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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.