NATIONAL NEWS - The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (DTI), Fikile Majola launched a multi-million rand Black Industrialist Roofing Solutions Company, in Chamdor Industrial Park recently.
Malvilox is an 80 per cent black-owned company that manufactures concrete roof tiles, offering a total roofing solution. The company was approved for grant funding of R23 million through the DTI Black Industrial Scheme (BIS). The project is co-funded by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
The BIS is an incentive of the Black Industrialists Programme that aims to unlock the potential within black industrialists operating in strategic and productive manufacturing sectors of the South African economy through deliberate, targeted and well-defined financial and non-financial interventions.
“The BIS supported Malvilox to acquire the new concrete roof tile machinery and equipment, stock-yard equipment, light-weight steel rolling equipment, forklifts and front loaders,” Majola said.
“The company has since spotted an opportunity to come up with a long-term strategy of expanding to other major provinces in South Africa, with growing interests in the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape regions,” Majola added.
He said the location of the company will benefit the youth of Tshepisong, Munsieville, Randfontein, Bekkersdal, Joe Slovo Park, Kagiso and the surrounding townships in the form of employment and sustainable livelihoods.
“Malvilox’s strategic position will benefit the citizens of Mogale City, as a potential job-absorbing initiative. At the application stage, the company projected the creation of 70 jobs over two years, plus 75 indirect jobs, as it sources 100 per cent of its raw-materials input and suppliers locally.
“So far, the company has created 50 direct job opportunities, which is quite an achievement considering that the company was established as a Greenfield project and was only fully commissioned in December 2018. This is an indication that there is a great potential of exceeding the employment-creation target,” Majola concluded.
Mogale City’s Member of the Mayoral Committee responsible for Local Economic Development and Rural Development, councillor Paul Molapo was equally excited.
“We are grateful that the minister saw it fit to come again within a short space of time to launch another successful project that is aimed at empowering our communities. This shows that the national and provincial government is taking Mogale City and its people serious. We are looking forward to making good use of this noble project for the better,” Molapo said.
