Izwi - Cato Manor Community Newspaper

Boost for health care in Cato Manor
Community Health Centre will serve Cato Manor residents


The construction of the health centre will shift the focus of the development programme to the Central Node which already boasts Intuthuko Junction.

The tender for the earthworks contract for the EU/Unicity funded Community Health Centre has been awarded to Stedone Emerging Civils. This phase will be completed in mid-May this year and will be followed by the building contract.

Residents of Cato Manor will be relieved to know that plans for the construction of the Health Centre have received a major boost from the eThekwini Municipality which has allocated additional funding of R9,4m for the construction of the Centre. This will supplement the R14,8m made available through EU funding.

This means that the 4 500m2 building will comprise seven departments and an administration section on one level, with services and space for future development at a lower level.

There is pressure to complete the Centre as soon as possible and indications are that this will be achieved in October 2003.
Construction of Centre is expected to boost the local economy by providing job opportunities. The building and civils contracts specify that all unskilled labour and 50% of skilled labour will be drawn from Cato Manor.

Through the building contract the contractor will be encouraged to provide opportunities to local sub-contractors and suppliers. The Labour Forum have drawn up a system to facilitate the recruitment of local labour from all areas of Cato Manor.

The Community Health Centre will comprise a general and an antenatal clinic, a 24-hour midwife obstetric unit, a pharmacy and emergency, referral, rehabilitation and dentistry departments. In order to accommodate the range of services to be provided, a number of multi-purpose rooms have been included in the design.

In addition there will be two community projects rooms, intended to be used for health education initiatives and functions.
“The strong partnership commitments that have emerged in the development of the Community Health Centre extend beyond the EU and Unicity joint funding. NGOs and academic institutions will contribute complimentary services including an eye care clinic to be provided by St John Ambulance Foundation and the University of Durban Westville (UDW) who have undertaken to provide services from the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Dentistry Department, the School of Rehabilitation, the Sport Science Department, the Physiotherapy Department, the Department of Social Work and the School of Psychology,” said Martin Kaplan, CMDA Director of Projects.

The Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine is also expected to contribute services at a later stage.

McCords Hospital will provide an Occupational Health and IOD service and are likely to be involved in providing administrative support, training and antenatal and maternity services.

“The success of this project is due to a spirit of partnership and commitment and plain hard work. We mustn’t forget the CMCO Health and Welfare sub-committee who have played an active and positive role in the development of the project,” said Martin.
The staff and equipment at the existing Ekuphileni Clinic in Bellair Road will move to the Centre where their services will form the core of the new facility.

Local economic development update

Industrial and Commercial land development and premises

Booth West Industrial Park and Value Centre: aims at maximising job creation for Cato Manor residents as well as maximising revenues to be reinvested in socio-economic projects in Cato Manor. Construction to start in May 2002.
Edwin Swales Industrial Park: aims at maximising job creation for Cato Manor residents as well as maximising revenues to be reinvested in socio-economic projects in Cato Manor. Construction to start in May 2002.
Booth Central Industrial and Commercial Land: aims at preparing land along Booth Road Central for industrial and commercial development. Construction to start in May 2002.
Container Park Cato Crest: The park has been completed. Trading has started. The opening ceremony is in the planning stages.
Wiggins Economic Hive: CMDA is preparing for the upgrading of the Housing Support Centre in Wiggins to an economic hive. This hive is mainly targeting business people living in Wiggins. The existing co-ops have been temporarily allocated to unused containers.
Molver Road Economic Hive: CMDA is planning to formalise the informal development of business units in Cato Crest’s Molver Road into an economic hive. A steering committee will be set up soon.

Shadrack Hlubi also took advantage of the
economic development opportunity presented to
Cato Crest residents.

The Cato Crest Container Park is now open for
business. Pictured are members of Vukuz’umnotho
who are among the first occupants.

Business Support

Short Term Guarantee Finance: The scheme aims at improving access to working capital loans for local contractors working in Cato Manor projects. The scheme is operational.
LED Vehicle: CMDA is in the process of establishing an LED vehicle which will sustain economic development in Cato Manor after CMDA closes down. Workshops are being held with Metropolitan and community representatives to determine the configuration of it.
Building Materials Manufacture: A feasibility study and business plan have been conducted to analyse the building manufacturing sector in Cato Manor. The proposal is to set up a Central Distribution and Support Unit for the sector, providing services such as bulk purchase, transport, marketing and business support. A steering committee is being set up. Application for financial assistance for phase 1 has been submitted to the City for approval.
ESC Incubator/Industrial Workshops: The ESC is now operational. Working from offices on 2nd Floor POD 3, Intuthuko Junction. The ESC is engaging entrepreneurs specifically from the manufacturing sectors, but also from the service industries and the retail sectors. The ESC offers assistance, ranging from advice, business planning, access to financial institutions, administrative services and business management skills training. Two full time business advisors are in attendance and can be contacted at Intuthuko Junction or on 261 5585.
Small Business Loans: This is a follow-up and support programme to the Home Ownership programme. It arises from a programme in the Home Ownership Module called Affordability. It focuses on savings clubs, community banks, flea markets and co-operatives. The project targets 67 clubs and has reached 45 savings clubs, strengthening them as small business organisations. So far five flea markets have been held at Westridge Park and at Bellair Road and currently working on the 6th. The purpose of the flea markets is to unite the savings clubs, prepare the way for the Community Banks and give them wider business exposure. Currently research is being conducted into models from other countries for community based savings and credit operatio