Govan Mbeki Award Winners Announced by Human Settlements Minister Madikizela

The Provincial Department of Human Settlements was proud to announce its first youth contractor winner, Zuksem Projects, at the 2018 Provincial Govan Mbeki Awards on Friday, 31 August 2018 at the Westin Hotel, Cape Town. Western Cape Human Settlements Minister Bonginkosi Madikizela bestowed awards on the evening in recognition of outstanding work for housing delivery in the province.

The Govan Mbeki Awards is the premiere human settlements event in the Western Cape where projects are nominated for awards under the various categories. A nomination, and ultimate award, is reflective of a project’s contribution to quality and outstanding human settlements delivery within the relevant municipal areas. In addition to creating much needed housing opportunities, the contribution to local employment and support for SMME’s in the Western Cape is celebrated.

For their achievements, Zuksem Projects walked away winner of the category Best Emerging Youth Contractor. Zuksem Projects was formed by its two directors, Mr Zuko Ntsangai and Mr Semakaleng Koloba from George in 2016. Ninety percent of Zuksem’s employees, as well as its owners, are under the age of 35 years. Projects that the contractor has worked on include the Haarlem Farmworker project, Thembalethu, and the Nelson Mandela Boulevard housing project in George, Western Cape.

Refilwe Mako-Molele, Director of Vicmol Construction, won Best Emerging Woman Contractor for the second year in a row, having scooped the award in 2017 as well. Vicmol is 100% female owned and employs more than 100 people on a part-time basis and 5 full-time. The contractor has completed 100 houses in the last 3 years and is in the process of commencing with their next 28 houses.

For the Best Integrated Residential Development Programme (IRDP) category, Langeberg Municipality’s McGregor Housing Project scooped this award. The location of the project provides easy access to transport nodes, the central business district, and places of employment. A total of 26 houses in this project were adapted to accommodate disabled beneficiaries. During the civil services phase, 33 people from the local community were employed, and during the top structure phase, 11 local community members and up to 28 local sub-contractors were employed.

George Municipality won the Best Enhanced People Housing Process (EPHP) award for its Protea Park Housing Project. This project consists of 71 beneficiaries who were actively involved in the project’s development. The beneficiaries participated in the identification of contractors and selected their preferred service providers. On-site training in plumbing, bricklaying, carpentry, painting and plastering was provided to the workforce and administrative training was offered to beneficiaries who worked in the office.

The City of Cape Town’s Belhar Gardens Rental Estate walked away with the award for Best Social Housing Programme for the second year in a row. Thirty percent of the project’s units are reserved for people earning below R3500. Located in the Belhar Restructuring Zone, it is conveniently situated between 2 train stations, 2 universities and close to a college. It is 15 minutes away from 2 malls and close to 3 industrial areas. There are 16 primary and secondary schools in close proximity, as well as 3 sport complexes and the local swimming pool.

“For the first time in South Africa, we have received a clean audit for both the utilisation of our housing fund and the department’s budget, which means we can account for every cent used in housing delivery” said Minister Madikizela.

“To the people that have contributed to the success of housing delivery in the Western Cape, know that you are the stars of this department. Service providers who are working in this industry are facing difficult times. While many of them could have chosen to go elsewhere, they have remained with us for some time, dedicated to our mission of serving residents of this Province. They deserve to be praised. We thank them for their commitment, support and understanding the importance of doing what we do. This is not a job for many of us – it is a calling” added Madikizela.

The list winners and their categories include:

Best integrated residential development programme (irdp)

• Winner - McGregor Housing Project - Langeberg Municipality
• Joint 1st Runner up - Paternoster Housing Project - Saldanha Bay Municipality and Prince Albert 243 Housing Project - Prince Albert Municipality

Best enhanced people’s housing process project (ephp)

• Winner - Protea Park Housing Project (George Municipality)
• 1st Runner up - Sisonke Housing Project (City of Cape Town)
• 2nd Runner up - Manenberg (The Downs) Housing Project - City of Cape Town

Best upgrade of informal settlement project (uisp)

• Winner - Rosevalley UISP - Oudtshoorn Municipality
• 1st Runner up - Joe Slovo Square 135 Riviersonderend UISP - Theewaterskloof Municipality
• 2nd Runner up - White Location UISP - Knysna Municipality

Best social housing project

• Winner - Belhar Gardens Rental Estate - City of Cape Town

Best emerging woman contractor in the subsidy market

• Winner - Vicmol Construction cc
• 1st Runner up - Masiqhame Trading 28cc
• 2nd Runner up - Hlumantombazana Civil and Construction

Best established woman contractor in the subsidy market

• Winner - Nokhanya Services (Pty) Ltd
• 1st Runner up - Ukhana Projects

Best emerging youth contractor in the subsidy market

• Winner - Zuksem Project
• 1st Runner up - Phiweka Kwaza