By Nangamso Mabindla
27 November 2006

SMALL businesses in Mdantsane stand to benefit, following the launch of the Vukuphile Learnership and Household Contractors programme at a packed NU 9 Stadium on Friday, 24 November.

A partnership between the provincial department of roads and transport, the Department of Public Works, through its Extended Public Works Programme, and Buffalo City municipality, the aim of Vukuphile, a community-based programme, is to help contractors learn how to build roads.

It will also help to develop contractors for the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme, which aims to change the face of the township and turn it into an economic hub by 2020.

Speaking at the launch, the Buffalo City councillor, Luntu Bobo, said he was happy with the programme as it would help to develop contractors, who could take part in the growth of Mdantsane.

"We will have local businesses constructing roads in Mdantsane. We want to tap into these skills as we develop the township. We are truly happy that this programme is being launched today."

The programme would not only develop contractors, but would also equip them to help teach other emerging contractors in Mdantsane. And one of the beneficiaries, Unathi Linganiso, thanked the provincial government for its vision.

"Currently we are six companies, with a few people working on small projects around Mdantsane. However, when we get bigger projects we will have to employ about 60 people and this will create jobs for them," she said.

Linganiso said her company was busy improving roads in Mdantsane's NU 15 area, adding that people in the township were happy to be benefiting from the project.

It would not only help local people learn skills in road construction, but it would also be a poverty alleviation project, she said. "We are looking forward to making it work for Mdantsane and to contributing to improving our place of residence."