Berg Water Project uplifts community
2006-04-26
THE Berg Water Dam is bringing jobs and skills to the Franschhoek community, not least through the construction of new housing in La Motte.
On Friday TCTA, the bulk water management agency responsible for the building of the Berg Water Dam, ratified an agreement to hand over the BWP housing estate at the La Motte village to the Stellenbosch municipality upon the completion of the R1,6 billion Berg Water Project in December next year.
The La Motte village has been expanded with a built-for-purpose housing estate for 80 of the contractors on the Project.
The housing projected of R30 million will eventually sold to qualifying locals, while the funds raised by the sale are intended for
reinvestment in further subsidised housing projects to benefit other disadvantaged communities in the Franschhoek Valley.
But the La Motte estate has already benefited local enterprise. As part of the Franschhoek First Policy under which the BWP operates, preference was given to local small and medium enterprises.
To enable small local enterprises to participate in the open tender process, TCTA split the contract into four blocks of 20 houses.
Following a coaching course in tendering processes and procedures, two local SMME’s both run by women, were successful in obtaining a block of 20 houses each.
A black empowerment enterprise, Power/Donico Joint Venture, built the first 40 houses, using local craftsmen.
Free training facilitated by TCTA has equipped more than 80 locals in certificated skills ranging from carpentry to bricklaying, and many of them are currently employed on the housing contract.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, TCTA projects manager Johann Claassens, praised the SMME contractors for their professionalism in the work completed so far.
“We are pleased that the ideals expressed in the Franschhoek First Policy have found fruition in the excellent work completed so far,” he said.
“We are certain that those who worked on this project will be able to apply their skills in the building and construction sectors in future.”
Claassens says that in addition to ensuring long-term sustainability, he is pleased that contracting firms headed by women were able to win tenders for the La Motte estate.
“After going through the TCTA training courses, both were able to submit competitive tenders and won those tenders on merit,” says Claassens.
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