Yeyethu Bafazi Construction employs people living in and around Mthatha, thus making them not only innovators in the construction industry but also job creators.
(From left to right) Thabile Nkonki, Siphokazi Cekwa and Zodidi Mbuzelwa, are three members of the Yeyethu Bafazi Construction consortium. Four years. Five women. One consortium. That is the story of Yeyethu Bafazi Construction, established in 2018 by five women who met while undergoing training with SANRAL.
The group – Thabile Nkonki from Talinko Construction, Zodidi Mbuzelwa from Junebug Tradings23 cc, Siphokazi Cekwana from Mthonyama Technologies, Nyameka Poyo of Going Places Construction and Projects, and Nomalunga Tonjeni from Rhu and Sons – hails from Mthatha in the Eastern Cape.
The SANRAL-training took four years and included modules such as start and run a business, apply business concepts, monitor control costs, apply construction documents, read and interpret drawings and calculate construction quantities, among others.
The training took place in Port St Johns and included practical and theoretical training. Subsequent to the training, the group decided that forming a consortium would better position them in the male-dominated industry.
Thabile Nkonki, director of Yeyethu Bafazi Construction, said: “Dedication to service delivery, creating sustainable relationships with our clients, and paying attention to detail is what sets us apart from our competitors.”
As a 100% black-owned business, which is completely owned and operated by women, Yeyethu Bafazi Construction often experiences sexism and bias from the community and from potential clients.
Their capacity is often scrutinised, despite having proven their competence through a range of successfully completed construction projects, said Nkonki.
Yeyethu Bafazi Construction employs people living in and around Mthatha, thus making them not only innovators in the construction industry but also job creators.
Upon concluding training, SANRAL maintains close ties with the training beneficiaries to ensure that they apply what they have learnt, and to ensure they continued to progress.
“The trainees have to keep SANRAL well-informed of their activities and Construction Industry Development Board upgrading. They are also added to the database of companies that have received training from SANRAL,” said Dr Mongezi Noah, SANRAL’s Community Development Specialist.
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