Motheo Group works hard at skilling youth
BUSINESSWOMAN Dr Thandi Ndlovu celebrated International Women’s Month earlier this month with a book about her life, journey, struggles and plans.
Ndlovu, co-founder of The Motheo Group, one of the country’s predominantly black female-owned construction companies, celebrated 20 years in the business with the launch of a book The Motheo Story.
“What we have created at Motheo is something we are proud of and that we felt would be useful to others,” said Ndlovu.
The book was created in collaboration with the Motheo founders, Ndlovu, Chris Cudmore and Tim Potter.
What started off as a construction company has now ventured into civils, telecoms, water as well as an academy with the mandate to equip young people with skills.
Born in Soweto, Ndlovu went to study medicine at Fort Hare University and the University of Zambia.
She said her journey was built on a set of standards that included honesty, excellence and nurturing young talent, with a focus on young black women.
The Motheo Construction Group started as a hobby for Ndlovu. Today, however, it is one of the largest BEE construction companies in the country and has grown to a R522 million turnover last June, employing more than 120 permanent and 600 temporary staff members.
“The construction industry continues to mainly be made up of white men. At Motheo, we have worked to change that.
“We believe in not just using black people as window dressing for BEE statistics; instead we believe in the transferral of skills and knowledge, which we have successfully managed to do over the last 20 years,” said Ndlovu.
The Motheo Story also looks at how race dynamics in South Africa can be used to create an environment that nurtures young talent, according to Ndlovu.
“In 1997, I teamed up with Potter and Cudmore to continue in the industry.
“Tim and Chris had been in the business for a long time, while my contribution to the company over the 20 years had included a vision that would see black women becoming viable players in the construction industry and leadership that has helped steer Motheo to success, among many other qualities that I had brought to the table.”
Zama Nkosi-Mabuye, a writer, editor and communications consultant who penned the book, said she was honoured to have been asked to write it. “The story is one that has many nuggets of wisdom and inspiration, no matter what industry you’re in. The layers to The Motheo Story are shaped by South Africa’s unique history, but the insights are universal ones.”
Former first lady Zanele Mbeki, a mentor and mother figure to Ndlovu, wrote the foreword and said the beginning of Motheo was a model of reconciliation.
“I was moved to learn that Thandi Ndlovu, a combatant in the ANC military wing of Umkhonto we Sizwe, partnered with Chris Cudmore, an SADF conscript to the Namibian border war.
“This means that theoretically Thandi and Chris could have confronted each other with bullets, yet today they are partners in building the new South Africa.
“The company continues to have a reputation of integrity and ethical values,” wrote Mbeki.
Earlier this month the book was launched at an exclusive gala dinner in Sandton, and Jenny Cudmore, brand and communications manager for the company, said the company had climbed mountains, literally and figuratively, and was looking forward to the future.
“Our executive team have climbed Kilimanjaro – twice – Mount Kenya, as well as Annapurna Base Camp in the Himalayas.
“In celebration of the company turning 20, Dr Thandi, Chris and Tim, along with colleagues, family and friends embarked on a symbolic journey to the Base Camp of Everest. “Reaching Base Camp is tough; the gruelling 11-day trek represents Motheo’s 20 year climb,” said Jenny Cudmore.