Jozi@work packages awarded in Region B
28 August 2015
Three work packages totalling R2,3-million are up for grabs under the Jozi@Work mass empowerment and job-creation initiative in the City of Johannesburg’s Region B.
The opportunities were presented to cooperatives and small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) during a four-day roadshow that ended on Thursday August 27.
The presentations were made at the Riverlea Recreation Centre in Riverlea, Dannie van Zyl Recreation Centre in Newlands, Marks Park in Emmarentia and Windsor East Recreation Centre in Windsor.
Region B also includes areas such as Albertville, Auckland Park, Blackheath, Blairgowrie, Bosmont, Craighall, Greenside, Melville, Northcliff, Randburg, Rosebank and Strijdom Park.
Jozi@Work was launched by Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau in 2014 to tackle unemployment, poverty and inequality by giving township businesses the opportunity to provide the City with services such as street cleaning, refuse removal, grass cutting, and building maintenance and repairs, to mention a few. The programme’s budget has leapt from R1.1-billion in 2014-2015 to R3-billion in the current financial year.
The work packages announced in Region B this week included painting and alterations (R679 689) and repairs and maintenance (R922 553) at Coronationville Recreation Centre and repairs and maintenance (R492 282) at the Randburg Sports Complex. But it seems not everyone is happy about developments surrounding Jozi@Work.
At the Dannie van Zyl Recreation Centre on Tuesday August 25, several representatives of cooperatives and SMMEs that have already been awarded work packages under the programme complained about a number of issues, including payment delays. Other grievances included work packages being awarded to the same cooperatives, and being given too much work for “very little money”.
Doris Mavuso of Basadi Rematla Construction said she finished her project on July 22 and submitted her invoice to the Capability Support Agency but had still not been paid. Joseph Vocker of VZ Construction claimed he was “sent from pillar to post” when he asked about payment. He said he was now being harassed by his employees, who were demanding to be paid.
Programme Manager in the Department of Community Development Gift Sithole admitted there were “teething problems” but reassured residents that the City was working on a solution. Sithole said the City was committed to helping cooperatives and SMMEs grow their businesses.
He urged them to come up with strategies that would look beyond Jozi@Work.
“We don’t want you having no work. We want you to grow. We need you to be proud to say that this cooperative was formed during Jozi@Work but is now bidding for big tenders,” he said.