With its solid track record, depth of expertise and strong balance sheet, Lubocon Civils has reached the top rung of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) ratings.

The achievement of Grade 9 Civil Engineering – or 9CE – status puts the company on a level to compete among the big players in the industry, says Lungisa Tshele, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Lubocon Civils. It can now bid independently for projects whose value exceeds R200 million, where previously it had done this as part of joint ventures.

“We are really excited about the prospects that this opens for Lubocon Civils,” says Tshele. “We have deliberately built the business by focusing on how we develop expertise and capability – so this is a very rewarding step in our growth journey.”

In terms of the CIDB’s grading, the level 9CE indicates that the company has developed the highest level of expertise, experience and capability in the construction industry. The CIDB has judged it capable of successfully undertaking large and complex construction projects, on time and on budget.

Lubocon Civils was started nine years ago by quantity surveyor Tshele and co-founder Bongani Msimango, a civil engineer. It has prioritised its skills base, developing its human resources by nurturing in-house engineers and other professionals and transferring skills. Among the staff are those professionally registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), and a number working towards registration.

“We also have a number who are qualified civil engineers and safety professionals registered with the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) and more undergoing a candidacy programme to become registered,” he says.

With its early work conducted mainly for local municipalities, Lubocon Civils has expanded into a range of projects from road contracts on provincial highways, to water and mining infrastructure. It also became much more involved with the private sector, in industries like mining. Its civils offering has diversified and become more multidisciplinary.

Tshele highlights the company’s dedication to quality, with Lubocon Civils earning accreditation in terms of ISO 9001 quality systems as well as ISO 14001 environmental management standards. It is also putting in place the ISO 45001 standard for occupational health and safety, having achieved an exemplary safety record over its operational history to date with zero fatalities.