PPC has partnered with the National Department of Environmental Affairs, Quantity Surveyors and Project Managers, Mathews & Associates (M&A) in implementing the NW-Augmentation of Naledi Local Municipality Landfill Site. The project is funded by the department through its Environmental Protection and Infrastructure Programme (EPIP) to the tune of R12 million.
The DEA is also providing support for creating waste management infrastructure. These initiatives will maximise socio-economic benefits through job creation and skills development.
M&A approached PPC to provide training for 120 workers in brick making, with the bricks produced to be used for the Naledi landfill site, which includes a landfill cell, a waste sorting area, a weighbridge, paving and road works.
The 12-month project began in November 2014. Once completed, the brick making machines will be given to the Naledi Municipality (Vryburg) so it can continue the momentum by assisting and upskilling workers. This will empower workers to build their small businesses through mentorship, training programmes and access to the brick making machinery.
North West Area Manager, Marius Joubert says, “If you look at the National Development Plan, one of the key ways to curbing unemployment is through skills development. This is a great example of public and private sector collaboration that comes together for a common goal: the future of South Africa. At PPC, we will be playing our part, rolling out brick making courses across the country in 2015.”
The agreement aims to provide skills enabling workers from local communities who worked on the project to start their own businesses once the project is completed.
George Mathews of Mathews & Associates says, “We identified PPC’s brick making workshops as a great initiative that aligns with our project – teaching our beneficiaries how to make bricks and then using those bricks in the project itself.
“Even better, beneficiaries can start their own businesses making and selling bricks to their communities.” He feels PPC is the perfect partner – with internal expertise enabling them to offer these courses free to all PPC customers.
For more information on brick making, PPC has an online publication, “A Sure Way To Make Bricks and Blocks – On A Small Scale”. It can be found at:
More information from Andrea Meyer, Andrea.meyer@ppc.co.za / www.ppc.co.za.
