ROCLA SUPPORTS HERITAGE OF NDEBELE ART

Showing support for the
Linking Heritage Art to Sanitation Innovation campaign, Rocla recently handed
over to the Ndebele Kingdom, an Easy Flush sanitation unit that had been
painted in Ndebele art by King Makhosoke II’s own Ndebele artists. “The
importance of retaining the influence of heritage and culture is what shapes
our identity, values and aspirations” said Malebusa Sebatane, Marketing and
Communications Manager for the Infrastructure Specialist Group (ISG).

The handing over of the unit
and casting of a new sanitation structure on site was conducted at a ceremony
held at the Ndebele Kingdom headquarters at Engwenyameni (Klipfontein) late
last year in the presence of the Ndebele King Makhosoke II. The onsite ‘Community
Casting’ was closely monitored by Maxwell Mathebula, the National Development
Agency’s Provincial Manager for Mpumalanga. Maxwell expressed his departments
support for such community empowering concepts and vowed to assist with the
establishment of Co-ops within communities where ‘Community Cast’ is adopted by
organs of state as their preferred service delivery model within their
sanitation programs.

Rocla Product Development
Manager Andre Labuschagne said “This unit was donated to the Royal Office
complex of King Makhosoke II in Kwandebele. It was also used to demonstrate how
job creation and the resulting improved sanitation for the Dr JS Moroka and
adjacent regions can be achieved”.

“The Ndebele King is
supportive of local economic development in his region and Rocla believes it
can play a role in this kind of development through demonstrating how members
of the community can be trained to both manufacture and construct the Easy
Flush sanitation unit, thereby improving local skills and creating employment
in the region” said Labuschagne.

The identity of the Ndebele
community has always been expressed through their very colourful and unique
artform. The roll-out of the ‘Community Cast’ project has embraced the
rekindling of this unique traditional art style which in its own right offers
potential economic opportunities for the Ndebele communities. Coupled with the
skills development opportunities that Rocla’s sanitation units offer, the
combination of art and community welfare offers much needed sustainable
employment creation.

Rocla is currently setting up
a pre-cast toilet manufacturing facility on behalf of a local SMME in Mkhondo,
with more such facilities due to be rolled across the province.

Safe and hygienic, the Easy
Flush sanitation unit from Rocla is the better option to replace the dangerous
Pit toilet installations that are present in so many schools, particularly
those in rural areas. As can be seen by the unit carrying the Ndebele art,
these units can be used to brighten up school areas through creative

art and painting and are a
good outlet for the creative talents of young learners. Sanitation areas do not
need to remain unattractive and unsafe areas.

Rocla’s Precast Concrete
Toilet unit is an effective solution to an essential need for South Africa’s
high-density urban and rural communities. The cost-effective stand-alone unit
has been developed to be used as either a leach pit configuration or as a full
water borne systems.

In 2017, Rocla launched the
Thuthukisa Initiative (meaning To Share) which works towards making pre-cast
industry accessible to rural communities and SMME’s.

Rocla is part of the ISG which
also includes Technicrete.

Further information is
available from:

Malebusa Sebatane, Group
Marketing and Communications Manager

the IS Group Tel: 011 670 7600
Cell: 078 803 9863

email: Malebusa.Sebatane@isgroup.co.za

Issued on behalf of the IS
Group by: SJC Creative

Contact Sue Charlton Tel:
0877013860

Cell: 082 579 4263

email: sjc@worldonline.co.za