Construction World January 2018

MARKETPLACE

Sundran Naicker (SAICE President), Peter Sibanda (Project Director, RHDHV), Dumisani Biyela (uMgungundlovu District Municipality), Terrence Hlongwane (uMgungundlovu District Municipality), Bheki Mbambo (uMgungundlovu District Municipality), Sbongiseni Hobo (Hidrotech), Sanelisiwe Ngobese (Project Manager, RHDHV), Rolf Kieck (Hidrotech), Sindi Majola (Hidrotech), Nokuthula Dube (Nokuthula Dube & Associates) and Zamokuhle Ngubane (Resident Engineer, RHDHV).

Award for UPLIFTING communities Royal HaskoningDHV, a Level 1 B-BBEE company, continued its winning streak at the 2017 South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) National Project Awards held in KwaZulu-Natal in October 2017.

accredited training facilities were provided, career guidance was offered to a number of dedicated students and a series of Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives were initiated as part of the project. There was maximum utilisation of local labour with 50% of those employed being women. As an exit strategy, the project provided for accredited training in water and wastewater reticulation with participants attaining NQF Level 3. The qualifications obtained will enhance work opportunities for these trainees in the future. In keeping with Royal HaskoningDHV’s brand promise of ‘Enhancing Society Together’ the project benefited the ePhatheni community in many ways including the donation of dictionaries to a number of communities in the area. Five Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres/Crèches were identified at ePhatheni in Ward 6 where the training of teachers and supervisors was carried out including health and safety and first aid training. In addition, donations of furniture, educational material, toys, clothing and first aid kits was made to all 5 ECD centres. Provincial Main Road 577 Provincial Main Road 577 for KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and the BRT Lanes: Corridor C3 for eThekwini Transport Authority was developed to provide critical access for local residents to jobs and economic activity in the New Germany and Pinetown areas of Durban. Part way through the contract the first dedicated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes in Durban were added to the design and construction process. It is to their credit that the KwaZulu- Natal Department of Transport and the eThekwini Transport Authority as well as the designers and contractors not only met the challenge head on, but came through the experience proud of their achievement. Stakeholder engagement was key to the project with the project labour force being drawn predominantly from the local community within the 4 surrounding municipal wards. A training centre was established which provided construction related skills training to the local labour and community who were then in a position to be employed by the contractors engaged in the construction of this and other phases of the project. A total of 637 local community persons were employed and 10 local subcontractors were appointed during the duration of this impressive project. 

T he ePhatheni Bulk Water Supply Scheme was awarded the Most Outstanding Civil Engineering Community-based Project for 2017. In addition, Main Road 577: The Challenge of the KwaDabeka Valley, a joint venture between Royal HaskoningDHV and Henwood & Nxumalo was highly Commended in the Technical Excellence Category for Most Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement of 2017. Both of these projects had been winners in the Regional Awards held by SAICE earlier in the year. Salani Sithole, Managing Director of Royal HaskoningDHV states, “We are proud to be part of projects that support community development and social upliftment. In line with our motto ‘Enhancing Society Together’ we believe that by creating innovative solutions in partnership with our clients we empower communities by providing access to economic opportunities through the development of infrastructure”. ePhatheni Bulk Water Supply Scheme The ePhatheni Bulk Water Supply Scheme for uMgungundlovu District Municipality supported by the Department of Water and Sanitation was funded through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant funding programme. The ePhatheni Bulk Water Supply Scheme project involved amongst other things, effective and successful co-operation between Royal HaskoningDHV, the community, interested and affected parties including local authorities, non- government organisations and the labour force. The long-term aim of this project is to satisfy the potable water requirements for the ePhatheni area up to 2031. This has improved the quality of life for the community facilitating increased economic growth opportunities. As part of the socio-economic development of the area, an Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) was implemented,

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD JANUARY 2018