Mariswe InTouch Magazine 2021

2021

INTOUCH 2021 CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS

CONTENTS

CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS INTOUCH 2021

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

CORPORATE

03 | Karabo Modiko joins Mariswe Board
04 | Tracy Naidoo is CFO
04 | New MD in Tanzania
05 | Professional registrations
07 | Africa success
09 | Risk Management update
11 | EE Committee
12 | Thoughts from a few shareholders
13 | Supplier development - a new approach
14 | Empowered women empower women
15 | Voluntary work in the industry

DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS

18 | Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Development Project
19 | Infrastructure Planning update
21 | Jabulani Reservoir
23 | Long distance fibre project
24 | Palm View
25 | OPRC update
27 | Roche Bois project, Mauritius
28 | Umgeni Water
29 | Vuthela iLembe
30 | Vaalkop Water Treatment Works

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

33 | Nurture a Girl expands
34 | New look for Nurture a Girl team

INTOUCH 2021

STAYING
ENGAGED

As we near the end of another tough year I would like Board news
to begin this message with a heartfelt thank you to all
at Mariswe for your loyalty and resilience over one of In August the Board took the decision to change the
the most difficult periods we have had to face in our title of our Head of Finance, Tracy Naidoo, to that
company, our country and across the world. We are of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in line with the
getting through this, one step at a time, thanks to your increased responsibilities and risks of her role. I am
focus on staying engaged and building for the recovery. very happy with this decision and wish Tracy well in
continuing her professional and adept leadership of
I am happy to say that despite the business inter- Mariswe’s critical financial functions.
ruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Mariswe
has remained profitable, and we have honoured our We have regretfully accepted the resignation of Danvir
obligations to our stakeholders. This was largely due Maharaj from the Transportation team and the Board
to firm management of costs, one of the few key of Mariswe. While this is a great loss to company, we
variables within our control. wish him every happiness on his future journey.

We have continued to connect with our clients, albeit Danvir joined Mariswe in March 2016 and has
mostly on a virtual basis, and we are all now well made a significant contribution to the growth of the
versed in virtual interactions rather than face-to-face Transportation Division as Lead Engineer: Pavement
meetings. While nothing can entirely replace personal Design and Materials. He has also managed our
communication, we have successfully managed the critical ICT functionality since early 2019. Danvir was a
technical and professional requirements of our clients Trustee of the Mariswe Black Employees Trust (MBET)
over this difficult period. from its inception in 2017 and was appointed as a
Non-Executive Director representing MBET on the
Our staff are getting vaccinated against Covid-19. Mariswe Board in 2019.
We note that vaccinations are not mandatory, but we
continue to encourage everyone to take this route Following unanimous Board approval, it gives me great
and I am happy with the staff uptake of vaccinations. pleasure to welcome Karabo Modiko, our Finance
Manager, to her new roles as a Trustee of MBET and
Governance a member of the Mariswe Board. I am delighted that
she has accepted these increased responsibilities
The appointments of the CEO as Information Officer and she will have the full support of all our directors.
and Bashni Harry as Deputy Information Officer were
necessitated by the Protection of Personal Information It remains for me to say I hope you enjoy reading
Act No.4 of 2013 (POPIA) coming into effect this year. our annual In Touch magazine, which is presented
We are committed to complying with POPIA and as a digital version only this year. We look forward to
accordingly amending our systems and providing continuing to engage with you and providing you with
training for key employees to ensure that stakeholder the highest quality solutions to your infrastructure
personal information in our custody is fully protected. development requirements. We are hoping for a more
productive year ahead and we are particularly excited
Quality Management System Audit to be celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2022.

We are pleased to report that Mariswe received a Nonkululeko Sindane, CEO
positive outcome from its QMS audit in September
2021, with the auditor noting several “Best Practices”
among our systems. We are indebted to our
employees who do their part every day to ensure that
we protect our ISO 9001:2015 certification.

In line with ISO 9001:2015, we continually develop
our risk management systems to ensure delivery of
quality products to our clients and limit unnecessary
exposure.

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INTOUCH 2021 CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS

KARABO MODIKO JOINS
MARISWE BOARD

Karabo Modiko has been nominated by the Mariswe Board
as a Trustee of the Mariswe Black Employees Trust (MBET),
which owns 25% of the company’s shares and has all its
South African black employees as beneficiaries. She has also
been appointed as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of
Mariswe and Mariswe Holdings.

This is an enormous responsibility on her but a sign of
confidence in her abilities by both the Board of Trustees of
MBET and the Board of Directors of Mariswe and Mariswe
Holdings.

“I look forward to the challenge of being part of the Mariswe
(Pty) Ltd Board and I will strive to add value to the strategic
objectives of Mariswe,” she says.

Karabo joined Mariswe in January 2019 as Finance Manager.
She holds a BCom Financial Accounting, Management
Accounting and Finance, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in
Financial Accounting (NQF Level 8).

Karabo has a wealth of experience spanning 16 years in the following roles:

• Debtors Clerk for SADI Consulting;
• Trainee Accountant Understudy at Deloitte;
• Creditors Clerk at Vericon Outsourcing, a Bidvest subsidiary;
• Accountant at Hamonate Consulting;
• Financial Accountant at AOC Geomatics, a multinational geospatial entity;
• ABSA Financial Controller at the Tsebo Outsourcing Group; and
• Financial Accountant at Brittan Healthcare for four years, prior to moving to Mariswe.

Karabo’s key expertise includes, amongst others, financial management, financial reporting, and
implementation of accounting policies.

“I look forward to the challenge of being part of the Mariswe (Pty) Ltd Board
and I will strive to add value to the strategic objectives of Mariswe."

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CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS INTOUCH 2021

TRACY IS OUR CHIEF NEW MD AT UWP
FINANCIAL OFFICER CONSULTING
TANZANIA
Tracy Naidoo is Mariswe’s
Chief Financial Officer Salome Donati has been appointed as Managing
(CFO). This change from Director of UWP Consulting (Tanzania) Limited. Salome
her previous title as Head is a Tanzanian citizen who has worked at the firm for
of Finance recognises the more than 12 years.
increased responsibilities
and risks she has taken Her previous role was Senior Administrator and
in her stride in recent Principal Accounts Officer, and she has proven herself
years due to changes in to be proactive, client focused and highly committed
the company structure, to quality. Salome has considerable experience in
increased compliance management of company processes and a very
reporting and the Covid-19 successful track record in managing the financial and
pandemic. human resources affairs of the company, including
project contracts.
Tracy is a skilled professional with more than
20 years of financial experience, 17 at senior She is registered with the National Board of
management level. She is a qualified Chartered Accountants and Auditors as a Principal Accounts
Accountant with expertise in accounting, auditing, Officer and has a Master’s in Business Administration
taxation and company secretarial matters. Tracy (MBA) from the University of Dar es Salaam.
has filled various financial support roles, starting
with her articles at CPG Chartered Accountants, We congratulate her on qualifying as a Certified Public
then as an investigator at SARS. She moved on to Accountant (CPA) in September 2021.
the Coca Cola Company as a financial accountant,
followed by Barloworld as a financial manager. Salome’s appointment follows Henry Catma’s
Prior to joining Mariswe in 2018 she was Director retirement as Managing Director of UWP Consulting
of Finance at Fluor South Africa, where she played (Tanzania). Henry has led the company since its
a pivotal role in transformation initiatives. inception in 2005 and his leadership and institutional
knowledge will not be lost to us as he has taken up a
Tracy is registered with the South African Institute new role of Director for Consultancy Services.
of Chartered Accountants, Institute of Directors
in South Africa and South African Institute of We wish both Salome and Henry well in their
Tax Practitioners. new positions.

She has served on various Board committees Salome Donati Henry Catma
and is a Statutory Director on the Mariswe, UWP
Consulting Tanzania and UWP Ghana Boards. In 04 |
addition to her formal role, she has been a member
of the CESA Finance Committee, Trustee of both the
Fluor Development Trust and Pension Fund Board,
Treasurer at Fluor South Africa Toastmasters Club
in Woodmead, Commissioner of Oaths in South
Africa, and Member of the Diversity Employment
and Equity Committee as well as Director and
Chair of the FDT Craft Training Centre.

Tracy’s skills, experience and
enthusiasm have made her a
valuable asset to Mariswe

INTOUCH 2021 CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS

PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS

Congratulations to Nomampondomise (Pondy) Ngxongxela, Elbert Eksteen and Prissy
Kensly on their professional registrations with ECSA in the past year. Pondy and Elbert
were registered as Professional Engineers, and Prissy as a Professional Technician.

Pondy Ngxongxela her to utilise her academic strengths. She obtained a bursary from a
government department and was convinced she would be able to use
Pondy chose Civil Engineering her skills and future expertise to “help build the nation”.
as a career that she considered
to be stable in the long run, while She completed her matric in Pietermaritzburg in 2008, began her BSc
also providing an opportunity for Eng (Civil) at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2009 and graduated
in 2012. “I have been fortunate enough to gain experience in both
the public and private sectors, leaving me with a holistic view and
understanding of our industry and the impact our work has on ordinary
South Africans,” she says.

Pondy has specialised in Structural Design, Construction Supervision,
Contract Documentation and Specification, and Project Management.
She says her interest in the overall processes involved in the delivery
of infrastructure and the impact on communities and organisations has
increased with the progress of her career.

She was recently appointed Head of KZN Management Services in the
Pietermaritzburg office. “I hope to be able to lead in my new capacity
in a way that brings real value to the organisation and the people we
work with.”

Prissy Kensly was cut out for teaching. All I knew
was that I wanted to do something
Prissy is a Senior Materials outdoors and different every day.”
Technician based at the Cape
Town office but working on site. She decided civil engineering
She was previously the CAD would be a blessing as she could
operator and a member of the study for six months and work for
design team in Cape Town. She six months to pay for her studies.
began her career with Mariswe She studied Civil Engineering
more than 30 years ago with at CPUT (previously Peninsula
stalwarts like Mike White and Carl Technikon).
van der Merwe as her mentors.
“Little did I realise I would end up
Prissy went to school in Mitchells being the only female in a class of
Plain. “Back then being a Coloured 35 men. I didn’t think my career
female from the Cape Flats, there choice 30 odd years ago was
were not a lot of options to further ground-breaking as a woman in
your studies, unless you went into
teaching,” she says. “I didn’t think I

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CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS INTOUCH 2021

Elbert Eksteen He has participated in many 110% in everything I do and this
projects including flood line is why I wanted to complete my
Elbert is a Senior Engineer in the calculations for bridge designs, professional registration to set an
Water and Sanitation Division, preliminary design for a pumped example of striving to be the best
based in the Pretoria office. His pipeline in Johannesburg, that I can be.
interest in engineering came from feasibility study and design of a
his older brother who studied gravity pipeline in Liberia, closure “I would like to encourage and
mechanical engineering. Taking for a construction project in motivate young engineers to
his advice, Elbert went on to Wallmannsthal for a potable water complete the documentation
graduate with a B (Eng) Civil gravity main, and construction required by ECSA and wish them
Engineering from the University supervision/support for fibre optic the best for their respective paths
of Pretoria. installation along N2 between to registration.”
Cape Town and Durban.
Upon graduating, Elbert was
employed as an intern with the In 2015 he became a member
Magalies Water Capacity Building of the team at the Lusaka Water
Programme. He was placed with Supply, Sanitation and Drainage
Mariswe, the professional services Project team in Zambia where
provider for the programme, and Mariswe was appointed as
he remains with us today. Consulting Supervising Engineer
for all the construction packages.
“I would like to
encourage and motivate Elbert believes registration as
young engineers Professional Engineer with ECSA
to complete the has enormous benefits including
documentation required marketability, international recog-
by ECSA and wish nition of qualifications, and in-
them the best for their creased confidence in your
respective paths to abilities by yourself, your employer
registration.” and your clients.

“I always strive for excellence
in life and quality in work,” he
says. “My family supports me

engineering or that it might pave the
way for other females in engineering.
I saw it as the career best suited for
me. If I have inspired other ladies out
there to become engineers, you are all
welcome.”

Prissy says that having completed her
studies many years ago, receiving
ECSA registration in 2020 was a
personal milestone for her. If you love
what you do, the years don’t count, she
says. “I approach each new project as
a fresh start with a new area to live and
work in, new people to work with, and
new aspects of engineering to apply.”

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INTOUCH 2021 CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS

A VITAL AND REWARDING
AFRICAN FOOTPRINT

Nonkululeko Sindane, CEO

As Mariswe approaches its Burkina
50th anniversary in 2022, CEO Sierra Faso
Nonkululeko Sindane reflects Leone
that the success of the firm has
resulted from opportunities not Liberia Ghana Uganda
only at home but across Africa.
Democratic Rwanda Kenya
“I am proud that we have grown from strength to Republic
strength in providing civil engineering services of Congo Tanzania
to improve the quality of life for communities in
18 African countries,” she says. “We continue to Nambia Zambia
embrace traditions like excellence and community
focus that date back to our humble beginnings in Zimbabwe
1972, melded with new ones that make us relevant Botswana
now.
South Mozambique
“There is something special about the calibre of Africa Madagascar
person who works at Mariswe. Since day one, our
employees have always acted in the interests of the eSwatini
team and lived our mantra of engineering solutions Lesotho
that improve lives.”
Offices & ongoing projects
It is this, she believes, that drove Mariswe’s successful throughout Africa
footprint within the African continent. “When we
started looking at cross-border opportunities in Office
the early 2000s, we had an excellent track record Project
in South Africa, a strong professional team to
plan, design and deliver projects, sound project
management capabilities, and an appetite for growth.
Most of all, our team had the passion and flexibility
to deliver benefits to communities, no matter where
they were.”

Breakthrough projects

The Tanzania office was launched in May 2005 as a partnership between Mariswe (then UWP Consulting)
and five local professionals. One of its most notable awards has been supervision of the Lower Ruvu Water
Treatment Plant expansion to provide potable water to Dar es Salaam.

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CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS INTOUCH 2021

Off the back of this came the Lusaka Water Supply, Sanitation and Drainage (LWSSD) project in Zambia. In
2015 Mariswe South Africa was appointed as construction supervising engineer, the company’s biggest ever
single award.

The project involved six construction packages that directly benefit more than 1.2 million people.
Construction of large civil infrastructure in the heart of a busy city is difficult and Mariswe assembled a 70-strong
multinational team in Lusaka including engineers, technicians, planners, quantity surveyors, a contract law
specialist, health and safety personnel, an environmental specialist and a social and gender specialist.

It has become second nature to Mariswe to pursue projects on the continent, with
the lion’s share of assignments to date in water, roads and mining infrastructure.
In addition to Tanzania, Mariswe has subsidiary firms in Ghana and Zambia
and a branch office in Lesotho. The company has worked in Botswana, Burkina
Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, eSwatini, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar,
Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Communication “P rojects from the continent have kept us going
and our strategy is to continue investing time and
Mariswe partners with local teams in every country and resources in local projects as well as new cross-
has achieved pleasing outcomes through structures border opportunities,” she says.
such as joint ventures and consortia. “No project can
be successfully delivered by an external firm without “ While Covid-19 has set us back, the vaccination
the insight and understanding that can only come campaigns that are taking shape on the continent
from the local team,” Nonkululeko points out. will help get us back into action in developing vital
infrastructure which is desperately needed across
There is no doubt that cross-border opportunities the greater part of Africa. The pandemic has shown
have supported Mariswe’s sustainability in South up our unequal and inadequate infrastructure and
Africa particularly in recent years when a stagnant we have a clear view of what we need to do.”
economy and decline in infrastructure spending
have negatively impacted the construction sector.

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INTOUCH 2021 CORPORATE DDIIVVIISSIIOONNAALLNAENWDSPARNODJEPCRTONJECWTSS COMMUNITY PROJECTS

CUSTOMISING RISK MANAGEMENT
FOR OUR BUSINESS

Lia Wise (left) and Monja Esterhuizen (right),
Lead Planning Specialists

A Risk Management Register helps a company to manage the impact
of uncertain or unknown future events. Mariswe uses manual Excel
format risk registers for corporate, project and construction risk
management, but this is about to change.

Wendy Meyer (inset right), Senior Systems and Quality Compliance Officer in the

Pietermaritzburg office, has developed an online Risk Management System which has
already been successfully piloted within the firm’s Management Committee.

This system is designed for corporate or project risks that might pose a serious risk to
the company. Other project related risks will be managed on a regional level using the
same system.

Project risk management identified and put in place to reduce the potential
impact and severity of a risk. This also assists in
Project Risk Management is integrated into all ensuring the accountability and responsibility of
assignments on which Mariswe works from project each person on the team, and ultimately helps us to
identification and the tendering phase to closure. ensure delivery of a project on time, within budget
and within scope.
All projects include a Risk Management component,
standard from our project management principles.
Should there be risks identified during the project
life cycle, a Risk Register is
established and updated as
necessary during the project.
The Risk Register then acts as
risk management and mitigation
tool for the Project Manager
as well as stakeholders on the
project.

A Risk Management Committee
may be established to deal
specifically with those risks
arising from complex or difficult
projects.

The Risk Register helps Project
Managers and team members to
consider not only technical and
managerial aspects, but also
potential unforeseen events.
Mitigating actions can then be

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CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS INTOUCH 2021

E-system

The new online system, which is
almost ready to go live, contains
automated follow-ups which prompt
people to continuously revisit and
manage risk. Risks are added to the
register online and the data per risk
is captured.

An email is sent to the Risk Owner
whenever a new risk is entered into
the system and a list of all the risks
and associated information is available
in the system register. Risks can be
filtered according to Owner, Category
(project related, corporate governance,
human resources, etc), Probability
Baseline and Impact Baseline.

An Excel spreadsheet linked to the
System automatically saves updates
and can be used as a documented
report.

Additional automated functions are built into the system. For example, a Risk Owner will be sent email reminders if
the status of a risk has not been updated for some time.

This will be a great improvement that is user friendly, easy to access and will ensure that risks are managed properly.

Mariswe is not only Improving Lives and Engineering Solutions, but we are doing it
effectively and efficiently through frameworks such as Risk Management.

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INTOUCH 2021 CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS

OUR EMPLOYMENT
EQUITY COMMITTEE

The five members of the current Employment Equity The EE Committee has met twice this year and had
Committee were appointed in January 2021 and will meaningful discussions regarding the company’s
serve a two-year term. current policies and practises, including identifying
potential barriers in term of the Employment Equity
The four employee nominated Employment Equity Act.
Committee Members are Ntsako Masangu (Gauteng),
Reuben Mboyise (KwaZulu-Natal ), Thomas McEwen The Committee will finalise the new Employment
(Western Cape) and Siyabonga Sityata (Eastern Equity Plan for Board approval and the annual EEA
Cape). reports before the end of 2021.

Nicole Levin, one of the Human Resources Managers While the Committee fulfils a legislative mandate,
at Mariswe, was appointed by the company as the its role is also strategic in providing additional
Employment Equity Manager and fifth member of the oversight and contribution to the implementation of
Employment Equity Committee. our strategic goal of transforming the company.

The EE Committee is responsible for analysing and
consulting on EE measures within the company,
preparing the Employment Equity Plan for Board
approval, annual reporting, and assisting in the
implementation of transformation interventions.

Ntsako Masangu Reuben Mboyise Thomas McEwen Siyabonga Sityata Nicole Levin
(Gauteng) (KwaZulu-Natal ) (Western Cape) (Eastern Cape)

The EE Committee has met twice this year and had meaningful discussions
regarding the company’s current policies and practises, including identifying
potential barriers in term of the Employment Equity Act.

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CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS INTOUCH 2021

MARISWE WORKS TO MAKE EMPLOYEE
SHARE SCHEME MORE ACCESSIBLE

Mariswe prides itself in being 100% owned by its employees. More than 60% Kuben Govender
of employees either own shares or are direct shareholding beneficiaries. Black Lia Wise
employees own 51.57% of the firm, while 28.26% is owned by women and 20.39% Monja Esterhuizen
by black women.
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The Mariswe Black Employees Trust (MBET) established a company known as
Abaqeshwa as its investment arm. Abaqeshwa holds 25% of Mariswe's shares.
The Mariswe Shareholders Trust (MST) houses the remainder of shares not owned
by individuals or MBET.

“The opportunity for employees to acquire shares in a company like Mariswe,
which is on the eve of its 50th anniversary, offers great advantage both to Mariswe
as employer and of course to the employees,” says Mariswe shareholder Monja
Esterhuizen.

“It helps to create a sense of belonging and of participation in the company
culture. It also provides reward and recognition that inspire staff to contribute to
the growth and development of the company.”

Reviewing model

Mariswe is currently using a participatory approach to review the shareholding
model in a move to realise more benefits for its shareholders and to ensure
adaptability to changing economic conditions. “This illustrates the firm’s flexibility
and commitment to continuous engagement with its stakeholders or, in this case,
shareholders,” says Monja.

Lia Wise became a Mariswe shareholder in 2012. “Yes, the deposit I had to pay
caused anxiety, heart palpitations and many discussions with other shareholders.
Was that, together with a five-and-a-half-year payment period, really worth it?”

Lia took the leap, wanting to show her commitment to the company and share in its
profits. “While you don’t see the full benefit of your investment for the repayment
period, dividends do make a difference,” she says. “The better the company
performs, the bigger the dividend, so that’s a great incentive.

“Mariswe’s current efforts to make the purchase of shares more affordable are very
positive as the future of the company rests in young and committed employees as
potential shareholders.”

Shareholder Kuban Govender says The Mariswe Black Employees Trust allows all
black South African employees, including staff in non-technical roles, to benefit from
the performance of the company. “Dividends have been paid to the beneficiaries
over the past two years. This provides additional income and an opportunity for
black staff to purchase additional shares in their personal capacities.

“When I joined Mariswe, I was impressed by the balanced approach that seeks
both to empower previously disadvantaged individuals and to recognise and
compensate top achievers for their contribution to the company’s success."

INTOUCH 2021 CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS

WHY SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT
DOESN’T WORK

In this opinion piece, Simbarashe Garaba, Strategic Projects Lead at Mariswe, argues
that collaboration is the only way to achieve sustainable supplier development.

The economic hiatus caused by Covid-19 has highlighted the importance of empowered
and efficient localised supply chains. Supplier development is a path to forming strong
supply chains. But the relationship between economic growth and supplier development
all too often resembles a tug of war.

Strong localised supply chains require suppliers who have access to the latest technology
in the form of equipment, processes and structures, allowing greater potential for
shared value.

Supplier development is not simply providing an • The client’s engineers often seek a “magic pill”
opportunity to do business. It is a two-way street. As in which all the risk is passed onto someone
a buyer of a product or service, it is in your interests else instead of dealing with the daily “struggles”
to develop your supplier`s ability to extract value of emerging suppliers. With so many different
from supply chain processes, strategy development parties participating in an infrastructure
and business processes. You, in turn, will get value in project the shared responsibility for supplier
the form of cost savings, new products, unlocking of development, led by the client, may be
new market segments, reduced provision timelines, overlooked in favour of other deliverables.
quality improvement, predictability, and timeous
production, amongst others. Why do we focus only on the technical aspect? It is
easier to focus on technical execution because one
Within the infrastructure space, our perception of can get away without shared value. Shared value
supply chain value focuses mostly on technical requires more collaboration and investment.
execution. However, it is support functions such as
HR and finance that lie at the heart of the business There is a need for a cross-functional team drawn from
and drive technical success. the client, contractor and consultants to share skills
for both technical and business deliverables. Trust
The complexity of technical execution in the and shared value should anchor the relationship.
infrastructure environment also needs to be
examined. In infrastructure development, the time Collaboration through the lens of shared value
from client conception to completion of a project encourages all the parties to come to the table with
may stretch to several years and each project is a full knowledge that when we win, we all win.
once-off temporary job.
Businesses must ask themselves what collaboration
There are several factors that may severely impact looks like. Who are we collaborating with and why?
suppliers: How do we measure collaboration? How do we
manage the collaboration to create shared value?
• Construction projects are often complex with What resources do we need?
multiple moving parts (human and machine) in a
physical environment that is never constant. If we can answer these questions, we may not ask
the usual “How much money have we spent on local
• There are uncertainties around capital outlay, contractors this year?”, but rather “How much shared
the cost of rework and the impact of delays and value has our supplier development programme
power quality. created this year?”

• Suppliers have to rely on major contractors
irrespective of locality to meet BBBEE metrics.

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CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS INTOUCH 2021

EMPOWERED WOMEN
EMPOWER WOMEN

Tracy Naidoo, Chief Financial Officer

Being a woman in leadership in a predominantly male industry for the past 12
years provides me with infinite opportunities to lead, create and contribute to
the success of the organisation and the diverse people that I interact with in
executing my duties.

I endeavour to be real, inspire, support and mentor and be an example that
will motivate other women to step up their game and believe in themselves to
reach their full potential. By keeping it real, others can identify with a dream
that can become a reality. We need to embrace our worst fears and overcome
mediocrity in every aspect of our lives.

Women should be hungry for success, gain knowledge and triple the rate of
learning to produce exceptional results and make phenomenal contributions to
every facet of their lives, thereby impacting the nation at large. We must fearlessly
venture into unchartered territories and break the limitations set before us. We
have the ability and tenacity to become game changers, trend setters and
history makers by striving to educate young women to worry less about fitting
into glass slippers and more about shattering glass ceilings. Together we CAN!

WOMEN CREATE YOUR DREAM, CELEBRATE YOURSELF, RULE YOUR
QUEENDOM.

Written for Women’s Day – 9 September 2021 – these sentiments
mirror the Mariswe culture of creating an enabling environment
for women to excel and realise their full potential at every level in
the civil engineering consulting sector.

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INTOUCH 2021 CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS

GETTING INVOLVED IN
OUR INDUSTRY

Many Mariswe employees give their spare time and dedication to take up voluntary roles in engineering and
other industry organisations. Three members of the Gauteng team share what it means to them to play an
active role in the larger engineering community.

Kuben Govender We must be the change

“We all have a responsibility to Kuben Govender has been a member of the SAICE
be the change we want to see, as since his student days and has remained actively
Gandhi once said. Through these involved. He has been a corporate member since
organisations we can promote 2014 and is currently the Chairperson of the SAICE IT
capacity building and the transfer Division and the Education & Training Portfolio Lead
of knowledge, get sought-after for the SAICE Water Division.
mentorship from industry leaders,
and improve the implementation, In both roles he hosts formal and informal meetings,
operation and maintenance of symposia and webinars that provide members with a
infrastructure in South Africa through platform for training and dissemination of information.
skills development.”
Kuben is also an IMESA member contributing to the
training and education portfolio on the Northern
Provinces Management Committee. In addition, he
chairs the WISA Industrial Water Division Participation
Structure.

Kuben believes these voluntary roles are beneficial
on many levels. “You are giving back to the industry
and the country by providing support to learners,
tertiary level students, graduates and professionals.
We can make a difference through voluntary
organisations where we collaborate on training
initiatives and have open discussions with industry
leaders and educational Institutions.”

He adds that he has gained insight into the issues
faced by our country, especially relating to civil
infrastructure, and entry to conversations on important
issues with influential people who hold sway in the
industry. His involvement has also given him exposure
and recognition to the benefit of his career.

“We all have a responsibility to be the change we
want to see, as Gandhi once said. Through these
organisations we can promote capacity building
and the transfer of knowledge, get sought-after
mentorship from industry leaders, and improve
the implementation, operation and maintenance
of infrastructure in South Africa through skills
development.”

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CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS INTOUCH 2021

Creating awareness So much to learn

Gerald Maime is a member of the SAICE Water For the past year Jerry Lekalakala has
Division Committee, where he manages the social served as a committee member in the
media and under-35 portfolios. “This involvement has SAICE Information and Technology (IT)
helped me to get exposure in the civil engineering division as the Social Media Manager.
industry, which is good for my own and Mariswe’s
reputation and visibility in the market.” “I have grown to understand how
important the people who join the
The committee meetings (particularly when face- SAICE’s voluntary committees are
to-face) are excellent opportunities for networking, in making it a knowledge base and
Gerald adds. haven for civil engineers in South
Africa,” says Jerry.
“The SAICE committees create awareness among
fellow civil engineers, university students and high He believes that the SAICE needs
school learners. I grew up in an environment where more capable engineers of all ages
there is little understanding of water engineering to actively participate in building the
and many people still ask me what I do at work. organisation for future engineers
That’s why I am happy to have the opportunity to by sharing knowledge and creating
help spread awareness and educate others. meaningful professional relationships
within the industry.
“There are many experts on the committee who
are very busy but still manage to dedicate time “I am grateful for the opportunity to
to help solve problems encountered in the water serve within the SAICE. I encourage
engineering field. This encourages me to be more all engineers to get involved, there
actively involved as a young engineer.” is so much to learn and there are so
many professionals to meet.”

Gerald Maime Jerry Lekalakala

“I am grateful for the
opportunity to serve within
the SAICE. I encourage all
engineers to get involved,
there is so much to learn
and there are so many
professionals to meet.”

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INTOUCH 2021 CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS

DIVISIONAL AND
PROJECT NEWS

CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS INTOUCH 2021

IMPROVING THE QUALITY
OF LIFE IN DAR ES SALAAM

Pieter Mare, Chief Resident Engineer

In mid-2016 a joint venture between UWP South Africa (now Mariswe), together with
UWP Consulting (Tanzania), and JMK International Consultants was appointed as the
Construction Supervision Consultant for the Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Development
Project. This wide-ranging project aims to improve urban services and institutional
capacity in Dar es Salaam.

Broadly, the work involves UWP Consulting (Tanzania)
• Local roads and flood control drainage systems; Ltd was formed as a partnership
• Upgrading within low income communities; between Mariswe (Pty) Ltd
• Institutional strengthening; (then known as UWP
• Implementation support, monitoring and evaluation. South Africa) and five local
professionals in May 2005. It has
Dar es Salaam’s estimated population of 6 million is expected successfully completed roads and
to more than double by 2030. About 70 to 80% of residents water projects valued at more
live in unplanned informal settlements and infrastructure has than 5 million USD. Notable
lagged far behind the pace of urban growth. awards include the design of the
65 km Tanga-Horohoro and
Dar es Salaam is very flat with a high water table and an 78 km Peramiho-Mbinga roads,
average annual rainfall of 1 450mm, which creates unique as well as supervision of the
engineering problems and has required some creative Lower Ruvu Water Treatment
thinking to complete the projects successfully. Plant providing potable water to
Dar es Salaam.
The contract documents for these World Bank funded projects
are a combination of South African and British standards, as
well as specially adapted World Bank documents. The seven
construction packages were awarded to one Tanzanian
contractor and four Chinese contractors.

The UWP/JMK JV team of engineers includes professionals
with international and local experience.

Dar es Salaam - Zimbili bridge

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INTOUCH 2021 CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS

PLANNING IS KEY

Sandra Munnik, Divisional Head: Infrastructure Planning

We know that infrastructure investment is fundamental to reviving the troubled South
African economy, accelerating economic growth, driving job creation and improving
service delivery.

Successful infrastructure investment requires detailed planning for development,
operation and maintenance. Mariswe’s Infrastructure Planning Division (IPD) focuses
on comprehensive planning practices aimed at establishing resource efficient, sustainable communities
and livelihoods.

A participatory approach to infrastructure solutions
lies at the heart of our services and our first chance
to test this approach came in 1995 when Mariswe
was appointed as provincial representative to assist
the then Department of Water Affairs and Forestry’s
Eastern Cape office in the roll-out of the Community
Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Strategic
Framework.

The IPD has always been involved in multiple water
services delivery programmes and aligned with the
National Development Plan’s objective to provide
100% reliable water services across all sectors in
South Africa.

Upskilling Municipalities Mangaung Integrated Transport Plan & Traffic Light Management System

The IPD’s service offerings are governed by various
laws and Mariswe has, in turn, worked with many
municipalities to evolve their statutory requirements
and compliance. We have assisted municipalities in
fulfilling their mandates as water services authorities
and providers, transport authorities and housing
authorities and in the development of various Water
Services Development Plans, Public Transport and
Integrated Transport Plans, as well as Housing Sector
Plans.

The growth in informal settlements across South Africa strategy should be applied to all service delivery
can be attributed in part to a lack of infrastructure sectors to reduce the backlog in access to water,
planning and delivery. Municipalities need to develop sanitation, electricity, education and health facilities,
procedures for the regulation of informal settlements and improve access to economic infrastructure such
not only to manage and control their emergence, but as transport and telecommunications.
also to legalise and upgrade settlements into formal
townships where appropriate. The IPD uses specific processes to identify infra-
structure in disrepair and develop maintenance
Maintaining infrastructure priorities inclusive of costs. One example is the
development of a web-based Health Facility
Most operations and maintenance activities are Management Information System. Another is
conducted in a reactive manner and the IPD’s conducting condition assessment of bulk water
planning programmes seek to avoid this while services assets to assist with risk management, as well
extending the service life of the asset, improving as operational and maintenance budget planning.
reliability and performance, and reducing costs. This

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CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS INTOUCH 2021

Institutional and human capacity Strategic support and policy
developments have been produced for
Infrastructure can only deliver sustainable services mines to address employee safety and
if it is supported by strong, effective institutional economies of scale for travel between
and human capacity to manage implementation, work and areas of residence.
operation and maintenance. Capacity building
through training and skills development is a major
component of support to the services sector.

Mariswe has participated in many successful
capacity building projects that involved profiling
the organisational structure to identify gaps in
human resources support requirements for technical
services master planning and business plan
development across various spheres of government.

Anglo Platinum Transport Subsidy Plan & Policy R-PMR Strategic Infrastructure Framework

Private sector projects

Building bridges between the public and private sectors, Mariswe has helped to streamline the integration
of service delivery between municipalities and mines. In an initiative driven by Anglo American Platinum in
the Western Limb, various mining houses contributed to Services Sector Technical Task Teams mandated to
deliver resources to surrounding communities.

Strategic support and policy developments have been produced for mines to address employee safety and
economies of scale for travel between work and areas of residence.

The IPD has also conducted pre-feasibility studies for mine site development in several African countries,
including factors such as the availability, accessibility and costs of land, water (bulk and reticulation), sanitation,
power, housing and recreational facilities, as well as transportation linkages.

Infrastructure Financing Infrastructure Planning Infrastructure Regulation Infrastructure Auditing
• Project identification & Management • L egal and statutory development & Mapping

& scoping; • Infrastructure master plans; advisory & compliance e.g. • E conomic & social
• Pre-feasibility & feasibility • Integrated transport plans; • Water services; infrastructure audits;
• I nfrastructure management systems; • Municipal systems & municipal
studies; • W ater services development plans; • Road safety audits;
• Business plans; • Traffic impact assessments; services; • Infrastructure mapping;
• Infrastructure costing; • Public transport plans; • Blue Drop & Green Drop compliance; • Geographic information
• P roject finance structuring; • S ustainable development plans; • Land use planning & management;
• Funding applications. • Land use plans; • Roads & transportation; systems.
• R oad management • Human settlement Capacity Building &

systems. development. Institutional Development
• Stakeholder coordination,

engagement, manage-
ment & facilitation.

INTOUCH 2021 CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS

REPAIRS BEGIN AT
JABULANI RESERVOIR COMPLEX

Leon de Jager, Lead Engineer: Water Resources

Following Mariswe’s appointment by Johannesburg Water in September 2019 for the
provision of engineering services for the Jabulani Reservoir Complex Emergency Repairs
Project in Soweto, construction is now under way.

Mariswe’s brief was for development of specifications, tender documentation, and site
supervision during the construction phase.

The Jabulani Reservoir Complex consists of a 46 ML The Jabulani Reservoir Complex in Soweto, Gauteng
square ground reservoir and a 1,1 ML water tower.
The reservoir is leaking, resulting in substantial water
losses. In the first phase of the project, the bypass
pipework around the reservoir is being replaced
to ensure uninterrupted supply to the surrounding
communities, while the reservoir itself is emptied
and resealed in phase 2.

The steel bypass pipeline, comprising sections of
450 mm and 900 mm in diameter, is being replaced
and around 160 valves and fittings will be replaced
or repaired. The scour to the reservoir will also be
replaced and the reservoir overflow connected to
the stormwater system.

The bypass pipework to the elevated water tower
will also be replaced and the associated valves
either replaced or refurbished.

Site establishment commenced in June 2021 and
the contractor, Linomtha Construction, will appoint
SMMEs to carry out various aspects of the work.

Millicent Maluleke is the Project Manager for
Johannesburg Water, with Treah Hlungwani as
Assistant Project Manager. Mariswe’s team is led
by Kuben Govender as Project Director, with Leon
de Jager as Project Manager and Gerald Maime as
Resident Engineer.

Mariswe’s brief was for development
of specifications, tender
documentation, and site supervision
during the construction phase.

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CORPORATE DDIIVVIISSIIOONNAALL AANNDD PPRROOJJEECCTT NNEEWWSS COMMUNITY PROJECTS INTOUCH 2021

The bypass pipework is being replaced in phase 1

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INTOUCH 2021 CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS

1 700 KM FIBRE OPTIC
INFRASTRUCTURE COMPLETED

Louis Uys, Divisional Head, Water and Sanitation

Fibre optic infrastructure A large portion of this project was
is critical for the operation implemented during Covid-19,
and expansion of necessitating that construction
internet connectivity and teams and officials work during the
communications. It not only lockdown.
provides stable, quick and
secure terrestrial connectivity to users, but is also the
backbone for cellular and other mobile connectivity.
We need a well-developed fibre optic network
connecting the international undersea cables, cities,
towns, and business hubs.

A long awaited and critical link in South Africa’s fibre
infrastructure backbone was the section covering
the east coast between Durban and Cape Town. This
link has now been completed after three years of
construction work. Known as the “NLD 5/6 project”,
this link has delivered high tech, reliable and much
increased fibre capacity to many government
services, businesses and homes.

Parallel installation Spider plough

Liquid Intelligent Technologies SA (LIT SA) embarked
on the challenging project to install approximately
1 700 km of fibre optic infrastructure along the N2
national route and into various towns along the way.
Light Fibre Infrastructure (LFI) was appointed as the
Engineer Procure and Construct (EPC) contractor
for this mammoth task and began construction in
October 2017.

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CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS INTOUCH 2021

Mariswe was appointed for the statutory control Plough combination
services required by SANRAL as owner of the N2
route, as well as the Western Cape Government and The Mariswe team involved in this project, led by
various other authorities. Mariswe’s scope of work Project Director Louis Uys, included Elbert Eksteen
included planning and supervising construction as as Project Manager and Christo Koch as Engineering
well as ensuring that all the construction wayleaves Draughtsman. Resident Engineers on site were
and other approvals were in place and the wayleave Tanya Arries, Phillip Olivier, Mark Rabothata, Siseko
conditions were adhered to. Kela, Petrus Mosoma, and Jerry Lekalakala.

LFI was supported by 46 subcontractors and 191
SMMEs in the project. During its course LFI employed
8 383 contract workers and 6 068 casual workers.
The highest number of workers simultaneously on
the project was 795.

A large portion of this project was implemented
during Covid-19, necessitating that construction
teams and officials work during the lockdown.

Work was undertaken on various sections at the
same time to complete the project on schedule.
This resulted in unique challenges in managing
occupational health and safety issues, quality control,
production monitoring, reporting, environmental
issues, and other construction risks.

During the project there were two instances where
four sections were in progress simultaneously,
covering total distances of 561 km and 747 km
respectively.

CIVIL SERVICES FOR 450 HA
NORTH COAST ESTATE

Mike Croeser, Team Leader, Executive Manager KwaZulu Natal
Water Division

Mariswe has been appointed
for design and construction
supervision of civil services for
the planned Palm View Estate
at Etete, Shakaskraal, on the
KwaZulu-Natal Dolphin Coast.

The 450 ha walled and gated estate will contain 5 450 booster pump stations, and sewer reticulation and
residential units from standalone homes to apartments pump stations. The cost of the civil construction will be
and a retirement village, two schools, as well as retail, about R375 million.
commercial and community facilities. It is geared to
affordability rather than exclusivity and designed to
minimise energy and water usage.

Mariswe’s KwaZulu-Natal team will provide engineering Palm View Estate is being developed by Derek Warren
services for roads, stormwater, water reticulation and Developments in partnership with Sortor Investments.

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INTOUCH 2021 CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS

OPRC SPECIALISATION
GAINS MOMENTUM

Danvir Maharaj, Lead Engineer: Pavement Design & Materials

Mariswe’s leadership role in Output and Performance-Based Road Contracts (OPRC) on
the African continent is being cemented by three projects currently under way in Rwanda
and Zambia following successful assignments in Ghana and Lesotho.

As Mariswe adds to its portfolio of OPRC projects, the company’s skills in both pre-
construction studies and construction monitoring places it as an OPRC specialist.

The OPRC methodology gives the contractor responsibility for the detail design and construction of the road
works as well as the ongoing road maintenance for a certain period. OPRC projects allow road authorities to
provide efficient road services, and other related infrastructure, to communities by expanding the role of the
contractor. Ultimately this contract delivers better roads for more people for longer durations.

Blinding concrete prior to construction of a cast-in-situ concrete
drainage culvert in Rwanda

Rwanda

Mariswe started work in 2019 on the design review
and construction monitoring of two OPRC projects
in Rwanda awarded by the Rwanda Transport
Development Agency and funded by the World
Bank. They involve the upgrade and improvement
of two feeder road packages, each covering three
districts in different parts of the country and totalling
about 450 km.

Mariswe is monitoring a total of 16 construction lots,
working in joint venture with Rwandan consultancy
Astrik International. The construction monitoring
team includes engineers from South Africa, Zambia,
Cameroon, Tanzania and Malawi. Mariswe’s brief
includes training and knowledge transfer to the
client and other local stakeholders based on the
firm’s strong experience in OPRC projects.

Drainage infrastructure in Rwanda

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CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS INTOUCH 2021

Rwanda road infrastructure before...

Work in progress on the Zambian project

Recently completed assignments in Ghana and Rwanda road infrastructure after
Lesotho involved assessment studies, concept
design and bidding documents, while the Rwanda
projects involve monitoring during the construction
and maintenance phases. This reinforces Mariswe’s
capabilities across the whole life cycle of the OPRC
methodology.


Zambia

A further recent award involves OPRC construction
monitoring and design review of about 325 km of rural
roads in the Eastern Province of Zambia for the Road
Development Agency (Zambia). Mariswe is working
in joint venture with AlliOne Consulting Engineers of
Zambia. The appointment ends in May 2025.

Covid-19 has added a very challenging dimension to
all three of the current OPRC projects in progress.
This is managed through regular communication
with staff on preventative measures and keeping
abreast of Covid-19 regulations in each country.
Importantly, Mariswe’s specialist teams are enabled
to work remotely via the firm’s well developed IT
systems despite the vast distances involved and
remote locations of the sites.

Mariswe’s leadership role in Output and Performance-Based Road Contracts
(OPRC) on the African continent is being cemented by three projects currently
under way in Rwanda and Zambia following successful assignments in Ghana
and Lesotho.

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INTOUCH 2021 CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS

MARISWE LEADS WASTEWATER
STUDY IN MAURITIUS

Kuben Govender, Project Director

In keeping with its sound BOT/PPP Project Process
reputation in cross-border
projects across Africa, Process Stakeholder (s)
Mariswe has been appointed
to lead a feasibility study for 1 Project Identified as PPP Contracting Authority
a new wastewater pumping or MoFED
station at Roche Bois in Port Louis and wastewater
treatment plant at the Baie du Tombeau in the 2 Registration of Project BOT Projects Unit
Pamplemousses District of Mauritius.
Appointment of Project
The proposed Build Operate Transfer (BOT) project 3 Officer and Set-up Project Contracting Authority
is required to improve wastewater treatment Team
infrastructure to match growth and development
and to protect the ocean waters that attract tourists 4 Structuring of Project Contracting Authority/
from all over the world to the island country. Titled Transaction Advisor with
Transactional Advisory Services for the new Roche assistance from BOT
Bois Wastewater Pumping Station and the Baie Projects Unit
Du Tombeau Wastewater Treatment Plant, the
feasibility study is being carried out for the Mauritian 5 Cabinet Approval Contracting Authority
Wastewater Management Authority with funding by
the DBSA. 6 Preparation of RFP & 1. C ontracting Authority/
floating through CPB Transaction Advisor

2. Central Procurement
Board with assistance
from BOT Projects Unit

7 Evaluation of Bids Central Procurement Board

The CCLM JV was appointed for this purpose. 8 Cabinet Approval Contracting Authority
Mariswe is the JV lead and Technical Advisor, in 9 Award CPB & Contracting Authority
partnership with Turner and Townsend (the BOT
Advisor) and a team of Technical Experts (Cresco, While the Covid-19 pandemic is placing restrictions
Ledwaba Mazwai and Cigroup). The total project on movement, the holistic approach to the execution
fee for the feasibility study will be in the region of of the project is to schedule and execute the tasks
US$1.6 m. and actions which can commence and be completed
without physical site visits or meetings. A locally
The project aims to mitigate surface and ground based partner in the CCLM JV has been issued
water pollution and discharge of poor quality with a Work Access Permit which assists the JV to
effluent into the ocean due to increased pressure continue with some aspects of the project.
on the existing system by residential and industrial
developments, together with the state of disrepair
of the existing Roche Bois Pumping Station.

The Mariswe team is Led by Project
Director Kuben Govender, with
Annalize Visser as Project Manager
and Frikkie van Zyl as Project
Engineer.

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CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS INTOUCH 2021

PLANNING PROGRESSIVE
UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO BULK
WATER IN KZN

Sandra Munnik, Divisional Head: Infrastructure Planning

In 2014 the KwaZulu-Natal A water demand model was developed to determine
Department of Cooperative the demands for all areas and was used for the
Governance and Traditional concept bulk design with a horizon up to 2050. The
Affairs (CoGTA) asked Umgeni minimum level of service is a yard connection at 100
Water to initiate the development litres/capita per day in rural areas, with a progressive
of basic conceptual water increase in level of service moving towards urban
supply scheme areas to provide areas. This model resulted in a total projected
all consumers in the province with access to water. demand of 2 917.3 Mℓ/day for the whole of KZN
Umgeni Water is the largest supplier of bulk potable in 2050.
water in the province.
This project went on to reconcile the demarcation
Two years later in 2016 Umgeni Water, together with of water supply areas and develop conceptual
the Department of Water & Sanitation (DWS) and infrastructure designs for Water Supply Intervention
the KZN CoGTA, commissioned a follow-up study. Areas (WSIAs) to be served either by linkages
This was titled “Universal Access Plan (UAP) Phase to existing schemes or through planned scheme
2 – Progressive Development of a Regional Concept developments. It was estimated that R72.712 billion
Plan for each District Municipality in KZN, as well as was needed to address the proposed 140 primary
the Alfred Nzo and OR Tambo District Municipalities and secondary bulk water supply interventions.
within the Eastern Cape Province”. The average cost is R24.92 per Kl and R42.416 per
household.
Mariswe’s Infrastructure Planning Division was
appointed for three of the district municipalities in The implementation programme of the project will
KZN as well as the two in the Eastern Cape Province. depend on the availability of funds from National
Treasury as well as the capacity of the WSAs to
The deliverables for UAP Phase 2 included developing implement projects.
a demand model and
needs development plans
until 2035, culminating in
a reconnaissance study
report for each of the
Water Services Authorities
(WSAs) on bulk water
supply.

Phase 3 followed in 2018 to
further develop conceptual
bulk water master plans for
each of 13 WSAs in KZN and
Mariswe was appointed
in association with JTN
Consulting in November
2018 to conduct this study.

Bulk water supply interventions

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INTOUCH 2021 CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS

PROVIDING A FRAMEWORK FOR
LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUCCESS

Monja Esterhuizen, Lead Planning Specialist

The Vuthela iLembe Local The Vuthela programme assists the municipalities
Economic Development (LED) to create the systems, business processes and
Support Programme was capabilities needed to improve financial and
launched in 2017 to assist the revenue management, infrastructure planning,
iLembe district and its family of risk management and budgets. There are specific
local municipalities in KwaZulu- activities to support entrepreneur development and
Natal in creating an enabling the ease of doing business in the programme area.
environment for attracting investment and enabling
inclusive growth. Mariswe was appointed as the The progress made in just a few specific projects
Implementing Agent. shows how some typical challenges can be
overcome.
The project, which will run until January 2023, focuses
mainly on the iLembe District Municipality and the Asset management
two coastal local municipalities of KwaDukuza and
Mandeni. There is also positive spinoff for iLembe’s Infrastructure assets and services are a core
inland municipalities in the form of capacity building mandate of a municipality in serving the community
and training initiatives. and public needs. Asset management therefore aims
for effective and efficient management, operation
Public Finance and maintenance of public infrastructure to provide
Management water, sanitation, roads, stormwater, solid waste
services and electricity.
Partnerships Municipal
& Cooperation Infrastructure The challenge is coordination between asset
managers, technical services teams and planning
units to maintain a good quality fixed asset register,
develop operation and maintenance plans, establish
appropriate budgets for capital and operational
needs, procure assets and equipment and manage
human capital.

Building Inclusive Private Sector The Vuthela programme has provided training and
Growth Development capacity building and helped to develop Asset
(BIG) Management and Maintenance Plans for each
functional area per municipality such as water and
sanitation; roads and stormwater; electricity; and
solid waste management.

Other key partners in the programme are the
Provincial Department of Economic Development,
Tourism and Environmental Affairs, the iLembe
Chamber of Commerce, and National Treasury. The
programme is funded by the State Secretariat for
Economic Affairs of the Swiss Confederation (SECO).

Presentation to business owners

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CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS INTOUCH 2021

The existence of practical planning shows compliance The Vuthela team recommended that accounts
with legislation and can be used as leverage be created for all consumers in one billing system,
to source additional funding for infrastructure with alternative billing options such as a flat rate for
investment which, in turn, has a direct impact on consumers without formal connections or meters. A
sustainable service delivery within an area. data linkage between the accounts and registered
erven parcels would assist in property and
Asset management workshop account identification, as well as analysis of zonal
consumption. Meters should be read every one to
Non-revenue water (NRW) four months and customers should be allowed to
submit their own readings to limit interim estimates
The iLembe District Municipality battles with and promote awareness of water consumption.
challenges related to non-revenue water including
unbilled consumption, illegal connections, metering Other suggestions included identifying and
issues and leakages. monitoring the top 100 consumers to ensure
that costs are recovered and monthly meetings
A pilot project in the Sundumbili area assessed the between the Technical and Finance Departments
apparent losses, using information from the fixed to coordinate connections, disconnections and
asset register on installed water meters, the number investigation of meter reading anomalies.
of developed erven and the billing systems for
conventional and prepaid meters. Electricity

The project concluded that while the iLembe The World Bank partners with selected municipalities
District Municipality has a sound billing system for in South Africa, including the KwaDukuza and
conventional meters, the Sundumbili area has many Mandeni local municipalities, to enhance electricity
developed stands with water meters but no account governance and management.
numbers, or without meters.
Co-operation between the World Bank teams on the
Most conventional meters had not been read for ground and Vuthela is proving highly beneficial in the
six or more months, resulting in prolonged use of provision of technical advisory support and access
consumption estimates. An analysis revealed the to specialist services such as the development of a
billed consumption for most of the 12 685 conventional supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)
meters in the iLembe District was significantly higher system for the KwaDukuza Local Municipality.
than the actual metered consumption. This suggested
that the estimated consumption was inflated, or The Vuthela Programme assisted the KwaDukuza
there were meter reading and transfer errors. Local Municipality in a successful funding application
to National Treasury (European Union-supported
funding) for the system.

Water services investigation

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INTOUCH 2021 CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS

VAALKOP WATER TREATMENT
WORKS CHLORINATION UPGRADE

Duncan Vause, Project Manager

Mariswe’s appointment by The design is based on a 17-ton isotainer liquid
Magalies Water for the phase chlorine extraction system. This system offers
upgrading of the chlorination major advantages over the normal one-ton gas and
system at the Vaalkop Water liquid phase extraction system as it radically reduces
Treatment Works (WTW) is the logistics and handling of containers, improving
now at tender documentation reliability and safety. The liquid phase chlorine can
phase. The award to Mariswe be extracted at a much higher rate than gas phase
also included a Scientific Study, Feasibility Study, installations, reducing the footprint required for
Hazop process, as well as the normal services up to online containers and simplifying the process piping
close-out. required.

Vaalkop WTW in the North-West Province is the The chlorination system is capable of extracting
oldest and largest of Magalies Water’s operations. and dosing roughly 200 kg/h initially and allowance
It supplies Thabazimbi, several mines, rural villages, is made to double this capacity in the future. This
Sun City and a portion of Rustenburg’s needs. The method of chlorine dosing, particularly the extraction
raw water supply for the WTW is mainly from the from a bulk container, is very new in South Africa and
Vaalkop Dam on the Elands River. is currently used at only a handful of other plants.

The current treatment capacity is 270Mld, with an Washington Nyika is the Magalies Water Project
ultimate planned capacity of 480 Ml/d. The new Engineer and the Mariswe team is led by Project
chlorination system is designed to cater for 360 Ml/d Director Kuben Govender, Project Manager Duncan
but makes allowance for the ultimate capacity. Vause, and Process Specialist Jaco Coetzee.

Vaalkop 3D layout

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CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS INTOUCH 2021

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

INTOUCH 2021 CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS

BRIDGING THE CHASM
BETWEEN SCHOOL AND LIFE

Patience Mashala, Manager of Nurture a Girl, Mariswe

The Nurture a Girl initiative
started by Mariswe five years ago
has stepped up from supplying
basic hygiene needs for high
school learners to teaching
them economic independence
in a new initiative launched at Thembinkosi School in
Tembisa.

Nurture a Girl was launched in schools in four
provinces in 2017 to provide teenage girls in need
with monthly personal hygiene kits and exposure to
life skills, career advice and counselling.

Our priority has always been to make sure our girls Beneficiaries at Thembinkosi School with Mariswe’s Nurture a Girl
are not absent from school due to a lack of personal co-ordinators at the launch of the new expanded initiative
resources. But to extract sustainable value from the
programme, our beneficiaries need to know how to
become self-sufficient. That’s why we are expanding
Nurture a Girl to help them earn a living upon leaving
the school system.

Nonkululeko Sindane, Mariswe CEO (seated), and Patience Mashala, Nurture a Girl Manager (standing centre), with beneficiaries at the Thembinkosi
School launch of the expanded programme

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CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS INTOUCH 2021

Mariswe has kicked off the enhanced programme We invite other businesses to join Mariswe in
at Thembinkosi School for learners with special supporting the Nurture a Girl initiative. Every
educational needs in Tembisa, a founder Nurture sponsorship of R150 a month or R1 800 a year enables
a Girl beneficiary school. To enable the teaching one more teenage girl to become a beneficiary. It
of basic trades that can be used to earn a living, will require more to provide the self-sustaining skills
Mariswe provided the school with a shed and that have been initiated at Thembinkosi. But we are
tools for vegetable gardening, an industrial bread confident the programme can be expanded across all
baking stove with dough mixer, industrial sewing beneficiary schools, one step at a time.
machines, carpentry tools and materials, and carwash
equipment. Teachers have also received formal Contact Patience Mashala at 011 709 8420
training in carpentry, while training in other skills may or [email protected].
be provided for teaching staff if needed.
The idea is for the girls to be able to
By the end of this year the beneficiaries are depend on themselves and make their
expected to know how to start and manage their own own opportunities. Our programme
businesses. In addition to the core skills, Mariswe will aims to help produce strong,
provide training on essential business skills including independent, successful women.
stocktaking, invoices and receipts, marketing and
sales.

The idea is for the girls to be able to depend on
themselves and make their own opportunities. Our
programme aims to help produce strong, independent,
successful women.

SHOWCASING OUR
NURTURE A GIRL
BRAND

Patience Mashala, Manager of the Nurture a Girl programme at Mariswe,
models the new branded golf shirts that she and her team around the
country now wear for beneficiary visits and events. Since inception in
2017, this programme has assisted many teenage girls and established
itself as a successful SED brand within the Mariswe group. Well done to
the team that works tirelessly behind the scenes and in addition to their
daily jobs to change the lives of our beneficiaries.

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INTOUCH 2021 CORPORATE DIVISIONAL AND PROJECT NEWS COMMUNITY PROJECTS

BRANCH CONTACT DETAILS

SOUTH AFRICA Pietermaritzburg

Johannesburg No. 7 Bush Shrike Close, Victoria Country Club Estate,
170 Peter Brown Drive, Montrose, Pietermaritzburg, 3201
Mariswe House, Eton Office Park West, +27 (0)33 347 7900
Harrison Avenue, Bryanston, 2191 [email protected]
+27 (0)11 709 8420
[email protected] Cradock

Pretoria 18 Hofmeyr Road, Cradock, 5880
+27 (0)48 881 3666
Block 1, Suite 201, Monument Office Park, [email protected]
79 Steenbok Ave, Monument Park, Pretoria, 0181
+27 (0)12 424 9700 Cape Town
[email protected]
1st Floor, Block E, Aintree Office Park, Loch Road,
Bloemfontein Kenilworth, 7708
+27 (0)21 761 6999
43 Jac van Rhyn Drive, Universitasrif, [email protected]
Bloemfontein, 9301
+27 (0)87 802 8568 St Francis Bay
[email protected]
139 St Francis Drive, St Francis Bay, 6312
East London +27 (0)82 899 0578
[email protected]
Clevedon House, 2 Clevedon Road,
Selborne, East London, 5241 INTERNATIONAL
+27 (0)43 721 0186
[email protected] Mariswe Ghana, Tanzania, Lesotho
& Zambia
Mthatha
Please contact:
61 Delville Road, Mthatha, 5100 +27 (0)82 941 4805
+27 (0)47 531 2965/6 [email protected]
[email protected]
www.mariswe.com
Richards Bay

Unit 4B, Partridge Place, 23 Lira Link,
Richards Bay, 3900
+27 (0)35 789 5011
[email protected]

INTOUCH 2021