About the project
This project is to build accommodation for artisans and technicians who will be working for Eskom on the Kusile power station. Eskom has to build 334 units which will have basement parking and accommodate 4 people each. It is a hostel setup and will be for people coming to work from all different areas. No women will be allowed. They will not be bringing their families along.

Other projects that have also come about this one is:
1. Building of a canteen and communal kitchen.
2. Upgrading of water lines and sewer lines to supply water to the canteen.

As a power station is going to be built in Wilge, there was a need to build accommodation for people who will be coming from all over the country, far away from their homes to work on that project for a specified period.  This accommodation is therefore where they will stay for that period. The architectural division of the group, under Palace Technologies, was appointed to design the building for the reasons specified according to the client’s specifications as well as making provision for potential future changes once the project is complete. The Palace architectural team is also a principal agent.  The role is to monitor progress and check that all goes according to the design specifications. The architectural division is not the only discipline from the Group that is part of this project. Others include our in-house quantity surveyor, engineers: civil, structural, electrical, and mechanical engineers.

Background on project
Wilge development project began in 2010. The tender to build was given in October 2011 for construction phase and contractors moved to site in July 2012. Palace Consortium are contracted for this project. The project is estimated to be completed in March 2014
The building will be for the middle class market, 9 blocks of 4 stories with about 334 units.

Challenges
Delays at times emanate from labour unrest and the weather constraints. Others include delays on the contractor’s side. But all these have not dampened the spirit of the Palace team to deliver quality services to the client, Eskom. Inspection is done at least every 2 weeks to check that all is going according to specifications or as often as it is needed.

Community’s economic development
This project is bringing the community back to life and brings about opportunities in the future for further growth in terms of building schools and shopping malls once the project is turned into a residential form. The community is pleased at the economic value of this development as it has brought about job opportunities. About six hundred (600) people, who live in and around Wilge, are employed to work on this project.

Community value of the Wilge Project
The projects themselves have a direct benefit to the community, especially the Wilge Bulk Services project, which will result in improved sewage and water infrastructure. The added benefit is that the current sewage problems faced by the community, which is an aged infrastructure that cannot cope with the current demand and which periodically overflows, will be replaced with new infrastructure that will improve the quality of life of the residents.
Additional benefits include a free supply of firewood from trees that required removal for the developments. Eskom is further engaged with initiatives to conduct clean-up programmes within Wilge with assistance of the contractors in response to Environmental Days, such as Abor Day, 9 September 2013. 

“The project is close to completion. The experience has been good as the project is going well,” notes the project coordinator for the Palace Group team Vincent Megbenu.

Past project success story –Lephalale
A previous success story of a similar offering is the Lephalale project featured in the April 2010 Herald issue. In 2008, BKS-Palace Consortium was appointed by Eskom as Principal Agent for the construction of housing to accommodate personnel and contractors stationed at the Medupi Power Station Project. The team successfully completed this project despite the unfavourable weather conditions and incalculable challenges which emerged from time to time. The tremendous pressure to deliver on our promise remained as customer satisfaction is of key importance for our Group.