Empowerment through quality, education and training

‘Going Beyond’ defines PPC’s operating vision as it helps build a better society for all its stakeholders. IMIESA speaks to Bheki Mthembu, head: Inland Business Unit, PPC, about the unfolding vision.

What makes PPC unique?

BM Among all cement producers in South Africa, PPC has the widest geographical footprint. In construction, it’s all about on-time delivery and ease of access to materials. In this respect, we provide a complete solution that, in addition to consistent quality cement, includes premix products like plaster, aggregates, readymix and fly ash.

We are a Proudly South African business that was established in 1892. Throughout our 129-year journey to date, we’ve stayed true to our purpose and that’s to empower people to experience a better quality of life. We believe in creating sustainable value for all our stakeholders and living up to our operating philosophy of ‘Going Beyond’.

Via our corporate social responsibility initiatives, our goal is to uplift the communities in which we operate to maximise shared value. Areas include education, enterprise development, infrastructure development and primary healthcare stewardship.

Over the years, we’ve expanded our wings across Africa, investing in PPC operations in Botswana, the DRC, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. As in South Africa, we have focused on helping to build stronger communities.

As a responsible corporate citizen, we believe we have a duty to help grow capacity, especially within our home South African market where there is a pressing need to address the triple challenges of inequality, poverty and unemployment. That includes providing technical solutions to industry and nurturing a new pipeline of SMME builders, trades and construction material producers through various education, training and enterprise development programmes.

So, it’s clearly not a case of just selling a ‘grey powder’. As in 1892, we continue to play an anchoring role in facilitating South Africa’s infrastructure rollout across a diverse spectrum that includes housing, roads, water, sanitation, mining and general industry.

How is PPC helping to unlock the value, particularly in terms of youth unemployment?

There’s a key role that PPC can play by helping the nation to thrive through public-private partnerships. An example would be as a key material supplier on mega developments like human settlements, water and sanitation projects.

At present, megaprojects are few and far between, so PPC has researched the market and identified where we can help right now. A key area is the township brick- and blockmaking and SMME residential building markets, where we are now investing in transitioning smaller start-ups that are dedicated to using PPC products in their operations.

Allied and in parallel to this is the provision of a range of training courses aimed at capacitating unemployed youth to enter the construction industry. The latest Q1 2021 figures released by Statistics South Africa are concerning. Around 32.6% of our population is currently unemployed – some 46.3% being youth, as defined in the band from 15 to 34 years of age. This means that for every two unemployed people, one will be a youth. The best way we can help is by creating an entrepreneurially driven economy.

Why is technical education key for PPC?

Technical excellence translates into exceptional quality, which is non-negotiable for PPC. We want every structure built using PPC products to stand the test of time.

In partnership with Motheo Construction Academy, PPC has launched a national training initiative offering courses in bricklaying, plastering and construction management

A PPC instructor trains customers on a manual brick- and blockmaking machine

Our training strategy is geared towards this and is highly adaptable to the present need within our socio-economic environment. In other words, we cater for the unskilled, semiskilled and skilled.

Internally, we continue to develop our personnel to achieve optimum operational efficiencies via the PPC Technical Skills Academy (TSA). Courses here include trades for electricians, diesel mechanics, boilermakers, and fitter and turners. We’ve also made the TSA available to our customers in construction, mining and general industry.

Additionally, the TSA caters for an annual intake of qualifying matriculants with mathematics and science as subjects. Those selected embark on our 12-month youth development, or YES programme.

We have a YES programme at all our larger sites, like Dwaalboom, Slurry and Hercules. Around 20% become employed by PPC and the balance are absorbed by the industry.

For the SMME building segment, we’ve launched a nationwide, CETA-accredited training programme in partnership with the Motheo Construction Academy. Initially, we envisage training opportunities for up to 200 South Africans in fields that include bricklaying, plastering, and construction management.

How is PPC helping SMMEs to grow?

We have various programmes in place. A prime example includes our support for township brick- and blockmakers via our Enterprise Development mandate. For SMMEs who are established, and loyal to the PPC brand, we provide brickmaking machines. These SMMEs are currently either buying direct from PPC or via one of our retailers.

So far during 2021, PPC has supplied seven machines to SMMEs within the Gauteng and Limpopo regions, and four to coastal SMMEs.

It’s a partnership. We conduct an in-depth gap analysis to understand where they are in their business. Some may currently be using manual mould casting methods to produce bricks and blocks. Others may already have hand-operated brickmaking machines and, based on business volumes, this might motivate the sponsorship of a fully automated unit. To assess current and future business viability, we therefore research the market’s growth potential within their region. Allied PPC support includes technical and business development training.

We have pamphlets at retail outlets outlining our value proposition and PPC buyers are encouraged to contact us via the website for advice and assistance.

Does this lend itself to the creation of circular economies within township markets?

That’s our objective. We want to support and grow the township brick- and blockmaking sector and, in turn, create a local, sustained supply for SMME builders. Buying local also cuts down on the logistics costs for SMME builders and customers.

Via our joint training courses in bricklaying and plastering, we are also creating a pool of skilled workers eligible for employment by SMMEs and/or the broader construction market.

Can SMME brick- and blockmakers provide quality assurances?

PPC is committed to world-class quality and we instill this value in our customers. For builders and customers who buy bricks and blocks from SMME brickmakers, it’s essential that they have complete confidence. The key factor to making this a reality is to ensure that the SMME product is quality assured.

We walk the path with the SMME block- and brickmaker, and assist them in gaining accreditation as a competent producer in accordance with SABS standards. That strategy also protects communities and hopefully eradicates substandard building products generally found in the market.

As part of our strategy, we are also engaging with retailers who could potentially stock bricks and blocks produced by township SMMEs carrying the SABS mark. It’s about connecting the dots in the supply chain, with PPC central to the process.

Over the longer term, we see a scenario where accredited SMME brickyards will be able to sell their product to a wholesale and/ or retail construction materials supplier or the mainstream construction market.

And in closing?

Rather than waiting for a better life to come, PPC recognises the need to give communities, and especially the youth, the tools and opportunities to work.

As an industry leader, we cannot just sit back. We need to be the change that we want to see. That change is a better quality of life for communities that use or are associated with our products.

PPC assists its SMME customers with gaining accreditation as a competent precast brick and block producer in accordance with SABS standards