32
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
OCTOBER
2014
PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS
More recently, Esor Civils has
secured the provision of low cost
housing in Bhobhoyi, close to
Port Shepstone, and is earmarked
for a further project in the Umzumbe
area, and has also set its sights set on the
Eastern Cape.
“Low cost housing is something quite
new for us and it’s working out very well,”
Mark Rippon, managing director of Esor
Civils, says. “We already have a diversi-
fied portfolio that includes road building,
mining and township infrastructure work,
water and sewerage reticulation contracts
and concrete projects for government,
major mining houses and the private sector.
Although our move into low cost housing
is at the inception stage, we have been
very excited at these early successes and
we believe there is significant potential
to expand into this sector of the market.
We are proving that we are reliable and able
to deliver these projects to the satisfaction
of all stakeholders.
“Low cost housing is still very much a
government focus and the recent increased
subsidy will see the specifications improve
from the two-roomed 40 m
2
dwelling with
rainwater harvesting and an outhouse, that
we are building at Muzumbe and Thimude, to
dwellings of the same size but now plumbed
and electrified and including an inside bath-
room with a basic hand basin, toilet and
shower. The upgraded specifications will
also be applicable to the scope of the Bhob-
hoyi and second Muzumbe projects.”
On these projects Esor Civils has teamed
up with Consulting Engineers Bigen Africa,
>
EARLY
SUCCESS
with low cost housing
Since entering the low cost housing sector six months ago,
Esor Civils has experienced success beyond expectation and is
presently working on two government subsidised projects to
provide 1 000 low cost houses in the village of Enhlangweni, in
the Umzumbe municipality near Ixopo in KwaZulu-Natal, and 500
units in the village of Ezinqolweni, in the Mthimude municipality
near Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal.
a leading design engineering company with
a strong presence in southern Africa and a
growing African footprint. Bigen Africa takes
responsibility for the design of the houses,
provides site supervision during construc-
tion and conducts quality assurance before
the houses are handed over.
On each low cost housing project, the
Esor Civils team identifies local emerging
subcontractors and supports them with the
procurement of materials and the provision
of training, effectively equipping them with
experience and marketable capabilities.
Esor Civils, a division of the Esor Group,
successfully leverages its Level 3 BBBEE
platform to secure tenders for public sector
projects at government, provincial govern-
ment and municipal levels. It also boasts the
highest possible 9CE and 9GB grading from
the Construction Industry Development
Board. Esor Civils has a comprehensive plant
inventory and employs more than 2 000
people, ranging from artisans to managers,
surveyors to planners.
Mark Rippon, managing director of Esor Civils
says since entering the low cost housing sector
six months ago, Esor Civils has experienced
success beyond expectation and is presently
working on two government subsidised projects
to provide 1 000 low cost houses in KZN.
A low cost house with rainwater harvesting.
Esor Civils is currently constructing low
cost housing in KZN.
