Modular buildings are a viable enterprise

IT TOOK three years for Simphiwe Zama to establish his business, Zama Modular Buildings, and develop it into a viable venture.

Zama believes the company has the potential to grow into a force to be reckoned with in the future, as it has managed and implemented about seven major projects in a short time.

They have successfully handled projects for various municipalities as well as the Department of Education, he pointed out.

He said the company wants to spread its wings to the rest of the Southern African Development Community by providing classrooms and clinics in the next five years.

“I am busy investigating a permanent solution in the aerated concrete side of the business in the long term to see if we can work with the Human Settlements Department to explore areas to solve the shortage of accommodation in the country.”

Zama, the sole director, added that his business came into being when he quit his job after working for established companies like Kwikspace Modular Buildings and Powerprofile in Gauteng.

He felt that he had gained enough experience to go solo at the time, he said. His company operates in the prefabricated and alternative buildings industry.

It builds mobile classrooms and accommodation, predominantly those required by the government.

Zama said his company was also involved in supplying classrooms to the Kwazulu-natal government, office parks, and repairing damaged classrooms.

Zama has a wealth of experience in the industry.

“I worked for five years in the industry and I was also a regional manager in Durban until 2012.

“I decided to enter the industry because there were very few black people in the industry, which was dominated by white players,” said Zama.

Today the company operates in Kwazulu-natal and the Eastern Cape.

“It hasn’t been easy to start a business, though.

“The lack of funding was the biggest challenge, but fortunately I used some money from my savings and my pension payout after resigning.

“I was able to raise just more than R200 000 to start the business in 2014,” added Zama, who is a divorced 39-yearold entrepreneur with three children.

He said he has faced similar challenges that small businesses in the country have to contend with such as receiving late payments from the government.

“It puts some of us at risk and it becomes difficult to operate the business.

“Fortunately, I have been able to pay my workers on time and meet some other financial obligations.”

Small businesses can be a vehicle to reduce the high unemployment rate in the country and provide jobs for young people, he pointed out.

“The company has seven permanent employees with a few casual workers on site, depending on the amount of work that is required at a specific time.”

Zama said the business had the potential and could grow if South Africans embraced the concept of alternative structures.

“We need a great shift in mindset from communities to accept alternative buildings, especially for accommodation,” he said.