The Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) hosted its prestigious Empowerment and Recognition of Women in Construction (ERWIC) Awards on August 22, 2024, in Sandton, north of Johannesburg. 

This year’s awards highlighted the importance of diversity and inclusion in driving innovation and success in the construction industry and comprised 15 categories, recognising women-led 
companies and individual women with distinguished achievements, as well as companies supporting gender transformation, development and mentorship.

Now proudly in its fifth year, the cidb ERWIC Awards have become a highlight on the industry’s calendar and as a result of these evolving concerted efforts to bring women into the sector, there has been an increase in women assuming positions once considered ‘male’ roles. 

cidb CEO Bongani Dladla highlights that the ERWIC Awards provide invaluable opportunities for women to connect and grow and highlights the importance of community and mentorship within construction. “Being nominated gives companies access to a vast network of women in construction, allowing for collaboration and mutual support among industry peers,” he says.

Advocating for more women to take advantage of the resources available to them, Dladla notes, “Don’t be scared to grab onto all opportunities that are available to you, enter the awards, and get your name out there. I would encourage all aspiring female leaders to be confident and to showcase their achievements, as this visibility can lead to further prospects,” he adds.

Dladla believes that growth and excellence are rooted in mindset. “Your willingness to face challenges and contribute to the economy is essential for the success of the construction industry, which plays a crucial role in societal well-being.” 

The competition at the ERWIC Awards has always been fierce, and this year was no different. “We believe these winners are all catalysts for ongoing change – not only in our industry but also in broader South Africa. We are proud of each and every entrant and we look forward to seeing how they will continue to contribute to the economic upliftment of our country,” says Dladla.

This year’s ERWIC Awards were a resounding success with another successful year of high-quality entries. 

The 2024 Winners

The winner for Project Delivery Excellence of the Year – Grade 1 was Independent Girls Business Enterprise (Pty) Ltd for their McDonalds Columbine Courier project. Coming in second place was Chuma Properties & Construction Group for their Shell Hemingways project. Third place went to Tsa Ntai Construction and Project (Pty) Ltd for their refurbishment and upgrading of Baphalane Primary School.

Winning the Project Delivery Excellence of the Year – Grade 2 – 4 was Lungolwakhe Group (Pty) Ltd for the Office Building Repairs project. In second place was GD Projects and Construction (Pty) Ltd for their Pavement Maintenance on National Route 7 from kilometer 34.9 Section 1 to kilometer 35.3 Section 4 project, while third place was awarded to Linky Building and Civil Contractors (Pty) Ltd for their upgrading of road K46 (P79/1) (R511) between PWV5 and N14 (P158/2) (Diepsloot) project.

The Project Delivery Excellence of the Year – Grade 5 – 6 award was given to Empilweni Trading (Pty) Ltd for their construction of 100 mm lean mix concrete interlayer for the upgrade of National Route 3, Sections 2 and 3, from Lynnfield Park kilometer 30.6, to Ashburton kilometer 0.8 project. In second place was Tovhani Trading Enterprise for the PWR 61/22: major renovations and repairs at Thuto Boswa High School project. Third place was allocated to Best Enough Trading And Projects 535 (Pty) Ltd for the installation, testing and commissioning the electrification of Lerato Park – 411 households project.

In the Project Delivery Excellence of the Year – Grade 7 upwards category, VP Electrical Contractors was crowned the winner for its maintenance works on low voltage and medium voltage Electrical Network Infrastructure project. In second place was VEA Road Maintenance and Civils (Pty) Ltd for the GAUTRANS routine road maintenance project.

The Rural Project of the Year award went to Oakantswe Construction and Projects for the electrification of Witten Ext 10 project. The second place was awarded to Namasango Business Enterprise for upgrading of Tweefontein C and DK water infrastructure – Ward 12 project; while third place went to Best Enough Trading And Projects 535 for the construction of Mothanthanyaneng Community Hall project.

A new category in the 2024 ERWIC Awards, the Interior Design and Build Project of the Year, which provides a platform to highlight the expertise, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of women professionals in this specialised field, was awarded to Internal Developers for its Thebe Investment design and head office fitout project. In second place was Audacity Worx Concepts for the A Home for the Haven Nation project.

The Specialised Project of the Year was awarded to Loago Electrical and Construction for their supply and installation of high invisible security fence. Second place went to Ozel Lift (Pty) Ltd for their Transnet Richards Bay project. Third place was awarded to Libra Landscape and Facilities Management (Pty) Ltd for their Rand Water H8 pipeline rehabilitation.

The Mentoring Entity of the Year was awarded to Sue Phalane Trading and Projects (Pty) Ltd. Second place went to Besamandla (Pty) Ltd. Third place was awarded to Pro-Serve Consulting (Pty) Ltd.

The Transformation Entity of the Year was awarded to Coega Development Corporation (Pty) Ltd, while Audacity Worx Concepts won the Innovative Entity of the Year. Second place in this category went to Bashoeshoe Housing Systems. Third place was awarded to Ozel Lift (Pty) Ltd.

The Professional Team of the Year was awarded to Zimisele Afrika Consulting (Pty) Ltd. Second place went to Aspire Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd. Third place was awarded to VP Electrical Contractors (Pty) Ltd.

Phangasasa Trading and Construction (Pty) Ltd walked away with first-place for the Manufacturing Entity of the Year award. This is the second of the new categories for 2024, which aims to recognise the manufacturing entities supplying the construction sector and their continued impact on women in the industry through employment strategies, empowerment programmes and significant transformation.

Loago Electrical and Construction (Pty) Ltd won the Youth-Owned Woman Construction Entity of the Year Award. Second place went to Manyawusi Trading Enterprises (Pty) Ltd, while Sisters in Construction (Pty) Ltd and Independent Girls Business Enterprise (Pty) Ltd tied in third place.

The Woman-owned Construction Entity of the Year was awarded to Sinenhlahla Chamane from Empilweni Trading (Pty) Ltd. Second place went to Phumla Zondo from B & V Maintenance and Renovations (Pty) Ltd and third place was awarded to Pamela Olga Siphika from Roof Act (Pty) Ltd.

The Woman Mentor of the Year was awarded to Christina Dimakatso Klaas from Tjeka Training Matters. Second place went to Lisette Keightley from Betts Townsend Taylor (Pty) Ltd and third place was awarded to Lorato Moncho from Loetopele Construction and Projects.

The Exceptional Woman in Construction Contributor of the Year was awarded to Suzan Portia Phalane from Sue Phalane Trading and Projects (Pty) Ltd. Second place went to Thoko Tshabalala Shandu from VEA Road Maintenance and Civils (Pty) Ltd and third place was awarded to Nondumiso Mthombeni from Betts Townsend Taylor (Pty) Ltd.