3 August 2006
Department of Public Works concludes its maiden and a successful campaign of
celebrating the National Construction Week 2006 (NCW06) tonight (3 August 2006)
with much fanfare and a big bang at a Gala Dinner in Pretoria.
Minister Thoko Didiza addressed various role players, captains of the
industry, scholars, politicians who among others took part in a total of 100
events that were held nationwide thanks to the concerted efforts of government,
private sector and public entities including the Construction Industry
Development Board (CIDB), the Independent Development Trust (IDT), and the
Council for the Built Environment (CBE).
The campaign was also characterised by showcasing events such as
exhibitions, built environment school competitions and a comprehensive media
advertising awareness campaign highlighting construction industry as a career
destination of choice â one that is exciting and appealing to young people,
hence the slogan ââbuild ya dreamsâ.
âI think we have succeeded in igniting the sparkâ said Minister Didiza. She
stated that experiences sustained by comprehensive media plan helped us to
raise awareness but also created expectations that were vindicated by the NCW
call centre being inundated with young people looking for employment.
Minister seized the moment to challenge the industry to walk the talk. âLet
us take these young people on learnership programmes, provide them with
bursaries to study further, but most importantly, employ them in line with the
slogan of this yearâs campaign, of helping them âbuild their dreamsââ.
Through the campaign, Minister said that, âwe aim to re-affirm the
centrifugal role of the built environment in our life, thus I prefer to view
construction as part of our cultureâ. The acquiescence of the sector in the
past has helped fuel perceptions of a robust, macho and dirty industry devoid
of glamour and professionalism. The industry overlooked image building and
perceptions management as peripheral. Therefore, the Department runs
initiatives such as the NCW, 2014 Youth Foundation, the Military Skills
Development, and other learnership programmes to demystify such perceptions and
attracting the youth to the construction industry.
Government views construction industry as a national asset given the
infrastructural requirements that are necessary for social development and
service delivery for economic growth.
The first quarter report of 2006 indicated that this industry contributes
13.7% to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
âThe current boom in the industry provides us, both government and the
industry, with an opportunity to demonstrate the extent to which this industry
is both willing and able to transform itself given the correct enabling
environment,â affirmed the Minister.
However, Minister Didiza has emphasised the fact that the industry is still
faced with huge challenges of succession of the current crops of engineers that
are aging and is asking the industry to come full on board. âThe industry needs
twice as many skilled people as it currently has. Therefore, my appeal remains
that let us invest in training and skills development while creating an
industry with a reputation for high quality performance and effective project
deliveryâ.
âWe need a strong economy to generate employment but we also need a diverse
industry that is successful, competitive and secured to drive that growth.â
Minister also stated that in the next year, we shall hope to see a greater
involvement by the civil society.
Enquires:
Lucky Mochalibane (Chief Director: Communication)
Tel: (012) 337 2057
Cell: 082 899 9775
Issued by: Department of Public Works
3 August 2006
Source: Department of Public Works (http://www.publicworks.gov.za)
