Mentoring Programme Empowers Emerging Contractors

The Siyenyuka Advanced Training and Mentoring (SATAM) programme at the Department of Transport and Public Works plays a key role in the development of emerging building contractors in the Western Cape.

As a result of the Department’s mentoring and accredited training, a number of contracting businesses are advancing to a higher level on the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). The programme pays all the costs of providing this mentoring and training.

The programme runs over 24 months and is part of the Expanded Public Works Programme. It links Grade 3 to 5 General Building (GB)/ Civil Engineering (CE) enterprises affiliated with the CIDB with experienced mentors who assist in identifying training needs.

Programme interventions include: assisting contractors with compliance and tendering processes (pre-tender phase); legal and project-related processes (on- and off-site mentoring); and business development assistance (enterprise development).

Mthunzi Rubuluza of the Contractor Development Programme at the Department says the initiative assists contractors to comply with industry requirements and effectively compete for tenders.

“Experienced mentors are assigned to a contractor in each of the various phases. The aim is to assist contractors to start thinking like businesses. This will add value to the construction industry as there will be more contractors who comply with requirements and who understand the construction regulations,” he said.

It is clear that both the Department and these contractors benefit from the programme. Contractors leave the programme with the necessary practical skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the built environment sector. The Department expects to benefit from better quality construction and from having to spend less time managing the quality of contractors’ work.