Page 14 - NHBRC

The National Home Builders’ Registration Council (NHBRC) is investing in emerging female
CITY PRESS, 15 MARCH, 2015
entrepreneurs in the construction industry by enabling 80 of them to attend a business
development programme at the Gordon Institute of Business Science in Johannesburg

Around the

world, people
index
who want to get

on in life are

being exhorted to

love themselves,

have a positive

attitude, help

others, achieve a

balance in life

and choose to

be happy. Sue

Grant-Marshall

asks this week’s

panel what

they think OOZING SELF-CONFIDENCE Back row, from left: Magauta Moabelo, Mmakgowa Manaka, Bongi Mogashoa, Disebo Bopape,
Indrani Govender. Front row, from left: Dabby Mondlane, Matsebe Mauha, Philile Ntuli, Ramie Maleka PHOTO: MUNTU VILAKAZI
Achieving a balance in life
Mmakgowa Manaka of Makgowa Building and
opportunity
Projects, Polokwane: “We’re told that achieving
personal mastery involves becoming more aware of
how we use our time and our energy.
“So it’s all about time management. The only way I
can spend more time with my family is to have more
Know manager. So, I say, hire the best and you will get the
staff in my office to whom I can delegate.
“And now I am employing just the best project
best.”

Contributing to others
Indrani Govender: “I think that helping others
enriches our own lives. I go into rural communities in
KwaZulu-Natal and through Shanduka, the Small
THYSELF AND SOAR Enterprise Development Agency and local
municipalities, I bring people together.
“We talk to them about their wishes, we mentor
them and help them to start their own little businesses.
I give them seeds and tools.
“A petrol attendant I had helped with a business
ersonal mastery – learning how to really “Happiness comes from within. You may try to fake it, venture stopped me the other day and thanked me for
understand yourself – is the new kid on but your eyes will give you away. I strive to maintain believing in him.
the business block. Influential an inner peace. “We all need someone to believe in us.”
American psychologist Carl Rogers “I find happiness in my work when I see a Mmakgowa Manaka: “A friend of mine whose
once said: “The curious construction project is well done and has construction business was not going well needed
Pparadox is that when I accept BE SURE been completed on time.” money for her children’s nanny and for food, and I
myself just as I am, then I can change.” Indrani Govender: “Happiness for me is gave her some.
Is your builder registered the day on which I pay my staff.” “Then she needed thousands of rands to guarantee a
Understanding yourself with the NHBRC? Check at Disebo Bopape of Boledi construction job she was after, and I helped her with
Indrani Govender of Ricinz www.nhbrc.org.za/builder-search Construction in Polokwane and that too.
Constructions, KwaDukuza and Durban: Mahikeng: “I work in security as well as “I felt so good about that. I really feel it’s important
“It’s taken me a few years to get to this or call 0800 200 824. For other in construction. As you can imagine, it’s a to share the little you have. It enriches your life.”
point where I think I now understand my questions, SMS 34263 with stressful area in which to work with so
personality, beliefs and values. the keyword NHBRC. many guns around. Loving yourself
“Along the way, I’ve endured two armed SMSes cost R1.50 “Naturally, we take every possible Bongi Mogashoa: “I lead from the inside out
robberies in one month and a car accident that precaution, but I suppose that anything can because if you are confident within, this will manifest
nearly killed me. I was depressed and feared I happen on the sites that we guard. in your dealings with others.
would be paralysed. Then I heard about government “What really makes me happy at the end of the “In our culture, black men believe they are superior
initiatives to empower women in construction, went on day are my children. They are always there for me, to us. But we’re doing the same jobs on site that they
courses and soon started my own company. warm, loving and supportive. That creates happiness do. When a guy ‘hears’ what I am saying to him, then
“Today, because I was empowered, I now mentor for me.” it makes life easier for all of us.
beggars and car guards, I employ former prisoners and “That takes self-confidence on my part and that
I help with training women.” Overcoming fears comes from loving yourself.”
Bongi Mogashoa of Bongi M Construction, Philile Ntuli of Sihlangu Semnikati Trading, Matsebe Mauha of Muimeleli Civils and
Roodepoort, Gauteng: “I understand myself because I Barberton, Mpumalanga: “I know that fear is self- Construction, Polokwane: “Thank goodness that I
was only in my early teens when I decided I wanted to limiting and yet I do have fears, particularly of actually like myself. I also like order and calm. I need
go into business. achieving a balance in my life. to inspire respect and in order to do that, I need to
“With this in mind, I studied civil engineering and “I’m a single parent with two children and a business respect others.
then worked for several years for a construction to run. “So I explain what I need done really carefully and in
company so I could learn about the industry. “I go to church and am involved with my community, a polite manner. It works.”
“I started my own company and today I can say that yet I still wonder if I am giving enough to everyone Philile Ntuli: “I think that learning to accept yourself
I feel comfortable in my skin.” around me. as you are, and for what you are, leads in time to
Ramie Maleka of Tekpoi Trading Enterprise, “I am working on those fears and I’m not there yet. loving yourself. We women tend to admire others, not
Polokwane, Limpopo: “It’s taken me 10 years to really But I googled how to manage better and that is ourselves. We need to turn that around, enjoy who and
understand what it is that I want out of life. I think it’s helping me.” what we are, and make use of it.
been worth the wait because now I know that I like to Indrani Govender: “I have fears too, such as not “When I go on site, and I’m a small woman, I have
be independent, I enjoy flexibility being paid for a project, and taking to look up at the men working for me because they’re
and I need the space to do what the risk of buying a car and then usually bigger than me.
I want.” A project in partnership with the worrying if I’ll be able to pay it off. “This means that I have to ooze self-confidence.”
“I’ve overcome huge challenges in Dabby Mondlane of Dakhemo Construction and
Achieving happiness NHBRC my life and I think it’s due to Trading, Fourways, Gauteng: “At the end of a project,
Magauta Moabelo of Baetla having found ways of confronting I always thank the people who have worked on it for
Construction and Trading my fears and then overcoming me. I give them a reward and that makes all of us feel
Enterprise, Polokwane: them.” good. Me too. It takes self-confidence to praise others.”