20th Anniversary of the Power Group

1992
Civil engineers look at labour intensification
The first steps towards a nationawide intensification of labour utilization in the civil engineering industry will be taken soon when a delegation representing the four major controlling bodies of the industry meets with government ministers.
Arising from a recent seminar at the University of Cape Town aimed at establishing guidelines for “the appropriate use of labour intensive-methods in construction”, the proposed meeting between government and industry leaders will seek official sanction for a drive to raise employment levels in the civil engineering industry.
Employment has dropped from 135 000 in 1982 to 55 000 today, but industry spokesmen believe this trend could be reversed through restructured planning and tendering procedures to minimize mechanization and through a job-creation programme designed around labour intensive construction methods.
Organised by the SA Road Federation (SARF), the SA Association of Consulting Engineers (SAACE), the SA Federation of Civil Engineering Construction (SAFCEC) and the SA Institute of Civil Engineers of Civil Engineers (SAICE), the UCT seminar concluded that labour intensive projects should ideally “Be co-ordinated by a National Employment Creation Programme and should be prompted by the public sector, with private enterprise to follow.”
A meeting between officials of the four assosiations and the Ministers of Finance, Community Development and Transport is now being organized to promote the establishment of sich a National Employment Creation Programme, and to negotiate details (including minimum wage levels) of a private sector initiate to steer construction towards more intensive labour utilization. It is expected that a representative of the Institution of Municipal Engineers of South Africa will also attend.
Joint chairman of the four bodies Graham Power said there was consensus that the labour intensification programme envisaged by the civil engineering industry could not solve South Africa’s unemployment problem, but could make a major contribution towards job creation and revitalization of infrastructural development.
“We envisage that manual labour could effectively by used on a number of operations which are currently mechanized. These include (amongst others):

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  Excavation and back-filling of shallow trenches
  
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  Laying of small diameter and’or light-weight pipes;
  
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  Construction of man-holes/catchpits;
  
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  Building of toilets using blocks manufactured on site;
  
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  Manufacture on site of precast concrete products;
  
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  Laying of on-site precise concrete kerbs and channels;
  
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  Secondary road repairs and upgrading;
  
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  Using labour enhanced surfacing techniques recently proposed by SABITA.
  

October 1992
Labour-led methods could boost employment
Labour intensive construction methods could absorb 50 percent of all State construction expenditure within three years, says Mr Graham Power, joint chairman of the four civil engineering bodies spear-heading a drive to raise employment levels in the industry.
Construction industry spokesperson believe the current employment level – down to 55 000 from 135 000 in 1985 – could be doubled through structural changes to project design documentation methods.
A 5-hectare 160-site pilot project designed around labout-based construction methods is being planned for the CPA under the auspices of the National Housing Commission Work is scheduled to start in January.
“An essential element of labour-based projects is that they be thouroughly workshopped with the community which will provide the labout,: said Dr Andre Lambrechts, spokesperson for project managers BKS Consulting Engineers.
“The pilot project at Section 1 of Phase 4 Crossroads has the full approval of the Western Cape United Squatters Association,” he said.

October 1992
Engineers, government to meet on bumper jobs plan
Representatives of the civil engineering industry are to meet government officials next Monday to seek official sanction for a drive to boost employment levels in the industry which have plunged from around 135 000 to 55 000 in the past eight years.
The meeting between representatives of the SA Road Federation, the SA Association of Consulting Engineers, the SA Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors and the SA Institute of Civil Eingineers will meet Theo Alant, Deputy Minister of Finance, GME Carelse, Deputy Minister of Manpower and a senior representative of the Department of Transport in Cape Town on October 19.
The initiative follows a recent seminar at the University of Cape Town aimed at establishing guidelines for the appropriate use of labour-based methods in construction. The seminar concluded that labour-based projects should ideally be co-ordinated by a national employment creation programme and should be promoted by the public sector with follow-up by private enterprise.
Industry spokesman believe the trend of dropping employment levels can be reversed through restructured planning and tendering procedures to minimize mechanization and through a job creation programme designed around labour intensive construction methods.
Graham Power, joint chairman of the four civil engineering bodies spearheading the drive, said they believed current employment levels could be doubled through structura; changes to project design, documentation and construction methods focused on job creation, resulting in a nationwide revitalization of infrastructural development.
He said labour-based construction methods could absorb 50% of all State construction expenditure within three years.

November 1992
Intricate design to conquer floods
A R6-million contract for the civil engineering work on the 27-hectare Western Province Park industrial development will be completed this month – two-and-a-half months ahead of schedule – according to Mr Vaughn Forrester-Jones, operations manager for Power Construction.
“In spite of some tricky engineering design and difficulties with high water table in the area, we have been able to meet our client’s request that the project be treated as a ‘fast track’ contract for completion in three and a half months, instead of the six months tendered for,” he said.
The increased work rate has been achieved through tight planning and a seven-day work week from the 10 engineers, supervisors and surveyors and the 90 labourers. Work on the 43-site industrial park for clients Syfin Holdings on the sote of the former Goodwood Drive-In Cinema began in mid July, and the civil engineering contrct includes all the bulk earthworks, provision of 1.8km of paved access and internal roads, stormwater drains, water mains and a sewer system which includes a 1.3km rising-main connection to the sewer main near Voortrekker Road, and a 7m deep pumping station.
“The subsurface work on this project demanded some innovative design work because of the high water table and the prolonged winter/spring rainfall,” said site agent Mr Percy Knight.

“Another problem is the undersized storm water mains throughout the area. We solved this problem by building two retention ponds on the site with a combined capacity of 5.1 million litres. These will accumulate storm water until the mains can drain it off.”

December 1992
Plans to create jobs on way
Johannesburg – Plays for an extensive continual public works programme to alleviate unemployment are to be drawn up by the key working group of the national economic forum.
It will also examine the extent and causes of retrenchments and current retrenchment procedures and packages, sources say. The investigation, decided on at a working group meeting this week, aims to establish whether the current spate of large-scale retrenchments can be stemmed and how to lessen the impact of unavoidable retrenchments.
At least 100 000 formal sector jobs were lost this year. Government working group representatives will also investigate tendering requirements with a view to future public works programmes. Labour absorption in parastatals, as well as discussions between Cosatu and the civil engineering industry on job creation, will come under scrutiny.
The effects of trade, tariffs and exchange rate policies on job creation and the current statis of Gatt talks and the South African Customs Union, will also be examined. The short-term working group aims to report back on all these issues by the end of January. Other issues to be looked at include restructuring the public sector and retirement and provident funds.
Mr Jabu Mabuza, co-ordinator of the business delegation to the group, said the spirit prevailing at this week’s meeting was “very heartening.” The public works programme should make extensive use of labour-intensive methods of construction and should devote a high proportion of project costs to labour without jeopardizing quality, according to an aconomic task force document submitted to the working group.
The documents will be a basis for developing further proposals on public works. It argues that success depends on:

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  Providing employment and income to those trapped in the poverty circle.
  
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  Disseminating productive skills and useful education and training through the programme.
  
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  Generating physical infrastructure for economic growth and development such as houses, roads, schools, clinics, erosion prevention and conservation.
  

The document proposes a four-phased approach from community involvement and education to research analysis and design. Pilot projects should lay a basis for developing a national programme. It has been estimated that in the past decade 3.3 million people have come on the job market in South Africa, but that only 186 000 jobs have been created.

December 1992
Cape contractors in township development first
The unique R30.75-million Village 5 township development at Khayelitsha, providing 4100 fully serviced plots on the 144ha site, is the first such development in South Africa in which the contractors themselves have undertaken a major portion of the capital risk.
The project was scheduled for completion last December. An unprecedented constraint on the development was that the civil engineering consortium received payment only on completion of the services and registration of the properties to individual owners. Payment, at the rate of R7500 per erf, was funded by the Independent Development Trust (IDT).
To facilitate transfers and therefore cash flow, the contracting consortium, CDC (Community Development Consortium), consisting of Power Construction, Clifford Harris and EU Civls, in association with WCUSA (Western Cape United Squatters Association) had to set up a management, information and conveyancing facility to identify, register, screen and apply for subsidies for eligible buyers. At times the contractors were even required to apply for and arrange ID documents for buyers and to organize their relocation. The CDC was also required to provide finance to the value of R12-million at any stage.
“To our knowledge this is the first time contractors have been prepared to undertake a capital risk of this magnitude in the interests of job creation and the local communities,” said Graham Power, managing director of Power Construction. All project costs, including land costs, town planning, land survey, engineering fees, legal and transfer fees, information services, facilitating costs, escalation costs and bridging finance had to be allowed for within the subsidy and the project team also had to assume all responsibility for the development from inception in January until the development agreenebt with the IDT was finalized in May last year.
Planning and design by consulting engineers Hill Kaplan Scott Inc (HKS) began in September 1991 and work on the project started in January 1992. The total development with provision for 12 schools, crèches and churches, business and service trades, community facilities and public open space, in addition to the 4100 residential sites, included:

Surfaced roads 26km

Water mains 27km

Sewer mains 24km

Stormwater mains 5km

Cable ducts (elec and tel) 2.5km

High voltage reticulation 6km

Low Voltage reticulation 5km

Precast concrete flushing toilet units 4100

December 1992
Labour-based construction to the fore
Labour-based construction methods could absorb 50 percent of all State construction expenditure within three years, according to Graham Power, joint chairman of the labour civil engineering bodies spearheading a drive to raise employment levels in the industry.
Construction industry spokesman believe the current employment level – down to 55 000 from 135 000 in 1985 – could be doubled through structural changes to project design, documentation and construction methods focused on job creation, resulting in a nationwide revitalization of infrastructure development.
A 5-hectare, 160 site pilot project designed exclusively around labour based construction methods is already being planned for the Cape Provincial Administration under the auspices of the natonal Housing Commission and is scheduled to get under way in January. “An essential element of labour-based projects is that they be thoroughly workshopped with the community which will provide the labour,” says Andre Lambrechts, spokesman for project managers BKS Consulting Engineers. “The pilot project at Section 1 of hase 4 of Crossroads has the full approval of WCUSA (Western Cape United Squatters Association) and of the Cross roads Town Council.”
Innovative design features have been used to minimize mechanized construction methods and these include land profiling to maximize water run-off during the prolonged, wet Cape winters and relocation of subsidiary sewer and stormwater drains so that they can be buried by hand.
Main pipelines would still be laid beneath the roadbed by mechanical means because of the depth required and because the high water table on the Cape Flats demanded a “fast-in, fast-out” approach.

Labour based activities will include hand trenching, pipelaying, backfilling and compaction. Kerbs, building blocks and other precast components will all be manufactured on site and toilets will be built using hand-made blocks.

Lambrechts stresses that great emphasis is being placed on training throughout the project. “A major objective is to create trained labour contractors with sustained job opportunities. The entire Crossroads Phase 4 development will comprise 569 fully services stires and we intend to draw on both the lessons we learn and the trained labour pool generated during this pilot project for the further development of Crossroads.”
Workers will be issued with certificates, quoting level of training and experience and these will be updated after each project worked on. Lambrechts say conventional “management” contractors will be used during the pilot project to provide training materials management, supervision of production and quality and central labour payment.
“There is no reason why many of these functions cannot eventually be about the conomic and skill empowerment of the communities in which these developments take place.” He says. “The labout component of a project such as this is usually in the region of 25 percent of total cost. We want to at least double that ratio and to leave trained people behind us when we leave.”
While economy of design is a major principle in labour-based work, productivity is also of prime importance and these principles are now being discussed with financiers of present and future projects as well as with labour unions to obtain support and understanding.

October 1991
Plan to boost jobs in construction

The Department of Manpower has committed itself to “positive action” on the implementation of labour-based construction methods aimed at boosting employment levels in the civil engineering industry.

This follows urgent representation to senior government officials, including Theo Alant, deputy Minister of Finance and GME Carelse, deputy miniter of Manpower last week. Graham Power, chairman of a joint committee representing four controlling bodies of the civil engineering industry said proposals for a formal reduction in mechanized construction methods and an increased use of manual labour aimed at job, wealth and skill creation had been well received.
A spokesperson for the Department of Manpower said the department had agreed at the meeting to examine private sector submissions on labour intensification in the construction industry and to present proposals to the cabinet.
“The data provided to us by the industry must now be evaluated and formulated into a set of concrete proposals which can be submitted to the vabinet. What is certain at this stage, however is that this department is committed to act positively on the implementation of labour-base programmes which will create jobs and generate wealth.”
Power said the industry represented by the SA Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors, the SA Road Federation, the SA Institute of Civil Engineers and the SA Association of Conulting Engineers would give every assistance to the Department of Manpower in drawing up a working plan for the cabinet to consider.
According to Power both delegations had recognized that civil engineering, was a major employer and was the industry best suited to form the foundation of a nationwide Employment Creation Programme.
The concept of labour-based construction had the blessing of Cosatu.

1990
Padbou ‘n Leefwyse
Graham power (34), tweede jongste van vyf kinders het as kind soms harde bene gekou. Sy ouers het geglo dat hul kinders die bes moontlike skoolopleiding moes kry. Daarom dat hy dan ook gedurende sy hoerskoolloopbaan elke dag 15km per fiets moes afle. Na matriek is hy weermag toe en sy pa is in hierdie tyd oorlede. Na sy weermagopleiding was dit nie vir hom beskore om verder aan ‘n universiteit te gaan studier nie en he thy gevolglik by Savage and Lovemore aangesluit as leerlingopmeter. “In my eerste jaar moes ek soggens 75km agter op ‘n bakkie sit om by die terrein te kom. Saans was dit maar weer so en dan moes die nodige bestekopneming tuis aangepak word. Hierdie lang ure het my behoorlik geskoei en dit het ‘n leefwyse vir my geword.” Ten spyte van die lang ure he thy nogtans ingeruim vir die weeklikse rugbyoefeninge en he thy selfs tot die WP se finale O/20 proewe gevorder.
Binne die eerste jaar by Savage and Lovemore, is ‘n klein kontrakkie aan hom toegeken vir waarneming. Hy het hierdie geleentheid met albei hande aangegryp en met ‘n vinnige tempo voortgebou op vroee sukses. Net voor sy 21ste verjaardag is hy san ook aangestel as Terreinagent op die Steenbras Hydro Elektriese Skema. Daar word beweer dat hy die jongste persoon in die geskiedenis van die maatskappy was om so ‘n pos te kon beklee.
Op 24 jarige ouderdom is hy bevorder tot Kontrakbestuurder en handhaaf hy ‘n maandelikse omset van meer as R2.5m tussen die jare 1980 en 1983. “Gedurende hierdie tydperk het ek op ‘n deeltydse basis verskeie bestuurskursusse voltooi om die praktyk en die teorie bymekaar te bring.”
Op sy 28ste verjaardag in April 1983 en na 9.5 jaar diens by Savage and Lovemore, het hy besluit om sy eie onderneming, vandag bekend as Power Construction in dieselfde bedryf na die siviele ingenieurs bedryf op die been te bring. “Ek het ‘n tweedehandse bakkie aangeskaf en me eerste kontrak was vir ‘n kerk.” Hierna het lang ure en harde werk gevolg met sy vrou wat hom begestaan het met die nodige administratiewe pligte. Met volgehoue durf, dinamiese persoonlikheid, mensekennis en doeltreffende bestuursvermoens, het hy hierdie onderneming binne 3 jaar uitgebou tot ‘n selfstandige en gerespekteerde instansie. Tot op hierdie stadium is die werk van sy klein hoewe naby Somerset Wes gedoen maar die onderneming moes noodgedwonge verskuif word na Blackheath waar die Hoofkantoor vandag gelee is. Noun a amper 7 jaar beskik die maatskappy tans oor ‘n gesonde en dinamiese infrastruktuur en bied werksgeleenthede aan meer as 600 mense. “Ek beskou my werknemers as die grootste bate in die onderneming en benut elke moontlike geleentheid om aspekte soos bv. Werksatisfaksie, opleiding en menseverhoudings te bevorder.” Met Graham as Besturende Direkteur het die maatskappy sedert die ontstaan elke jaar daarna uitmuntende resultate getoon, nieteenstaande sekere jare van resessie.

Vandag is die maatskappy beslis een van die grootste siviele ingenieurs kontrakteurs in die Wes Kaap. Die maatskappy het so pas uitgebrei na die Suid Kaap met ‘n volledige Takkantoor op George. Daar word spesialiseer in dorpsontwikkeling, massa grondwerke, pypleidings, betomwerke, algemene siviele ingenieursdienste asook teer van paaie met sy eie teer aanleg.

“Een van my geheime resepte is die feit dat ek baie tyd spandeer op die terreine waar ek in my kortbroek enige situasie of aktiwiteit kan bereik en in gevoel bly met die praktiese implikasies.”
Die aktiwiteite van die maatskappy het intussen uitgebrei en die groep is ook betrokke by ander ontwikkelinge bv, Landbou, Eiendomme en vakansieoorde.
Graham is aktief betrokke by ‘n gymnasium waar hy 3 maal per week oefen en is life vir waterski (kaalvoet) veral wanneer hy by sy vakansiewoning gaan ontspan. Ook is hy baie betrokke by rugby en is onder andere voorsitter van Gordon’d Baai/Helderberg Rugby KLub wat hierdie jaar in die WP se senior liga sal deelneem. Hy is ook voorsitter van die WP Sakemanne Klub en uit die aard van die saak ‘n baie groot WP ondersteuner.

Maart 1990
Power ‘n man met ‘n kragopwekker in hom
As jy grondboontjies betaal, kry jy net ape om vir jou te werk, lui die ou waarheid in die sakewereld. Graham Power, 34-jarige wenner van vanjaar se Johannesburgse Junior Afrkiaanse Sakekamer se wedstryd vir die Junior Sakeman van die Jaar, het met die waarheid in gedagte besluit: Betaal bogemiddelde salarisse vir bogemiddelde werk. Dis Power se leuse en dit werk. Daarom is hy die wedstryd-wenner. Hy het sy siviele ingenieursaak, Power Construction, in die Kaap op die filosofie gebou - letterlik van die grond af tot ‘n onderneming met ‘n omset tussen R2.5 miljoen en R3.2 miljoen per maans, ‘n markaandeel wat tussen 15% en 20% wissel en totale bates van sowat R13 miljoen.
Power sit agteroor in sy kantoor in Blackheath, Kaapstad, en terwyl hy gesels besef jy die van pas by die man. Daar is ‘n kragopwekker in die korte kerel wat wegraak after sy lessenaar wanneer hy agteroor leun. Soos ‘n woelige haker le hy dan vorentoe dan agtertoe terwyl hy veldwerk doen met jou vrae.
Van balle haak wee thy baie. Op sy dag he thy in die finale o.20-proewe vir die Westelike Provinsie uitgedraf. Hy was tot 1986 nog kaptein van Gordonsbaai se eerste span en sedertien klub-voorsitter. Die klub het onlangs nog tot die senior liga deurgedring nada thy verlede en voorverlede jaar die Presidentsliga gewen het. Power gaan nou ook sy kragte inspan om te keer dat WP-spelers uit die provinsie gerokkel word. Hy is aangestel as voorsitter van die WP sakemanne-Klub wat aanbiedinge buite die provinsie die hoof bide.
As kind, se Power moes hy soms maar harde bene kou. Hy het op Vryzee gewoon en moes elke dag 15km per fiets ry om by die skool in Bellville te kom. Hy was op een na die jongste van vyf kinders en sy ouers het geglo elkeen moet ‘n goeie skoolopleiding ontvang. Terwyl hy na matriek sy diensplig gedoen het, is sy pa oorlede. Universiteitstudie was hom nie beskore nie en hy het hom as leerling-opmeter by savage & Lovemore aangesluit.
“In my eeste jaar moes ek soggens 75km ry agter op ‘n bakkie om by die terrain te kom. Saans was dit weer so om tius te kom waar ek nog die bestekopneming moes voltooi,” vertel Power. Daardie lang ure in die vuurdoop het in ‘n leefwyse ontwikkel. Binne sy eerste jaar by Savage & Lovemore het Power ‘n klein kontrak gekry wat hy moes bestuur. Kort voor sy 21ste verjaardag was hy terreinagent vir die Steenbras-hidro-elektriese projek – blykbaar die jongste man aan wie so ‘n pos in die maatskappy toevertrou is.
Na so nege jaar by Savage & Lovemore het die kragopwekker bine-in Power se omwentelinge begin toeneem. Hy het kraperig geraak. Die rompslomp – met ‘n hoofkantoor ver van jou in Johannesburg het hom gavang. Daardie gevoel van ‘n nek wat skeeftrek oor ‘n plafon teen die kop was te veel. Daar was geen ander keuse nie. Sy huis in Gordonsbaai is verruil vir ‘n kleinhoewe in Sir Lowry’s Pass en ‘n skoonpa wat borg staan vir ‘n nuwe onderneming. Power Construction het die lig gesien, baie beskeie. Al bates was die kleinhoewe, ‘n gebruikte bakkie en sy vrou – nie noodwendig in daardie volgorde nie. En dit nogal in ‘n bedryf wat as hoogs kapitaal-intensief beskou word.
Mev. Power, ‘n nooi Lauren Baumker, moes moue oprol en help met die administratiewe werk. Skoonpa, mnr Heinz Baumker, ‘n Duitser wat lank in die hotel bedryf in SA betrokke was voordat hy op Hermanus afgetree het, het borg gestaan vir finansiele verpligtinge. Met ‘n paar tydelike handlangers was die eerste werk sypaadjies en opritte vir huise. Daarna het die eerste kontrak – in 1983 – van R10 000 gekom om siviele werk vir die dorpontwikkeling van Abbotsdale naby Malmesbury vir die Metodiste Kerk te doen. Dit was moeilike tye. Sy persoonlike record by Savage & Lovemore het hom teleurstellend min gehelp. Kontrakteurs was bekommerd omdat hy nie sy eie masjiene gehad het nie en moes huur.
Die teleurstelling sal Power byvoorbeeld nooit vergeet toe ‘n kontrak van R26 000 van ‘n Stellenbosse consortium oor die rede nie aan hom toegeken is nie – terwyl hy geweet het sy tender is 10% laer as die van sy naaste mededinger.
Die kragopwekker het weer versnel. Hy het die betrokkenes tromp-op geloop en na ses maande kry hy toe van dieselfde consortium R160 000 se werk. Al wat dit gekos het was ‘n persoonlike waarborg van die verhuurder dat masjienerie vir hom beskikbaar sou wees. Nie lank nie, in 1984, het Power sy eerste stootskraper gekoop – vir R172 000. Vandag kos so ‘n dins ver oor die R300 000. Toe volg die eerste roller (65 000) en die eerste gebruikte watertrok (R65 000).
Van toe af was die gort gaar. Die eerste jaar se omset was R300 000 . . .daarna het dit jaarliks so te se verdubbel tot verlede jaar toe dit met sowat 30% teenoor die vorige jaar gegroei het omdat daar besluit is om te konsolideer. “’n Mens kan nie omset eet nie. Jy kan net wins eet,” verduidelike Power die stap. Sy winste het oor al die jare heen in persentasie meer toegeneem as omset.
Power Construction bide nou werk aan 600 mense – net meer as hondered salaries werkers en die res loon werkers. Van die beskeie gebruikte bakkie is daar gevorder tot meer as 500 stukke toerusting van verskillende groottes. Power is ‘n man vir spanwerk. Elke Woensdag eet hy saam met een van sy terreinspanne. Probleme word bespreek en oplossings word bevorder.
Terwyl hy gegroei het, het van s you maats van Savage & Lovemore hulle by hom aangesluit. Hulle het in ‘n hegte span ontwikkel.
Power het vir sy gebrek aan universiteisopleiding verged met deeltydse studie in sakekursusse. Hy doen dieselfde vir sy personeel. Hy glo in groei van binne af. Mense word bevorder en geleentheid gebied vir groei, eerder as om mense van buite af aan te stel. Elke nuweling wat hom by Power Construction aansluit, ondergaan ‘n doopseremonie. Hy moet ‘n dop witblits in ‘n afgesaagde springbok horing wegslaan, asemhaal en fluit. Daarna kry hy ‘n erdekruik vol Power Blitz. ‘n witblits wat spesiaal in Namakwaland vir Power gestook word.
Op die kruik staan:

“This Power Blitz with its powerful kick, complements our Civil Engineering skills.” Hierdie verslaggewer het daarvan getoets. En . . . hyg-hyg . . . fluit-fluit . . . dit lyk of daar nog kwaai skop in Power Construction sit.

1990
Die moeilikste is net om te begin

Die artikel is die vierde in F&T se reeks oor die streekwenners in die Johannesburgse Junior Afrikaanse Sakakamer se jaarlikse wedstryd vir die Junior sakeman of – Vrou van die Jaar. F&T is een van die borge van die wedstryd.

Vir mnr Graham Power (34), Wes-Kaapse streekwenner van die Johannesburgse Junior Afrikaanse Sakekamer (JJAS) se wedstryd vir die Junior Sakeman van die Jaar, was die moeilikste stap in sy strewe na sukses die eerste besluit im wel ‘n kans met ‘n eie onderneming te waag.
“Dit voel of jy behoorlik alles waag, wat dit baie moeilik maak om die belsuit te neem. Maar as jy die moed bymekaar kan skraap om wel voort te gaan, is die grootste deel van die stryd al gewonne. Die ergste is wanneer jy personeel begin aanstel en weet dat hulle afhanklik is van hoe goed jy sake bestuur,” se hy oor sy besluit om in 1983 ‘n eie onderneming te vestig.
En in sy geval het die baie waagmoed geverg om in die konstruksiebedryf ‘n onderneming te probeer vestig teen mededinging van maatskappye soos Murray & Roberts, Basil Starke en sy vorige wergewer, Savage & Lovemore.”Dit is ‘n strawwe bedryf, wat baie eise stel en waar baie risiko’s betrokke is. Maar dit is waar die opwinding le – om die risiko’s in geleenthede om te skep,” se hy.
Toe Power Construction in 1983 in Kaapstad gestif is, was Graham en sy vrou die enigste personeellede. “Ek het die kontrakte behartig en sy die administrasie. Ons het begin met ‘n grbruikte bakkie en ‘n kontrak vir die bou van ‘n kerk,” vertel hy.
Vandag het die maarskappy 600 mense in diens en ‘n omset van tussen R2.5 miljoen en R3 miljoen per maand. Daarby het sy bates in die sewe jaar tot ‘n totale waarde van R13 miljoen gegroe.
Na sy skooldae en militere diensplig het hy hom by savage & Lovemoew as leerling-opmeter aangesluit. Hy het gou gevoel dat hy die regte sort werk gekies het. Skaars twee jaar later he thy terreinagent by Steenbrad se hidro-elektriese projek, waarvoor die maarskappy die kontrak gehad het, geword. Hy was een van die jongste mense in die maatskappy se geskiedenis wat die verantwoordelikheid gehad het. Nog ‘n paar jaar later is hy as kontrakbestuurder aangestel en he thy kontrakte van etlike miljoene rand beheer.
“Dit is ‘n opwindende bedryf wat jy nie sommer verlaat as dit eers in jou bloed is nie,” se hy. Tussen die groot kontrakte deur he thy etlike bestuurskursusse voltooi om hom vir die risiko’s van ‘n eie onderneming voor te berei. Hoewel sy pligte as uitvoerende hoof van die maatskappy baie eise stel, sorg hy dat hy genoeg tyd saam met sy vrou en drie kinders deurbring. Hy is ook aktief by die Gordonsbaaise rugbyklub betrokke. Hy is ‘n bestuurslid van die Westelike Provinsie se Sakemanneklub en behoort ook aan die Hottentots Holland – sakekamer.
March 1990
Power to Power

According to Mr Graham Power (34), winner of the 1990 “Junior Sakeman van die Jaar” competition and Managing Director of his Civil Engineering concern, Power Construction, his success is attributed to the spirit of teamwork which prevails in his company, a Philosophy which he generates in his organization and which carried him through to the finals and eventually allowed him to win this prestigious award. Graham was nominated by Hottentots Holland Sakekamer for the Western Cape area and became one of the 9 finalists, each one representing a South African region. Needless to say, Mr Power walked away with the trophy!

A love for the civil field drove him to join Savaage and Lovemore, as a Learner Surveyor. Just short of his 21^st birthday he was assigned the position of Site Agent for the Steenbras-hydro electric scheme and became the youngest member in Savage and Lovemore’s history to be given such a post. While working hard, he also “played” hard, and was elected for the WP U20 finals. At the age of 23 he was appointed Contracts Manager.
After spending 9.5 years with Savage and Lovemore, he decided to start his own company in 1983. Using the knowledge and experience he had gained and combining it with a drive for success, he started up Power Construction. Graham and Lauren (his wife) were the only employees and the company’s fixed assets totaled one second hand bakkie. Today Power Construction’s assetss totaling R13m, employs 600 people and produces a turnover of R3m per month.
Power Construction is certainly one of the leading Civil Engineering Contractors in the Western Cape. This year the company expanded extensively in the Southern Cape and established a branch office in George.
Graham is a keen sportsman and ardent supporter of rugby. In 1986 he captained the Gordon’s Bay first XV and at present he chairs the Gordon’s Bay Helderberg Rugby Club. He is also the Chairman of the WP Businessman’s Committee which has been established to monitor the activities of the WP rugby players.
April 1990
Award for Cape contractor
Graham Power (34), the managing director of one of the Cape’s newer civil engineering companies, has been named as the winner of the 1990 “Junior sakeman van die Jaar” competition.
Power, who runs fast-growing Power Construction, was nominated by the Hottentots Holland Sakekamer for the Western Cape area and was one of nine finalists, each representing a South African region.
He attributes his success in the competition to the spirit of teamwork which prevails in his company. Power’s first job in the civil engineering field was as a learner surveyor with Savage & Lovemore. Just short of his 21^st birthday, he was appointed site agent for the massive Steenbras pump storage scheme. He was, he recalls, the youngest employee in Savage & Lovemore’s history to be given such a post.
He was later – at the age of 23 – appointed contracts manager by the company. After nine-and-a-half years’ with Savage & Lovemore, he decided to go into business on his own account. Power Construction was duly founded in 1983, its only employees being Power and his wife Lauren and its only fixed asset a second-hand bakkie.
The company has since thrived and today ranks as one of the bigger civil engineering contractors in the Cape, It has assets of R13-million, a turnover of R3 million a month and employs 600 people. It recently established a branch in George.
Power is a keen sportsman and an ardent rugby supporter. He was once selected for the Western Province under-20 finals and in 1986 he captained the Gordon’s Bay First Fifteen. At present he chairs the Gordon’s Bay Helderberg Club. He is also the chairman of the Western Province Businessman’s Committee, which has been established to monitor the activities of Western Province rugby players.
My congratulations to Graham Power on his award. I don’t know him personally but he is clearly the type of entrepreneur that our industry and for that matter our country needs. I have a feeling I’ll be hearing a lot more of him in the future.

October 1990
N1 City
On the 9^th of January 1990, the civil services and roads contracts for N1 City was awarded to Power Cosntruction to the value of R4.2m to be completed in 6 months.
There were a few problems encountered which made the project more difficult to complete on time. Firstly the existing underground services presented a problem as they were generally not in position as shown on the plans.
Secondly, the in situ material to be used for the roadworks was found to be unsuitable as a result of high day contents and had to be replaced with suitable material.
Thirdly, the problem which made the project most difficult to plan efficiently, was the fact that at peak perions there were up to 40 different contractors on site, each requiring access to their works at different points on the site.
This was, however, well co-ordinated by the project managers and the site staff. The other major problem encountered was that we experienced one of the wetterst winters in the Cape in years, during which most of our roadworks had to be done.
The first section of work to be handed oever, was the Hyperama roads and parking area. This was done on time as a result of many hours spent working over weekends and late nights.
The value of the civil works increased to R5.7m due to the many additional works requested by the client and project managers. Despite the above constraints the project was completed successfully on time due to full hearted co-operation by everyone participating with the co-ordination and planning to make such an outstanding achievement possible.

April 1988
Power Construction – vyf jaar van prestasie
Graham Power Contractors (Edms) Bpk handeldrywende as Power Construction ontleen die naam “Power” van die besturende direkteur en stigter van Power Construction. Mnr Graham Power.
The maatskappy se hoofkantoor is gelee in winbledon weg, Blackheath. Graham Power het voor die stigting van Power Construction tien jaar ondervinding gehad van die konstruksiebedryf en op die jeugdige ouderdom van 28 jaar Power Construction begin. Die maatskappy spesialiseer in dorpsontiwkkeling, grondwerke, pypleidings en algemene siviele Ingenieursdienste.
Daarna het mnre. Andre du Preez en Vaughn Forrester-Jones met gesamentlik 20 jaar ondervinding in die bedryf by die maatskappy aangesluit en is ook sedertien bevorder tot direkteure.
Gedurende die afgelope vyf jaar het Power Construction ‘n groep kundiges, ‘n arbeidsame arbeidsmag en dinamiese bestuurslui bymekaar gemaak. Die bestuurslui word aangevul deur mnre. Cobus Burger – Finansiele Bestuurder, Leon Meyer en Dieter Vietze – Kontrakbestuurders en Ernst Himmelstutzer – Aanlegbestuurder, met gesamentlik 60 jaar ondervinding in die bedryf en wat bygestaan word deur ‘n puik middelbestuurspan met baie jare onderving.
Wat interessant is van hierdie onderneming is dat die meeste van die persone van wie reeds melding gemaak is plus die seksieleiers, ambagsmanne, operateurs, drywers en baie van die arbeiders reeds abie jare voor die stigting saamgewerk het. Nieteenstaande die baie jare ondervinding is die gemiddelde ouderdom maar net 34.
Sedert die ontstaan van Power Construction in 1983 het die groep elke jaar daarna uitmuntende resultate getoon, nieteenstaande sekere jare van resessie. Die resultate toon dat Power Construction elke jaar sedert 1983 hul omset van die vorige jaar so te se verdubble het. Hierdie prestasie is hoofsaaklik toe te skryf aan doelgerigte bestuurspraktyke; effektiewe benutting van alle hulpbronne en toegewyde werknemers in ‘n gesonde werkmelieu.
Power Construction het nou so ‘n stadium van ontwikkeling bereik dat die groep gunstig vergelyk kan word met enige van die groot konstruksiemaatkappye wat al jare lank in die Wes-Kaap is.
Power Construction vier aan die einde van Maart hul vyfjarige verjaarsdag en wil hiermee aan hul kliente, raadgewende ingenieurs en almal wat met die groep skakel hul dank oordra vir die goeie ondersteuning.

Januarie 1988
Die kontrak vir R6.6 miljoen, die grootste in die Paarl se geskiedenis, vir die aanle van dienste in die nuwe woonbuurt in Daljosafat, is verlede week in die kantoor van die burgemeester onderteken. Die kontrak is vir die eerste fase van die woonbuurt tussen Paarl-Oos en Newtown, waar 720 selfbou-wooneenhede opgerig sal word. By die ondertekening was mnre Hennie Liebenberg (stadsklerk), raadslid Jan de Necker ( burgemeester), Siebrits Laker (besturende direkteur van ASLA-konstruksie), Ben Heunis (stadsingenieur) en Graham Power (besturende direkteur van Power Konstruksie)
Asla en Power het ‘n consortium gevorm en sal elk die helfte van die ontwikkeling waarneem, wat insluit die aanle van paaie, riolering, water en stormwater. Volgens die ontwikkelaars sal die ontwikkeling so vinnig moontlik geskied.

New township development
A new R8.78 million township development at Village 4a, Philippi west, will provide another 853 fully serviced plots.
Mr Percy Knight, site agent for cotractors Power Construction, said the 38-week contract for the installation of all services, including roads, stormwater drainage, sewerage system, water supply to each plot and electric cable ducting for high-mast lighting, would be completed by the end of October.
“Every plot will have a flushing toilet and water supply and wherever possible local labour will be utilized.”

Waterfront development a challenging civil job
Power Construction’s R5.5 million contract for the civil engineering works on the new Victoria and Alfred Waterfront development was “one of the most challenging we’ve undertaken,” operations director Andre du Preez said this week.
Speaking during final cleaning-up operations (the contract was completed and handed over in time for the official opening in October 31), Mr du Preez said more than 50 percent of all work had to be done in the last two months of the 28-week contract.
“Power Construction’s contract was for the installation of all underground services (sewer, stormwater and water mains), buried ducts for electrical and communication lines, concrete works including retaining walls and steps at the Amphitheatre, paved parking areas for 980 cards, and more than 11 000 sq m of paving.
“A major team effort, which included Hawkins, Hawkins and Osborne and Hill Kaplan Scott who did the civils design and supervision, was required to complete the project on time,” he added.
“The project demanded some very detailed planning as we had to interact with several other major contractors, making sure our excavations did not cut off or impede access to their working areas. We also had to allow for movement of the public through the Waterfront and much of the excavation had to be done by hand since this is one of the oldest areas of Cape Town, with dew records of existing buried cables or pipes. We also encountered one of the worst winters in 20 years, political stayaways and the Easter break.” He said.
The huge public response to the Waterfront development also demanded increased paved parking areas and 700 extra parking bays in addition to the 280 originally contracted for.

Picks and shovels may build jobs for many
Armies of workers with picks and shovels will preplace bull dozers and other construction machines when a new job creation programme goes ahead.
The first labour-based project, a site and service housing development on the Cape Flats, could get off the ground in January if current negotiations between labour unions and other groups are finalized in time. The pilot project was initiated by the Cape Provincial Administration and a spokesman for the project managers said today he believed the intention to “put wealth back into the townships” could be achieved.
The jobs programme is devised by the country’s civil engineering industry, whose labour force was slashed from 135 000 in 1982 to 55 000 today. It hopes to minimize mechanization and industry spokesmen believe employment levels could be increased if planning and tendering procedures are restructured.
Mr Graham Power, chairman of four organizations in the industry said a meeting was being organized with cabinet ministers to promote a national employment creation programme and to negotiate details including wage levels.
“Labour-intensive projects have proved highly successful in other countries.”

R5.3 m kontrak vir Plattekloof 3
Parow – ‘n Kontrak van R5.36 miljoen, doe grootste siviele ingenieurskontrak wat nog deur die munisipaliteit aanvaar is, is gister hier onderteken vir die aanbring van alle siviele dienste in die nuwe dorpsontiwkkeling Plattekloof Uitbreiding 3.
Mnr Giel Basson, burgemeester en mnr Graham Power, besturende direkteur van Power Konstruksie het die kontrak hier in die burgemeesterskantoor onderteken.
Mnr Jean Simonis, stadsingenieur, het gese strenge voorwaardes vir die aanbring van dienste word geste om te verseker dat die dorpsgebeid een van die mooiste woonbuurte in die Noordelike Stadsgebiede sal word.
In die dorpsgebied is 322 enkelwoonerwe wat almal groter as 1 000m2 is. Die straatlengte in die gebied is in total sowat 10km, waarvan 2.5km van blokplaveisel voorsien sal word, met sowat 2km se fiets en wandelroetes.
Afgesien van die enkelwoning-ontwikkeling sal daar onder meer ook vyf persele van tussen 1ha en 0,6ha vir die oprigting van groepsbehuising met ‘n klein sakekompleks wees, asook ‘n kantoorperseel van 8,4ha, ‘n hotel perseel can 3,2ha en ‘n perseel van 8.8ha waar die SAUK se toekomstige radio en televisiesentrum vir Wes-Kaapland opgerig sal word.
Volgens mnr. Simonis sal landskapbeplanners aangestel word om toe te sien dat die bestaande natuurskoon so min moontlik versteur word.
Nuwe groepbehuising vorder fluks
Bouwerk vorder fluks aan Onverwacht, ‘n nuwe groepsbehuisings-ontwikkeling in Gordonsbaai. Die eerste inwoners sal reeds aan die einde van die maands hul intrek seem.
Alle siviele dienste is nou voltooi en is hierdie week deur Power Construction aan die ontwikkelaar, Deon Smit oorhandig. Dierdie kothuis dorpie is binne loopafstand van die nuwe hawe-ontwikkeling en bide aan die voornemende koper ‘n gerieflike vloerplan, hope ingeboude kaste in alle kamers en die kombuis asook volledige badkamers. Die erwe is heeltemal omhein en selfs aanrol gras word voorsien om die tuine te verfraai.
Al 73 huise het ‘n enkel motorhuis en bykomende parkeergeriewe. Klem Word gele op sekuriteit, ‘n veiligheids aspek wat slegs ‘n groepsbehuising projek jou kan bied. Die uitsig op die berge skep ‘n unieke atmosfeer.
Die siviele kontrakteurs is Power Construction, die elektriese dienste is voorsien deur Racec en die raadgewende siviele ingenieurs is Louw & Nortje. Die argitek is Mnr Koos Louw van Geldenhuys en Louw.
Die vertoonhuis is elke dag Maandag tot Sondag oop.

Kaapse bou-saak open op George
George – ‘n Bekende bou-onderneming in Wes-Kaapland het pas ‘n kantoor en werkwinkel hier geopen. Die onderneming het in net meer as ses jaar tot een van die grootste bou-ondernemings in Wes-Kaapland gegroei danksy doelgerigte bestuurspraktyke, doeltreffende aanwending van alle hulpbroone en ‘n toegewyde span werknemers. Volgens die besturende direkteur van Power Construction, .mnr. Graham Power, het die maatskappy se bestuurspan na ‘n besoek aan Suid-Kaapland verlede jaar besluit dat die streek baie goeie uitbreidingspotensiaal vir die Wes-Kaaplandse onderneming bide.
Daar is besluit om hier gevestig te raak eerder as om van die hoofkantoor in Blackheath vir kontrakte in Suid-Kaapland te tender en dan na voltooing van ‘n projek wee rte vertrek.
Mnr Paul Thiart het hom as kontrakbestuurder vir Suid-Kaapland hier te vestig en volgens hom werp die maatkappy se besluit reeds vrugte af. Power Construction is tans besig met twee stewige kontrakte in die omgewing en nog ‘n kontrak is onlangs aan hom toegeken.
Die maatskappy spesialiseer in fir ontwikkeling van woongebiede, grondverskuiwingswerk, die le van pypleidings, betonwerk, voorafvermenging en algemene siviele ingenieurswerk.
Samewerking

Volgens mnr. Power, wat die maatskappy in 1983 gestig het, is die mikpunt om diens van ‘n hoe gehalte so gou moontlik te verskaf en te installer en om te alle tye ‘n goeie gees van samewerking met die kliente, consultant, plaaslike owerheid en die verskaffers te handhaaf.

“Dit het nou tyd geword dat die verskillende ontwikkelingsektore in die streek bymekaar kom om saam werk te skep. Ons kan nie langer wag dat werk na ons toe kom nie,” het mnr. Power gese.
Hy het ook die versekering gegee dat die dirkteure en personeellede hul volle ondersteuning sal gee vir projekte en kontrakte wat hier aangepak word.
Mnr Thiart het bygevoeg sat die maatskappy die goeie naam wat hy sedert sy ontstaan in die Kaapstad-omgewing opgebou het, gestand sal doen deur werk van hoe gehalte tel ewer en goeie verhousings met die klante en raadgewende ingenieurs te handhaaf.

Contractors beat the odds at The Boardwalk Casino.
South African contractors are often very modest about their achievements and today they are required to be more resourceful than ever. “Fast Track” contracts are the order of the day and now the construction of The Boardwalk Casino in Port Elizabeth has been described as a “crash track” project. Indeed, construction of the R533-m development is said to be the fastest casino building project seen in South Africa.
Errol Symons reports from Port Elizabeth: “If one considers the odds in the R533-m Boardwalk Casino development odds Marine Drive on the Port Elizabeth waterfront, then the contractors must have held a royal flush for them to come out tops in a “game” which held so many of challenges.”

Perhaps the greatest challenge was the tight construction programme and the many major changes made on a daily basis, requiring a flexible and innovative approach on the part of the contractors. To add to this some 30% of the value of works was constructed by affirmative business enterprises, which required patience and skill hitherto not seen on any South African project given the tight time constraint of the project.

Sibakhulu/Power Consortium had the subcontract for the site works at R23-m. This comprised clearing of the site and demolition of old buildings, 150 000m3 of bulk earthwork platforms, sewer, storm water, water main and ducting services, service roads and parking areas, as well as the civils work for the creation of a lake that forms an attractive feature of the development.
This joint venture was also involved in a R10-m road construction contract to divert traffic for the Boardwalk Casino away from Marine Drive and into Second Avenue, so as to avoid traffic congestion on the beachfront. This involves 500m of new road construction and the improvement of an intersection as well as the widening of Marine Drive for traffic to enter the new route.

Work for the client, Sun International and its operating subsidiary, Emfuleni Resorts Developers, started in October 1999. Murray & Roberts/Inkamva/Metro JV (MIM) was the principle building contractor and some 50 subcontractors representing a variety of trades were engaged in the project.

Project managers were S.I.P. and Ninham Shand Inc, Boonzaaier Dotwana and Associates were the consulting Engineers.


Victorian

The Boardwalk Casino and conference centre is an elegant white building with a red roof, designed in a classical Victorian style. The casino resembles the Hotel del Coronado on San Diego.

The design of the casino and the adjacent 350 person conference centre, is similar to that of the many fine examples of Victorian buildings and homes still found in Port Elizabeth – a city established after the arrival of British settlers in the Eastern Cape in 1820.

Located at the focal point of The Boardwalk Gardens at the end of a lake, the casino links the architectural language of the entire site.

Inspiration for The Boardwalk’s gardens is the world-famous Tinoli Gardens in Copenhagen, a multi-coloured collection of flowers, trees and meandering pathways around a lake. Fitting in with the architecture and the surrounds is a retail mall. A brightly coloured decorated passage halfway along the retail mall leads to the Red Shed, the Port Elizabeth cousin of the famous original at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. The Red Shed will be a high-profile venue for talented artists and crafts persons from the province wanting to display their wares.
Challenge:

Richard Cook, the site agent for the Sibakhulu/Power Consortium, said the initial challenge was to hand over the first platform for construction of the casino within the first three weeks of the contract.

“We had three weeks to move 20 000m3 of earth and to do about 10 000m3 of blasting, including for example, the initial setting out work and the removal of trees.”
Another aspect of the work was that Sibakhulu/Power Consortium had to place a 1050mm of stormwater pipe under Marine Drive. An open excavation 3m deep had to be done by hand in half-widths in the busy road to accommodate the traffic. In the region of 25 services were located en route and here too a tight programme had to be kept. The contractor had six weeks to complete the work.

Glenville Cullum, director of Power Construction East Cape and also a director of Sibakhulu Construction, said the protection of the environment in the area was given utmost priority by the client, and environmental protection consultants were brought in to monitor work.

The client employed Sadia Chand to do an environmental impact study prior to the start of the work, and Prof. Guy Bate of the University of Port Elizabeth was appointed the environmental control officer. Contractors had to conform to the requirements of the environmental management plan.

Glenville Cullum said “from the beginning we managed to control the dust by putting up sprinkler systems all over the site. The bush that we cleared we put around the perimeter of the site to control the dust. That was quite a major challenge.”

Highlights:

“One of the highlights here is that this thought to be the fastest built casino in South Africa to date,” said Mr. Cook. “We need to consider the duration of the contract and what was achieved in that time”.

“Another interesting aspect, more especially in the past few months, is that we as the subcontractor of the earthworks and services we have had to liaise and work with about 50 other subcontractors on site. For example, we had to work with them with regard to access.”

“Another challenge is that this has almost been like a design and construct project. At the start of the contract we only had about 30% of the drawings for construction and as the contract developed so more drawings were brought out. Those drawings also changed dramatically the course of the contract.”

On Time:

“We are on time and the reason for this is probably because we tried to be proactive in attempting to foresee possible changes. At the same time there has been very close co-operation between the project managers, the consultants, the architects and the contractors on site. Much of the work was changed verbally on site and then drawings were processed and made available, sometimes after the work had been completed. In my experience this is quite different. We have had to be extremely flexible and it has really been about service to the client.”

Resources:

“We started on this project with all the resources we required, so it was really a question of adapting to meet the client’s needs” Glenville said. He said the Sibakhulu/Power Consortium employed up to 180 workers on site, all of who were local apart from some plant operators from the Western cape.

Employment:

“A requirement of the contract was that 30% of the value of the contract had to go to the previously disadvantaged and the consultant, Barox, was engaged to ensure that this goal was achieved. Barox screened prospective local employees and the Sibakhulu/Power Consortium also employed another contractor Siyaka Civils to make up the 30% requirement. Siyaka Civils was employed to construct the main parking area for 1200 vehicles, which was a contract worth about R3m. They also employed locals and a local contractor to assist them.

Tight Programme:

Mr. Dave Collins, project director for the Murray & Roberts/Inkamva/Metro JV, said selected sub-contractors did the bulk of the work so it was largely a managing contract for the JV.

“The value of our work was probably about 15% to 20% of the contract value” he said. “There has been a lot of team work, a lot of co-operation. We have worked with many new sub-contractors that we have not worked with before. There has been a learning curve in terms of how we work and how they work, and how we want them to work. There have been a lot of late changes and late decisions, that affected all the trades. This has made it all the more difficult to get it finished on time”.

Mr. Collins who has been with M&R for more than 23 years, is a professional in building construction management.

Little bit about Sibakhulu Construction:

Sibakhulu Construction,a newly established company and a subsidiary of the Western Cape-based Power Group of Companies, is committed to making a difference in the Eastern Cape as an emerging contractor.

Mr. Dumisa Mcetywa, who is a B.Sc civil engineering graduate from UCT, is the managing director.