Editor: Forgive me for feeling more than a frisson of excitement when I read Simphiwe’s comments below on Smart Buildings, with specific reference to Coega. Reach Trust t/a BA Systems has been responsible for more than one building management system installation in the Coega IDZ, In fact in 2018 BA Systems won a National Award for the most energy efficient building in South Africa for one of the Coega installations that we have done. So, thanks for highlighting our work Simphiwe – much apppreciated.
Meet Mr. Simphiwe Ntlanti, Coega’s SMME Development Programme Mentor and Inspiring Leader in his field.
My Name is Simphiwe Ntlanti. I am 43 years old, yet still very young at heart. I was born in a rural village, where I had very little in terms of material possessions.
The journey has been long and winding, but this is my story of fulfilment through mentorship.
I live in Gqeberha (previously known as Port Elizabeth), and work for a dynamic award-winning public entity, internationally trusted and respected brand, known as the Coega Development Corporation (Coega). We operate Africa’s leading Special Economic Zone and implement infrastructure projects across the country and into Africa. Our vision is to be a leading catalyst for the championing of socioeconomic development through investment promotion and attraction, job creation, infrastructure development and maintenance, and small business development.
I joined Coega in June of 2016, where I took up the position of SMME Mentor in the Coega SMME Development Unit. The Department exists in line with our vision to champion socio-economic development by empowering Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs), particularly in construction and related sectors.
As the SMME Mentor, I provide guidance to entrepreneurs and employees of small businesses, which are Graded 1-6 in terms of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) grading system. I interact with many stakeholders, nationally, some who offer an abundance of knowledge and experience, and others, who are completely new to the construction industry.
I would like to think of myself as a social activist; a person who has a genuine love for people, society and my country, the Republic of South Africa; and I am driven by helping others overcome social injustices.
At university, I served as a student activist and went on to lead the Student Representative Council. While I pursued my teaching degree, I founded a society aimed at uniting students in the Faculty of Education. During this period, I decided to diversify my career options and pursue a qualification in the Built Environment.
At Coega, we stand firm for small business support and development. As a Trusted Implementing Agent of Choice in South Africa, Coega’s work has recently seen the development of mega infrastructure projects, including schools and hospitals. We have achieved a total SMME procurement spend of over R1.bn for 2023/24 Financial Year, which relates to the overall project budget percentage allocated to SMMEs across the organisation’s diverse infrastructure development portfolio, which includes the Department of Health, Department of Education, and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, amongst others. Over R500m was spent on black men-owned SMMEs, over R364m was spent on black women-owned SMMEs, and over R97m was spent on black youth-owned SMMEs.
Looking at a notable past achievement, the Coega team saved 48 SMME businesses at the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic. This was a difficult time when construction sites were not fully operational, but Coega’s innovative processes and systems assisted these businesses. Therefore, what was deemed a crisis led to the improvement of our internal systems, processes, and controls.
I am intrigued by the contribution of scientific research and innovation to South Africa’s development in the past three decades. This is evident on so many fronts, from the way we do business to the way we engage with our partners and stakeholders. In my sphere of work in the construction sector, this has extended to the advent of “smart” and “intelligent” buildings.
Today, buildings are equipped with digital sensors that track energy consumption and interact with software to help occupants optimise heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, security, and other services. I am privileged enough to witness first-hand the evolution of the construction sector and the talent of the many entrepreneurs who make it all possible.
My achievements may not qualify as the greatest, but they have certainly contributed positively to the lives of the people I’ve mentored. I’ve received letters of gratitude from students who felt I had gone the extra mile for them. Two of them went on to become well-respected academics throughout the continent, including Zambia; something I am especially proud of.
Ultimately, I owe my achievements to God’s wisdom and the people who have helped me along the way.
