LESSONS LEARNT

Several lessons were learnt from the projects:

 The time allowed for the pilot project was short and this did not work in favour of Council because the final task set was far less than the international standard and experiences indicated.

 Technical research and development was carried out. However, too little time was allocated to identify the physical work to be carried out so that aspect was not handled well, with the result that too low a daily task target was agreed upon throughout the implementation of all projects.

 The fact that the wage rate was kept low, below the principal wage rate, assisted to ensure that the project budgets were not overrun, despite the low task targets.

 Training was effective at all levels and the long-term financial support by the Department of Labour contributed positively toward the success of this programme.

 Experts (such as Emeritus Professor McCutcheon) with extensive experience in labour-intensive construction were consulted – hence the programme was a success.

 Quality control was not neglected, field tests were carried out – hence the programme resulted in a product of high-quality standard.

 The overall productivity of labour was generally higher than those predicted by McCutcheon (1983), Simpson (1980) and de Veen (1980, 1983). It was also much higher than those achieved in established programmes internationally.

 The projects run by the Municipality were generally of higher quality standard than those outsourced to contractors.

 The direct employment approach (client-based) proved to be the most successful approach in reaching the goal of employing as high a percentage of labourers as possible.

 The effort to achieve full community participation was not underestimated or undermined throughout the life-cycle stages of the projects (at identification, conceptualisation, implementation and close-out). Thus, in all completed projects, there was support from the local community.

 The fact that all water and sewer projects were implemented using labour-intensive construction methods between November 2002 and March 2007 indicates the Council‟s success, willingness and commitment to reduce unemployment.

 Projects were generally properly managed as a result of good planning, training and institutional development that took place prior to implementation.

7.3 RECOMMENDATIONS

The long-term nature of the programme allowed for improvement in labour-intensive construction methods and long-term financial support. It is recommended that enough time be allowed for adequate research and development (of a pilot project) at the beginning of a programme.

 Training was adequate, the success of the Modimolle projects and other successful international programmes was as a result of training at all levels. It is recommended that to replicate a programme of this type training at all levels must be given priority.

 The establishment of a Training College or Centre in South Africa should be a priority as they have contributed towards the success of programmes in Kenya and Botswana and elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa.

 Long-term political support is crucial for any programme success, and it is therefore recommended that political support be obtained in order to implement a programme of this type successfully.

 Community participation played a major role in the success of the Modimolle projects and it is recommended that the community be in-volved at all stages of the programmes and projects.

 Attention needs to be paid to the time allocated to the pilot project especially considering the fact that task determinations are done at this stage. To avoid failure in programmes and projects of this nature, a minimum of one (1) year should be considered or allocated for a muni-cipal pilot project as per experts‟ recommendations.

 Institutional development played a major role in the success of the Modimolle Local Municipality projects. It is therefore recommended that any labour-intensive programmes or projects should focus on it.

 It is recommended that quality control and training be adequately monitored and budgeted for, whether the projects are implemented labour intensively or capital intensively, because the success of every project is measured on the quality of the final product.

 Health and safety issues have become one of the most important issues in construction since the 1990s and it is recommended that emphasis and focus be put on this.

 The direct employment approach does not only benefit the local community but it also benefits the client or employer by developing skills in-house and effecting cost savings, so it is recommended.

 It is recommended that experts, with extensive international experience in labour-intensive construction, be consulted when planning or consid-ering implementing programmes of this nature as was the case in Modimolle.

 A great deal of research has been documented and there are many lessons to be learnt from similar programmes throughout the world.

Countries with huge unemployment problems need to research and replicate effective labour-intensive construction methods.

 In Modimolle Local Municipality the wage levels were set below the minimum to attract the poorest of the poor, which was adopted from the successful programmes elsewhere in Africa. However, although it is recommended that wages be kept low, they should not be too low in order to attract the targeted group.

 The successes achieved in the Modimolle projects are neither new nor unique. All the successful programmes implemented elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa followed the same route. For any country faced with unemployment and poverty it is recommended that they adopt carefully thought out, labour-intensive construction methods.

 The effort required to achieve full community participation and support cannot be over-emphasised. It played a major role in ensuring the Modimolle projects‟ successes and it is recommended that it be given priority when planning future labour-intensive projects.

It must, however, be noted that any programmes or projects will have their own challenges, whether labour-intensive or conventional construction methods are to be used. However, it is recommended that the project team members be trained and acquire relevant skills to address any difficulties that might be encountered as this research has demonstrated that it is possible to implement a labour-intensive project under many conditions and circumstances.