Motseng Project Management
Mega expansion for Pavilion Motseng Project Management is fast carving out a niche as one of the very best end-to-end property development and project managers around. Africa Outlook talks to managing director Dewald Van Staden to find out what makes this award-winning company work so well and learns more about the redevelopment of Durban's Pavilion Shopping Centre. Writer Hannah Eiseman-Ranyard Project manager Stuart Shirra Motseng Project Management (or MPM to those in the know) manages a portfolio of over R5 billion. It is part of the larger Motseng Investment Holdings Ltd, the largest black-owned property management group in South Africa, and it has been highly specialised company from the start. It has a small and focused portfolio specialising in retail and commercial developments and is currently overseeing the first phase R228 million development of the iconic Pavillion Shopping Centre in Durban. The Pavilion, owned by Pareto Ltd, has been a huge success for over 20 years. What will its redevelopment mean, and how did Motseng Project Management (MPM) win such an impressive contract? "At Motseng Project Management (MPM) we are very small and focused," explains Mr Van Staden. "We get involved in understanding the client's business, and we want to contribute to the bigger picture. We are involved from concept to feasibility, so we can offer a complete service." The advantage of working as part of a group environment is Motseng Project Management (MPM) can offer clients the attention to detail of a smaller company, yet has great range. "We are selling a host of services,"…
Hyprop Investments
Africa beckons Hyprop Investments is South Africa's largest listed retail property fund and it recently co-invested a 37.5 percent in Atterbury Africa, which develops and owns quality shopping centres in Africa. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Stuart Shirra South Africa's Hyprop Investments doesn't need much of an introduction. It is the country's largest listed retail property fund and its portfolio is valued at a cool R21.5 billion. It is a giant and its property portfolio includes 11 prime shopping centres located in South Africa's largest metropolitan areas. Its shopping centres are distinguished by their prime locations, extensive and superior tenant mix and popular anchor tenants, making them the preferred shopping destinations in South Africa. Flagship assets in the fund include Canal Walk in Cape Town, Clearwater Mall and The Glen in Johannesburg and Woodlands Boulevard in Pretoria. "Listed property, with a market capitalisation of R210 billion, was the best performing South African asset class in 2012, yielding a total return of 35.9 percent," says CEO Pieter Prinsloo. "As South Africa's largest listed shopping centre fund, Hyprop's premium regional and super regional shopping centres performed well during 2012, demonstrating their core strength." "Our portfolio comprises of high quality shopping centres in South Africa," he adds."The centres distinguish themselves from their peers by their key locations as well as size. Our centres are classified as Super Regional, Large Regional, Regional and Value/Lifestyle, servicing a broad spectrum of shoppers in South Africa. Retailer growth and demand drives the development and expansion of our current centres' footprint in the respective…
Dip Civils
Driving operational excellence DipCivils (Pty) Ltd is a Civil Engineering contractor that specialises in the construction of roads and other services throughout South Africa. Procurement Manager Raymond Carter-Johnson tells us more. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Stuart Shirra DipCivils (Pty) Ltd is a Civil Engineering contractor that specialises in the construction of roads and other services throughout South Africa. It is in the unique position of being able to fulfil clients' needs on "comprehensive basis" by offering composite solutions involving not only the construction of services exclusively, but all the road and concrete works infrastructure as well. The company was formed in 1993 and to date has successfully completed over 1000 separate projects. Procurement Manager Raymond Carter-Johnson says that it is "constantly in the pursuit of excellence" in the production of high quality civil engineering works. "We aim to provide superior returns to all relevant stakeholders whilst providing an employment environment conducive to transformation and the development of talent and skills," he says. "Our core values of commitment, responsibility, respect and communication influence how we act day to day, and is not what we merely aspire to. Translating this into reality means that we are keenly focused on providing a quality product to our customers, and strive to exceed their expectations." DipCivils is registered with the CIDB as a 9CE Contractor and is a member of the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors. Its key strengths? "Definitely the commitment, loyalty, responsibility and respect of our employees and the fact that we are all focused on…
Stefanutti Stocks Swaziland
Taking stock Africa Outlook profiles Stefanutti Stocks Swaziland, a standalone subsidiary of Stefanutti Stocks, one of South Africa's leading construction groups. Writer Susan Miller Project manager Stuart Shirra Pinning Derek Du Plessis, Managing Director of Stefanutti Stocks Swaziland, down for an interview is pretty hard but we eventually got to chat on a Sunday morning as he travelled to a meeting. And it's no wonder he's time poor as he's also one of the senior directors in charge of Stefanutti Stocks Zambia. While Stefanutti Stocks Swaziland is a standalone subsidiary of Stefanutti Stocks South Africa it is supported by the larger company when needed. And the strong relationship only strengthens Stefanutti Stocks Swaziland as Stefanutti Stocks South Africa prides itself on "creating a support and project infrastructure in the harshest environments and the recruitment and up-skilling of local communities" and has established a presence in significant number of African countries and now the Middle East. But it was Swaziland that was its first 'international' destination in the late 1980s and, after Stafanutti Stocks (then S&B) completed a palace 'to compete with anything in James Bond films' for King Mswatti III, it opened offices in the Kingdom. Mr Du Plessis prides himself on the company's multi-disciplinary approach and ability to complete a range of different tasks in the engineering and construction fields. Its importance is merely underlined by its impressive portfolio of projects – including involvement in the construction of the Sikhuphe International Airport which is set to replace Matsapha Airport and is due to open in…
Broll Property Services Nigeria
Invest in Nigeria! Erejuwa Gbadebo, CEO of Broll Property Services Nigeria, discusses the "huge potential" of the country's property industry.. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager James Mitchell According to Erejuwa Gbadebo, CEO of Broll Property Services Nigeria, the country's real estate industry is one of the most virile and profitable sectors, despite the challenges facing the industry. It is expected to grow. And fast. "Nigeria has one of the fastest growing economies in the world with great prospects for investors especially in the real estate sector," she says. Foreign investors continue to eye the Nigerian market. "Nigeria is very important for Broll. The country is among those leading the charge in Africa's economic revolution. Its large market, growing middle class and rapidly transforming economy continues to attract international investors who find the opportunities irresistible." Broll is headquartered in South Africa and is heavily invested in Africa, believing it is on a "potentially unbeatable" growth and development path for the next two decades, and will increasingly attract global investment. "There's been a positive shift in investors' attitudes to the fortunes of the African continent," says Gbadebo. "Nigeria is the most populous black nation in the world, the most populous nation in Africa, and there is a huge, huge amount of potential within the real estate market. "When we entered in 2004, there were many people doing many things but nobody doing what Broll does. There was a need for us. "The Nigerian economy is tipped to exceed that of South Africa by the year 2020. So, really…
Peri Southern Africa
PERI targets Africa Since May last year, Theunis Visser, Head of Business Development at PERI Southern Africa, has been heading the company's moves into the continent and he loves it.. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Stuart Shirra A leading German supplier of formwork and scaffolding systems, with its South African subsidiary headquarters in Stellenbosch, PERI delivers to its customers a broad range of services related to formwork and scaffolding technology. PERI was honoured last year for the third time running with the Golden Arrow Award from the South African Professional Management Review (PMR Africa) publication as the best supplier in the Formwork and Bricks supplier category. The company is looking to expand. With numerous branches across South Africa and operating entities in neighbours Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique, Visser's brief was to look further for opportunities with his appointment covering all sub- Saharan countries aside from those already mentioned. And after an exceedingly busy year the firm is actively exploring "a partnership agreement in East Africa" and has "various other partnership offers and opportunities in Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Rwanda and in the DRC". PERI Southern Africa carefully planned its African expansion, approaching each county with a PERI Sales Strategy, making the company known through personal contact with construction companies as well as involvement in a trade fair or show and getting updates on specific major projects in the region. "First we will take part as a sponsor and make contact with contractors and professionals involved in construction and from there we develop those contacts into future…
Bophelong Construction
Taking the high road Africa Outlook talks to James Popper, CEO of Bophelong Construction, a South African BEE roads, civils and earthworks company. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Stuart Shirra Randburg-based Bophelong has an impressive number of completed projects in its portfolio, mostly in Gauteng. Ongoing projects include the upgrade of Allandale Road, work with the SA National Road Agency Limited (Sanral), and several maintenance contracts in both the public and private sector. "We are a medium sized civil engineering company turning over about R250 million to R300 million per annum," says CEO James Popper. "We cover everything from road works – including road maintenance, earthworks and project management – to the installation of municipal services, sewer, water, minor concrete works and building works. "Through partnering with industry associates, we can also offer a full turnkey design and construction service, providing the perfect solution for any construction project. " The Allandale Road project is one of Bophelong's most high profile contracts. Its task is to address traffic congestion issues on what is a very busy road. It's going well and will soon be completed. "The work is part of the Waterfall Development in Midrand, which is a huge property development. The contract value is in the order of R43 million. We have been upgrading, re-grading the vertical alignment, widening the road, constructing a new intersection and relocating a bulk water line. It is a big project. "We also have had a lot of work come in from Sasol. We have three contracts, maintenance-type contracts." Popper says…
National Real Estate
Keeping it in the family National Real Estate in Bloemfontein currently manages over 12,000 residential properties in both the sectional title and property rental portfolios. It also manages more than 1,200 commercial properties and offers insurance services. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager James Mitchell Some of the world's most instantly recognisable businesses are familyowned. News Corp, Benneton, L'Oréal, Playboy, Gucci, Carnival Cruise Lines, and car giant Ford Motor Co, are just a few. Globally, family businesses - defined loosely as a business in which a dominant family owns 51 percent of an enterprise - account for around 70-80 percent of all businesses and are acknowledged as the strategic backbone of most economies and a key source of growth. Nowhere is this truer than in Africa - think of the likes of the Ackermans in South Africa, the Kenyattas in East Africa, and the Dangotes in West Africa. All of these have helped define the economies and the business environments of the regions in which they operate. The du Toit family's business is doing the same. National Real Estate was established in 1933 in Bloemfontein. Over the years it has had some name and ownership changes and today it is run by the du Toits, who took over in 2003. The company, which specialises in property management and related industries, is a market leader in the property industry in the Bloemfontein area. "It is our mission to be totally committed in serving our customers in the most effective means possible," says CEO Marius du Toit. "Family businesses…
Eigenbau
Engineering success Africa Outlook talks to Derek Weston, the General Manager of Sandton-based civil engineering contractor Eigenbau. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Stuart Shirra Founded by Eddie Ross in 1981, civil engineering contractor Eigenbau is now almost unrecognisable from the firm that initially focused on concrete construction. In the years since it has diversified and now has many more strings to its bow. "We've evolved," says Eigenbau General Manager Derek Weston. "Our business now encompasses almost every aspect of civil engineering and building and we have our own Mechanical Engineering Division, which specialises in equipment for water and sewage treatment plants and pumping stations." That division was formed in 1997, he says, born out of the acquisition of Sewapurco. "It saw us broaden our activities and means that we've had a reasonably good last few years, despite the downturn. We were fortunate that we had some long term projects/contracts that took two or three years to complete during that period. Obviously there was a height of activity in getting everything ready for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup and there was a lot of work building highways, stadiums and things like that. When that came to an end it left a tremendous vacuum. The government keeps reminding us that they have plans for infrastructure development but we are not seeing a lot of tenders coming out at this point." Several water projects across South Africa have contributed to Eigenbau's recent success. "Our Mechanical Engineering Division has been quite active on the water side. Certainly over the…
Murray & Dickson Construction
30 not out In its 30 years of existence Murray & Dickson Construction has undertaken building projects in the commercial, retail, industrial, educational and leisure sectors – completing everything from offices, shopping centres and large factory warehouses to mini factory complexes, motor showrooms, schools and university buildings. This coupled with its Civil Engineering expertise allows the company to compete in a broad spectrum of construction projects. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Stuart Shirra You may or may not know that 1983 saw the release of Microsoft Word and was the year that McDonald's first introduced the McNugget. In Gauteng, and certainly the offices of Murray & Dickson Construction, the year is remembered for a different but very special reason. It was the year that Andrew Murray – and a partner who since left the business – launched the company. While it was a "tough slog" in the early years, the business has grown exponentially from its modest beginnings to a company that now handles most facets of building and civil engineering construction within South Africa. "I started it with a fellow civil engineer and the idea was to create a construction company that was essentially a general contracting firm. It started off very small. We did weekend work building garden walls, putting vinyl down in blocks of flats and so on. We were fortunate to get an early job where we designed and constructed a factory for a client. That was in 1983. Shortly thereafter the economy took one of its many nosedives and my partner…
