Community skills project births artisans

FIVE CWP WORKERS, BENEFITING FROM A PLUMBING SKILLS INITIATIVE SPEARHEADED BY KANGRA.

The positive returns from Kangra’s community water project in Donkerhoek have extended into upskilling residents, with 13 people benefiting so far. The mine initially partnered with the Mpumalanga Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) to train eight people in various skills, including plumbing and bricklaying, as part of a project to install water infrastructure across eight farms in the Donkerhoek area. Kangra’s Stakeholder Manager, Mpfuneni Mulaudzi, says a further five people were identified after seeing the positive outcome of the first group.

The opportunity was given to five people who are working under the local government’s Community Works Project.  “The same team is also working with the CWP group. The water project enabled this training to happen,” says Mpfuneni.

Zandile Dlamini, one of the five trainees from CWP, says she has gained valuable skills through the initiative and hopes to advance her plumbing career going forward. “What the mine has given us is an additional skill to make sure that if the money leaves the community, it leaves us with something valuable that we can drive ourselves and create an income,” Zandile says.

Mthokozisi Nkosi was working under CWP, assisting with gardening and other community services when he was selected. The group has been trained in installing pipes, connecting taps and identifying leaks among other things. “I hope that once I’ve completed the training and received my certificate, I’ll be able to create my own employment or start my own company,” says Mthokozisi.