Medupi sets an example

The Medupi Leadership Initiative (MLI) which was launched in April has seen 402 workers completing the financial literacy course and 162 completing the Drive Your Life course in the beginning of October.

Eskom launched the MLI together with contractors, organised labour, local government and traditional leaders in an attempt to extend the benefit of employment beyond the project and to avoid community destabilisation following the completion of the projects.
“The MLI is the first project of this nature and scale to be undertaken in the South African construction industry,’’ says Medupi project manager Roman Crookes.
This is believed to be the largest post-construction work opportunity programme of its kind in South Africa.
The initiative creates job-enabling opportunities via a Financial Literacy course (to help workers with the management of their personal finances), Small Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) skills development course and FET courses.
“This initiative is a voluntary programme that started in the office of Eskom’s chief executive and has come to life because of the willingness and contributions of the contractors, the government, organised labour and local leaders,’’ said Crookes.