SMMEs force construction halt with jobs protest
ANGRY small, medium and micro enterprise owners and residents in Mdantsane shut down major construction sites in the area yesterday demanding BCM give local construction projects to its residents.
By midday yesterday, operations at Gorogang, Down Touch and Diphatse construction sites had come to a standstill. These construction companies are involved in major Mdantsane projects such as the Qumza Highway upgrade.
Gorogang and Down Touch sites stood empty and closed, with all construction vehicles and tools locked inside the site yards.
Crowds gathered outside Diphatse, where they burned tyres before mobilising in song and chant, calling others to join them.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch, Phumelele Phoswa, SMME owner and chair of the Kwanele people’s movement formed to fight for the local businesspeople in Mdantsane, said they felt “hard done by, by BCM”.
Phoswa said in April this year BCM had asked them to submit a list of phase-two SMME contractors able to subcontract under the construction companies carrying out projects in Mdantsane.
He said after they followed all processes and were “waiting in anticipation” of beginning work with the companies, they were informed by BCM that a new list would be drafted, with a new set of subcontractors to be selected. They have yet to see this list.
“The reason for this protest is that we do not trust BCM. We were ready to start work, and had recruited labourers from our communities to work with us. BCM has been delaying this for months, and we believe their new letter is yet another delay tactic.
“We are closing these construction sites until BCM implements their initial agreement with us. BCM is the only municipality that undermines its SMMEs.
“We want recognition as SMMEs. We need to know what projects the municipality undertakes and be involved in them too. We want them [BCM] to stop recruiting outside companies for our local projects.
“That money must be invested back into our communities.”
More than 100 people were gathered outside Diphatse.
Workers inside the site were escorted out, and site officials told the Dispatch that they were not mandated to speak to media.
SAPS officers stood at a distance overlooking the protesters. A fire truck that came to put out the burning tyres was chased off site by the mob of protesters.
The protest was hijacked by community members from every zone in Mdantsane who also got to express their frustrations with the municipality. A number of issues such as inadequate housing, a lack of running water, electricity bills and the high rate of unemployment in Mdantsane were raised.
The crowd called for BCM officials to implement their demands, saying they were tired of “boardroom meetings and discussions”, and wanted action to be taken.
BCM spokesman Samkelo Ngwenya said: “We condemn the violent behaviour in which issues surrounding Mdantsane were raised. It is important to note that the issues at hand are genuine as they deal with the socioeconomic fabric of any community-impacting project.”
Ngwenya said BCM was committed to ensuring that SMMEs were at the centre of their projects.
“This is something we hope we will be able to get across to the affected communities so that we can get the project back on track.
“The project will benefit the entire community of Mdantsane and its surrounding areas.”
But Ben Twalinca of the Mdantsane Civic Movement said: “What we are doing here affects the community itself. There is a lot of infighting and crime because of job scarcity, and a lot of irregularities and corruption in these construction sites.
“We agreed with BCM on many resolutions, but they have not been implemented. BCM is undermining us. We are sick and tired of discussing and seeing no results.”
Twalinca said the protests would continue until BCM stepped up and delivered services to its people. —