PPC’s commitment to ensuring that SMMEs are well placed to meet the anticipated demand for quality local bricks in South Africa’s construction industry has allowed them to contribute to the sector in Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Having worked closely with the industry to realise modest changes in how its operational choices impact sustainable growth, PPC has handed over six machines to six of its long-standing SMMEs in Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga collectively valued at R1.8 million. The machines will play an integral part in ensuring 100% local and 100% quality products remain accessible to the sector and will assist in making a difference in the beneficiaries’ lives and expand their business.
PPC’s ongoing engagement with the SMME sector has propelled the business to empower the community to experience a better quality of life. Taking the lessons that have come from operating in South Africa over the past 128 years, PPC remains optimistic about the opportunities that exist in the sector. The business’ decision to make this investment into SMME’s, as part of its Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD) fund during a post-pandemic environment, has proven to be an example of PPC’s ongoing investment in the community.
“The global pandemic has challenged us to add sustainable value and convenience to the SMME sector. We understand that the challenge for local entrepreneurs is to remain competitive while ensuring they put into practice the education on producing quality bricks, we have provided over the past few years. Each brick making and paving machine provided will serve as a visual representation of our commitment to provide a better quality of life so they can take advantage of the niche opportunities available to them,” explains Njombo Lekula, MD at RSA Cement.
“The sponsorship of the machinery came at the right time; we are facing a different and unprecedented challenge as SMMEs. Receiving the machine means a lot to my business as this will assist in growing the business, creating more employment and most importantly being competitive. We appreciate PPC for choosing us as one of their Enterprise Development beneficiaries and giving us the courage to continue improving and building our township/local economy. I see these machines as being a tool that will leave me in a position to strengthen what they have been teaching me for so long,” says Rachel Msiza, founder of Style Africa Paving and Cladding (Pty) Ltd in Soshanguve the north of Pretoria.
Forming part of PPC’s commitment to go beyond, efforts to improve access to the market with each brick making and paving machine increases the capacity to grow the business. PPC’s long-standing relationship with the SMME’s in the community has resulted in the identification of individuals who would be best placed to grow their local township economy.
Highlighting the long-term business impact of the machinery JX115 Trading’s, founder, Joel Msipha, says, “As a customer of PPC, this machinery shows me that they are really focused on investing in the community. We are honoured to be one of the beneficiaries who have received the brick making machine. I am excited to see where this partnership will take me and other SMME’s like me who have been given the opportunity to excel in their business over the past 3 years. The machinery will help us with our business’s economic structure, growing the business and increasing employment in our communities; as we do our part in assisting in closing the unemployment gap.”
As a trusted partner of business and communities, PPC understands the challenges and needs for local entrepreneurship that is often seen through the ambitions of brick makers. More than 1000 brick makers from across South Africa have benefited from PPC’s brick-making workshops. PPC’s efforts to upskill each brick maker continue to provide them with the critical education, skills and technical knowledge required to support, grow and manage their businesses effectively in this changing economy.
“The continued participation of our people into the township economy has remained a motivator for us to reinvest into the entrepreneurial efforts we encounter daily. Today we have taken another positive step towards promoting manufacturing and production efforts in the township. Our work thus far has improved the social and economic value of brick makers. For this reason, we see the work we do as being key to creating an enabling environment for us all. In recognition of this, PPC is focused on ensuring that together we are stronger,” concludes Lekula.
