BRINGING A NEW DYNAMIC TO BUILDING The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) indicates that 48 per cent of South Africa’s construction companies are owned by women. A promising sign in an industry that has traditionally been heavily male-dominated. By PUSELETSO MOMPEI
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forward in your career. “In a ettie Mashau is the male-dominated industry, CEO of Motheo a woman can bring unique skills Construction Group, that are not only advantageous to a company that her, but also the entire company.” has developed Mashau urges women to continue into a leading, mainly to search for ways to further their black female-owned and education and knowledge, adding managed construction that it is important not to dismiss company. Mashau, who constructive criticism along the holds a diploma in building Lettie Mashau way. “You don’t have to know it all and civil engineering, has right now – remain open to learning been a part of the Motheo new things from seminars or classes. Change family for 14 years. can be painful, but it is required to reach new Mashau says she chose to pursue a levels. Change will force you to adapt, grow career in construction because it was and further yourself within your career. different and presented a challenge, being “A good attitude will generate goodwill and a mainly male-dominated industry. “I also boost morale among your employees and wanted to do something meaningful for our peers. Focus on the victories, not the defeats.” communities. Having grown up in the township of Malamulele, Limpopo, it’s fulfilling to be building houses and community facilities that LEADING THROUGH CRISIS change our people’s dignity.” “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the construction industry. It has added pressure on an already pressurised SECRETS TO HER SUCCESS economy and forced companies to adapt and Mashau says that for women to succeed in evolve. It has also challenged the industry to the field they must recognise their worth and change to remain relevant and sustainable,” abilities. This will show their peers that they are says Mashau. confident and someone who can be counted on to get the job done. “No one will appreciate your contributions until you appreciate them yourself. Know that you are a unique and valuable part of the team offering a previously missing perspective and skill set.” She says understanding where your Lettie Mashau, Motheo Construction Group strengths lie is essential to propel you
She admits that Motheo has not come out of this situation unscathed. “However,” she explains, “the company continues to show resilience. Thanks to the quick thinking, planning and agility of management, decisions were taken to ensure that Motheo retains its staff and operations. The company has adapted to the current ‘new’ way of operating and navigating through this pandemic. “The crisis presents us with opportunity – innovation is born amid chaos.” It also shows us the weight of humanity, Mashua claims. “It reminds us of who we are. As individuals, we are fragile; our strength lies in being part of a community.” Her top priorities for the business are diversification, new markets and restructuring management. “In the highly competitive construction industry, service delivery is of utmost importance. We provide our services nationally across South Africa and have offices in four provinces. A new management structure will allow Motheo to expand its presence and services within all nine provinces,” she explains. Under her guidance, the company has embarked on a diversification strategy to achieve balanced growth across the board. “Growth has its risks, but the right strategy can deliver stability, security and long-term profits. We have assessed the business’ current strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and are well equipped to handle them. We have the capacity to contribute to the infrastructure space and various construction sectors including building and civil construction, electrical reticulation, fibre reticulation and residential accommodation. “We’re committed to making a meaningful contribution towards the company’s bottom line and will form strategic pillars for its next level of growth.”
“A good attitude will generate goodwill and boost morale among your employees and peers. Focus on the victories, not the defeats.” –
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rany Letswalo is a service administration manager at Shumani Industrial Equipment, which distributes a broad range of quality industrial and construction equipment. Armed with a diploma in financial management, Letswalo started her career
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as a credit controller and now oversees the company’s maintenance department. She leads a team of service controllers who ensure that all machinery is serviced and load-tested timeously. She says that to succeed in the field a woman must have passion. “You have to love what you are doing,
look forward to doing it and enjoy doing it. Striving to learn more, dedication and a little extra effort go a long way.” Letswalo says that when she joined the company in 2010, she was intrigued by the machinery and was curious to learn more. She has been instrumental
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