Celebrating 25 Years of Change
Published by The Power Group
For 25 years, the Power Group has changed landscapes and cityscapes, built roads and office blocks, constructed luxury residential estates, developed economic housing schemes and provided the groundwork and infrastructure to service it all. For a quarter of a century, change has been the stated intent and purpose of the Power Group: “to improve the quality of life in Africa through infrastructure development”.
While stakeholders (employees, suppliers, financial institutions, professionals as well as valued clients) gathered last week to celebrate the Power Group’s25th year in business, executive chairman Graham Power recommitted himself to his initiative aimed at changing the way we conduct business - and indeed our lives - in South Africa. A quarter of a century ago, Graham and Lauren set out in an orange second-hand bakkie on a journey that would do much to alter the face of construction and engineering in South Africa. That day in April 1983 marked the beginning of career and the birth of a company that would have as its core purpose “to improve the quality of life in Africa through infrastructure development”.
TAKE THE PLEDGE!
With his wide-ranging programme, Power is encouraging everyone who values ethical, honest and fair business practices to sign a pledge to be ethical in all dealings and actions.
(See www.itnafrica.com) Power reiterated the goals of the campaign at the Group’s recent 25th anniversary celebration in Knysna. Power holds strong views on the effects of corruption: “Unless we eradicate systemic corruption, we cannot eradicate systemic poverty.”
SOUTHERN CAPE ACTIVE
Power’s positive message about the industry and ethics was followed by an overview by Power Construction CEO, André du Preez.
The Group has made its mark in the region, notably through prestigious developments such as Thesen Islands, Pezula Estate, Brackenridge, George Mall, Blue Mountain Lifestyle Estate, etc.
Paul Thiart, director of Power Construction thanked clients and suppliers and praised staff members for staying true to the Group’s values and its vision,which is “to be recognised and respected as the first choice supplier of civil, development and building services”.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE
One of the most visible demonstrations of the Power Group’s commitment to the bettering of the lives of people has been the co-ownership offer in 2007to all its employees with five year’s service or longer.This followed the restructuring of the 12 companies in the Group into two, Power Construction and Power Developments. Every permanent staff member who has been with the Group for longer than five years can now have a direct share in the profits each year. Ownership now resides with three shareholders:Power Group Holdings (70% interest); the Power Group Employee Trust (20%); and the Power Group Investment Trust (10%).Through the trusts, the 420 unit holding employees hold the same share of ownership in both Power Construction and Power Developments. At all times, at least 20% of shareholding of both companies through the Investment Trust and the Employee Trust will be in black hands.
POWER CONSTRUCTION HELPS ENHANCELIVES
Acknowledged to be one of South Africa’s most innovative civil engineering contractors, the company is active in the Western, Southern and Eastern Cape as well as in Gauteng.
Its civil engineering divisions include Power construction West, based in Cape Town; Power construction Coastal with offices in Knysna and Port Elizabeth and Power Construction North, operating from Centurion in Gauteng.
The Roads, Building, Plant and Services divisions deliver valuable expertise to the company.
DEVELOPING A POWERFUL REPUTATION
The establishment of Power Properties in 1991 -later renamed Power Developments - laid the groundwork for a property development and management company that grew to become one of the most accomplished niche developers of affordable housing schemes under the State’s Housing Subsidy Scheme in South Africa.
The Group specialises in earthworks; bulk services; road and highway construction; pipelines; concrete works; township infrastructure; blacktop paving; golf course infrastructure; general building and turnkey property development.
25 YEARS’ GROWTH FOR KNYSNA FOREMAN
“Graham Power and I started together on the farm Elandskloof. We started out small. One bakkie. No graders and stuff. Just Graham and myself and five other men. We did small jobs, mostly. Church yards and driveways and so on. Graham also had his spade.You’d never see him standing hand on the hip, supervising He would jump in and work like the rest of us.
We used to work together at Savage & Lovemore,so Graham knew what he was getting when I joined him. That decision of mine to join Power Construction was a blessed decision.
From the early days Graham said I would grow with the company. True, the years have been good tome. Today I am a foreman and my son is a brick layer. This is a good company; it is blessed by God.”
PAUL THIART ON 25 YEARS OF CHANGE
“Graham Power has a special knack with people, so it didn’t take much persuasion on his part to convince me to join him at Power Construction. Graham’s wife, Lauren looked after the office which had been the smallholding’s horse stables.
Change. That is something that’s in no short supply in the Power Group. Especially during these last 15 years we have changed dramatically both strategically and structurally. The highlight was of course last year with there structuring and the employee-ownership offer where ordinary workers suddenly became co-owners - what a fantastic gesture!”
POWER PURPOSE AND VALUESPURPOSE
To improve the quality of life in Africa through infrastructure development.
VALUES
Our vision shall be achieved through dedicated adherence to the following values: ethics, absolute reliability, quality, caring for people, professionalism.
