Ekurhuleni programme thrives as graduates excel
Three graduates of the Vukuphile learnership programme are making a name for themselves in the construction industry
VUKUPHILE, a national contractor development programme which is part of the Expanded Public Works Programme, has proven to be a great success as students from this programme have already excelled and made their mark within the industry.
Vukuphile is a joint initiative between a number of government organisations such as municipalities and the National Department of Public Works, which aims at providing work experience as well as training and skills development simultaneously.
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The three Vukuphile graduates that are currently reaping the benefits of their hard work are perfect examples of Vukuphile’s success.
Thobile Mkhize of Hillah Construction and General Services, Irene Dlamini of Tse Di Thlaga Supply and Projects, along with Prudence Nkosi of Basithanda Bonke Trading are now joining forces as business partners, with thanks to their partnership that originated in the classroom.
Their first joint venture was the building of the Thokoza Traders Market. The R2.5-million building project, which was given to the city in June 2014, took the Vukuphile graduates just 18 months to complete. The market contains 37 stalls to be occupied by small business coming from Thokoza and surrounding areas.
The second impressive municipal project that they were handed, which is also their current project, is the construction work at the Nigel Spaarwater Incubator Farm.
The work description for this project includes renovations to the farm manager’s house along with the building of a kraal, feed stores and a cattle feedlot.
These ladies have expressed immense gratitude towards Vukuphile for the role they have played in each of their success.
“The programme gave us the opportunity to formally learn innovative and proper ways to do business”, says Mkhize, in relation to the curriculum of Vukuphile. “We are truly grateful for the opportunity that government has given us, we have our sights fixed on even bigger projects including in areas outside the boundaries of our city”, added Nkosi.
For the next group of the Vukuphile learnership programme contractors, their first year holds training in communication, project management, client liaison, tendering processes and financial management.
Following this will be two years of job training which includes working on construction sites and smaller projects run by the municipality around Ekurhuleni.
Finally, after the completion of the two-year work experience along with skills development training, the new Vukuphile graduates will be ready to take on the construction industry with full force, and be the successors of the Vukuphile trio.
