Eighteen months ago Grahamstown-based Makana Brick was approached by Emalahleni Municipality in the Komani district (formerly Queenstown) to assist a group of informal brick makers with the manufacture of durable clay bricks.
Eighteen months ago Grahamstown-based Makana Brick was approached by Emalahleni Municipality in the Komani district (formerly Queenstown) to assist a group of informal brick makers with the manufacture of durable clay bricks.
Makana Brick CEO Colin Meyer gave the go-ahead, and the project to assist five different informal brick making co-operatives got underway in late 2014. The five co-operatives are Sinejongo, Zanokhanyo, Dordrecht, DDX and Dixie in Dordrecht and Lady Frere.
Initially, Makana Brick, with its modern clay brick making plant and head office on the northern outskirts of Grahamstown, sent company officials to Dordrecht and Lady Frere to assess the situation regarding the manufacture of bricks by the brick making co-operatives.
In the months that followed, Makana Brick performed tests on the clay being used by the co-operatives, the various processes employed, and the final product emanating from their plants.
Makana Brick human resources manager and spokesperson, Lunga Twaku, said during 2015 the company sent production foreman Wandisile Che to Dordrecht for a week to assist the brick makers at their plants. Che is in charge of the project.
Having worked his way up in the company from the initial brick making process to supervisory level, Che was able to offer advice on modern brick making methods and the ‘ins and outs’ of the industry.
With the Emalahleni brick making project having recently purchased new equipment, the Emalahleni Municipality again requested the assistance of Makana Brick.
Wandisile Che again found himself on his way to Dordrecht for intensive training workshops for the co-operatives for a week in March 2016. The workshops took place in the boardroom of Emalahleni Municipality and at the co-operatives’ respective plants.
On this occasion Che assisted the brick makers in familiarising themselves with the new equipment, as well as improving the standard of their product.
“The purpose of the workshops was also to address the challenges faced by co-operatives and equip them with the technical skills on how to make bricks,” said Twaku.
In addition to Makana Brick personnel, the workshops were attended by four employees from each co-operative.
Twaku said Makana Brick is not charging the brick making co-operatives or Emalahleni Municipality for the training and advice as the company views it as a step in the right direction to developing small businesses and informal entrepreneurs.
A spokesperson for the five co-operatives recommended that training workshops be held on a quarterly basis.
