Limpopo contractors awarded for excellence

TSHAMAANO Construction CC’s managing director, Makwena Moetlo from Polokwane, won the best woman contractor of the year award at the Govan Mbeki Awards that was hosted at Bolivia Lodge in Polokwane on Tuesday evening.

Moetlo, a mother of two, told CV she had hoped to win the award because she had a good reputation when it came to building RDP houses, roads and the renovation of private houses.

Moetlo scooped the same award last year and her company has built more than 2 000 houses in the five districts of Limpopo.

“I am currently building a road in the North West and renovating a stadium in the same province. Another road in the North West is also underway.

“I started my company in 2003 and it took off in 2006. The biggest challenge is the price of materials.

“I created 40 permanent jobs and also work with 15 sub-contractors. The majority of my employees are women.

“I make sure that my workers have the correct safety clothes before they start any job,” she said.

“I want to see my company grow.

“When you see incomplete projects, don’t rush to point a finger at the contractor. Sometimes we get our payments late. Sometimes we have to take out loans in order to finish the project,” Moetlo said.

Other winners included:

• Best contractor in the non-subsidy market: Ria Cronje from Limpopo Apex Building Construction based in Bela Bela. Cronje said the award came as a surprise to her. She said she started her company in 1989 in Alberton and moved to Bela Bela 17 years ago. “We build residential homes mostly in Bela Bela. We have already built about 300 to 500 houses. At the moment we employ 104 employees,” she said.

• Best informal settlement upgrading: Yusuf Omar from Rirothe Construction.

• Best finance-linked subsidy: Jake Letsapa and Nyaka Tsagae, both from Anglo American Platinum Limited.

• Best student runner up: Frengelina Phaleng.

• Best student: Gundo Matshusa from the University of Johannesburg.

• Best quality assurer: National Home Builder’s Registration Council.

• Best youth contractor in the subsidy market: Ndivhuwo George Mashamba.

• Best woman contractor in the subsidy market: Denise Mamabolo from Mamondo Development and Construction.

• Best woman contractor in the subsidy market second runners up: Maite Mohuba and Kenny Mohlabi, both from Tshwaraganang Development.

Cooperative governance, human settlement and traditional affairs MEC, Makoma Makhurupetje said the awards would encourage service providers, and women should stand up and do thing for themselves.

She added that Govan Mbeki was a hard worker and service providers should do their best to emulate him.