Khayelitsha to Receive “Five Star Green” Shared Services Centre

Robin Carlisle, Minister of Transport and Public Works, was on site in Khayelitsha on 4 March 2013 at a sod-turning event for the brand new Khayelitsha Shared Services Centre currently under construction.

The new building will be the first public building in the Western Cape to attain a Five Star Green Star Rating in terms of criteria developed by the Green Building Council of South Africa.

“The construction on this Shared Services Centre in the heart of Khayelitsha shows our continuing faith in the development of the area. The building will be centrally located and close to the main transport interchanges, and will house the administrative components of Provincial Departments to better serve the Khayelitsha region.

“By clustering the services offered under one roof, and allowing for sharing of resources, greater financial and operational efficiency will be promoted, the result of which will invariably be a more efficient service delivery to the people of Khayelitsha,” said Minister Carlisle.

The Departments to be housed at Khayelitsha Shared Services Centre will offer the following services:

• Agriculture: Farmer Support and Development public interface office where the public can apply for support in the form of subsidies and/or advice on cultivation/agricultural projects.
• Education: The new Education District Office: East local Khayelitsha office will provide support services to all Khayelitsha schools and staff.
• Social Development: The new District Office in Khayelitsha will provide support services to the nearby Khayelitsha Social Development public interface service office and all other service points throughout the eastern metropole.
• Health: The new Khayelitsha District Office provides administrative support services to all clinic and hospital facilities in Khayelitsha and Metropole East.

The contract value for this project is R85.6 million (including VAT), with the construction having commenced in December 2012 and completion expected in mid-2014.

The project will create approximately 1 500 employment opportunities, 30% of which will be targeted at women, while 55% at youth.

A local security company has been employed by the main contractor, Alluta Security Services, while Silithemba Construction Company has been employed to take off and create site fencing. Form work will be done by Siyazama Decking. All the local sub-contractors bring local labour to work on site, and the Community Liaison Officer (CLO) was employed from the local area.

Other trades interviewed thus far, all based in Khayelitsha are:

• Security.
• Brick work for fencing.
• Civil contractors.
• Steel reinforcing.
• Form work.
• Plumbing.

“I would like to thank our Public Works team and the Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF) for their hard work and involvement during the community consultation process till now. We will continue to work hand-in-hand to deliver services to the community of Khayelitsha,” added Minister Carlisle.