Known for the past 17 years as the “Oscars” of the construction industry, the South African Construction Awards (SACA) are set to once again celebrate the best of the country’s construction sector with a glittering awards ceremony set for Emperors Palace on Saturday, November 30.
On Thursday, SACA president Lloyd Ngavu held a press briefing to announce this year’s awards and a string of partnerships alongside Afribiz Invest CEO Pongo Pule and Afribiz Invest vice-president Cecil Mashawana, who through the Collen Mashawana Foundation recently celebrated 12 years of giving back to disadvantaged individuals through building dignified homes for them.
The event held at the Fredman Towers served to familiarise the media with the latest strategic partnerships ahead of the 17th edition of the awards.
Speaking to “The Star”, Ngavu promised that this year’s awards gala dinner ceremony, which holds great significance, will be the pinnacle of celebrating and honouring excellence, promoting innovation while supporting industry growth and the infrastructure sector.
The SACA annual event is specifically designed to celebrate individuals and organisations who have made significant contributions to the South African construction industry. This year will be an out-of-this-world experience because, in addition to the celebrations, it will feature an auction for the Collen Mashawana Foundation.
“SACA has also partnered with Afribiz Invest to enhance the awards’ impact and recognition, and this year promises to be increased participation and visibility for industry leaders,” said Ngavu.
Mashawana, who heads both Afribiz Invest and the foundation, explained that the work of the foundation continues to inspire hope in the less fortunate, having built more than 500 homes for the elderly, GBV victims and other South Africans. He also revealed that the plan for the foundation is to do the same outside the country.
“As Afribiz Invest, we could not have partnered with a better partner than SACA and Mr Ngavu, who has championed SACA for years. It is time that those he has been awarding realise that he has been there for them and continues to be there for them. When it comes to the work of the foundation, and having celebrated 12 years of building homes for the disadvantaged communities, we pride ourselves on having contributed to giving dignity to more than 500 disadvantaged members of our communities in all nine provinces. However, our plan is to spread our wings and be a catalyst for change also, outside the borders of this country,” said Mashawana.
When it comes to challenges facing women and the industry at large, Pule said the only way to stop construction mafias who have become a thorn in the side of government projects and private construction firms is through communication and inclusion.
“The sector has been male-dominated, but we have been encouraging women participation and empowerment within the infrastructure space, which is why I always encourage my fellow sisters to show the industry that we too have been doing this and we too are capable.
“The only way we can rid ourselves of the scourge of construction mafias is to engage communities as stakeholders when we enter into their space. By so doing, they will be the one to protect you against those who seek to interfere with you work. It is about inclusion and not exclusion,” she said.
Saturday Star