Community-Capacity builds safe recreational space
An illegal dump site in Ga Rankuwa Zone 4 has been transformed by members of the local community into a recreational area and safe green space.
Capacity Outsourcing, an Adcorp Holdings company, ‘adopted the spot’, in response to the call by the City of Tshwane for private companies to adopt and improve open space areas in the municipal area.
A statement released by the City of Tshwane indicates that illegal dumping and littering has become a huge challenge for the City of Tshwane. “Although the municipality plays a major role in solving this dilemma, the overall success of a waste management system depends on creative methods and co-operation by all levels of society,” it reads.
Bruce Carr, CEO of Capacity Outsourcing says community relations were a critical component of the success of the initiative: “We had consultations with the Ward Councilor and Ward Committees, representing the community. In this way, only members of the local community were involved in clearing, fencing and maintaining the site.”
Says Campbell Bomela, Adcorp’s head of corporate social investment: “The site, located next to a church and an old age pay point in Ga Rankuwa Zone 4, was identified by Capacity Outsourcing in consultation with City of Tshwane’s Agriculture and Environmental Management Department and the community.
“As well as creating employment, this project demonstrated how the private and public sectors, working closely with local people, can turn ‘negatives’ into long-term ‘positives.”
Approximately 30 local people were employed for the upgrade while five general workers are being employed by Capacity to carry out daily maintenance of the site.
“Our involvement also included fencing the area and ensuring the public have unrestricted access to the space,” says Harris Valoyi, GM Northern region for Capacity and the person responsible for managing the project.
Adopt a Spot was launched by the City of Tshwane in late 2008. Companies as ‘adoptees’ are then responsible for clearing the area of alien vegetation, for landscaping the space using indigenous plants, and for maintaining it.
The total investment by Capacity amounts to well over R350 000, as the estimated cost of R350 000 excludes the cost of the cost of the maintenance workers on site.
The official hand over of the site took place last month when the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane Dr Gwen Ramokgopa gave Capacity’s MD the Adopt a Spot certificate.
Working through its national network of 23 urban branches and 12 rural offices, Capacity Outsourcing focuses on blue and grey collar staffing solutions. Daily, the company supplies around 28 000 assignees to its clients, supplying staffing solutions ranging from unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers to artisans.