Construction work with added community benefits
In heeding the call by Gauteng Premier David Makhura to revitalise township economies, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) has established an agreement with road contractors that will afford residents upgraded infrastructure and financial retention.
The construction of a new pedestrian bridge, a pathway or the patching of a tarred road are some of the municipality’s many service delivery obligations.
However, in the past, the metro was faced with the challenge of community members preventing contractors from working, as they claimed that they should be employed to carry out construction work in their own community.
In addressing, the issue the EMM has designed a Community Return Earnings (CRE) agreement, which requires that 25 per cent of construction work conducted should benefit the community members where construction work is being carried out.
The 25 per cent CRE may come in the form of employing community members for labour, hiring construction vehicles or materials from a warehouse within the community, purchasing petrol from a filling station in the area or even paying a fee to use an outside toilet of one of the residential homes, instead of hiring a chemical toilet while construction work is being carried out.
“The Community Returns Earnings initiative does not only provide temporary employment, it is aimed at boosting township businesses,” said Themba Gadebe, the Ekurhuleni spokesperson.
“It also goes as far as enshrining a sense of pride and ownership of projects which, in turn, ensures residents take good care of the infrastructure they have built.”
Councillors work closely with the community liaison officer, who is an interface between contractors and the community.
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