INDUSTRY NEWS
POTENTIAL MARKETS ABOUND FOR BACKYARD CONCRETE BLOCK-MAKING
(Above): Students for the School of Concrete Technology’s online training for concrete blockand brick-making has drawn interest from several outlying areas, says Matthews Magwaza (above), lecturer at the school, who can conduct classes in five local languages.
Interest in starting concrete brickand block-making businesses has steadily increased since the start of the pandemic, says Matthews Magwaza, lecturer at Cement & Concrete SA’s School of Concrete Technology, which regularly presents half-day training on the subject. Magwaza says that because the training is now presented online, enrolments have been countrywide, even from remote areas such as Mthatha and Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape, Mkhuze, Msinga and Mvoti in KwaZulu-Natal and Giyani, Steelpoort, Phalaborwa and the Venda region in Limpopo province. “I’m aware of at least three students who’ve successfully started their own businesses following our tuition,” he states. “It appears that it’s easier to find sites for these new businesses in these rural areas.” Magwaza, who is capable of teaching in five local languages, says the pupils have little difficulty in attending the online courses, as they invariably have access to smartphones. EASY ENTRY John Roxburgh, senior lecturer at the School of Concrete Technology, says that in these tough
14
economic times, one of the easiest entries into entrepreneurship is by establishing a small-scaled backyard blockyard. “If you drive through any of the so-called ‘townships’ in SA, you always see building taking place. New perimeter walls, additions to existing structures, stand-alone rental rooms and spaza shops all need masonry blocks, which a trained operator could provide after attending our online tuition,” he explains. However, he adds that before considering producing blocks in a backyard, there are some golden rules to follow. “Firstly, is there a market – will people buy your blocks? There ought to be a market if there’s no other block-making operation close to you or any largescale producer servicing the community. With limited funds, it’s difficult to create a market for the blocks: the market must be there already. (Above): Making hollow concrete blocks rather than bricks is the better – and easier – option for new small enterprises, advises the CCSA.
SOUTH AFRICAN BUILDER OCTOBER 2021
