Local woman’s dream culminates in top award

A woman with a dream of a brick-making plant and the uplifting of other women culminated in an award for "Limpopo's Best-Run Enterprise" in the emerging market.

Annamarie Bothma always wanted a brickyard as long as she could remember. Financial institutions, however, did not see the potential of such a business in the Masequa area, 35 km north of Louis Trichardt.

Rob Hillary, a well- known businessman from Polokwane, and life partner of Annamarie funded Masequa Bricks. The order for an H Birkenmayer fully automated plant, based on German technology, was placed in July 2005, the plant was delivered later in the year and training was done on site by them early the next year. The first production of cement stock bricks was in January 2006.

"We produced 50 000 bricks for the first month, together with blistered toes and lots of tears. Today, we produce 52 000 bricks per day," Annamarie said.

When Masequa Bricks was established late in 2005, a decision was made to employ females from the local villages, as they have no employment opportunities in the area. In a nearby village of 3 500 people, there are only about 114 skilled people.

"We started with 12 ladies, of which all but one is still working for us; she moved to Gauteng with her husband. We had three men working on the plant. Today we employ 21 females and 15 men from the rural areas. They are so proud of their jobs," Annemarie said.

Annamarie said that it might have been easier to start a brick-making plant in Louis Trichardt, where there is infrastructure and deliveries are not so costly.

"But here we are able to make a difference in an otherwise poor and undeveloped community. Our target market is in a radius of 80kms, and we have given a lot of people the opportunity to build more affordable houses with quality bricks," said Annamarie.

Masequa Bricks is also shortlisted as a finalist to participate in the National Productivity awards.

"This award from the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism for productivity and "Limpopo's Best-Run Enterprise" in the emerging markets means a lot to this company. Our efforts to make a difference were noticed, and we have achieved a lot in a very short time. We are very pleased about this, and hope that we can set a standard for other companies," said the directors.