HAVE you ever noticed what happens when construction companies land up in small towns?
Well, some say that within a week you will see women’s clothing start to appear on the washing lines of men working for the construction companies.
Talk of a warm welcome!
This is not an old-fashioned phenomenon. I note with amazement that this “warm welcome” is still being extended today when groups of construction workers arrive in a new area.
For example, Lady Luck recently smiled on our small community of Molteno and in blew a massive wind-energy project.
It kicked off early this year.
The town has been abuzz with activity and excitement, largely sparked by the possibility of jobs, a small business boom and of course, the social benefits of having new faces in a community. The construction workers – men and women – have already arrived.
Although most seem to be faceless shadows blown by the wind to our area, my experience tells me that their influence will soon begin to filter into the community in many ways.
For starters, men will provide fresh diversity, money and class to the local girls, who might have been starved of such options for a very long time.
Remember, many men working in the construction industry are wellknown for being eternally “single and eligible bachelors”.
Sooner rather than later, you will begin to see colourfully dressed girls from the local community, circling the construction campsite like vultures do when they seek their chance to pounce on carcasses. Men from these local communities will also use their charm on the ladies who have just arrived with the construction company.
The first thing these construction workers normally do, is party up a storm with lots of music and beer to go with it. They are, of course, not familiar with many people in the community.
When these parties happen, our nicely dressed local women, complete with make-up and colourful outfits, begin to circle around the area.
It won’t be long before the beautiful “birds” finally perch – and soon the laughter of those lonely men will begin to blend in with the soft giggles of the local women and, well, the rest is history! It is not too long before the washing lines of these men have colourful women’s clothing hanging from them, as it seems that some of the “birds” who have perched at the construction campsite have conveniently lost their wings and are unable to fly back home.
As the weeks go by these men begin to show their faces at the local watering holes, play local sports, go to local churches and, just like sugar does to tea, add that extra sweetness that might have been lacking in a small community.
After several months, children are born .
Some of the new mothers are even young schoolgirls.
But this is not the only life that projects like these blow into small rusty towns like Molteno and Sterkstroom.
I am confident that many jobs will be created, giving the communities that have endured high levels of unemployment something to smile about. Businesses, especially taverns, will boom while roads and infrastructure development will improve.
Who said this is a small town after all?
Zwelani Ncube is from Molteno
Insight: Vultures know when there is a carcass
Well, some say that within a week you will see women’s clothing start to appear on the washing lines of men working for the construction companies.
Talk of a warm welcome!
This is not an old-fashioned phenomenon. I note with amazement that this “warm welcome” is still being extended today when groups of construction workers arrive in a new area.
For example, Lady Luck recently smiled on our small community of Molteno and in blew a massive wind-energy project.
It kicked off early this year.
The town has been abuzz with activity and excitement, largely sparked by the possibility of jobs, a small business boom and of course, the social benefits of having new faces in a community. The construction workers – men and women – have already arrived.
Although most seem to be faceless shadows blown by the wind to our area, my experience tells me that their influence will soon begin to filter into the community in many ways.
For starters, men will provide fresh diversity, money and class to the local girls, who might have been starved of such options for a very long time.
Remember, many men working in the construction industry are wellknown for being eternally “single and eligible bachelors”.
Sooner rather than later, you will begin to see colourfully dressed girls from the local community, circling the construction campsite like vultures do when they seek their chance to pounce on carcasses. Men from these local communities will also use their charm on the ladies who have just arrived with the construction company.
The first thing these construction workers normally do, is party up a storm with lots of music and beer to go with it. They are, of course, not familiar with many people in the community.
When these parties happen, our nicely dressed local women, complete with make-up and colourful outfits, begin to circle around the area.
It won’t be long before the beautiful “birds” finally perch – and soon the laughter of those lonely men will begin to blend in with the soft giggles of the local women and, well, the rest is history! It is not too long before the washing lines of these men have colourful women’s clothing hanging from them, as it seems that some of the “birds” who have perched at the construction campsite have conveniently lost their wings and are unable to fly back home.
As the weeks go by these men begin to show their faces at the local watering holes, play local sports, go to local churches and, just like sugar does to tea, add that extra sweetness that might have been lacking in a small community.
After several months, children are born .
Some of the new mothers are even young schoolgirls.
But this is not the only life that projects like these blow into small rusty towns like Molteno and Sterkstroom.
I am confident that many jobs will be created, giving the communities that have endured high levels of unemployment something to smile about. Businesses, especially taverns, will boom while roads and infrastructure development will improve.
Who said this is a small town after all?
Zwelani Ncube is from Molteno
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