Former mineworker now running multimillion rand construction company

The Eastern Cape's construction sector is buoyant, driven largely by significant infrastructure backlogs particularly in the rural hinterland. This presents substantial growth opportunities for entrepreneurs in this space. For example, the majority of development financier, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation's (ECDC) loan funding in the 2012/13 financial year went to construction businesses because of the school building programme which is linked to the national infrastructure development programme. A total of R59.9 million was disbursed to these businesses in loan funding.

A qualified bricklayer and mineworker for 18 years, Peza took on his first construction job in 1997 and his company H&Z Construction has never looked back amassing projects running into millions of rands.

"This has been an extraordinary journey for me. From being a bricklayer in the Gauteng mines to the owner of a multimillion rand construction company has been an overwhelming yet gratifying experience. I could not have taken on some of these projects without the help of development financier, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC). The corporation has financed some of my projects with funding exceeding R14 million.

"Perhaps one of the proudest moments for H&Z Construction was when we were chosen to build the Engcobo Fire Station, about 90 kilometres from Mthatha. The fire station is the first project of its kind for us since we have been involved in the construction of a long list of schools since 1997. It is also the third project which ECDC financed. ECDC made available R2,85 million for this project," says Peza.

Challenging project

This project was challenging for several reasons with numerous sub-contractors who were involved in supplying a wide range of services who had to brave bad weather.

"ECDC has helped finance two other big projects of mine. These projects are a six-classroom Cofimvaba school which came with an admin block and a reception, valued at about R4 million. The other was another 10-classroom school in Mzimkulu worth R3 million," says Peza.

A qualified bricklayer through the mines and another bricklayer certificate at Olifantsfontein in Gauteng, Peza says, "ECDC has helped me a lot. It helped with financing when I was waiting for payment on other jobs. This allowed me to buy the materials required to push the new job forward."

Most of the projects in which H&Z Construction has been involved are located in the former Transkei. These include two schools in Mzimkulu; one is an 11-classroom school; the other is a 14-classroom school.

H&Z Construction, on average, employs 37 people who include about 11 women and 11 youths.

ECDC account manager Andile Zweni says that "despite the challenges that this project faced, the project team worked well together and was the reason for the project's success. It proved that teamwork and cooperation are key."

"We have at present provided funding of R4,9 million to H & Z Construction's current contract which is for the construction of Mtingwevu Junior Secondary School in Cofimvaba and that makes us feel proud to have observed H&Z Construction growing from the Construction Industry Development Board Grade 1 to the current 6 GB PE Grade," says Zweni.