Page 43 - KZN Top Business Portfolio - EBOOK 2019

CEO of the GeoAfrika Group “The work we do has a positive impact on people,
communities and the country. This is true for all
ETER HOFFMANN, together with his late aspects of our work; surveying, planning or legal.
partner, John Manning, has built one of the From a corporate perspective, Peter’s vision is
largest land surveying companies in Africa, to provide a sustainable environment for young
Pbut is clear that he doesn’t measure success professionals to build a career. He points out that
in financial terms. “The work we do gives people most of the industry is made up of small businesses,
a better life, and that inspires me daily,” says Peter. while GeoAfrika is a large practice, with a footprint
Peter was led into land surveying by a chance across South Africa and throughout the continent.
encounter. “When I was about 16, I went with my “From the outset in the 80s, we decided to offer
dad to take the family car for a service and got bursaries to young, black land surveying students,
chatting to someone working there. She introduced and we create opportunities for new graduates to
me to her son, who was a partner in a land surveying do articles with us. This has helped us to build up
company, and before long I was spending my a loyal team of good, professional surveyors. The
holidays working there and decided this was for me.” company now employs more surveyors than the
Peter went on to study a BSc in land surveying large SOCs and we have created an environment
and began working in Johannesburg. He was to retain them. This is where they have built their
fortunate to get involved in major projects early careers, and this is where they want to be.”
in his career, one of which was the upgrading of The company works hard to create and maintain
the national road network – the Western Bypass a strong value system in the business and Peter
project in Johannesburg. “I was doing my articles is clear that ethics and integrity form the basis of
with John Manning, and the day I was admitted their culture.
as a professional land surveyor, John offered me
a partnership.” “I introduced an orientation programme for our
new articled surveyors, and I always tell them it’s
He worked as a land surveyor for several years, okay to make mistakes. In fact, we expect it; it’s
while also studying part-time. First, he qualified as the only way to learn. As professional surveyors,
a town planner and then completed a law degree however, we are servants of the community at large
through UNISA. and we must never compromise our integrity. So, if
Peter had identified that diversification was the key they make a mistake on a survey, they just have to
to growth. Their company had developed significant admit it, so they do not generally make the same
project management skills, and they began to build a mistakes again.”
network of professional teams that were to become When asked what advice he’d offer people joining
the foundation of the GeoAfrika Group.
the industry, he notes that in every job, there is
This diversification extended to Peter’s own deve- routine work, ups and downs, and sometimes even
lopment. He moved increasingly into development, boredom, and it helps to do what matters to you.
planning and policy writing, where he combined For Peter, success is not measured in terms of
his legal knowledge with his survey expertise, with money, but in balancing work and his personal and
legal work gradually becoming his primary interest. spiritual life. A committed Christian, he attributes
Peter has a strong belief in the value that his his success to God and when he’s not spending
profession and his company brings to South Africa. time with his wife and family, he’s a keen cyclist.

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