Mkhulu EDP, at the Kusile Lulamisa 400kV Transmission Line construction project, celebrated a combined Health and Safety Day and Environment Day at the project Camp Site and Kanana Informal Settlement, Bronkospruit on the 11^th and 12^th August 2023. The total amount spent on this commemoration and celebration was approximately R380 000.

On the 11^th August 2023 there was a Work Stoppage at the project Camp Site where various mental health issues were addressed with employees and pocket-sized booklets were issued to each employee for reference purposes. This selection of the subject to focus on was based on feedback from Mkhulu supervisors. The Work Stoppage was graced by Eskom Transmission Projects Delivery Project Manager and SHEQ Team who offered input and advice to questions raised by employees.

On the 12^th August 2023 the company took the celebrations to the community, recording peak numbers in excess of 450 people from the community, municipalities, traditional leaders, national Members of Parliament, etc.

This year both World Health and Safety Day and World Environment Day clashed with various outages on the project and, as such, could not be celebrated and/or commemorated on their respective dates. This prompted the SHEQ team to organise a bigger event that combined both. The celebrations were also aimed at addressing key community challenges and raising awareness.

In order to ensure that this was done, the SHEQ Team had a meeting with the local Chief (Chief Mtshweni) and introduced the proposal. The issues to be addressed included access to clean water (health), water conservation (environment), youth upliftment (social), and awareness on various subjects relevant to informal settlements and youth, particularly.

The Chief was very excited with the proposal and formed a steering committee involving all envisaged stakeholders e.g. Police, Department of Social Welfare, Department of Health, Department of Disaster Management, Expanded Public Works programs, Municipalities, Councillors etc.

Mkhulu donated the following:

Access to clean water and water conservation: Mkhulu donated 5 x 500litres water tanks to the community to address this item. The community had existing water tanks strategically positioned around the informal settlement. However, some of them had leaks resulting in wastage of scarce clean water and needed replacement. The rest of the tanks were strategically placed in manner to reduce long distances walking to collect water for some community members. These tanks were symbolically handed over on the day but the traditional leaders then gave direction on where they wanted them positioned so that Mkhulu could build the stands, deliver them to those positions, and sort out the plumbing needed to enable them to be used immediately.

• Access to clean water and water conservation: Mkhulu donated 5 x 500litres water tanks to the community to address this item. The community had existing water tanks strategically positioned around the informal settlement. However, some of them had leaks resulting in wastage of scarce clean water and needed replacement. The rest of the tanks were strategically placed in manner to reduce long distances walking to collect water for some community members. These tanks were symbolically handed over on the day but the traditional leaders then gave direction on where they wanted them positioned so that Mkhulu could build the stands, deliver them to those positions and sort out the plumbing needed to enable them to be used immediately.
• Youth Upliftment: Mkhulu funded Soccer and Netball Tournaments held on the 12^th August 2023. This funding came in form of clearing an area to form two soccer fields and a netball field, marking the fields accordingly and providing the goal posts and netball poles.  A total of eight soccer teams and four netball teams coming from four wards were selected. All teams were issued with the full kits to use on the day. The winning team for soccer and netball was awarded R5000 Makro vouchers each. The players from the winning teams each received a R500 Shoprite voucher (15 soccer players and 8 netball players). The runner ups teams were each awarded R3000 Makro vouchers. Players for teams that won, runners up and third place each got medals and trophies. Trophies were also given to player of the tournament, goal scorer of the tournament and goal keeper of the tournament and top scorer (for both soccer and netball tournaments). The Councilors declared that this Tournament would now be an annual event in the area.
• Training of Local Community: Mkhulu donated 90 training initiatives to the community. The steering committee spread the opportunities over four wards and youth were prioritised. The training is being rolled out in phases depending on community members availability and will be completed before the project is completed. The training initiatives are worth in excess of R90 000 and shall be provided by Siyazama Professional Services. The training initiatives include SHE Representative, First Aider, Fire Fighting, Emergency Evacuation, Rigging, The training was requested by the community members interested in making their CVs more attractive to prospective employers.
• Access to Services:  Mobile offices worth R60 000 were donated to Chief Mtshweni who wanted to expedite service delivery directly to the community by having a satellite office in the informal settlement so that Municipality and Government can use whenever the community needs assistance.
• Health and Wellness: There were various speakers that raised awareness on communicable diseases especially HIV/AIDS, drug abuse and rehabilitation, waste management, safety and security. Nurses were available for HIV testing tents all day and the public was seen queuing for the service. Social workers were available to offer assistance to those who were directly and indirectly affected by substance abuse.
• 
  
  
  

Views: 233