Grinaker-LTA has handed over the Coega Development Corporation‘s R100-million new offices at the Coega industrial development zone.

The six-storey building is the first multi-storey development completed at Coega.

“The panoramic view from the upper floors of the new offices highlights the extent of the work carried out by both Coega and the National Ports Authority in the last five to six years,” Grinaker-LTA Building Port Elizabeth area manager Leon Petrie said at the handover.

The new head office has aluminium cladding and glazed curtain walling on the façade of the foyer areas. This work was executed by Grinaker-LTA Façades and locally based Jowell Aluminium.

The interior finishes include specialised features such as “intelligent” lighting, with self-dimming fluorescents to blend in with the natural lighting, and self- extinguishing lighting for unoccupied spaces.

The contract required a strong focus on employment equity and job creation.

“Grinaker-LTA was required to ensure the participation in this undertaking of various target groups, such as SMMEs, black- owned businesses, firms owned by women, local enterprises and previously disadvantaged individuals,” Petrie said.

“Some 25% of the contract was completed by SMME contractors – defined as contractors with an annual turnover of less than R5- million – and whose businesses are more than 51% black-owned.”

CDC project manager Bruno Ponzo said the tender targets set by Grinaker-LTA were all met or exceeded – 997 workers were employed. There were 29 learnerships, and 37 people attended skills development programmes.

Environmental, health and safety considerations were dealt with as a high priority.

“There was substantial interest from the government in the project. This was highlighted by a visit to the site by Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka during the finishing stage of the contract,” Petrie said.

Source: The Herald