N2 Wild Coast Road legacy project empowers local women and communities

Twelve women from the communities of Mtentu and Lusikisiki (OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo Districts) recently completed a training programme that has provided them with the skills needed to sew overalls for contractors and labourers working on the Mtentu Bridge construction project, the South African National Roads Agency SOC (SANRAL) announced today.

The group of trainees comprised five females and one male from Mtentu in the North Bank of the bridge, as well as seven females and one male from Lusikisiki in the South Bank.

The group will undergo further training through a business skills programme that will take place in early June.

"The plan is to set up the group into two cooperatives that will be tasked with branding protective equipment as well as sewing overalls for the contractors and Mtentu Bridge project labourers," Contractor Training Executive Robert Simelane, of Aveng Grinaker-LTA, the main contractors for the construction of the bridge, said.

"We are currently setting up the site with equipment, which should be done by August. Leading up to that, we aim to deliver a training programme on business skills, as we want this group to be self-sufficient when the Mtentu Bridge project concludes. Subsequent to this, they will go on-site and start with the work," he said.

Iphulo Lamampondokazi Primary Cooperative, a local cooperative comprising three bead-work trainers and two sewing trainers, was subcontracted by Aveng Grinaker-LTA to deliver the training programme.

Lead trainer Buyiswa Mdontso (Sis B) said the group was quick to learn.

"For some, it was their first interaction with a sewing machine. The training covered tracksuit and overalls sewing techniques. Such training will present the trainees an opportunity to generate additional income through sewing tracksuits for local schools," she said.

SANRAL Southern Region Community Development Specialist Dr Mongezi Noah said the trainees were selected by the Project Liaison Committee because of their reputation for quality work.

"The community was consulted and agreed that these are the types of people they could send for training. These individuals are not working and the only thing that helps them put food on the table is sewing. But, living in rural areas where people seldom use their services makes them suffer even more," he said.

"The intention is for them to continue with the skill, thus expanding it to tourism by supplying traditional garments and many other things that would provide stock for an envisaged tourist centre at the bridge. Not forgetting to mention that they will create more job opportunities for the AmaMpondo community," added Dr Noah.

Nompumelelo Nokoni, one of the female trainees, said she developed an interest in the programme as it would contribute towards her independence as a woman to provide for herself and her family. "Through this programme, I gained a lot of knowledge and experience because I did not even know how to operate a sewing machine before, and now I can operate it with ease," she said.

Reflecting on how she plans to utilise her new skill beyond the Mtentu Bridge construction project, Nombuyiselo Phiwayo said: "The aim is to do good in this project and impress SANRAL to hire us as permanent employees so that I can take care of myself and family."

Sibongiseni Ntsema, a local well known for his work, was selected to ensure that people living with disabilities also benefit from the project. Ntsema is wheelchair bound.

"In the past, I could only sew traditional clothing, so I now have an added skill. They have also promised to get me an arm roller sewing machine to make things easier for me when we get started with the work," he said.

The Mtentu Bridge project forms part of the greenfields portion of SANRAL's N2 Wild Coast Road project, which extends over a distance of 560km, from the Gonubie Interchange in East London to the Isipingo Interchange south of Durban, set to save road users up to three hours' travelling time on completion.

To date, approximately R4 million has been spent on local sub-contractors, SMEs and local suppliers in the Mtentu Bridge construction project, a considerable contribution to the local economy and job creation.

At the end of the 40-month construction period, the 1.1km long Mtentu Bridge will break records as the highest bridge in Africa and the southern hemisphere, at 223m high.