COVER STORY
Becoming part of the infrastructure solution Covid-19 may have thrown the world off balance, but it has also opened the door to a smarter way of working and delivering construction programmes more efficiently, says Nonkululeko Sindane, CEO of Mariswe. A prime example is the recent launch of Mariswe’s Strategic Projects Unit.
T
he local construction industry has seen a sustained decline in infrastructure investment since the boom leading up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This has resulted in the closure of many companies and massive job losses, adding to an already dire unemployment situation, particularly among the youth, as well as poverty and inequality. Some companies in our industry restructured, while others diversified. Hope was somewhat restored by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s SONA speech on 13 February, followed by Minister Tito Mboweni’s budget on 26 February 2020 – both of which suggested that long-anticipated investment in infrastructure was imminent. In addition, infrastructure entities such as Sanral started to issue substantial tenders, adding to renewed hope for the industry. “However, by March 2020, Covid-19 had hit our shores and put a dead stop to any hope of imminent investment in infrastructure,” says Sindane. “We are now challenged to think and do things differently to survive the inevitable economic meltdown.”
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IMIESA July 2020
Oxidation ponds at Kaunda Square, part of the USD250-m, five-year Lusaka Water Supply, Sanitation and Drainage project, completed this year with Mariswe as the Construction Supervision Engineer. The project has provided clean water supply and sanitation for more than a million residents as well as improved storm water drainage infrastructure for the Zambian capital.
A leading civil engineering consulting company with strong project management and infrastructure planning experience, Mariswe has served South Africa and parts of Africa for 48 years.
Taking the initiative Mariswe underwent a significant restructuring process in 2019 aimed at improving its value proposition to clients, with leaner but more focused resources. “I believe the ability of our leadership team to make tough calls has enabled Mariswe to react appropriately not only to the challenging business environment, but also to Covid-19, which was not part of the plan at that time,” says Sindane.
Nonkululeko Sindane, CEO of Mariswe
Mariswe’s South African staff commenced working remotely a week before the government imposed the lockdown on 27 March. This was facilitated by the modern and seamless ICT systems developed by Mariswe over several years to support efficient workflow between its 10 South African offices and colleagues working on projects in other countries. “These systems have kept us connected and made the experience of working from home much easier for team members and for our clients," says Sindane. “We are also continuously investigating outward-focused technologies to help us deliver new service offerings that will be in demand for future infrastructure development across Africa.”
A change in strategic focus The courage to make quick and sometimes difficult decisions is keeping the company in tune with changing market needs. “This has included some management changes in recent months, including bringing younger professional engineers who have trained and grown with Mariswe on to the board to add to the quality of its strategic decision-making,” Sindane explains. “We make significant investments in new talent and strive to retain all our young professionals. To improve the gender balance in our leadership and encourage diversity, we focus on assisting young women who have achieved professional registration in rising to senior positions,” she continues. Transformation initiatives taken over time continue to positively change the face of Mariswe and the company retained its BBBEE
