Building skills, restoring spaces and empowering Bloemhof community

By partnering with Tjeka, Roadmac Surfacing is already delivering tangible benefits through its Bloemhof road surfacing project – positively impacting a poorer community within its operational footprint.

By directly involving local residents in the upgrade of a community centre, the project has also fostered a strong sense of ownership. This, while equipping them with the knowledge to maintain and care for the facility once it has been fully refurbished by the municipality.

In addition, the 12 community members who were recruited to the programme have learnt a range of critical skills, including plumbing, carpentry, and glazing. Tjeka also provided training in painting. While painting is not classified as a scarce or critical skill and the trade includes a high number of informal workers – the industry continues to face a notable shortage of adequately trained painters.

Again, innovative approaches were deployed to impart skills, including the use of practical 3D models that bring theory to life. This hands-on visual approach connects concept and application.

The community hall overhaul provided a sound training ground where theoretical knowledge could be applied in practice.

In carpentry, they repaired stage planks, installed skirting quadrants, hung new doors, replaced door locks, and repaired damaged external eaves. The eaves repairs were particularly challenging due to the double-storey height, requiring specialised scaffolding to be brought in from Pretoria by Roadmac.

Their plumbing skills were applied through the replacement of broken wash-hand basins and toilets in the ablution facilities. In addition, glazing repairs were carried out, with broken glass panes replaced to restore safety and functionality. Painting work included repainting the hall interior, ablution facilities, doors, and stage floor planks.