GVK-Siya Zama, a leading specialist contractor in the field of building, renovation, restoration and recycling of buildings, has been awarded two notable projects in recent months. Amounting to over R2 billion combined, the two projects will cement the company’s status as a top tier contractor in the industry.

Speaking on the project wins, Eben Meyburgh, Group CEO at GVK-Siya Zama, explains that being awarded these projects is indicative of the company’s expertise and its commitment to working collaboratively with clients to deliver quality builds.

“At GVK-Siya Zama, while we do not intend to be the biggest contractor in the country, we strive to be the contractor of choice in the South African market,” he says. “We see the current state of the industry as being contractually driven, which can potentially be highly acrimonious. We aim to change this by partnering with our clients and becoming a more solutions-driven company to better serve them and exceed their expectations.”

The two projects are significant notches in GVK-Siya Zama’s belt, with the first, a venture commissioned by Eris Property Group to redevelop the Cape Town train station to a mixed-use residential and retail space, and the second, construction of a R900m hospital in a remote location in the Eastern Cape.

“Situated on the corners of Strand, Adderley and Old Marine Drive in the Cape Town CBD, the redevelopment of the Cape Town station is a complex landmark project that includes the construction of a 20-storey, 3 085-bed purpose-built student accommodation facility, 6 700m2 of retail space and a new world-class public square,” adds Meyburgh.

The project forms part of Eris's RISE Student Living brand, which has positioned itself as the leading student accommodation provider in South Africa. The project is expected to take approximately 23 months to complete and be ready for the January 2024 student intake.

Planning indicates that the Cape Station project will consume 31 281m3 of concrete, 3 300 tons of rebar, 120 000m2 of formwork, 8 million bricks and 189km of joint sealant while four tower cranes will be needed to move materials vertically.

The scale and complexity of these projects has seen the company climb the ranks of the more prominent contractors in South Africa and represent the calibre of project that GVK-Siya Zama intends to pursue.

“Our mandate of being the contractor of choice could not have been realised if we did not change our mindset to first be the employer of choice and reshape our company to be more people-centric than before,” adds Meyburgh. “Providing the best service and solutions to our client comes from having the right employee complement and that starts with attracting the best people in the industry and creating an environment that is friendly, supportive and humble, as well as having an open-door policy that all voices are heard and taken into consideration.”

While these may be lofty ideals, they are often marred by daily challenges. Meyburgh believes that it is critical to ensure employees are engaged and motivated. “This is key to retaining our people and helping them to achieve greater professional levels.”

GVK-Siya Zama intends to pursue this path of success and project delivery, and with additional projects in the pipeline, it has undoubtedly secured its status as one of the key players in the industry.