Members of the Central Northern Cape Business Forum gathered outside the Premier’s Office on Monday. Picture: Screengrab, Supplied
THE CENTRAL Northern Cape Business Forum is demanding that only contractors, businesses and workers from Roodepan should be employed on the R1 billion housing project.
Members from Greenpoint, Roodepan, Homevale, Floors and Colville gathered outside the Premier’s Office on February 12, calling for employment on government mega projects.
The R1 billion housing project was launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa on January 18 to enable the construction of 4,000 houses in municipalities across the Province over the next 12 to 18 months.
The funds for the R1 billion project were secured by the provincial government through a Human Settlements Development Grant and a R600 million loan facility from the National Treasury and the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
The chairperson of the Central NC Business Forum, Graham Ross, said that whites, coloureds and Indian residents were overlooked and were being denied employment and opportunities on government projects.
He stated that only black-owned construction companies were awarded tenders by the state.
“I am also engaging with the contractors at Sol Plaatje University to ensure that local companies are employed,” added Ross.
The director-general of the Northern Cape provincial government, Justice Bekebeke, who accepted the memorandum on behalf of the Office of the Premier, promised to respond to the memorandum within seven working days.