By Nangamso Mabindla
25 May 2004

BUFFALO City has enlisted emerging local contractors to give the East London city hall a facelift for the Institute of Local Government conference, which is to be held there from 2 June.

The three-day conference - which is expected to attract 700 delegates, including guests from as far afield as Europe - aims to improve local government. It also intends to expose local-government managers to national and international best practices - to promote quality and customer-focused service delivery.

"It is for this reason that we've decided to spruce up one of our most prized possessions. We want the city hall to be at its best for the occasion," says Buffalo City's communications manager, Darby Gounden.

The council, which has a policy of supporting budding businesses, enlisted several emerging contractors to work on the hall.

However, according to Gounden, the need to finish the renovations in time for the conference was another reason for the multiple sub-contracting.

"Having them working on different projects makes them work slightly faster than just using one contractor."

The renovations include the replacement and painting of roofs, gutters and drainpipes; the painting of the inside and outside; and repairs to and electrical work on the main auditorium and stage.

The project - managed by the building-maintenance department of the architectural division of the Directorate of Development Planning - will cost R1-million. It will be covered by the capital budget and the Vuna prize money, won in December last year.