Zibambele Road Maintenance Programme

The Zibambele Road Maintenance Programme specifically targets the long- term unemployed in the rural communities of KwaZulu-Natal, and focuses on those families that have been identified by the communities themselves as the most destitute. The communities participate in dialogue with the Provincial Department of Transport through Rural Roads Transport Forums. The programme is run by the Provincial Government of KwaZulu-Natal, and the Provincial Departments of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs in partnership with the National Department of Public Works.  Although there is close support and participation from multiple tiers of government, staffing and funding is directly supplied from the Provincial Department of Transport.

Currently, 23 450 contracts have been awarded to the poorest households in the community within KwaZulu-Natal, of which 95% are headed by women, resulting in the negations of specific gender stereotypes in the construction industry.  These contracts are awarded to households as opposed to specific individuals in order to facilitate the continuation of wage earners if a member of the house becomes sick or passes away.  Contracts are renewed annually as long as the family is still in the “poorest of the poor” category.  A maximum of 60 hours per month are worked, in order to allow women sufficient time-off to care for their families.  In addition, contractors are awarded equipment, which can be used for other economic or agricultural activities.

The aim of Zibambele is to eradicate poverty, and consequently the long-term goal is sustained employment beyond the duration of the road works project.  In order to facilitate sustained employment the project has created voluntary “savings clubs”, which represent the pooled savings of participants for investment purposes. By 2005, a total of 547 of these clubs had been established.  Contractors are encouraged to save a portion of their earnings, roughly R20 per month, and are provided with education on investment strategies.  In total, members have collectively contributed more than R1, 4 million.  The community of benefactors then decide how to utilise the funds, such as start-up capital for business ventures or collateral for loans to create other income-generating projects.

In addition to the savings programme, the director of Zibambele is responsible for collaborating efforts between other government agencies and NGOs that are working towards poverty alleviation to facilitate skills workshops on sustenance farming, literacy, and small business enterprises. 

Innovation

The basic employment programme is innovative in taking an internationally established model and applying it creatively in a South African context; adding social development and micro-economic components to a simple public works employment programme.  This results in a programme which has far greater, and more substantial impacts than one that only addresses immediate employment needs.  The project has been recognized by the President as a  “best practice model” in terms of poverty alleviation, for the Government’s Extended Public Works Programme.

Effectiveness

Zibambele Road Maintenance Programme currently employs 23 450 contractors, with the goal of reaching 40 000 by the end 2009, and allows these persons to utilize provided equipment for food production.  The savings clubs developed for employees has generated R1,4 million, and some members are considering investing in projects such as; producing vests for parking attendants to a theatre for social functions.

Poverty Impact

Through the creation of 23 450 jobs, the average wage per household for participants has increased allowing for the induction of more nutritious meals, payment of school fees, the provision of school uniforms, and psychosocial tensions have eased.  With an additional 17 000 jobs to be created by 2009 the positive impact of regular work will be felt by more families in the community.

Sustainability

Zibambele Road Maintenance Project has arranged for a Cabinet approved budgetary allocation under the Medium Term Expenditure Framework. This will be sufficient to keep then on track towards their target of 40 000 employees by 2009; furthermore, they are processing applications for supervisory personnel to assist with the administration.

Replication

The fact that both the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga have already started programmes based on this project proves its potential to be replicated.

Partnerships:

• National Department of Public Works
• Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Affairs 
• Cord Consultants
• Insika Rural Development
• Tribal Leaders from rural tribes