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TIP

‘Women have the gift of
intuition. They usually make
the right decision immediately
but then spoil it by
deliberating for too long.
index
Just go with your gut
feel’

she SEJAKE

whom ELIZABETH

team, PHOTO:

her

with

Padayachee success her

Malani to integral

Stepping off the 1 NUMBER are says

expected Construction

path Q&A
opportunity

Peter Mogapi asks:
Malani Padayachee-Saman has overcome the odds, not opened in 2009. I have been
I have a company that I
only in becoming a civil engineer, but in establishing her involved in small construction
projects as a subcontractor. I
want to grow my company
own consulting firm, writes Sue Grant-Marshall and would also like to acquire
an NHBRC certificate.
Where can I get, or access,
construction projects and who
In the beginning “The latter puts money into certainty and as I was a newcomer on the do I contact? I am still on
Malani Padayachee-Saman was always going to test the boundaries of block, I can understand that.” CIDB grade 1. I have a team of
what was expected of an Indian woman who was raised conservatively. But Padayachee-Saman says the challenge for her to procure 50-50 qualified artisans.
That became clear when she became the first in her matric class in private and public sector work is one from which she doesn’t intend to NHBRC responds:
Umzinto on Durban’s South Coast to obtain her driver’s licence. back away. “After all, I now have a track record of 17 years in the sector.” Contact the nearest NHBRC
“I wanted to be a geologist, but knew it wasn’t an option back then,” Another hurdle for her MPA firm “is to increase our national footprint”. office or visit our website
she says. So she told her supportive, but surprised, parents she intended www.nhbrc.org.za for the
to study chemical engineering and headed to the University of Cape Town. builder registration forms.
“I wanted to explore South Africa. But I failed my first year Overcoming obstacles
spectacularly,” she says. “Many civil engineering companies here have gone the international Sibusiso Nkosi asks:
Changing courses to civil engineering, which was her passion, ensured route through mergers and acquisitions. I feel there’s an opportunity for I have just started my own
the smart young woman graduated with honours in 1991. She finished top a big South African company to fill the gap they’re leaving in the business and am still doing the
of her class at the University of Durban-Westville with her BSc (Civil consulting sector.” run-around trying to sort out
Engineering). She says 87% of consulting engineering practices are classified as small the basics. The main aim is to
In doing so, she became the first woman to graduate in civil engineering companies that have less than 50 employees. be involved in construction
from the university and the second black female civil engineering graduate “Unless consultants initiate projects, there will be no construction. So and infrastructure
in South Africa. that is my aim, to create a large South Africa-based consultancy.” development. How are you
She joined a Durban-based transportation and planning company to She aims to contribute towards the roll-out of construction projects both able to assist a person in my
repay her university loan. While there, she came across the inspiring work locally and internationally. position?
in strategic integrated environmental management of Johannesburg city NHBRC responds:
engineer Eric Hall. If you are registered with
She requested a transfer to Joburg, where she worked with Hall, was Next step the NHBRC as a builder, we
given a lot of autonomy and was exposed to big construction projects Padayachee-Saman has already extended into Africa, where she’s working can provide free training to
including trenchless technology. in Zambia. “My strategy is to focus on the Southern African Development you and your staff. Registered
“It meant we didn’t have to dig huge, disruptive trenches all over the Community region because it makes logistics more manageable,” says the interested parties can contact
place,” explains Padayachee-Saman. practical mother of 13-year-old twins and a 16-year-old son. their nearest NHBRC provincial
While working, she also completed a graduate diploma in environmental She also has two regional offices – in Dube City, KwaZulu-Natal, and office for further information.
engineering at Wits. Stellenberg in Cape Town. The types of free training
In addition, she won a UK department of trade and industry scholarship offered include:
in 1996 and spent a year working in England. “But I was disappointed as . Project management
the UK did a lot of remedial work, whereas in South Africa, engineers are Dreams and goals . Finance for nonfinancial
equipped to do anything – it’s far more exciting,” she says. Her dream is to walk into a room one day where nobody looks managers
surprised when told she is the civil engineer. . Construction management
“[Being a woman] is still a bit of a stigma and it will be good when it . Bricklaying
Getting started becomes the norm.” . Plastering
Shortly after her return home, and with an R80 000 loan from her To that end, Padayachee-Saman believes she and her company have a . Roofing
supportive former employers, she registered Malani Padayachee and fundamental role to play in attracting more women into the civil . Painting
Associates (MPA) in July 1997. engineering sector. “We also want to give women entrepreneurs the . Plumbing
“I nearly withdrew my resignation because the day before I handed it in, confidence to start their own consulting practices.”
I discovered I was pregnant,” she chuckles, adding: “I initially worked from And so she is a popular speaker at conferences about the role women
home to save costs.” can play in her field. “Enquiries pour in afterwards from women needing TALK TO US
But it wasn’t long before she moved into an office block that her guidance and mentorship,” she says.
reputation for quality and delivery spread. Email projects@citypress.co.za,
tweet @City_Press #OppIndex
The NHBRC is important… or SMS us on 34263 using the
Hurdles “I would like to be more involved with them. Our organisation keyword PROJECTS and tell us
“I took the path of least resistance initially, sourcing work from the specialises in construction on dolomite land as we’ve been doing it for what you are interested in.
public sector that was easier to obtain than it was in the private sector some time now. Due to our specialist knowledge in this field, we can help Please include your name.
which was, and still is, very closed. add value to the NHBRC service offering.” SMSes cost R1.50 each

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