AFRICA NEWS
Khato Civils has established itself
as one of the leading black emerging
construction companies within the
South African market, with broad
experience in areas of earthworks,
pipelines, waterworks, roads, and
concrete works.
Since being bought by the Malawi-
born chairperson, Simbi Phiri, in 2010,
the company has been operational for
almost seven years. Khato Civils has
also made a significant investment
towards building a strong equipment
backbone, emphasising growing
the company’s fleet and heavy plant
equipment. The heavy plant equipment
includes special-purpose equipment
such as excavators, TLBs, tipper trucks,
and flatbed trucks.
Khato Civils wholly owns all of this
equipment, and their new head office,
based in Kosmosdal, Centurion, boasts
a workshop and warehouse, allowing
them to service equipment and procure
materials in bulk — a crucial part of
their operating strategy.
Working primarily in the water and
infrastructure space, Khato Civils has
several ongoing projects.
Ensuring that construction takes
place and that projects are completed
on time and within budget, procurement
plays a vital role in Kato Civils’ success.
Supporting the operations of the
organisation, the company ensures
that delivery is on time by vetting
suppliers in advance and making sure
they use credible service providers.
The company’s procurement strategy
depends mostly on what it is they
need to buy, looking at what can be
purchased in bulk, or services they may
require for extended periods.
Where appropriate, the department
also ensures that resources that can
be shared are distributed, avoiding
the unnecessary accumulation of one
resource. In addition, Mo