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CONSTRUCTION WORLD

AUGUST

2017

46

TRUCKING

They supply ready-mix concrete, premix concrete, shortcrete, sand,

stones and plaster mix to mines and contractors in Sekhukhune

district including Steelpoort, Burgersdorp, Jane Furse and

Phalaborwa areas.

Unlikely background

Lukas Makuwa started his successful career and businesses

from an unlikely background. He first obtained a degree in IT at

Tshwane University of Technology and went on to work a number

of year’s fulltime as an IT technician at Eskom. His vision, however,

was to develop his own community and this drove him to grab an

opportunity to bid for and obtain the canteen contracts for Vantec

Mine and later Tubatse Ferrochrome Mine.

It was from here that he saw further opportunities working with

the mines, first as a contractor to the mines in removing stones to

crush and sell on to other businesses in the area; and later setting

up the batch plant for ready-mix and aggregate supply to the Lion

mining plant. More recently he started concentrating on also

supplying asphalt to Lion Mine II.

Today Mafute Enterprises is the holding company for a number

of other businesses including a laundry and cleaning business, and

a Supaquick tyre franchise. The holding company also owns 50% of

ML Phadima Construction & Projects which loads and hauls chrome

slag, does dust suppression, and grades roads at the Lion smelter

belonging to Xstrata Alloys.

Newest partner

His newest ‘partner’ helping him achieve his overall vision is FAW

trucks, which he took on to test in September 2014. Convinced that

FAW were the trucks best suited to his operations and needs, he

NEW PARTNER … NEW LEVEL

An astute businessman by any measure; modest

in nature but highly enterprising – this is Mahlaka

Lukas Makuwa, owner and MD of Mafate Business

Enterprises, primarily a mining supply company.

started purchasing various models into his fleet since then.

Today Lukas Makuwa runs nine FAW vehicles – four tippers

of varying capacity and two mixers, one 6 m

3

and the other 8 m

3

capacity. He monitors his transport operations on a cost-per-hour

basis and ensures wherever possible that they run at full capacity

or capability.

The models in the Mafute fleet include three FAW 35.340FC

8 cubic mixers, two FAW 33.330FC 6 cube mixers, two 35.340FD

15 cubic metre tippers, and one each of the FAW 33.340FD

18 cubic metre and 20 cubic metres tippers.

“I like the FAW trucks because they are strong, no-nonsense

trucks. They are tough and work hard, like me,” Makuwa laughs.

First break

Makuwa’s big break came when he landed the first 3-year contract

with a Glencore mine, with a specially structured deal – including

ring-fencing and the surety of R4,8-million to buy capital equip-

ment. His first work was to move ferrochrome with an articulated

dump truck.

Careful planning and a very ‘hands-on’ approach ensured that he

subsequently landed another three-year contract, followed by a third

for four years.

With the concrete batch plant in full swing, Makuwa and his

trustworthy employees continued the company’s stellar performance

landing contracts which included supplying the Lion Mine’s building

Phase II, a Maraisburg Mine project, the Burgersfort Shopping Mall

and Magareng Mine projects.

Secret to success

Asked what makes him successful, Makuwa says it’s all about

keeping your finger on the pulse, “I work long hours overseeing all the

enterprises, but I have reliable supervisors in place as well. I routinely

(everyday) check in with each business and if anything needs

changing, I rectify and correct the process.”

“Regarding new business, I have my ear to the ground and I

don’t hesitate if I believe something presents a worthwhile

opportunity to explore.”

“FAW trucks are reliable and I can trust

them to do their job. That’s why I’ve planned

to purchase anther five 10 cubic metre tippers

for my asphalt operations,” he says.

“My drivers keep log sheets which are

monitored for efficiencies. As everyone knows

concrete is a perishable material. I certainly

do not like dumping a load because of timing

which goes wrong.”

Loading the FAW to legal capacity and

up to 35 tons on shorter stretches, Makuwa

commends the FAW trucks’ on their torque

and power.

“Most importantly, the support in service,

on-site or off-site, which I get from FAW

Pretoria West and specifically Pieter Gerber, is

unmatched. He’s a stalwart who is prepared to

go the distance for me. That’s another reason I

trust the FAW brand of trucks. Pieter and FAW

work as hard as I do.”

Mahlaka Lukas Makuwa, owner and MD of

Mafate Business Enterprises.