Leoka Engineering MD Katlego Makgata
Full Name: Katlego Makgata
Position: MD of Leoka Engineering
Main Activity of the Company: Project management, design and engineering (engineering, procurement and construction management/engineering, procurement and construction), mainly in the mining sector
Date and Place of Birth: July 6, Majaneng village, near Hammanskraal, in northern Gauteng
Education: Master’s degree in mechanical engineering
First Job: Computational fluid dynamics engineer, Pebble Bed Modular Nuclear Reactor (Pty) Ltd
Career History Prior to Current Position: Computational fluid dynamics engineer, project engineer, project manager
Size of First Pay Packet: R110 an hour
First Job with Present Group: MD
Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated
Number of People under Your Leadership: 110
Management Style: Inclusive and encouraging of innovation
Personal Best Achievement: Being able to make time for my family and see them through their different life stages
Professional Best Achievement: Completion of the Maseve platinum mine project, near Rustenburg, in the North West, as lead engineer and project manager
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My former colleague and friend, Carlos Andrade – he pushed me very hard from the first day I started working at DRA
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Dangote Industries founder and chairperson Aliko Dangote
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: My mother – I learned a lot about smart hard work and how to influence people from working with her on small business ventures
Philosophy of Life: Not trying – succumbing to the fear of failure – is not an option
Biggest Ever Opportunity: That must be, by far, the time Leoka was trusted to take over an underperforming EPCM contract for an underground infrastructure project to extend the life-of-mine of a copper mine
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not having had extensive international travel
Hope for the Future: A South Africa that is genuinely committed to uplifting its people through education and creating opportunities for entrepreneurship
Favourite Reading: I read anything from business books to engineering and financial literature, autobiographies as well as historical accounts of events
Favourite TV Programme: Any basketball-related programme
Favourite Food/Drink: Matured medium-rare thick-cut steak with a hint of vegetables, partnered with a good beer
Favourite Music: I listen to most types of music, and all driven by mood, but Soul RnB tends to be the go-to choice on most occasions
Favourite Sport: Basketball
Favourite Website: None
Hobbies: Golf, mountain biking and cycling
Car: Ford Ranger Wildtrak
Pets: None
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Chewing with mouth open
Favourite Other South African Company: Bathu – the shoe company
Favourite Foreign Company: None – the corporate scandals of late have made one wary of investing faith and trust in any one company
Married: To Motlatsi Makgata
Children: Oletlile, 14; Kano, 12; Oabile, 3
Clubs: Balemi Golf Club