Boost for Ngcobo sawmill

A small commercial sawmill on the outskirts of Ngcobo has received praise from rural development and agrarian reform MEC Xolile Nqatha, who described it as having potential to transform the area.

Nqatha, accompanied by Ngcobo mayor Lizeka Bongo-Tyali, on Thursday officially handed over the revamped Nangu Timbers, which underwent a major facelift thanks to a R800,000 boost from his department.

The mill is owned by two brothers, Gqibelo and Mthobesizwe Nangu, and is a stone’s throw from the civic centre in Ngcobo. It produces rafters, parallels and brandering for roofing, and shelving for furniture.

Mthobesizwe told the MEC they bought their wood in Ntabankulu, about 200km away.

He said the problem was that their three old trucks often broke down on the way.

“We would appreciate it if we could get a horse-and-trailer [articulated] truck. It affects production and eats away at our profits as we spend more on fuel and truck maintenance.”

Mthobesizwe said they also needed help with boosting the power supply as it was so weak they were unable to connect the heavy machinery needed to enhance production.

The sawmill has been in existence since 1999.

Gqibelo said it took more than four years to apply for funding to build a shed where wood could be processed. One day a former employee at Nqatha’s department came to buy from them and he promised to find them help.

“We supplied a local hardware store for three years.” But the company ditched them due to the poor quality of some of the rafters they produced.

Mthobesizwe said this was because they were battling to find the equipment they needed. But despite this, they were still able to produce about 850 pieces of rafter a day, which they sold to locals.

The siblings employ about 80 workers including wood cutters when they go to Ntabankulu.

Nqatha was impressed with the sawmill because it was owned by black South Africans. “We need to industrialise this province. This [sawmill] has the potential to drive job creation initiatives.”