Page 31 - NHBRC Flipbook

Beating

index
the odds

Disele Sophia May refused

to let a traumatic and

difficult life dissuade her

from pursuing her goal to

run her own firm, Sabuh

Trading Services, which she

registered in 2012, writes

Sue Grant-Marshall

TIP

opportunity
‘Try not to let
negative, even destructive,
events in your past life
keep you down. Move
forward with intention
and vigour’

SITTING PRETTY Disele May Sophia is now at the top of her game PHOTO: ELIZABETH SEJAKE
In the beginning Overcoming obstacles
Her mother’s words, uttered during Disele Sophia THE COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE “The Isithelo Epitome Group is a financial institution
May’s matric year, helped to change this dynamic Have your say the right way owned by young black women and men in Gauteng.
entrepreneur’s life. They charged me a low rate of only 7% for loans,
“If you do not want to be like me, someone who which made borrowing feasible for me.
cannot support her family, then go ahead and stay Home builder response times (municipalities need the “I build good relationships with my clients to fast-
away from school,” said the poverty-stricken widow of . The home builder must occupation certificate). track payments.
four daughters. respond within specific periods . Proof of notification to the “I also ensure my staff know what is going on and
May was born and brought up in Lehurutshe near from the time it receives the home builder within the inform them at least a week in advance if I foresee
the North West town of Zeerust. She was five years old complaint, as specified in the necessary time periods. payment problems.”
when her father died, leaving her unskilled mother to table below: . A full list of items of dispute Disele also makes a point of being hands-on at her
raise four girls alone. Nature of complaint: notified to the home builder. sites and is happy to work at night if necessary.
“She had never worked, so I was sent to live with my Period for response to the The NHBRC may deal with a
aunt and her husband near Krugersdorp. They abused me.” NHBRC or action available complaint in one of the
The teenager ran away to live with another aunt in . Three-month noncompliance following ways: Next step
Soweto whose poverty was so dire that when May – 21 working days. . Accept the complaint. “I plan to build my mother her dream house in
wrote matric, she was desperately hungry. She failed. . One-year roof leak – seven . Advise that the complaint Evaton North in the Vaal Triangle,” she says.
“My mother had come to Joburg from Zeerust and working days. falls outside the scope of the act,
begged me to rewrite, warning me of a dreadful life . Five-year major structural and notify you of this decision
without education,” recalls May. defect period – seven working days. and the reasons for it. Dreams and goals
To her mother’s relief, she agreed to retake the . Deposit theft or irregularity. . Request that the parties May dreams of becoming a professional contractor
exams and became a receptionist upon matriculating. Refer complaint to the police’s resolve the matter through legal with the ultimate aim of developing student
“We needed the money so badly,” she says. commercial crime unit. proceedings, as the matter falls accommodation “because I’ve identified a gap in the
May’s husband, a prison warder who she had been . Contractual disputes. Refer outside the scope of the act. market there. When matriculants leave home, they have
dating since she was 16, suggested that she register a these to your legal nowhere to live”.
company, which she did in 2005, “even though I was a representative/attorney. Home builder’s responsibilities She would also like to build low-cost rental
rural girl from Zeerust”. The home builder shall: accommodation for disadvantaged people, which they
However, as the years passed, her husband began How to lodge a complaint: . Confirm whether it denies or can eventually own “because I struggled so much with
abusing her. He beat her so badly that her front teeth . Phone the NHBRC’s toll-free accepts the complaint. this myself”.
are still painful. And today, after two operations, she number on 0800 200 824. . Confirm when any
manages to hold her right hand upright, but struggles . Complete the complaint rectification work or any other
to grasp a pen firmly with it. form. appropriate action will start and NHBRC is important because…
May took refuge at a Lenasia shelter for abused Include the following: end. “It empowers us women working in the field of
women and it was while she was there that a friend . Proof of the occupation date . Arrange necessary access to construction on a national basis. It gives us knowledge
suggested to her that she attend a course at the of the home, if applicable effect rectification. of networking skills in relevant industries that will help
Khuthaza Construction Career and Enterprise us to grow our enterprises.
Development Centre in Johannesburg. “I am also learning so much on this NHBRC course
“It was a two-year course, which I did in 2010 and that we are doing at the Gordon Institute of Business
2011. I learnt the theory of bricklaying, painting, Science,” says May.
roofing, costing, tendering and marketing.”
May also acquired building industry skills at the
Gauteng Master Builders’ Association in 2011.
Then she began knocking on doors. In 2012, she
worked on the refurbishment of Joburg’s Park Station.
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