SANRAL celebrates women in construction, leadership positions, and impactful community involvement

SANRAL celebrates women in construction, leadership positions, and impactful community involvement

• BELL services in order to advance SMMES or businesses in services
• WBHO/H&I Joint Venture
• Standard bank funding for black women
• Qaqamba Silikane is walking the talk.

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) hosted an event to celebrate women in the construction sector on Friday, August 18^th, at the Wild Coast Sun. The event included women in Winnie Madikizela Mandela, Ingquza Hill, and Port St. John’s local municipalities. Women in leadership and impactful community involvement were also celebrated.

SANRAL invited different stakeholders to share information that will expose women in construction to different opportunities that will allow them to participate in the N2 Wild Coast Road Programme valued at R20 billion.

Key things some of the stakeholders touched base on to enhance access to information

The WBHO/H&I Joint Venture is a company running the N2 Wild Coast Toll Highway between the Msikaba Bridge and the Mtentu Bridge. The joint venture exposed women to opportunities that are set for women in the project, such as the percentages and values of women in the industry.

Target enterprise goal: ownership by women (SMME) The percentage is 5%, and the actual amount to be spent is R109,974,718.

Targeted Labour (black women): 30% (of 8% CPG for Laboure’s), the set aside is R52, 787, 864.70.

BELL: guided women in the construction of ways they can use BELL services in order to advance their SMMES or businesses in services such as;

• Advantages of buying Bell machinery
• Finance options
• A rotational program of 200 apprentices, learnerships, and in-house skill advancement training
• Direct credit application: Wesbank
• Installment sale agreement
• Rental with an obligation to purchase (balloon payment at the end of the rental period, thereby taking full ownership of the equipment)

Standard Bank shared information on access to funding, resources, and markets for supporting black women in business.

Access to funding involves Funding (soft loans or grants), Purchase order funding, Cash Covers

Access to resources includes business development programs, coaching, and mentorship.

access to markets dealing with supplier development and internal and partner platforms.

Women in construction were informed about funding available for them that can be accessed at standard banks, like the Rehabilitation Fund for businesses that have low credible scores or adverse credit records and have purchase orders to fulfill.

Applications are reviewed by ED personnel and the appointed Business Development Service Provider (enterprisedevelopment@standardbank.co.za).

Standard Bank also has the Basali Development Programme, which is a 12-month program aimed at equipping black women-owned businesses with business development services in areas such as financial management, compliance, personal mastery, and digital marketing. The program is meant to assist women in building and growing sustainable businesses.

Words of wisdom and inspiration from a woman who has walked the talk

Mrs. Thole Bhelekazi, secretary of the Mbizana business chamber, shared words of wisdom to encourage women in construction. She outlined that women are great problem solvers and should use these attributes to benefit them in the business space. She touched on a few aspects that could hold women back in business.

• Women are managers. be productive managers, not just conceptualize the idea.
• Set yourself small, attainable goals to make up the bigger picture.
• Bring yourselves closer to the level of civil engineering through knowledge.
• Believe in yourself, and your belief should be vested in your core values.
• Do not hesitate to throw in ideas. Be your own best advocate.
• Build trust even with the teams you work with.

Qaqamba Silikane, the lady who has walked the talk:

“May we all commit to supporting and inspiring the next generations of women to operate in their areas of strength.” Qaqamba Silikane

The key note address was delivered by a lady who knows exactly what is means to be in the construction industry Qaqamba Silikane, she was a BSc (Hons) in Construction Management from Wits University and an MSc Project Management (Construction) from the University of Pretoria. She has an impressive track record as she has worked on various projects and for different companies, like

• Project Planner: Murray & Roberts Construction
• Construction Manager, Sasol Group Technology
• Senior Construction Manager, Sasol Group Technology
• Project Controls Manager, Sasol Group Technology
• Senior Project Manager, Eskom Rotek Industries
• Acting Portfolio Manager: Eskom Rotek Industries

She is now a full-time entrepreneur.

Qaqamba shared that she faced a couple of challenges in breaking stereotypes, building credibility, securing business funding, and securing business premises. She explained that her highlights along the way have been expertise empowerment, shaping projects, shifting perspective, mentorship, and coaching.

What has kept Qaqamba going is her power of staying true to herself and her strength in not being aggressive. She also alluded to the fact that she is a constant work in progress; she is not soft-spoken and weak but firm.

• BELL services in order to advance SMMES or businesses in services
• WBHO/H&I Joint Venture
• Standard bank funding for black women
• Qaqamba Silikane is walking the talk.

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) hosted an event to celebrate women in the construction sector on Friday, August 18^th, at the Wild Coast Sun. The event included all women in Winnie Madikizela Mandela, Ingquza Hill, and Port St. John’s local municipalities. Women in leadership and impactful community involvement were also celebrated.

SANRAL invited different stakeholders to share information that will expose women in construction to different opportunities that will allow them to participate in the N2 Wild Coast Road Programme valued at R20 billion.

Key things some of the stakeholders touched base on to enhance access to information

The WBHO/H&I Joint Venture is a company running the N2 Wild Coast Toll Highway between the Msikaba bridge and the Mtentu bridge. The joint venture exposed women to opportunities that are set for women in the project, such as the percentages and values of women in the industry.

Target enterprise goal: ownership by women (SMME) The percentage is 5%, and the actual amount to be spent is R109,974,718.

Targeted Labour (black women): 30% (of 8% CPG for Laboure’s), the set aside is R52, 787, 864.70.

BELL: guided women in the construction of ways they can use BELL services in order to advance their SMMES or businesses in services such as;

• Advantages of buying Bell machinery
• Finance options
• A rotational program of 200 apprentices, learnerships, and in-house skill advancement training
• Direct credit application: Wesbank
• Installment sale agreement
• Rental with an obligation to purchase (balloon payment at the end of the rental period, thereby taking full ownership of the equipment)

Standard Bank shared information on access to funding, resources, and markets for supporting black women in business.

Access to funding involves Funding (soft loans or grants), Purchase order funding, Cash Covers

Access to resources includes business development programs, coaching, and mentorship.

Access to markets dealing with supplier development and internal and partner platforms.

Women in construction were informed about funding available for them that can be accessed at standard banks, like the Rehabilitation Fund for businesses that have low credible scores or adverse credit records and have purchase orders to fulfill.

Applications are reviewed by ED personnel and the appointed Business Development Service Provider (enterprisedevelopment@standardbank.co.za).

Standard Bank also has the Basali Development Programme, which is a 12-month program aimed at equipping black women-owned businesses with business development services in areas such as financial management, compliance, personal mastery, and digital marketing. The program is meant to assist women in building and growing sustainable businesses.

Words of wisdom and inspiration from a woman who has walked the talk

Mrs. Thole Bhelekazi, secretary of the Mbizana business chamber, shared words of wisdom to encourage women in construction. She outlined that women are great problem solvers and should use these attributes to benefit them in the business space. She touched on a few aspects that could hold women back in business.

• Women are managers. be productive managers, not just conceptualize the idea.
• Set yourself small, attainable goals to make up the bigger picture.
• Bring yourselves closer to the level of civil engineering through knowledge.
• Believe in yourself, and your belief should be vested in your core values.
• Do not hesitate to throw in ideas. Be your own best advocate.
• Build trust even with the teams you work with.

Qaqamba Silikane, the lady who has walked the talk:

“May we all commit to supporting and inspiring the next generations of women to operate in their areas of strength.” Qaqamba Silikane

The keynote address was delivered by a lady who knows exactly what is means to be in the construction industry Qaqamba Silikane, she was a BSc (Hons) in Construction Management from Wits University and an MSc Project Management (Construction) from the University of Pretoria. She has an impressive track record as she has worked on various projects and for different companies, like

• Project Planner: Murray & Roberts Construction
• Construction Manager, Sasol Group Technology
• Senior Construction Manager, Sasol Group Technology
• Project Controls Manager, Sasol Group Technology
• Senior Project Manager, Eskom Rotek Industries
• Acting Portfolio Manager: Eskom Rotek Industries

She is now a full-time entrepreneur.

Qaqamba shared that she faced a couple of challenges in breaking stereotypes, building credibility, securing business funding, and securing business premises. She explained that her highlights along the way have been expertise empowerment, shaping projects, shifting perspective, mentorship, and coaching.

What has kept Qaqamba going is her power of staying true to herself and her strength in not being aggressive. She also alluded to the fact that she is a constant work in progress; she is not soft-spoken and weak but firm.