Construction World January 2022

SVA INTERNATIONAL APPOINTS BHEKI VILAKAZI AS MD

P remier African architectural practice, SVA International (SVAI) has appointed Bheki Vilakazi as its new Managing Director, effective October 2021. SVAI is a member of the GIBB Group of Companies, and GIBB Engineering, which jointly aim to provide comprehensive solutions to property developers and contractors’ clients. As a part of GIBB’s Property Delivery Unit, SVAI provides integrated, comprehensive building-service offerings. GIBB Property Delivery Unit’s capabilities cover engineering, architecture, building electronics, health, safety, environmental and sustainability, town planning and urban planning, tenant management and building-management systems. Vilakazi is an economics graduate from the University of the Witwatersrand, with supplementary certificates in corporate governance, executive development and construction management from Rand Afrikaans University, Wits Business School and Stellenbosch University respectively. Currently, he is completing his MBA at the Business School Netherlands. “My goal is to provide clarity of direction and pull everyone in the company around the same vision, while also ensuring that the business is properly diversified, with a continuing focus on business development”, remarks Vilakazi. Given his extensive years in the built environment and particularly with more than 15 years of executive experience under his belt, Vilakazi has demonstrated an impressive ability to enhance business optimization and profitability while driving transformation within both JSE-listed and non-listed entities. In particular, Vilakazi contributions and leadership in the residential space have resulted in the delivery of various flagship social housing projects in South Africa. “It’s our pleasure to welcome Vilakazi to SVAI and by extension the GIBB Group. We look forward to a sustained and fruitful tenure. We have full confidence in his ability to further enhance SVAI’s legacy of offering inclusive design-led, creative and viable solutions to our clients,” concludes GIBB Group CEO, Richard Vries. 

7 CONSTRUCTION WORLD JANUARY 2022