The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport has scooped the Best Construction Project award during the 3rd KwaZulu-Natal Expanded Public Works (EPWP) Kamoso Awards ceremony which was held at Umhlanga, north of Durban recently.
The Department walked away with the prestigious award for the upgrade of access road L2852 (Mahlokohloko Road) which falls under the jurisdiction of Hluhluwe Cost Centre.
The upgrade of the road from gravel to concrete road surface was accomplished using labour intensive construction methodologies. The project used the concept of replacing machinery to accomplish the upgrade of the 1.3 kilometre steep road from gravel to concrete.
The road which provides a link between Mkuze, Hluhluwe and the N2 commenced in December 2016 and has been completed to the tune of R9 million. The project created 150 work opportunities and the EPWP participants were employed from the community.
The objectives of the awards ceremony was to showcase progress and the impact and successes of the EPWP as a key government programme by rewarding best performing Public Bodies who work tirelessly and push boundaries to implement and excel in achieving EPWP performance targets.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Ravi Pillay presented the honorary awards, encouraging officials to continue to raise the bar in the implementation of EPWP because “the EPWP is a vehicle for service delivery and gives hope to the poor.”
“I encourage you all to continue to design and implement the EPWP programme that will benefit the poor,” said Pillay.
Prior to the evening of the awards ceremony, EPWP officials of the KZN Department of Transport had participated in the 4th Annual KZN EPWP Indaba at Mayville Conference Centre, also hosted by KZN Department of Public Works.
The objectives of the 4th Annual KZN EPWP Indaba were to reflect on EPWP Phase III, provide an update on planning, to consolidate provincial inputs for EPWP Phase IV, to identify key challenges encountered in EPWP Phase III and to share best practices for job creation in Phase III.
Pictured: Collecting the EPWP Kamoso award and certificate on behalf of the KZN Department of Transport for Infrastructure Sector: Best Construction Project were (from left) Lindinkosi Buthelezi who is an Engineering Technician at Hluhluwe Cost Centre, Petronella Sithebe who is the Director for EPWP and Bongumusa Mthembu who is an Engineering Technician for EPWP based at Inkosi Mhlabunzima Maphumulo House.