Q&A: Building Roads, Building Nations

Q: Thoko, for those who may not know you, how would you describe your journey and the essence of VEA Road Maintenance and Civils?

A (Thoko): VEA Road Maintenance and Civils is an 80% black women-owned construction firm operating across eight provinces. We don’t just build roads, we build relationships, capability, and community-level resilience. Every contract is an opportunity to unlock employment, upskill the local workforce, and grow small businesses. Our CIDB 9CE PE grading reflects our technical capability, but what truly defines us is our commitment to empowerment, excellence, and equity.

Q: Your industry is traditionally male-dominated. What challenges did you face entering it?

A (Thoko): The challenges were real. I often walked into boardrooms and construction sites where my presence was questioned. As a black woman, I had to earn and re-earn credibility. Access to funding, mentorship gaps, and securing early contracts were tough hurdles. But patience and persistence paid off, we refined systems, ensured compliance, hired intentionally, and invested in talent. Those early sacrifices shaped our sustainable growth.

Q: What was the turning point for VEA Road Maintenance and Civils?

A (Thoko): The SANRAL long-term road maintenance contract. It tested our readiness, supply chain, and community engagement. We delivered ahead of schedule and under budget, employed over 150 local workers, and mentored 18 SMMEs reinvesting over 30% of the budget into the community. That success opened doors, boosted our CIDB grading, and doubled our revenue in two years. It wasn’t luck; it was preparation meeting opportunity.

Q: How do you define and sustain success in your organisation?

A (Thoko): Success is about longevity and legacy not chasing the next contract. We’ve built a lean but empowered team where everyone understands the purpose. Integrity, efficiency, and shared accountability guide us. Listening to clients, communities, and staff keeps us grounded and adaptable.

Q: In today’s environment of rapid change, what is the biggest leadership challenge?

A (Thoko): Trust. Earning it, keeping it, and rebuilding it when needed. My leadership philosophy combines empathy with structure. Be clear in vision but flexible in method. Communicate honestly, even when the news is tough. Stay visible leadership can’t be outsourced. I show up on-site, in safety boots if necessary, because presence builds accountability.

Q: How does VEA Road Maintenance and Civils approach innovation?

A (Thoko): Innovation starts with people. We prioritise learning at all levels from onboarding to executive coaching. Crews receive SHEQ and upskilling training; administrators learn digital systems; young engineers are mentored by veterans. We also invest deeply in supplier development, training entrepreneurs in pricing, compliance, and procurement. When SMMEs grow, the entire sector strengthens.

Q: Diversity and inclusion seem central to your model. Why?

A (Thoko): Because diversity isn’t a buzzword it’s our DNA. With 80% black women ownership and over 51% of our workforce being female, we practice inclusion at every level: hiring, procurement, promotion, training. Women lead site management teams, and rural entrepreneurs receive mentorship and funding support. I’m particularly proud of the Women in Construction Incubator, which aims to support 100 women-owned businesses by 2026.

Q: What are VEA Road Maintenance and Civils’ core services, and what sets you apart?

A (Thoko): We offer road construction, rehabilitation, pothole repair, stormwater drainage, fencing, signage, and more. We also specialise in rapid-response emergency repair critical given climate impacts on infrastructure. But our real differentiator is our hybrid model of technical delivery plus social facilitation and supplier development. We’re not just contractors; we are transformation partners.

Q: How has technology transformed your operations?

A (Thoko): Digital dashboards allow clients to monitor project KPIs and subcontractor performance in real time, improving transparency and accountability. We also piloted mobile apps that let community members report issues or provide feedback. When people see we’re listening, trust grows, and projects become more human-centered.

Q: VEA Roads is known for disrupting traditional industry norms. How so?

A (Thoko): We’ve challenged the assumption that only large, white-owned firms can deliver at scale. Through mentorship, many subcontractors we trained now run independent businesses. That’s disruption when others rise because you paved the way.

Q: How do you stay agile in a rapidly changing market?

A (Thoko): Through scenario planning, supplier diversification, and proactive engagement with regulators. Our motto is simple: stay prepared, stay principled. Recently, our expansion into the Northern Cape and Western Cape allowed us to mobilise five emergency rehabilitation projects, employing hundreds and upgrading SMME CIDB gradings while maintaining zero reportable injuries.

Q: Lastly, what does legacy mean to you?

A (Thoko): Legacy is what endures. Our roads connect people, purpose, and possibility. Through VEA Road Maintenance and Civils, we’re not just rebuilding infrastructure; we’re rebuilding futures. My goal is to leave a company future generations can inherit rooted in excellence, impact, and equity.