THE COEGA DEVELOPMENT Corporation (CDC) is confirming its role as a major business and job creator in the Eastern Cape. It has thoroughly transformed the engineering sector by empowering historically disadvantaged communities, more particularly those of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, in which the project is located. One of the most outstanding economic empowerment breakthroughs has been the award of a R30 million civil engineering contract to a 100 per cent black owned consortium, which is a joint venture between Zingisa Construction and DA Civils from Nelson Mandela Bay’s northern areas. Three months into the seven-month engineering contract, the consortium is making good progress in the second phase of the Pechiney site preparation work in the industrial development zone’s metallurgical cluster. Although the contract was delayed due to environmental, industrial health and safety concerns, the contractors have accepted the challenge of completing the contract on schedule. “We feel very proud that the CDC has visibly demonstrated its faith in our capability by awarding us this contract. We certainly have the technical skills, ability and the necessary qualifications to tackle a job of this size,” says John Bryn of Zingisa Construction. The scope of the contract encompasses sewerage, storm water, ducts, block paving, road markings, road signs, landscaping, concrete paving, curbing and channelling and the normal construction excavation for the metallurgical cluster. Although it is a seven-month contract the additional work will possibly extend the duration of the contract to nine months, thereby increasing the value to R40 million. An additional contract awarded to the consortium is the stripping of 190 000m ² of topsoil at the Pechiney site in November. “There are possibly other black contractors equally capable of tackling jobs of this nature, but the only difficulty is the financial aspect. A contract of this size requires a 10 per cent guarantee and that is close to R2 million, and that is very difficult to source. Few established financial institutions are able to lend a hand,” explains Bryn. “We are also extremely grateful for the moral support from the CDC. They are always there to help us with our problems, which is another thing that really sets them apart in this industry,” adds Bryn. Both Zingisa Construction and DA Civils have been responsible for numerous contracts for both the Cacadu Municipality and the Nelson Mandela Metro, as well as other contracts farther afield.