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ASEDA on the road for skills development in North West

5th May 2021

     

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This article has been supplied as a media statement and is not written by Creamer Media. It may be available only for a limited time on this website.

Road maintenance backlogs continue to mount alarmingly. As Technical Assistance to the Community Based programme at the Department of Public Works and Roads in the North-West province, Aseda an engineering and infrastructure company is using its expertise to support the training of 9,000 people in North West province to undertake essential repair and rehabilitation work.

As an established Infrastructure firm, ASEDA has deployed 21 members of its staff to manage road maintenance training of people from some of the most impoverished communities on 436 KM stretches of road throughout the province.

The Itirele programme aims to provide road maintenance skills to trainees and place them in a position to seek employment with the construction companies providing road maintenance services in the province or elsewhere, without losing sight of reducing North West’s road maintenance backlogs. The extent of North West’s backlogs is unclear, but a recent University of Cape Town study has concluded that the country would need to spend as much as R400 billion to eliminate backlogs on national and provincial roads.

ASEDA Chief Executive Officer, Dennis Mathibe, who was born and raised in the North West, says his company sees itself in Itirele as part of its approach to move “Beyond Infrastructure”.

“We do not see ourselves as (run of the mill) consulting engineers who build infrastructure and then move on to the next job,” he explains. “We want to use our skills and experience to create decent and lasting work opportunities. We see ourselves as good mentors who can ensure that people get good training, increase their employability and are able to participate in improving lives, which in turn contributes to the local and national economy.  When we do our work really well, North West will be able to create critical skills in infrastructure provision, improve the well-being of communities and grow the economy.”

The Itirele programme was already underway when ASEDA started its three-year contract with North West province. “We had to ensure we carry out the programme exactly as it was designed and intended,” explains ASEDA project team leader Khauhelo Nthejane. “We must also assist the Department of Public Works to overcome certain constraints and challenges they encountered in earlier stages of the programme.”

Iritele participants sign contracts with the Department of Public Works and are paid about R110 a day for 12 days a month over three years during which they receive training and work on roads. About 8,300 participants were already on the programme when ASEDA took over, and the Covid-19 pandemic presented a major initial challenge.

“We had to get the 8,300 participants to sign revised contracts with the Department of Public Works which commits them to comply with all Covid-19 protocols to protect themselves, their colleagues, families and communities. We also had to conduct medical fitness examinations for all participants and screen them for Covid-19 symptoms on a daily basis.” Sanitation facilities had to be established at the 436 work sites, and personal protective equipment had to be provided. ASEDA is also implementing an Occupational Health and Safety programme for participants and compiling a manual to ensure compliance.

Since starting the contract, ASEDA has succeeded in attracting additional technical assistance in order to ensure the targeted 9,000 number of participants deliver the most value to the programme. Most of the trainees are drawn from communities in the vicinity of stretches of road on which they undertake road maintenance activities and practical training. These are mainly communities with high levels of unemployment.

Training focuses on erection of or repairs to fences along roads; cutting back overhanging tree branches that obscure road visibility; clearing litter, grass and weeds; minor repairs to road surfaces; erosion protection; maintenance and unblocking of drainage systems; and compliance with health and safety precautions and regulations in work areas.

After three years of training and working on roads, trainees will receive a letter confirming the skills they have acquired and enabling them to present this when seeking further work in the public or private sectors.

Other North West programmes which ASEDA is managing enable road maintenance workers to acquire more advanced skills. The Contractor Development programme provides incubation and mentorship as well as training for emerging construction companies enabling them to be better positioned to bid for work as contractors or subcontractors. The National Youth Service programme enables further skills training in both roads and building works as well as accredited training courses in which trainees can qualify as artisans such as bricklayers and plumbers.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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