New training initiatives and support programmes are vital in the development and safeguarding of South Africa’s construction industry.

Khuthaza recently launched its first Practical Training Project which aims to fill a significant gap in the market by providing contractors with the opportunity to gain skills and practical experience by combining classroom and on-site training on a project. The current project will at the same time improve the sanitation facilities for students at the Thabotona Primary School.

The classroom training contractors will receive covers construction calculations, tendering, reviewing the business aspects of similar projects, project management and associated construction skills training. Three days of on-site construction and a site visit to the factory that manufactures concrete toilet kits will also form part of the training.

The R180 000-project, which commenced on Thursday 1 August, will conclude on Thursday 15 August. Khuthaza aims to work with industry stakeholders in rolling out similar practical training projects and believes this can be a great opportunity for companies to combine Enterprise Development and Socio-economic Development objectives to leverage resources for greater impact.

Stakeholders in the project include WBHO, which contributed the use of a tipper-loader-bulldozer (TLB); Tjeka Training, which loaned Khuthaza tools for the project; Eldocrete, which will host the factory visit and oversee training on site; and Aurecon, which provided funding for the project through its Enterprise Development programme. Diba, a woman owned company, has provided Health & Safety services for the project.

Six contractors, including five women, whocompleted Khuthaza’s 2012 Cornerstone Contractor Development Programme, have been selected to participate in the project, together with five locally-based builders. Khuthaza has also included University of Johannesburg Building Science graduate and Khuthaza Bursary recipient, Rebone Kgarimetsa, in the project as an opportunity for her to gain experience.

Mokhantsho Motloung, one of the contractors participating in the sanitation project, says: “I’ve been doing small jobs since our programme last year and am really happy to have been selected for this project as it will allow me to gain new construction skills and experience. One of my goals is to become a certified plumber.”

Thabotona Primary School is located near Zonkizizwe in Katlehong. The school currently suffers the reality of poor sanitation facilities and a lack of running water. Khuthaza will provide a total of 20 Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP)Latrines to the school. Provision of these facilities will significantly improve health, sanitation and comfort for the students. Importantly, these toilets can be connected to bulk sewerage systems in the future. Khuthaza worked with the Shanduka Adopt-a-School Foundation to identify the beneficiary school.

Siphokazi Mtimkulu, Khuthaza’s Project Manager on the pilot, says: “This is a new and exciting initiative for Khuthaza. Not only will we be helping the Khuthaza contractors gain experience – we’ll also be making a tangible difference to the lives of local children.”

The name Khuthaza, which means ‘encourage’, reflects the organisation’s role in encouraging change and transformation in the industry through valuable partnerships and life-changing initiatives such as this sanitation project.