When five people – Khumbulani Khumalo, Maratwa Necodine Tsoai, Nteboheng Petrina, Ngcobo Masisimane and Violet Raphoto – resolved to establish Mantema PTY Limited in 2012, it was not an impulsive encounter. Years of meticulous market research and strategic planning had gone into their joint effort.
The main objective was to stand out from the increasing multitude of players struggling for a niche and relevance in the market. And, on evidence, the company is on the right growth path, defined by its unique approach to service delivery. It’s so far so good!
As a wholly black-owned entity, Mantema (PTY) Limited), Mantema provides engineering maintenance solutions, civil construction and skills development to the mining, railway industries and municipalities throughout South Africa. It specialises in the following services: Construction Material supplies, Engineering Maintenance, Engineering Construction, Drafting of plans, Project planning and administration, Skills development, and Garden and Landscaping.
Mantema’s cornerstone is on the following values: People Development, Ethics, Service Delivery, Dedication and Hard work. It’s advantage is that it is under four directors from broad professional backgrounds. It taps on their pool of diverse skills which span areas such as civil engineering, construction project management, business management, skills development, education and administration. The most distinctive qualities amongst the management team are good leadership and interpersonal skills.
Mantema’s businesses objectives go beyond increasing the bottom-line. Firstly, the company is cognisant of its role as a small and medium business to uplift the lives of South Africans through employment. Secondly, the needs of its clients take precedence. Thirdly, it does its utmost to ensure that its employees are motivated and competent, through creating an environment where their skills would be honed.
As much as possible, most exceptional about its labour recruitment is the practice of proritising the hiring of people within the local communities in which the projects it is working on are located.
In a joint statement to Transform SA Online, the company’s directors explain: “It is our business to provide our clients with outstanding support, understanding client specific requirement meeting their demands.
“With our partners in the finance industry, we are able to deliver beyond expectations in financing our projects and engagement.”
“With our partners in the finance industry we are able to deliver beyond expectations in financing our projects and engagement.”
What’s more, Mantema values its staff as its backbone and future, say the directors. “The well-qualified management team, who are endowed with good leadership and interpersonal skills, share the goal of growing the company into a recognised provider of premium turnkey construction-related services.”
As of now, Mantema prefers hiring capital equipment to outright ownership, as this model proves to be more sustainable. When need arises, the company will acquire its own assets, the directors reveal.
Under foresighted leadership, as long as private and public sector project continue to go at a sustainable pace, the company should grow its business portfolio.
Mantema (Pty) Ltd is based in Mesa Verdi 3, 2A Stiglingh Road, Endenburg Sandton, Gauteng, 2128.
