WBHO Construction : Bridging the Construction Divide

WBHO Construction has meticulously established a reputation for quality, reliability, safety, and exceeding clients’ expectations. We hear more about its blueprint for prosperity with Riaan de Necker, Group Managing Director of the Roads and Earthworks division.

BRIDGING THE CONSTRUCTION DIVIDE

Construction remains a cornerstone of global economic growth, supporting infrastructure and urban development.

Increasingly, the sector is evolving through sustainability and technological innovation.

Across Africa, the construction industry continues to grow, driven by rapid urbanisation, population expansion, and demand for new infrastructure.

“In South Africa (SA), we have seen significant road and water infrastructure projects enter the market between 2023 and mid-2025, which are now being constructed,” notes Riaan de Necker, Group Managing Director of the Roads and Earthworks (R&E) division at WBHO Construction (WBHO).

“We have successfully secured a substantial share of these contracts, even though tender activity has slowed across the continent since mid-2025.

“As such, we continue to service our traditional mining clients across Africa, delivering world‑class infrastructure and tailings storage facilities,” he outlines.

WBHO’s footprint spans across Africa, with permanent offices in all major South African metros and extending to Botswana, Ghana, and Mozambique.

The R&E division supports a wide range of traditional and specialist engineering disciplines.

“Our agile teams understand the complexities of working across Africa and are supported by a modern plant fleet and experienced logistics teams, allowing us to deliver consistently high‑quality service,” says de Necker.

Founded in 1970, WBHO has become one of the continent’s leading construction companies, recognised for its scale, expertise, and long-standing industry reputation.

BUILDING THE PORTFOLIO

Since we last spoke to the company in 2024, WBHO’s R&E division has secured numerous large-scale and technically demanding projects.

“These projects have strengthened our order book and created valuable opportunities for our engineers and teams to engage with modern construction techniques and world-class equipment,” de Necker explains.

“Several previously reported projects have now been successfully completed, such as the automated coal handling and loading infrastructure at the Kusile Power Station.”

Recent contract completions also include windfarm construction in the Eastern Cape and the Beposo Tailings Storage Facility at AngloGold Ashanti’s Iduapriem Mine in Ghana.

Projects such as the N2 Wild Coast Highway (Section 20 between the Msikaba and Mtentu Bridges) are progressing well and further expand the company’s growing portfolio.

The shift from mining infrastructure to road and bridge works was a natural transition rather than a planned strategic pivot.

“As a client‑focused construction company, our agility enables us to adapt to changing market conditions and deliver work to our clients’ needs.

“Whilst activity in mining infrastructure declined, we were fortunate to secure significant road and bridge works, allowing us to shift our focus to new opportunities. Mining infrastructure investment and development are cyclical, and we are confident once this market turns it will again be a significant contributor to our order book,” de Necker sets out.

ROAD REHABILITATION

A flagship project for WBHO R&E is the National Route 3 (N3) road upgrade project between Key Ridge and Hammarsdale, a critical economic corridor connecting Durban to Gauteng.

This project is one of 18 of the country’s Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs) – a coordinated national infrastructure programme aimed at boosting economic growth and improving public services.

The upgrade introduces four new major bridges to accommodate a five-lane divided dual carriageway, designed to improve mobility whilst preserving the surrounding environment.

This groundbreaking project features two incrementally launched method (ILM) bridges, each with a deck width of 23 metres (m) and length of 365 m, to accommodate five traffic lanes in both directions.

The project also features two spine-beam bridges, which use a central, robust longitudinal beam to support the decks, with cantilevered side wings to extend the width.

This impressive design facilitates rapid construction and uninterrupted traffic flow during construction.

Other works include pre-cast traffic barrier installations, gabion protection, and high-quality street lighting.

“The roadway will ultimately be upgraded to a transformative five-lane divided dual carriageway,” de Necker informs.

Historically, this stretch of road has been prone to major accidents, and the upgrade aims to significantly improve safety issues.

“Another one of our projects on the same stretch of highway involves the rehabilitation of the N3 highway between the Vaaldraai Interchange and Malanskraal, one of the busiest roads in SA,” he explains.

Elsewhere, WBHO is also involved in the significant upgrade of National Route 2 (N2) on three road contracts, between Ermelo and eMkhondo, totalling nearly 100 kilometres (km) of highway.

This section forms part of the main route between Richards Bay harbour and Mpumalanga. The current single carriageway is being upgraded to a dual carriageway with two lanes in each direction and is receiving a Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) to accommodate the high volume of heavy-axle loads encountered.

Notably, it will be the first significant stretch of CRCP to be constructed in SA since the turn of the century.

WBHO has therefore acquired two complete Wirtgen concrete paving trains, comprising the WPS 62i concrete placer, a SP 94i concrete paver, and the TCM 180i texture and curing machine.

“Our teams are excited to be involved with this technology delivering world-class infrastructure,” de Necker enthuses.

THE WAY OF WATER

In 2024, WBHO was successful in its bid submission for the design and construction of a 100 km water pipeline with associated pump stations and water storage facilities – the Lebalelo Regional Water Project in Limpopo.

“Since being named as the preferred bidder, we have worked closely with the project sponsor and implementor to get the contract to financial close,” de Necker recalls.

In December last year, the sponsor and implementor – together with the institutional and commercial sector financing partners – signed a pledge to commemorate commercial close for Stage 1 of the Olifants Management Model Programme, which aims to cost-effectively deliver raw and potable water to various communities and mining houses in the delivery area.

This triggered the commencement of the first phase of the project last month, with the balance of the work likely to commence in April 2026.

“As such, in order to achieve the tight programme requirements for such a large diameter pipe project, we procured a Tesmec 1875XL EVO – the largest and most powerful chainsaw trencher produced by Tesmec, which has been specifically engineered for large-diameter pipeline projects in the most demanding conditions,” explains de Necker.

This impressive machine is primarily used for excavating hard and abrasive rock where traditional methods often fail.

At present, there are only two other machines of this size and capability in the world, both of which are operating in Saudi Arabia.

LED BY PASSION

Following three consecutive years of growth, de Necker credits WBHO’s ongoing success to its dedicated team of people, who operate in various geographical areas wherever construction opportunities present themselves.

“We operate across multiple disciplines, with each of our divisions being led by management staff that possess detailed market knowledge of the region they are responsible for,” he remarks.

“It’s the quality of our people and the passion they have for what they do that has truly inspired our success to date.”

He emphasises WBHO’s commitment to ongoing training and staff development, allowing WBHO to securely and sustainably deliver the standards of quality, safety, and reliability that its name is now synonymous with.

“We operate a modern fleet of plant and equipment, which further supports our operational excellence,” de Necker states.

WBHO’s leadership in the sector is rooted in the diversity of services offered, quality, sustainability, and strong partnerships. An experienced and loyal management team sets the company apart from its competitors.

SAFETY AS A PRIORITY

As a contractor with an ever-expanding international footprint operating across Africa, WBHO must maintain the very highest health and safety standards.

Safeguarding of its employees and subcontractors is essential for high morale and productivity.

Additionally, a proven safety record is imperative for securing contracts in key markets, particularly in mining and public sector projects.

The company endeavours to maintain its sound reputation for delivering high-quality projects with superior levels of safety management.

Poor safety records can negatively affect reputation, client relationships, and most importantly, the well-being of its employees.

“Safety is always our priority – we strive to ensure all our employees return home safely to their families after each workday and are obligated to meet specific safety targets every year,” says de Necker.

“Across every facet of our business, safety is a daily conversation. It is intertwined into every element of the ‘WBHO Way’ and a safe site is a productive site, with safety forming an integral part of our method of doing business.”

THE NEXT CHAPTER

WBHO remains focused on delivering its current project portfolio whilst staying aligned with its mission to provide clients with long‑lasting, high‑quality projects.

“We do not chase revenue growth – we choose to focus on ensuring we achieve the profitability targets we set ourselves,” says de Necker.

Furthermore, WBHO’s long-term vision is to leave a lasting legacy through the infrastructure it delivers.

“We aim to establish ourselves as the leading construction company wherever we operate, always striving to be a pleasure to do business with, delivering quality solutions in a professional and collaborative manner,” he adds.

Adaptability, strong client relationships, and operational excellence will continue to guide WBHO’s future.

“We stand firmly behind our motto of ‘rely on our ability’, and we trust that mantra to drive us forwards,” de Necker finishes with pride.

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