Celani Z Mchunu and her children

Unksz uCelani Z Mchunu nezingane zakhe

28 ablution blocks built for Zululand Communities

ZAC has built and handed over 28 ablution units to rural communities located in the Zululand District Municipality of KwaZulu-Natal. The units are located in the mine-hosting Traditional Council communities of Mlaba, Zungu, Mandlakazi and Matheni. The facilities cost over R419 600 to build and were constructed by Conrite Projects, a contractor appointed by ZAC. The company used local labour and materials to complete the project.

ZAC Community Liaison Officer Levy Nyandeni noted that the facilities were designed for use in water-scarce communities. “They utilise a dry sanitation system owing to the water constraints faced in the area,” Nyandeni said.

ZAC Sustainable Development Manager Khumbulani ‘Skorpion’ Masuku said: “The toilets were constructed as part of a community development project undertaken by ZAC to assist poor households in the mine-hosting communities to improve their sanitation facilities.”

Community members expressed their appreciation for ZAC’s efforts to improve their living conditions. Celani Z Mchunu, a mother of two small children, and a resident of the Mlaba Traditional Council said: “These toilets are an invaluable addition to our community and have significantly improved the hygiene situation for my family. They are safe to use for adults and children which provides parents with peace of mind.”

Sihle Mlaba, who is also from Mlaba, said: “We are very thankful to ZAC for providing us with these new toilets. Having proper ablution facilities brings a heightened sense of dignity to our community.”

Menar COO Bradley Hammond stated said the need for lavatories was identified in partnership with local government. “Basic sanitation is something that many take for granted, but in impoverished communities like the ones that host ZAC, private companies need to assist the government wherever possible,” Hammond said. “We are happy that we have been able to improve these residents’ sanitation situation. The provision of safe, hygienic and permanent ablution facilities forms part of our group’s long-term commitment to uplift communities.”

Imiphakathi yaseZululand ihlomule ngezindlu ezincane eziwu-28

I-ZAC inikele ngezindlu ezincane ezingaphezu kuka-28 kubahlali bakamasipala waseZululand, KwaZulu Natali. Le ngxenye yakhiwe emhlabeni ophethwe ngokubambisana imayini nethimba lamakhosi angamele indawo yakwaMlaba, waZungu, eMandlakazi naseMatheni. 

I-Conrite Projects okuyinkontileka ebiqokwe yi-ZAC ukuba yakhe lezi zindlu ezincane ithi lolu hlelo ludle ngaphezu kuka R419 600, kanti lenkampani ihlomulise abantu bendawo ngamathuba emisebenzi.

UMnu uLevy Nyandeni ongumxhumanisi phakathi kweZ-AC nomphakathi wabona ukuthi lolu hlobo lwezindlu ezincane lufanele ukwakhiwa ezindaweni ezishodelwa ngamanzi ikakhulukazi. 

“Lezi zindlu ezincane azidingi amanzi ukuhambisa indle njengoba lomphakathi ubhekene nengwadla yokushoda kwamanzi” kusho uNyandeni.

Oyimenenja yeSustainable Development e-ZAC, uMnu uKhumbulani “Skorpion” Masuku uthe: “I-ZAC yakhe lezi zindlu ezincane ukuze ithuthukise umphakathi nokusiza abantu abahlwempu kulezi zakhamuzi ezakhele le mayini.”

Umphakathi ubongile kwi-ZAC ukuthi iyisize ithuthukise impilo yawo. 

UNksz uCelani Z Mchunu ongumama wezingane ezimbili ozinze esigodini saKwaMlaba uthe:  “Lezi zindlu ezincane ziwusizo olukhulu emphakathini ngoba zithuthukisa nezinga lenhlanzeko emndenini wami futhi ziphephile ukuthi zisetshenziswe umuntu omdala nezingane nokuyinto engikhululayo emoyeni.”

UMnu uSihle Mlaba wasesigodini sakwaMlaba uthe: “Sibonga kakhulu kwi-ZAC ngokusixhasa ngalezi zindlu ezincane. Ukuba nezindlu ezincane eziphephile kubuyisa ukuzethemba nesithunzi emphakathini.” 

UMnu uBradley Hammond oyiCOO yaseMenar ukucacisile ukuthi isidingo sezindlu ezincane eziphephile basibone ngokubambisana nomasipala.

“AmaThoyilethi ezinye zezinto ezibalulekile  ezinganakekile noma ezithathwa kancane, kodwa emphakathini owakhelwe i-ZAC nezinkampani ezizimele kumele zisize uhulumeni la zingakwazi khona,” kusho uHammond. “Sijabule kakhulu ukuthi nathi sikwazi ukufaka isandla emphakathini ngokuwakhela loluhlobo lwezindlu ezincane nokuzosiza ekuthuthukiseni ezokuphepha nenhlanzeko kulendawo. Lokhu kungezinye zezinto esizimisele ukuzenza ukuthuthukisa imiphakathi yethu,” kuphetha uHammond.