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CITY PRESS, 23 OCTOBER, 2016 “The construction industry is so “My family has believed in me “All men, irrespective of their
A sexist. Sometimes men think, from day one. When I told them economic background, want
project because they’re men, that they’re some years ago that I was respect. But that is something
in partnership they need to earn. I can be very
with the the employer and can call the leaving my office job and going stern with them, but I respect
shots. When I reprimanded one, into a construction business, them and it’s working. They
NHBRC he started influencing the other they were shocked. But they’ve
supported me. Behind the reciprocate my approach
staff negatively
success of every business there’s KARABO MASHAO
LOLLY MOGOTSI always a supportive family
LETLHOGONOLO SECHOARO
opportunity index ON THE MOVE North West Gibs delegates (back from left): Mosidi Sosibo-Maponyane of Elegant Line Trading 720, Letlhogonolo Sechoaro of Sechoaro Supply &
Delivery, Brunhilde Mogadime of Brumant Trading and Projects, Nomsa Babale of Mountain Rock Construction and Projects 76, Lindelwa Monnakgothu of Pholin
Trading, Refilwe Sedumedi of Redumeletswe Construction and Projects 55, Onneile Pudi of Best Enough Trading and Projects 535 and Taelo Moseki of Injongo
Projects and Management. Front row, seated: Omphile Sebego of Kgatliso Logictics, Mapula Molotsane of Baikantse Construction, Lerato Lekoma of Lirabrand
Enterprise, Maletsatsi Mogotsi of Three Blues Construction and Projects and Karabo Mashao of Kolwana Holdings PHOTO: EUGENE GODDARD
Women on top
The challenges for women who run their own companies in the construction
sector are many and varied. They include learning about a start-up business, how
to manage men in a male-dominated industry, and coping with family and work
responsibilities simultaneously. Entrepreneurs from North West who are
delegates on the Empowerment Programme of the National Home Builders’
Registration Council (NHBRC), currently running at the Gordon Institute of
Business Science (Gibs), tell Sue Grant-Marshall how they manage it all
What would you like to have known “Then, suddenly, it sprouts and grows 10m in three Onneile Thelma Pudi of Best Enough Trading and Projects
before you started your construction months. That is the story of my business.” 535 in Taung has encountered men who “believe the industry
business? is for men only. They make it clear they don’t like taking
“I wish I’d known I’d be working How do you manage men in a male-dominated industry? orders from a woman.
abnormal hours and that I’d have “All men, irrespective of their economic backgrounds, want
sleepless nights about paying salaries “I just smile and walk away. I’ve learnt to ignore their
and suppliers,” says Letlhogonolo Sechoaro of Sechoaro respect. But that is something they need to earn. I can be criticism and concentrate on managing my business to the best
Supply & Delivery in Mahikeng. “There are times when my very stern with them, but I respect them and it’s working. of my ability.”
invoices are not paid. So, I’ve learnt that working capital and They reciprocate my approach,” says Mashao.
proper planning are really important.” What role has your family played in your business?
Sosibo-Maponyane was once asked by a man: “Why are “My family has believed in me from day one,” says Sechoaro.
Lindelwa Monnakgothu of Pholin Trading in Klerksdorp you in construction? Why aren’t you in the beauty industry?”
advises other women in her field that it’s not necessary to She says, somewhat despondently, “the moral of the story is This has been the case even though they were shocked when I
concentrate solely on tenders, “which can be really draining that men will never accept that women can do well here”. told them some years ago that I was leaving my office job and
work. Instead, knock on the doors of private companies.” going into a construction business. But they’ve supported me.
Lerato Lekoma points out that she sometimes interacts Behind the success of every business there’s always a
“The construction industry is so sexist,” warns Maletsatsi with men with stereotypical views who refuse to take women supportive family.”
Lolly Mogotsi of Three Blues Construction and Projects in seriously on building sites. “I just remain calm and strong.
Mmabatho. “Sometimes men think, because they’re men, that I’m fortunate that I get lots of support from my uncle, who Monnakgothu says that her husband has been a pillar of
they’re the employer and can call the shots. When I is my mentor. He reminds me of how professional I am. support throughout her career. “His knowledge and assistance
reprimanded one, he started influencing the other staff have been huge. He doesn’t complain about looking after our
negatively.” “Men who don’t look down on me because of my age and children when I’m away on business. I’m so grateful for the
gender are a bliss to work with.” support of my loved ones as it makes life so much easier.”
Lerato Lekoma of Lirabrand Enterprise, Mahikeng, says
women in building “have to work 10 times harder than a Sechoaro says that, occasionally, a contractor will “Family is the one thing you cannot subtract from a
man just to secure a project, let alone grow”. “mistakenly address one of my guys on a construction site company,” says Mogotsi. “It’s like a joint venture. Having a
thinking he’s the business owner. I’ve come to accept this as negative or positive outlook often relates back to family.”
“Never stop learning, enrol for short courses to learn more the nature of the beast. But I always ensure that the situation
about our industry and understand it better. You’ll excel if is rapidly clarified. Mapula Leah Molotsane of Baikantse Construction in
you do so,” says Mosidi Sosibo-Maponyane of Elegant Line Rustenburg says: “I am humbled by the support I get from my
Trading 720 in Rustenburg. “It took drastic measures for me to really be taken seriously. daughter. She volunteered to be on my building site on a full-
I have learnt when to let remarks just roll away – and when to time basis – for which I thank God.”
Karabo Mashao of Kolwana Holdings in Mahikeng suggests draw the line. I do tell some men firmly that I won’t tolerate
that women “view the industry as one big pie. Your slice is their type of remarks on my site.” Moseki would be “nowhere without my family, because my
there.” parents and my partner funded me in the beginning”.
“Men sometimes think you are just a pretty face, but I tell
Taelo Moseki of Injongo Projects and Management in them straightforwardly: ‘The only thing connecting us right Omphile Sebego of Kgatliso Logistics in Christiana says that
Vryburg and Mahikeng says: “I can’t stress enough the now is business’,” says Moseki. her husband helped in her company from its inception in
importance of networking. You can’t be shy. You need to 2007.
speak to others in the industry.” Mogotsi manages men in her business well because she’s
grown a thick skin. She describes herself as bold and listens to “I tend to spend much of my time in briefings and
Refilwe Sedumedi of Redumeletswe Construction and what they’re saying, but makes her own firm decisions marketing the business. So, he goes to the building sites and
Projects in Rustenburg advises women in construction to be “because they can make or break a company”. spends a great deal of time there with my employees.
like bamboo. “American motivational author Zig Ziglar tells us
that when bamboo is planted, even when it is carefully “I treat male labourers as individuals, giving them space to “I have many building projects now and I’m doing as well as
watered and fertilised, it will often not grow for years. be who they wish to be and allowing them to correct their any man in construction, if not better.”
mistakes. Men are boys, they whistle at passing women, but I
always ignore them.”