The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) is providing a model for job creation in economically and socially distressed parts of South Africa.
According to the financial year 2014/15 Annual Report, CDC created 14 765 direct jobs through various projects in the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) and in government infrastructure development programme.
This brings the total job creation in the Coega IDZ to 62 142 jobs since inception.
The organisation is helping to reduce levels of poverty in both urban and rural areas across the country by prioritising the employment of local labour on a ratio of minimum 70% – 30%.
CDC inspectors ensure that contractors working on site adhere to the requirement that 70% of the people working on construction projects should reside within the area the projects are situated.
“Having such targets documented is critical for the cohesiveness of projects. It ensures that there is a direct skills transfer into the local labour, and that those skills are retained in those specific areas, said Duncan Grenfell, CDC Head: Recruitment and Placement.
The CDC maintains a database of skills available in the areas in which it operates to assist both the private sector and parastatal organisations.
An example is the job opportunities created for general contract workers living in the Colchester, which borders on the western boundary of the IDZ.
Their stories tell of the plight facing workers in the rural and peri-urban areas.
“I am grateful for this opportunity because now I can put food on the table for my family and pay for my child’s school fees as I was not working before,” said Cheslyn Billet, 27 year old, general worker at one of the projects.
The CDC ensures that local communities further afield also receive job opportunities on Coega projects, as can be evidenced through the recent provision of jobs for 21 people from the Cannonville, Colchester and Sunday’s River areas, who benefited from various construction projects on the Coega IDZ.
“Job creation is an important aspect in alleviating poverty. The CDC is aware of this and consistently makes sure that we create opportunities where none are available,” adds Dr Vilakazi.