Booming construction in the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) has led to the creation of over 450 jobs in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.

Projects currently at various phases of construction within the SEZ include the Customs Control Area (CCA), BAIC Ring Road Project, BAIC construction site (Automotive sector), MM Engineering (Energy Sector), Kenako Construction and Osho Cement (Metals sector).

“The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) has worked tirelessly over the years to ensure that, on the one hand, we create employment opportunities for our people and on the other hand we diversify our sectors in order to address the scourge of unemployment and poverty in the Eastern Cape,” says Dr Ayanda Vilakazi, CDC unit head marketing & communications.

“We are certainly alive to and mindful of our role in society and the mandate in terms of socio economic development, given the environment under which we operate. Therefore, every job created is critical in putting food on the table of many of our citizens who rely on the opportunities provided by the Coega SEZ through these projects,” adds Dr Vilakazi.

SMME participation on projects

Emerging contractors play an integral role in sustainable development, supported by the CDC’s SMME capacitation programme. The corporation’s dedicated SMME Unit was specifically established to develop and support SMMEs, in line with the CDC’s vision for championing socio-economic development.

Three of the six projects mentioned-above, namely MM Engineering, Customs Control Area and the BAIC Ring Road Project, were awarded to SMME’s in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. The scope of work on these projects includes brickwork, electrical, structural steel and civil works, as well as landscaping, among others.

Vilakazi notes that in the last financial year 2016/17, the CDC’s SMME procurement spend was around 38% of the value of contracts managed by the company, amounting to R884 million.