AltGen supports the client’s internal supervisory staff with Workplace Management Services on two of their solar projects based in the Northern Cape, including a 40 MW solar plant as well as a 75 MW solar facility. On behalf of the client, we provide employment to over 100 of their staff – AltGen’s project team which consists of an Operations Manager and HR Administrator are actively involved in the day-to-day activities of the workforce.

The staff compliment is split into two working groups, one being project site-based staff (general up to semi-skilled workers) and the other community workers who fall under AltGen’s “Solar Works Programme.” The programme provides services to the community as well as into the project. The goal of the programme is to upskill the local workforce enabling them to learn entrepreneurial skills or equip them with an improved work ethic which enhances their opportunities for future employment. A notable programme run under the Solar Works Programme was the PPE initiative. The programme aimed to upskill staff in Pofadder with sewing skills to create protective wear for employees on the project sites.

Through the Solar Works Programme, the AES team in Pofadder are spearheading the following community development initiatives in conjunction with various stakeholders and NGO’s in and around towns within the Khâi-Ma Local Municipality:

• Selection of participants and facilitation to enable “Recognition for Prior Learning” by the NCR TVET for general workers employed on our Client’s IPP projects.
• Collaboration with FAMSA on developmental training courses and workshops, such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAP’s), life skills for adults, marriage enrichment programs and fatherhood projects. These activities are being implemented to effect social change and improve the quality of life in the staff member’s local areas.
• Our Solar Works Programme employees are providing their services to the Pella Food Garden which is a successful woman-run subsistence farming business that feeds the Pella community, surrounding Aggeneys, the elderly and the vulnerable. Coordination with BBL and STI provided training to the Solar Works Programme employees based at the Pella Food Garden, such as My Food which deals with trench gardening and teaches them how to be self-sustaining whilst protecting the environment, and My Money which deals with food security and how to earn an income from subsistence farming.
• Both schools in Pofadder are unable to employ additional staff, therefore, our Solar Works Programme employees assist with various tasks such as the distribution of food to classes, cleaning and sanitising the classrooms, cleaning the kitchens and the grounds around the schools as well as providing some administration assistance to the teachers. In Aggeneys, one of our employees assists at the High School. We further assist with landscaping and cleaning the general area at the Pella and Onseepkans Police stations.
• Two (2) of our employee assists at the local municipal offices in Pofadder with various tasks, such as access control, screening, and administrative duties from time to time.
• Witbank is the smallest town within the Khâi-Ma local municipal area where we found a dilapidated tourist centre, which we subsequently refurbished, and it is now a centre of pride. AES’ Operations Manager (Patrick van Heerden) donated leather and tools required to the employees in the community to start a leather crafting workshop. Patrick taught the employees how to manufacture leather goods which they can sell and re-invest into this endeavour to make it a success.