Successful public engagement with contractors

The Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) hosted its inaugural Infrastructure Investment and Property Development Dialogue on 8 November 2019 in Cape Town.  

DTPW invited contractors with a Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) grading of 1 to 5 to engage at the event with senior managers and officials about framework concerns, and opportunities to work with the Western Cape Government on major infrastructure projects.

Presentations included the “when, where and how” of tendering, construction frameworks and what this means for the industry, and the way forward.

Provincial Ministers Bonginkosi Madikizela (Transport and Public Works) and Tertius Simmers (Human Settlements), and Malusi Booi (City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements), presented their vision for the future of the construction industry highlighting major projects currently underway, including the Helen Bowden Nurses’ Home site, the Somerset Hospital site, and the Wingfield project.

Participants had the opportunity to ask questions and make comments after the presentations were done.

Marshay Trout from Shaylex Trading found the session very useful. “It was my first time attending this type of engagement,” said Marshay. “Contractors were given an opportunity to speak and I listened. I will definitely attend another session in the future.”

Minister Madikizela emphasised the importance of skills development in his presentation and in his contractor feedback session.

“I have a programme within my Department, Masakh’iSizwe (bursary programme),” he said. “This programme is meant to be an incubator to take on board a number of people, to grow them to assist us in the skills that we need.”

At the end of the event, the DTPW Governance and Demand Management team were on hand to respond to the contractors’ queries and concerns.