KELE ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION PTY LTD (KEC) | ADVERTORIAL
INTERVIEW WITH KGAUGELO MOGAPI, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF
KELE ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION PTY(LTD) PLEASE GIVE A BRIEF PARAGRAPH SUMMARY OF THE COMPANY, AND ITS CURRENT PRODUCTS AND/OR SERVICES, AND WHICH MARKETS IT CATERS TO. The company is currently providing engineering services to clients including Anglo American Platinum’s Mogalakwena Mine. The running five year contract entails providing resources on site for the maintenance and repairs of air conditioning equipment on the mine’s heavy mobile equipment. The company also provides other repair and maintenance services to clients in Northern Cape and in Mpumalanga. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE KEY CHALLENGE FOR TRANSFORMATION IN YOUR SECTOR? • The deteriorating economic environment in the country has greatly reduced the available engineering and construction opportunities for young companies to compete with high chances of success. This has slowed down our growth. •
Limited access to banks and lending institutions for the much required Capex to grow businesses
WHAT ARE THE SKILLS YOU LOOK FOR IN STAFF, AND ARE THESE NEEDS BEING FULFILLED? 1.
Trade Test for artisans
2.
PR Registration for Engineers
3.
People skills
4.
People who resonate with our vision;mission and organisational culture
We first advertise in the local communities and subject potential candidates to a robust selection process. WHAT ARE YOUR COMPANY’S KEY TRANSFORMATION MILESTONES? Employing three female artisans in our complement and assisting a local black owned supplier with capital and ensuring they are established and are able to run on their own in a space of two years. WHAT SKILLS DO YOU THINK THE NEW GENERATION OF BLACK LEADERS ARE GOING TO NEED? HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY THOSE LEADERS IN YOUR BUSINESS? ICT skills; Financial Management skills;
like that of Kele Engineering and Construction. •
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HOW HAS YOUR B-BBEE RATING BROUGHT YOU BUSINESS OR EXPANDED YOUR BUSINESS? We won key appointments including the 5 year long Vehicle Air Conditioning contract. This expanded our scope tremendously. Had B BBEE not been taken as a factor the completion might have been even steeper for us.
PAVING THE PATH IN THE ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION SPACE COMPANY OVERVIEW Kele Engineering and Construction PTY Ltd (KEC) was founded by Kgaugelo Mogapi in 2018. Kgaugelo was born and raised in Mahwelereng in Mokopane. She has always been intrigued by heavy engineering and construction projects from a prime age. She then conceptualised the idea of playing her part and sought how best she could contribute in the engineering and construction space hence Kele Engineering and Construction was born. Her passion for support to the local mining companies, whilst empowering local people with opportunities also prompted the birth of Kele Engineering and Construction.
WHAT TIPS OR ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PITCHING BUSINESS CONTRACTS? Interested companies must be conversant with the work scope being pitched. They need to have strong skills to deliver the works and be in a position to demonstrate accordingly.
ACTIVITIES AND OPERATIONS Mokopane Operation – currently busy with repair and maintenance contracts for the Mine and Mining contractor heavy mobile equipment.
Companies pitching must ensure that they are always compliant with requirements of laws and regulations including Tax clearance, COIDA registration; UIF and B-BBEE amongst
Mpumalanga – supporting clients on asset care and reliability of vertical drill rigs for coal exploration.
others. It is advisable for the company profile to be always up to date and clearly demonstrate the capability of the pitching company together with briefings on past successful projects.
Northern Cape – Providing maintenance and repair services to contractors’ loading and hauling as well as drilling machinery.
EXCITING HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE YEAR Identified by Mogalakwena mine as a cooperative partner in the engagement of local communities and bringing them the
CSI INITIATIVES Local community forums – working jointly with clients to recruit previously disadvantaged young people in this country and take them through skills development training to equip them for the continuous challenges of the dynamic employment market. COMMENTARY ON YOUR SECTOR, HOW IT HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST 5 YEARS, The last five years has seen a rising service provider population resulting in increased competition for a small piece of cake. This has required strategic agility and resilience as to have companies including Kele Engineering and Construction remain viable. One major change has been the tightening of tender processes making them very difficult for small companies to contemplate. Nonetheless Kele Engineering and Construction is proud to have won the much sought after Vehicle Air Conditioning contract in Mogalakwena Mine. Further changes that have also manifested include the dwindling revenue base, compounded by the reduction in project offers; whilst the number of competitive companies grew. Low margins on contracts have also emerged making it crucial for companies like Kele Engineering and Construction to adapt by optimising cost structures and managing budgets religiously. Funding for capitalisation of young companies by banks and other approved fund managers has worsened the growth opportunities for our industry over the past five years. As such construction projects have reduced even on regional and local scales. This has hampered growth.
much needed access to youth on the job training and technical competency certification. This happened after Kele Engineering and Construction conceptualised a training academy and embarked on its start up at a small scale.
It would be reckless for a pitching company to forget to share with prospective clients their ability to manage safety, health and environment.
Male dominance in the field has not yet subsided and competing as a woman owned company is usually overshadowed.
IMPUMELELO TOP EMPOWERMENT
People skills; Business acumen skills and Communication skills. We identify those leaders through performance appraisals and weekly Exco meetings.
KELE ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
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IMPUMELELO TOP EMPOWERMENT
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