Page 27 - NHBRC

Gugu Matsotso, who studied civil engineering after she matriculated,
CITY PRESS, 4 MAY, 2014
owns and manages Masobode Projects in Rustenburg. It is involved in

irrigation work on mines and on mine plant maintenance. She also

renovates homes that fall under the five-year guarantee of the National

index
Home Builders’ Registration Council (NHBRC), writes Sue Grant-Marshall

Constructing

a lasting

business

In the beginning
Gugu Matsotso, the determined daughter of a nurse-
turned-administrator mother and an academic father,
always wanted to run her own business.
After matriculating, she took a gap year as she decided
on what career to follow.
She decided on civil engineering, specialising in design,
and was hired by a consultancy firm to work on roads,
sewage works and storm water drains.
“I had to establish, for example, the size of water
pipes and how many layers a road needed de- TIP
pending on its projected traffic,” says Matsotso.
SheleftKwaZulu-Natalforgreateropportuni- Stick to one thing.
ties in Gauteng “and was fortunate to work for
Bigen Africa Consulting Engineers for 11 years. If that happens to be
It’s one of the best engineering companies in construction, don’t
South Africa,” she says.
open a catering
opportunity
Getting started company too
“At Bigen I became involved in the EPWP [Extended
Public Works Programme], where I worked with munici-
palities, checked budgets in areas like water reticulation and
became convener of a programme to help small business
start-ups.”
After Matsotso had helped to get several of them going,
she decided the time had come to practise what she taught.
“In 2010, I took a leap of faith and registered Masobode,
which is my family’s clan name,” she says.
Matsotso is the mother of two young children and is a
lively, friendly and elegantly dressed woman.
The government had announced a big infrastructure
development programme a couple of years earlier and so
the future looked rosy.

SELF-STARTER Gugu Matsotso always wanted to run her own business PHOTO: ELIZABETH SEJAKE
Hurdles
“But then the global economic recession hit SA. And I
couldn’t access start-up capital because the banks said I was
a high risk.” working on a contract/freelance basis. Goals and dreams
This has affected the company’s potential for expansion. If there is a cash flow problem, then she and her husband “I see Masobode growing into a medium-sized company.
go without salaries, but they always ensure that the members Huge conglomerates don’t appeal to me. They are not
of their staff are paid. feet-on-the-ground enterprises and I like to be involved in
Overcoming obstacles every aspect of our work. I spent last weekend cleaning a
Matsotso, who is the sole shareholder in Masobode, and house we’d repaired, breaking a couple of nails in the
her husband, Billy, who does the company’s marketing, Next step process.”
decided to continue working from their Rustenburg home. Matsotso believes there are many opportunities in the She chuckles. “But it had to be perfect.”
“Why pay office rental costs if we don’t need to?” she mining industry “because it will increasingly privatise One day she envisages moving into the rest of Africa
asks. services which will benefit entrepreneurs like me”. “because it’s exploding with potential”.
“In the beginning, we subcontracted work, even though She makes a point of reading as much as she can about “It’s the place to be.”
that’s risky because it requires less capital. the future and studies possible shifts in industries like
“But we soon realised we needed to retain the skills of mining, from which she can benefit.
the people who work for us, like carpenters, bricklayers and “I know that mining iron ore and manganese could NHBRC is important…
steel fixers.” expand near Upington, so I’ll be keeping an eye on that.” “Itcanopenupopportunitiesformeinthehome-building
Today Matsotso has 50 people working for her, five of During the global recession, Matsotso read up on Enron industry because it regulates it. I’m particularly interested
them full time, 20 permanent part-time employees, and 25 so she could learn from the company’s mistakes. in low-cost, subsidised homes.”

A good foundation for your dream home

Thisiswherewehelpyou.CityPressandtheNationalHomeBuilders’Registration Brick by THE NATIONAL HOME BUILDERS’ REGISTRATION
Council have partnered up to offer you advice on all aspects of building and COUNCIL SERVES BOTH CONSUMERS AND THOSE
renovating your house, and insight into how to get into the industry and thrive WHO WORK IN THE INDUSTRY
of all help you spot the potholes on the road to the bliss of home ownership brick CONSUMERS: BENEFITS
in it.
Whether you are building your dream house or redoing the bathroom in your
. Compliance with National Home Builders’ Registration Council’s home
first house, we want to answer your questions, help you troubleshoot and most
before you spend your life’s savings. builders’ manual, which sets minimum quality standards.
. Quality inspections during construction by the council.
For those who wish to go into the industry, we will be offering advice on how . Major structural warranty cover for a period of up to five years from
to get your tender perfect, as well as how to use technology to build houses date of occupation.
of the future. We will be covering innovation in the industry as well as how . Mediation by the council between consumer and builder.
to finance your new construction business, or grow your existing one. We will . Recourse through our complaints, arbitration and remedial processes.
be covering the changing face of the industry as it adapts to meet the housing
needs of South Africa’s 52 million people through the stories of 20 women who BUILDERS: BENEFITS
are the faces of transformation in the industry. . Compliance to Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act 95 of 1998.
Joinusonthis20-weekjourneyasweexplorethecomplexindustrythatcreates . Recognition by financial institutions as an accredited home builder.
the places we call home. Contact us on projects@citypress.co.za, or follow us . Access to the council’s mediation services.
on Twitter @City_Press #OppIndex and we will put your questions to our panel . Access to the council’s training and other building resources.
of experts. – Gayle Edmunds

Assuring quality

homes since 1998

The NHBRC is a statutory body whose role is to protect the interests
of housing consumers and to regulate the home building industry – in
line with the Housing Consumers Measures Protection Act.

Toll Free Number: 0800 200 824 / Fraud Hotline: 0800 203 698 / Tel: +27 11 317 0000

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