70 SITES HANDED OVER TO LOCAL CONTRACTORS

A total of 70 sites for the construction of houses in Ocean View, Jeffreys Bay were handed over to 10 local Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMME’s) during a ceremonial event on Tuesday, 16 January 2023 – a first for Kouga.

This after appointment letters for the construction of these 70 houses – which forms part of the much-needed Ocean View 1 500 housing projects – were signed on Tuesday, November 15 between Kontinental Engineering and the SMMEs.

The total project package is valued at R8.75 million.

“Kouga Municipality is extremely proud to take hands with these SMME’s and to form part of such a historical project – ensuring that local contractors benefit from such a catalytic project,” said Kouga Executive Mayor, Horatio Hendricks. “As a municipality, we pledge our support to ensure that this project is a huge success – and in doing so, making it a flagship project.

“Making this even more noteworthy is that seven of the 10 appointed contractors are women.”

Hendricks said that this is not just about building houses.

“It is about creating a future,” he said. “It is about creating a living space where residents can feel safe. A space that they can truly call home.”

Once the project is completed, these SMME’s will be upgraded from a level one CIDB grading to a level three CIDB grading – enabling them to tender for bigger projects.

According to Hendricks, the internal services – including sewer, water, and electricity – have been completed at a cost of close to R50 million in December 2021.

“The funding application for the construction of the first 668 houses over the next two years for underprivileged residents in the area was submitted in 2019 and funding approval of R 78 067 403 was received on 9 February 2022,” he said.

“With the construction of 200 houses already in full swing, some R28 594 000 will be spent in the 2022/23 financial year.“The remaining 468 top structures are planned for construction in the 2023/ 2024 financial year.”

Hendricks said the municipality has embarked on a campaign to capacitate local SMME’s to successfully tender for construction projects across the region.

“This enabling environment is starting to yield positive results which will see the creation of local employment for residents, as well as the provision of sustainable and integrated human settlements.

“It also forms part of one of our important Keep Kouga Growing narrative – which is one of seven narratives at Kouga Municipality.”