One of the main speakers of the day was the finance MMC, Clr Moses Makwakwa, who addressed the media group on various community empowerment projects and their increase in opportunities to targeted local entrepreneurs, including young people, women and people with disabilities and how these would build the township’s economy through supporting local suppliers.
He also said that this would help the city address the issue of job creation, thus reducing the unemployment and poverty within the city.
Touching on the community empowerment projects, Makwakwa said, “The Youth Enterprise Empowerment Package had R345.6-million that has been set aside for the refurbishment and repairs of council building and other facilities, delivery in the supply of water tankers, plumbing and drainage services, unblocking and repair to sewer pipelines and upgrading of bulk water supply.
“And on average each contractor got a project worth about R9.6-m.
“In the Leaner Contractor Expanded Public Works Programme, the department was finalising the shortlist of candidates, as out of the shortlisted people, 63 were women, 85 were young people and 87 were males,” he said.
Makwakwa also said that in the Lungile Mtshali Community Empowerment Programme, to date 2 680 learners had been recruited into the programme, with the target of 3 030 learners to be reached soon as further recruitment in wards was still under way.
He said the learners were already working within their own wards to identify areas of development.
