Construction World May 2023

ROADS AND BRIDGES

Lungisa Tshele, CEO and co-founder of Lubocon Civils.

Bongani Msimango, COO and co-founder of Lubocon Civils.

Black-led multidisciplinary contractor Lubocon Civils has entered the big league, with its achievement last month of a Grade 9 Civil Engineering (CE) rating – the highest achievable grade – from the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). GRADE 9 CIDB RATING SIGNALS GREAT PROSPECTS FOR LUBOCON

T he level 9CE grading indicates that the company has developed the CIDB’s top rating for expertise, experience and capability in the construction industry. It has been judged capable of undertaking large and complex construction projects, having earned a track record of successfully completing such projects on time, within budget and to the required quality standards. “It has been a long and challenging journey to this point, and we are extremely proud of where we are today,” says Lungisa Tshele, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Lubocon Civils. “Importantly, this step opens the door for us to compete for the larger projects in the market – an exciting prospect for the future of our business.” The CIDB Grade 9CE will allow Lubocon Civils to bid for projects valued in excess of R200m, and to do this independently. Started nine years ago by quantity surveyor Tshele and co-founder Bongani Msimango, a civil engineer, the company has climbed steadily through the CIDB levels as it developed its capabilities. “We have deliberately grown our technical competence by attracting the best graduates and encouraging them to become professionally registered,” says Tshele. “We have earned our reputation and growth through our high levels of competence and professionalism; we promote our expertise and skills above all else.” Developing the human resources within the business has also been critical to earning the CIDB Grade 9CE rating. The company has in-house engineers professionally registered with

the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), and a number working towards registration. There are also qualified civil engineers and safety professionals registered with the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) and more undergoing a candidacy programme to become registered. “This is all part of our constant effort to build the skills foundation of Lubocon Civils,” he says. “This in turn strengthens the sustainability of the company, so that it is not reliant on its founders alone.” A track record of successfully completed projects is of course another vital requirement of the Grade 9CE rating. He notes that Lubocon Civils has expanded over time into a range of projects from road contracts on provincial highways, to water and mine infrastructure. “Our early work for local municipalities soon evolved into larger projects for provincial and national government agencies – and we then also became much more engaged with the private sector in industries like mining,” he says. “Our civils offering has really grown and diversified, making us more multidisciplinary.” The CIDB also considers the financial capacity of contractors before awarding them promotion in the gradings. A key consideration is that companies must have sufficient financial resources for large-scale projects – as well as a proven track record of financial management. “We have developed our financial capacity to give us the balance sheet required to operate at the upper levels of the

28 CONSTRUCTION WORLD MAY 2023