend was around 38% of the value of contracts managed by the company. This amounted to R884 million.
Alan Straton
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