Concor empowering communities at Koruson 1 Cluster in Northern Cape

As a company deeply invested in the growth and development of previously disadvantaged communities, Concor recently celebrated a significant milestone on its projects at the Koruson 1 Cluster in the Northern Cape. This comes as part of the company’s unwavering commitment to not just building infrastructure but also building futures through extensive skills development programmes.

The focal point of this commitment was the recent graduation ceremony held in Noupoort, Northern Cape, on 9 March 2024, to celebrate the achievements of people from the local community that had completed their training as concrete and shutter hands.

The Koruson 1 Cluster is an ambitious renewable energy project, encompassing the San Kraal Wind Farm, Phezukomoya Wind Farm and Main Transmission Substation (MTS), all strategically located close to Noupoort. These projects are not just about harnessing renewable energy but also about energising the local community through employment and training opportunities.

When Concor first started on this project, the company identified a glaring gap in the local workforce—a critical shortage of skilled labourers. To bridge this gap, the company employed local people from the sending area as general labourers, who, while assisting with the casting of foundations for the wind turbines, received hands-on training to become skilled concrete and shutter hands.

The graduation ceremony was not just a formality but a celebration of hard-earned success and the promising future of the graduates. A total of 55 graduates, comprising 22 concrete hands and 33 shutter hands, were acknowledged for their competence and dedication and a highlight of the day was celebrating a woman concrete hand who successfully completed her training at MTS.

The event was attended by over 100 guests, including Noupoort’s Mayor, Mr Mzwandile Toto. In his address, Mayor Toto extended his heartfelt congratulations to the graduates and expressed his gratitude to Concor for its significant contribution to the community.

This initiative by Concor is a shining example of how companies can play a pivotal role in uplifting communities by not just offering employment but by investing in the skills development of the workforce. By doing so, Concor is not only contributing to the local economy but also empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to secure a better future. The success of the graduates from the Koruson 1 Cluster project is a testament to the potential of such initiatives to transform lives and communities.

Concor recently celebrated a significant milestone on its projects at the Koruson 1 Cluster in the Northern Cape – the graduation of 22 concrete hands.

The graduation ceremony was not just a formality but a celebration of hard-earned success and the promising future of these shutter hands at Concor’s Koruson 1 project in the Northern Cape.

Among the graduates was a woman concrete hand, Mandilahe Portian Mbengo, who completed her training on the Koruson Main Transmission Substation project.

Kehumile Puwani

Company Secretary & Compliance Manager

Advocate Kehumile Puwani (Jantjies) is a distinguished legal professional specialising in commercial, corporate governance and regulatory law. She obtained her LLB from North-West University and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Compliance Management and various advanced certificates in Board Governance, Anti-Money Laundering Control and Board Leadership. With a proven track record as an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa, Kehumile has provided legal counsel on litigation, corporate governance, and compliance matters. Her previous roles include Company Secretary and Legal Counsel for Bell Equipment Sales Limited, Head of Compliance for New National Assurance Limited, and Legal Executive for Abacus Life and Abacus Insurance Limited. She is also a certified Professional Director (PD SA) from the Directors Association of South Africa and an active member of the Institute of Directors South Africa.

Thirosha Govender

Group Legal Manager

Thirosha Govender is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa and has been specializing in construction law for more than a decade. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Media Communication), Bachelor of Laws and a Master’s in Maritime Law, along with several professional development courses, including the Public Finance Management Act, Insurance&Risk Management, & Intellectual Property Law. She is a member of the Institute of Directors South Africa & Women in Mining Business SA. Thirosha’s diverse skill set & expertise are: stakeholder management, legal drafting and review of contracts, legal research, corporate governance, compliance training & dispute resolution. Notable achievements in her career include her appointment as an Executive Member of the South African Women Lawyers Association (SAWLA,CT,2007); selection for Brightest Young Minds (BYM) which recognized her as one of the top 100 students in the country. She received an Academic & Leadership Scholarship from British American Tobacco. Thirosha is committed towards educating people and created a Know Your Rights Campaign at Concor.

Marius Koen

Divisional Managing Director: Concor Infrastructure & Mining Services

Marius Koen is a civil engineer with 28 years of experience in construction and infrastructure development. He holds a B.Eng (Civil) degree from the University of Stellenbosch. Marius has extensive expertise in Dam, Roads, Bridges, Harbor, Rail and Mining Infrastructure construction, having served in various roles including Engineer, Site Agent, Contracts Manager, and Contracts Director. He was appointed as Divisional Managing Director for Concor Infrastructure in 2024, after serving as Contracts Director since 2011. His career highlights include appointments at Group Five, Concor Roads & Earthworks and Murray & Roberts Infrastructure, overseeing projects valued between R300 million and R2 billion. His professional portfolio with Concor include the Ngqura Container Terminal Phase 2, Ngqura Port Rail Link, Coega-Colchester Roads and Bridge, and SWEP Rail Deviation, among others. High levels of proficiency and expertise in construction management, estimating, business development and client engagement distinguish Marius as a leader in his field.

Chirsto Schoeman

Divisional Managing Director: Concor Building

Christo Schoeman is a seasoned civil engineer with over three decades of experience, registered as a Professional Engineer with the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) since 1993. He also served on the council of the South African Forum of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC) from 2011 to 2020. Christo has held influential positions in leading construction firms, including his recent roles as Director and Operations Executive at Concor from 2020 to 2024, and Senior Executive for Strategic Projects from 2017 to 2020. His notable achievements include serving as Operational Director for the Medupi Power Station Joint Venture from 2012 to 2024, as well as holding the position of Managing Director at Aveng Grinaker-LTA Civil Engineering (2011-2012) and General Manager at Karrena Africa (2000-2011). Christo’s expertise encompasses strategic, financial, and operational leadership, business and project development, stakeholder engagement, and a comprehensive understanding of engineering processes, ranging from intern Engineer to Contracts Director.

Ian Simpson

Group Executive: Commercial & Risk

Ian Simpson is a highly skilled Commercial Executive with over 20 years’ experience in commercial, legal and risk management roles within the construction and mining sectors. He is an Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa (non-practising) and a member of the Association of Arbitrators (Southern Africa)having completed specialist certifications in both Arbitration and Construction Law.  Ian combines strong legal and commercial insights with practical industry and on-site project experience, offering a comprehensive understanding of contractual strategy, dispute resolution and commercial risk management. His key competencies include strategy development, contract negotiation and administration, commercial claims and disputes, litigation, project controls and leading teams in complex and high-pressure environments. He has held senior positions at major industry players, including Senior Commercial Manager at Murray & Roberts Buildings (2010–2016)Group Legal & Risk Executive at Concor (2016–2020) and Commercial Executive at Moolmans Mining Contractors (2021–2023).  Ian holds an LLB and an Advanced Diploma in Labour Law from the University of Johannesburg and has completed leadership and industry-focused programmes through GIBS and the University of Cape Town. 

Jethro Masike

Group Executive: HR & HSE

Jethro Masike is a skilled IR and HR professional with a National Diploma obtained in 1999. He began his career as a Payroll Administrator and HR Officer from 1999 to 2003, before transitioning to industrial relations at Peter Mellor (Pty) Ltd in 2004. In 2009, he joined Concor Civils as an IR Officer. With extensive expertise in policy implementation, workforce planning, recruitment, industrial relations, dispute resolution and operations, Jethro has held various executive positions, including HR Executive and HR Director for Concor Opencast Mining and subsequently, Group Director HR & HSE. Jethro is responsible for formulating and executing the Group HR strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, fostering a positive work environment and managing employee relations. He serves as an advisor to the CEO, focused on reputation and stakeholder management, organizational culture, workplace health and safety and leveraging related metrics to support the achievement of business objectives.

Unathi Magwentshu

Chief Financial Officer

Unathi Magwentshu has over 20 years of experience across Corporate and Investment Banking, Development Finance, Energy, and the Petroleum sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce Honours from the University of Natal and qualified as a CA in 2004. She is highly regarded for her expertise in strategy development, financial planning, risk management, optimizing financial performance, investor relations, managing complex transactions, and providing mentorship to staff. Unathi began her career at Deloitte, honing her skills for five years before advancing into senior roles at two of South Africa’s top five banks. She later served as CFO of circa R11 billion petroleum business, before moving to successfully lead a debt restructuring assignment in the Telecoms Infrastructure sector. She has also served as a board member and Audit & Risk committee member on the boards of various companies.

Jerome Govender

Chief Executive Officer

Jerome Govender has more than 30 years’ experience in the construction, infrastructure development, and mining services sectors. A commercially astute and results-driven business leader, Jerome has proven himself in managing mergers and acquisitions, executing turnaround strategies, and leading business transformation initiatives in both South Africa and abroad. He has held key leadership positions, including as Chief Executive of Bombela Concessions Company-Gautrain (2007 to 2012), Murray & Roberts Construction African & Middle East (2012 to 2017), Cross Yara Partnership Melbourne Metro (2018 to 2019) and Moolmans Mining Contractors (2019 to 2023), before joining Concor in September 2023. Notable achievements include transforming Murray & Roberts Construction and Moolmans Mining from loss leaders to profit makers during his tenure as CEO. Additionally, he successfully managed the delivery of the USD 3.2 billion Gautrain Rapid Rail project during the crucial 5-year development period.

Lwazi Koyana

Independent Non-executive Director

Lwazi Koyana is a qualified chartered accountant with over 20 years of experience in investment management and corporate finance. He is also the founder and managing director of Nations Capital Advisors (Pty) Ltd. He currently serves as an Independent Non-executive Director for the Spar Group Ltd, is a member on the Rhodes University Council and holds the position of Chairperson at Steve Biko Academic Hospital. Previously, Lwazi served as an Independent Chairperson of the Audit & Risk Committee for the South African Qualifications Authority, an Independent Non-executive Director for AFGRI Ltd, SecureData, Mineworkers Investment Company (Pty) LTD and the W&RSETA. Lwazi is a member of Concor’s Audit & Risk Committee as well as the Remuneration Committee.

Tebogo Maoto

Non-executive Director

Tebogo Maoto is a finance and business restructuring professional holding a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics and Finance from the North West University, PGDip Project Management from Stellenbosch Business School, a Certified Rescue Analyst Certificate from the University of Pretoria, and also a Business Rescue Law Certificate from the University of South Africa. He is a licensed Senior Business Rescue Practitioner with the CIPC. Additionally, he is a member of the South African Restructuring & Insolvency Practitioners Association (SARIPA) and the International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Professionals (INSOL). The SARIPA awarded Tebogo the designation Business Restructuring Professional. Tebogo is a member of Concor’s Audit & Risk and Social & Ethics Committees and holds other directorships.

Phahlani Mkhombo

Non-executive Director

Phahlani Mkhombo is the Founder and Managing Director of Genesis Corporate Solutions. He is an admitted attorney and is a seasoned transaction advisor. Phahlani has over 20 years of experience in business restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, business rescue, corporate finance, project finance, public-private partnerships (PPPs), deal structuring, corporate governance, legal and insolvency in both the private and public sectors. He is a registered Senior Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP) with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and is licensed to take on business rescue appointments. He is actively involved in advising clients and lenders on assignments for distressed businesses. Phahlani is a member of Concor’s Remuneration Committee.

Thulani Sithole

Non-executive Director

A seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in engineering and business management, Thulani Sithole began his career at Sasol and has since held positions in various companies across multiple industries. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors in South Africa (IoDSA) and currently serves as the Executive Director of MANI Industries. Additionally, Thulani has contributed to several boards, including City Power and Freedom Park. Thulani serves as the Chair of Concor’s Audit & Risk Committee and is also a member of the Social & Ethics Committee.

Jerome Govender

Executive Director (Group CEO)

Jerome Govender has more than 30 years’ experience in the construction, infrastructure development, and mining services sectors. A commercially astute and results-driven business leader, Jerome has proven himself in managing mergers and acquisitions, executing turnaround strategies, and leading business transformation initiatives in both South Africa and abroad. He has held key leadership positions, including as Chief Executive of Bombela Concessions Company-Gautrain (2007 to 2012), Murray & Roberts Construction African & Middle East (2012 to 2017), Cross Yara Partnership Melbourne Metro (2018 to 2019) and Moolmans Mining Contractors (2019 to 2023), before joining Concor in September 2023. Notable achievements include transforming Murray & Roberts Construction and Moolmans Mining from loss leaders to profit makers during his tenure as CEO. Additionally, he successfully managed the delivery of the USD 3.2 billion Gautrain Rapid Rail project during the crucial 5-year development period.

Nazir Alli

Board Chairperson

Nazir Alli possesses over 45 years of experience as a distinguished civil engineer in the public and private sectors. As the founding CEO of the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) in post-apartheid South Africa, he is a globally recognized leader in public-private partnerships (PPPs), change management, and institutional transformation. His continued service on numerous private and public sector boards, including as the President of the World Road Association (PIARC), is a testament to his enduring impact and influence.

Notice for public interest

Fraudulent tender notices & purchase orders

Concor is aware of fraudulent tender notices and purchase orders being circulated in the Company’s name. The templates and stationery being used, which includes our branding, are very similar to our official templates thus making them look credible. We urge legitimate suppliers and potential contractors to be cautious and to contact Concor directly on 011 590 5500 to verify all suspicious tender notices and purchase order. You can also report suspicious tenders, purchase orders or recruitment notices via the Concor Tip-offs Anonymous line on 0800 733 734.