Contractor walks his way to R100 million rand success with funding from ECDC

Manelisi Gibson

It has been a worthwhile journey for Gibson who started his first project with a R430,000 loan from ECDC. Over the last nine years his company has been awarded about 20 projects exceeding R100 million in value. ECDC has pumped R19 million into 11 of these projects.

A hands-on approach

His first project, the R1,7 million Ntaba Junior Secondary School in Mthatha, started in December 2003 and came at a time when the Building Science graduate wanted to move from a desk job to where the real action was - on site.

"I feel most at home on a construction site and there weren't many people who wanted to take me on, despite my experience. So I started looking for other opportunities. I started the company and at the time, when the first project came through, I didn't even have a car to go to site with.

"It meant hiking to site for five months and then walking another six kilometres by foot. Despite these challenges I still managed to deliver the project on time. This has been a humbling experience if you consider that I started my first project with a R430 000 loan from ECDC. Since then ECDC has funded about 11 of my projects which include schools, clinics and toilets among others. In November last year, I signed a new contract with the Coega Development Corporation to build a further two schools in Qumbu in the former Transkei," Gibson says.

The two schools are already in construction phase and they are valued at R17 million each. Today Zibele Construction employs 58 permanent employees that include drivers, clerks of works, electricians, plumbers, painters as well as bricklayers. The company also employs an additional 200 temporary labourers.

Five years after starting the business, Gibson was awarded a Transformation Africa Young Entrepreneurs Network award.

Positive projects

ECDC account manager Nomonde Manakaza says the financier's support of companies such as Zibele, fulfils the corporation's development objectives. ECDC supports initiatives that create jobs as well as those that support government's infrastructure programme and emerging contractors.

"Gibson's projects are the sort that can deliver a socio-economic dividend in the delivery of schools and clinics as well as creating job opportunities for the local communities. ECDC is there to assist real entrepreneurs to access real resources and capital. ECDC supports, mentors and capacitates entrepreneurs from the commencement of a project to completion. ECDC intends to ensure the sustainability of the respective businesses," explains Manakaza.

In the last financial year about R60 million of ECDC loan funding went to construction businesses largely driven by the school building programme which is linked to the national infrastructure development programme.

"The infrastructure backlogs in the former Transkei are a huge opportunity for business. It's the right place, at the right time. There is a lot of hope here.

"I know that I am building clinics and schools where these haven't been before. I am making a difference in people's lives," explains Gibson who has subsequently invested in several trucks and transport load builders (TLB).

But it's not only schools, clinics and toilets that Gibson is building. Other interesting projects include a mortuary in Mount Fletcher and the King William's town Fire Station which he completed last year.