In support of 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, an international campaign focused on raising awareness about this issue, leading manufacturer of steel and aluminium products in South Africa, Duro, contributed to the building and donation of four two-bedroomed homes for disadvantaged families in Sokhulumi Village near Bronkhorstspruit in Gauteng. Duro partnered with the Department of Human Settlements, the City of Tshwane and South African Women in Construction (SAWIC) in this project. The company donated a variety of high quality, durable steel door frames, combination doors and window frames for the houses. 

The project was launched in December 2012 to coincide with government’s 16 Days of Activism campaign. It was managed by SAWIC, a section 21 women-only company, which provided supervision, training, advisory services, building skills and project management for the labourers involved in the project. As well as building houses for disadvantaged people in the village of Sokhulumi, the project helped to raise awareness about abuse against women and contributed to skills development among unemployed youth in the community.

Chief marketing and sales officer at Duro, John Lamb, says, “Most of our business is currently in the affordable housing sector or catering for people in the 1 to 3 LSM categories and we pride ourselves on supplying this sector with quality affordable products. Our slogan is ‘Building With Pride’ and we want that to encompass all that we do. It is just as important for us to provide for our employees and for the communities we serve. To see the absolute joy on the faces of these families when they received their houses proved for us that we are on the right path with regard to what Duro is striving for.”