STEEL
STEEL FABRICATIONDeepening impactand creating jobsFor Financial Director Lebo Smith, investing in peoplestrengthens loyalty and innovation. Ceezas Mechanical Works,which has a focus on metal pipes and welding in the steelfabrication industry, wants to grow in a way that deepensimpact and creates jobs.Please comment on the state of the steel fabrication industry.The steel fabrication industry is facing a mixed environment.There’s strong technical expertise locally, but business conditionsremain challenging due to rising input costs, low investment innew infrastructure projects and competition from imported steel.However, there is still steady demand in the mining, energy andwater sectors due to maintenance-based projects. Businesses thatfocus on efficiency, quality and diversification are best positionedto survive and grow.There is talk of South Africa about to have an “infrastructureboom”; do you see any evidence of that?Most of our clients in the mining, energy and water industriesare still spending heavily on maintenance work versus newinfrastructure. The industry is also adversely impacted by theclosure of macro-manufacturing companies.We remain optimistic that our government will soon commit toan industrial boom where new infrastructure projects will be rolledout and there will be more emphasis on enforcing the ruling thatcomponents should be manufactured locally.How did you come to start a business?Our entrepreneurship journey started with significant personaland professional pressures. My husband, a mechanical engineer,worked in the energy sector for over 20 years. From 2010, heworked outside the province which meant he only returned homeon weekends when he saw the children. We decided it was time tostart our own business and my husband saw a gap in the marketfor a black-owned company providing the services that we are nowproviding. We combined his industry knowledge and mechanicalengineeringexpertise with my financial-management knowledgeto start Ceezas Mechanical Works, focusing mainly on metal pipesand welding in the steel fabrication industry.What were the toughest initial challenges you faced as anew business?The initial period was incredibly tough and we experienced many“teething issues” when we became operational in 2015. To ensurefinancial stability, I kept my job as an accountant while the companytook on various small jobs. Maintaining a steady cash flow wastough. Our breakthrough came in 2019 when we secured our firstLebo Smith,Financial Directorof CeezaMechanical Works.maintenance and repair contract. Having to establish a site quicklyand with our cash-flow issues, it seemed like an insurmountabletask. We were fortunate to secure finance privately to fund ourworking capital.Were there particular challenges you faced as a woman?This business is mainly male-dominated and as a woman, Ifound it challenging due to my background in accounting andfinance. Therefore, I had to quickly hit the ground running andupskill my technical knowledge. Luckily, I had a co-director, myhusband. Today, I can confidently sit around the table, arguemy point technically, contribute effectively and challenge myteam technically.Were there mentors you could talk to?The support we received through the Raizcorp ComprehensiveEnterprise Development programme, sponsored by IntasolTailings, was essential. The guides in the programme have beentremendously helpful, acting almost like therapists to me. Theyprovided listening, understanding and assistance in workingthrough challenges on both a business and personal developmentfront. The programme also helped us connect with like-mindedpeople, offering comfort by showing that even though everyoneis doing different things, most business problems are similar. Thisassistance has helped us implement better business processes andexpand our team.How important is it to do a skills audit?A skills audit is crucial for any growing business. It highlights gapsin technical and managerial capability, allowing us to plan trainingand succession properly. We actively support staff who want tostudy or upgrade their qualifications. Investing in people not onlyboosts performance but also strengthens loyalty and innovation.Do you plan to expand your business?Yes, we’re planning to expand into new markets and product lines.We’re also looking to strengthen our footprint beyond our nationalborders. Growth for us isn’t just about scale, it’s about deepeningimpact and creating sustainable employment.48 | www.opportunityonline.co.za
STEEL FABRICATIONCEEZAS MECHANICAL WORKSYour trusted partner for ISO-certified welding, steel fabrication and mechanical plant maintenance.Established in 2012, Ceezas Mechanical Works is a 100%black-owned company, proudly serving the powergeneration, water and mining industries. Our expertiselies in delivering high-quality, customised steel fabricationand mechanical solutions on time and with zero defects.Our 700m² Germiston workshop is fully equipped withadvanced machinery, including an overhead crane, to handlecomplex industrial projects.KEY SERVICES• Steel fabricationWe specialise in: pipe fabrication and installation, plate workfabrication and installation, machining of components, site worksand structural steel.• Welding and pipe installationWe supply steel pipes and fittings (flanges, reducers, elbow, teepieces,etc) in carbon steel, stainless steel and exotic materials.Our team comprises highly competent and qualified pipefitters, boiler makers and coded welders.• Supply and refurbishment of industrial pumps and valvesThis includes the supply and refurbishment of centrifugal pumps.We refurbish and supply a wide range of valves from butterfly, gateand diaphragm valves to ball, globe and safety valves.• Mechanical plant maintenanceWHERE WE SEE OURSELVESOur vision is to be the trendsetter in the steel fabrication industrythat resolves the client’s plant-related technical challenges with aguarantee of ZERO defects.WHAT DRIVES US• Delivery of service and goods ON TIME and with ZERO defects.• Continuously researching the latest technology innovations in themarket to recommend the best technical solutions to our clients.• Having a sense of urgency to respond to our clients’ needs.SUCCESSFUL PROJECTSModderfontein private hospital, Edenvale (subcontract):Fabrication and installation of HVAC chilled piping (carbon steel)British American Tobacco South Africa, Heidelberg (subcontract):Fabrication and installation of chilled-water pipeworkRand Water: Panfontein Pump StationSupply of safety valvesEskom power stations, at different locations:• pulverised fuel (PF) burner refurbishment• plant maintenance• cation vessel refurbishment• ducting repairs• weld repairs of a raw-water head tank• fabrication and installation of service-water pipeline• other projectsACCREDITATIONSWe are an ISO 3834-2 accredited company. We thereforegive assurance that our welding processes are of the bestinternational standards.We are an ISO 9001:2015 accredited company. We thereforegive assurance that our quality processes are of the bestinternational standards.Proud to deliver high-quality customised steel fabricationand mechanical solutions on time with zero defects.We are aB-BBEELevel 1companyCIDB gradings:8ME PE and7CE PEAddress184 GaljoenRoad,Wadeville,Germiston1422ContactTel: + 27 10 110 7260082 726 2090Email: caesar@c-mechworks.co.zaWebsite: www.cmechworks.co.zawww.opportunityonline.co.za | 49
