The National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) has a 24-month-long Women Empowerment Programme (WEP) which it runs in collaboration with University of South Africa’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS). 
The collaboration was established in 2014 with the aim to enhance leadership potential and boost business skills for women in the construction industry.
The NHBRC says through this programme, women entrepreneurs are empowered to develop various skills which are critical in them running successful businesses in the homebuilding sector where they are woefully represented.
The NHBRC is an agency of the Department of Human Settlements. It is responsible for the protection of housing consumers and to regulate the home building industry. The agency offers services such as enrolment of new homes, home builder registration, home building inspections, builder training, geotechnical and materials engineering.
“More than 500 women have participated in this programme since its inception. The training is followed by a mentorship programme,” says the agency.
Additionally, candidates develop comprehensive business plans and are evaluated for individual and company revenue growth.
WEP Beneficiary
One of the WEP beneficiaries Palesa Mofokeng of Virginia in the Free State, recently completed the 24-month programme alongside 91 other women.
“I became part of the programme after seeing an advertisement on the Facebook page of the South Africa Women in Construction Free State. I applied online and I was fortunately successful,” she says.
Mofokeng is the owner and director of Dithungthung Construction Company which she established in 2005. The company specialises in civil engineering, including road construction, mass concrete works, traffic safety, and general building.
She chose a career in construction because she finds it exciting and challenging.
“Each project has different outcomes and that fascinates me. Running a business in this industry requires resilience (for women) because it is male dominated. It is time for women to take up space in this industry and not be confined to jobs that were traditionally allocated for women,” she says.
Mofokeng says in the current financial year, her company has created 13 permanent jobs and 35 temporary jobs through three construction contracts in the Free State and Limpopo.
She was also able to master her own business plan and now she is applying for funding in order to grow her business.
NHBRC CEO Songezo Booi says women are under-represented in the industry.
“We aim to bring about transformation by assisting women in developing their entrepreneurial skills, business skills, and leadership skills so that they can fully realise and operate profitable businesses,” says Booi. 
How to apply
The NHRBC says the dates for the next intake will be communicated from April 2023.
In order to successfully apply, you must meet the following selection criteria, and terms and conditions:
- The delegate must be a woman who owns at least 51% of a construction or construction-related company (preferably in home building) and is actively involved in the running of the business.
- The business must be registered with the NHBRC if it is in the home building sector.
- The business must have been in active operation for at least two consecutive years and have an annual revenue of between R300 000 and R15 million.
- The business must have at least two full-time employees.
- The delegate must commit to attending all days of business training (both online and in contact) support services commitments.
- The delegate must be able to develop a comprehensive business plan for her business at the end of the training to graduate.
- Successful applicants will be required to sign a contract with the NHBRC acknowledging obligation to repay the bursary in full or in part should they leave the programme before completion.
- Failure to commit will render the application invalid.
- All successful applicants are required to agree to the terms and conditions for enrolment into the programme.
For more information, visit www.nhbrc.org.za or call its Toll-free number: 0800 200 824 or email nhbrc@behonest.co.za or thenhbrc@nhbrc.org.za
You can call Dithungthung Construction Company on 081 343 6591 or email palesalehakoe@yahoo.com
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