Bridging the gap between emerging and established contractors

The Msunduze River Bridge is a four-span reinforced concrete structure straddling a total of 65 m over the Msunduze River in the iLembe District’s Mandeni Local Municipality. It was successfully completed in November 2021, with a construction value of R31.2 million, and will unlock long-lasting socio-economic benefits.

By Kevin Volmink & Santosh Soobryan

Beyond the construction of the bridge, the works included the upgrade of the L3110 gravel road and its associated stormwater infrastructure.

The project’s successful completion has not only provided new infrastructure – improving the level of service delivery for the Nyoni and neighbouring communities – but has also realised significant initiatives that have uplifted and developed the skills of local community members and targeted enterprise contractors.

The project targets for job creation, targeted enterprise development, as well as training and skills transfer were all exceeded through a collaborative effort of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, Naidu Consulting and Icon Construction. This was realised through detailed planning, social facilitation and the implementation of labour-intensive construction principles.

Targeted enterprise development

Targeted enterprise development is aimed at exposing emerging contractors to a structured entrepreneurial development programme and to provide proactive management support with ‘on-the-job’ practical training and mentorship. The outcome is to ensure emerging contractors develop their commercial, managerial, practical and administrative skills, enabling them to take on more complex construction projects and encourage growth from a microenterprise to an established contractor.

Five targeted enterprise subcontractors were employed on the Msunduze River Bridge project to undertake the following activities:

• two CIDB grade 1CE PE – Drainage, guardrails, and landscaping

• one CIDB grade 2CE PE – Gabions

• one CIDB grade 3CE PE – Bulk earthworks

• one CIDB grade 4CE PE – Concrete and reinforcing.

All five of the targeted enterprise subcontractors completed their scope of work with a high degree of quality and within the scheduled timeframes. As a result of the successful completion of their works, as well as the development and training opportunities received, two of the targeted enterprise subcontractors are now in a position to upgrade their CIDB grading status.

CETA-accredited training was provided to all targeted enterprise subcontractors, with on-site training and mentorship provided by the principal contractor, Icon Construction.

Each of the targeted enterprise subcontractors were afforded the opportunity to select and attended two training modules from the following options:

• Site management procedures

• Site administration procedures

• Management of construction resources

• Legal requirements for construction contracts

• Tendering for construction contracts

• Development of construction work plans.

Following the completion of the training modules, the targeted enterprise subcontractors were required to put their theoretical training into practice, while implementing their construction scope of work, ensuring the complete understanding of the knowledge gained in relation to actual construction implementation.

The targeted enterprise subcontractors’ scope of construction work had varying degrees of complexity. Some complex construction aspects included bridgeconstruction-related concrete works such as pile caps, piers, abutments and parapets.

With the continuous mentorship and practical training provided by the principal contractor, the emerging contractors were successful in overcoming the construction challenges associated with complex construction methods, while strictly adhering to quality control and programme-related constraints.

The Covid-19 pandemic presented a challenge to the project programme and had the potential to have a significant financial impact on the contractor and subcontractors on the project. Despite the restrictions to combat Covid-19, the contractors were able to complete the project on time, within budget, and with minimal impact on achieving the project goals.

Contract Participation Goals

The Msunduze River Bridge project has surpassed the 35% CPG (Contract Participation Goals) expenditure target, which is a contract participation target for targeted enterprises, and has achieved a 52% CPG expenditure. This has shown that the development of targeted enterprise subcontractors can be implemented and successfully achieved, regardless of the complexity and nature of the project.

Forty-five new job opportunities were created on the project through the employment of personnel from the local community by the principal contractor, as well as the targeted enterprise subcontractors. The project had an employment target of 40 new job opportunities, which was exceeded by almost 13%.

The personnel employed from the local community received CETA-accredited training before commencing work, as well as in-service training carried out while employed on the project. Furthermore, 10 youth were trained as part of the National Youth Service programme, receiving theoretical training, followed by on-site practical training.

The local community also benefited from various other corporate social development initiatives on the project, which included the donation of computer equipment and soccer kits to a local football club.

Project output vs project outcome

As engineers, there is always a sense of pride in realising the ‘output’ of a design. A greater sense of accomplishment, however, comes from seeing the ‘outcome’ of a project, which contributes to the improvement of the quality of life in society.

The job creation, targeted enterprise development, as well as training and skills transfer initiatives implemented on projects such as the Msunduze River Bridge heighten this sense of accomplishment. Projects like this allow for the upliftment of local communities, as well as the development of small businesses, actively contributing to our development as a nation.

The old adage, “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, but If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime,” rings true through the successful completion of projects like the Msunduze River Bridge.