Our Online history.... and so much more #whatacompany

29 Jun 2016

Our Online history…. and so much more #whatacompany

by Sherina Shawe | posted in: Life Lessons, Uncategorized | 0

This blog has got me so nervous and excited all at once, which in my experience is usually the start to something magical…. so lets see if I can pull this off!

To be perfectly honest, there is no way I can truly bring to life exactly how Leads 2 Business came about, but I will tell you this, this story has the makings of a great movie! A little bit of rags 2 riches, some deviant play, hard work and reward and even a little romance in the form of a persistent wife who was adamant to buy her dream house, which in turn, turned out to be the step that took a “two man band” company to a company with over 80 happy employees:) …… woman really do always know best, you see:)

So what started as a dream back in 1998/1999 for two friends wanting to give “online” access to a Directory (“Find a Business” astutely named) for all and for free, relying only on advertising in a time when the INTERNET was still something most people had only heard about, soon turned in to a realisation that this was gonna take a lot of time and dime with very little reward…..

Now don’t get me wrong, this is NOT a story of failed attempts and umpteen restarts….on the contrary, this is a story of evolution!!!

Being previously in the Construction Industry, it wasn’t a far stretch for Mr Victor Terblanche – Founder & Chief Cook and Bottle Washer, and by that I’m referring to the fact that he was doing all his own programming, developing, sales and marketing at the time, well anyway, they decided to reach out to the construction industry – converting BoQ’s….. yes, that’s where it all really started –

1 2 3 Contracting, services including selling of Internet services and Fax Services lol!

“As long as you are solving a problem you will never go hungry“ And that’s what they did, they solved problems!

They went on to identify the need for easily accessible tender notices – and Daily Tenders was born, with Private Projects and Price Assist Life (PAL) which is now our L2Q service right behind!

But lets just picture this for a minute, you now have an “online” business you need to convince your clients to subscribe to, but first you need to convince them to get “The Internet” first.

At this stage most businesses didn’t even have an email address, meaning the only way to get brochures to anyone was to do it the old fashioned –

Lick-Stick-Snail-Mail-Way …… this is what I call pure determination right there!

The Companies First Ever Brochure.

With some cunning maneuvers, crafty investigation, pure wit and I’m sure some brawn to endure the late nights and many trips to Johannesburg, Victor and his small team convinced the construction industry and some key players into believing in this site, some of whom are still subscribed to us today!

4 people strong at that time (if my scribbles from the “interview” I had with Victor serve me correctly)…. all working in a sloped floored garage, weathering the rain with towels and strategically high placed computer boxes and cables, the struggle was real!

And what most people don’t know, while this was all happening, someone else was discovering a dream….. Victor’s wife… she had a dream for a bigger better home! and without going into all the details, let me just say that because of one woman’s persuasive ways, this little garage company was enabled the cash injection it needed to get to where it is today!…. Leads 2 Business incorporating,
Daily Tenders, Private Projects and a Pricing Platform like no other, L2Q!

So now that you have a little back ground let me show you just how this site and company has evolved visually and technically.

First to go was the 1 2 3 Constructing website.

And so the evolution of Leads 2 Business started to take place!

This is one of the company’s very first Daily Advisories way back in 2003.

This was the very first brochure slash application slash user manual and application forms from 2007

2008 we saw a logo change:

2009 was somewhat of a new look once again.

And the 2009 brochure was our first offer to our clients: the ability to choose their own Daily Advisory filters.

2010, this was a good year in particular for me, it was when I got to join this ever progressive Company:)

It was only two short years later on 23 March 2012 to be exact…. when we ditched our comfortable “Yellow Site” and were thrown head first, with very little warning, (some kicking and screaming I might add) but ultimately SAFELY into what is now the current site we have all come to know, and love…..

But…. if I can give you any advice, never get too comfortable with Leads 2 Business, it is ever evolving & change is always inevitable, and this year is no exception as we stand on the brink of another HUGE & exciting upgrade to our website.

Now believe me, when I heard this, the mere thought sent cold shivers down my spine, made my blood run cold and ……..I even glimpsed at the door, purely out of fear of course ;)….. but then I remembered,

That without change, there is no growth…. and that’s what I am here for, and I’m sure you are here for that too, and when you stick with L2b you are guaranteed to be taken with on their revolutionary train of discovery in the Online industry!

Competitors have come and gone, brochures have changed as well as our site but one thing is certain, Victor Terblanche’s early vision to “solve your problem” has never changed and now runs through us all at Leads 2 Business 🙂

And so in closing I would like to express the privilege it is not only to work for this company, but to work for this man:)

Victor Terblanche – Chief Executive Officer

and Our Directors

This Blog has really been a pleasure to write and I got to find out what I’m really a part of, and I was right…. it is pretty magical:).

About Sherina Shawe

I am a strong believer in "What you put in , is what you will get out" and this drives me every day, whether it's at home with my gorgeous family or at work where I get to fuel my competitive spirit. I love who I am and who I'm becoming. I love where I am , but more importantly where I'm going.... #EternalOptimist #Aspire2Inspire

22 Jun 2016

The On-Line Construction Directory

by Marlaine Andersen | posted in: Construction Chat, Construction Events, Uncategorized | 4

Also known as the Leads 2 Business Platinum Directory Listing (PDL). This directory is a simple tool that has evolved into a remarkable business system which has many benefits for the vendor. As a vendor, registering on the Platinum Directory Listing, your company has the opportunity to generate new business leads with a well-defined market niche.

By registering your business on the Leads 2 Business directory :

Your company will gain exposure to the various Buyers from the various construction companies.
It stimulates on-line pricing awareness on prospective tenders.
There is an optional SMS notification facility, should a Request for Quotation (RfQ) be sent to you.
You can specify where your product/service is labour & materials or labour only. You can define your BBBEE status and indicate your CIDB grading; list all necessary company contact details and give a detailed description of your company’s products/services rendered.
You are improving your company’s exposure and position as you price.
You can broadcast items that you have priced to other buyers who may be looking for the same pricing information.
You can manage your listing to dictate which Requests for Quotes are appropriate to your particular trade profile.
You will receive award notifications on the contracts you have priced.

In addition, Leads 2 Business takes a proactive approach to support, if we receive notification of an email problem from your ISP, we will contact you to try and sort it out.

We also offer Online support via Livehelp which can be accessed anytime you may need assistance or have a query you need to raise, we are only a click or a call away.

So, now you are listed on the Leads 2 Business Platinum Directory and ready to acquire more business, more often. Here is how it works in order to expose your business to target industry listings and securing new contacts :

A Buyer/Contractor sends out Requests for Quotes (RfQs) to specific Vendors/Suppliers listed on our directory.

When a Vendor/Supplier receives the RfQ, they have the option to price it or to decline the request.

Vendors can respond to the RfQ via : Online pricing, email or fax (If the Buyer/Contractor has drawings associated with the Bill these will be available online and accessible with your Vendor/Supplier username and password).

Vendors/Suppliers who haven’t responded are contacted by the Leads 2 Business Control List Team for follow up.

Prices submitted by Vendors/Suppliers are used by the Buyer/Contractor to formulate their tender pricing.

And Platinum Directory Listed Vendors/Suppliers will receive Award notifications on RfQs received as long as they have acknowledged the RfQ.

So, can being listed on the Platinum Directory get you noticed by the Industry Giants???
Having read the above, what do you think?……

About Marlaine Andersen

Leads 2 Business Advertising Co-ordinator and Digital Designer

15 Jun 2016

Pricing Online – RfQs

by Sasha Anderson | posted in: Construction Chat, General, Uncategorized | 0

Have you ever received one of these and wondered why?

The reason you have received an RfQ email is because you are listed on our Directory as a Vendor. We have Buyers (main contractors) who subscribe to our Leads 2 Quotes platform who use our Directory to select Vendors to send RfQ’s to.

Basically these Buyers send us BoQ’s for each relevant contract. We (L2Q Bills staff) process these BoQ’s by formatting them and splitting each item into the relevant trades (which may sound simple but can often take many hours to decipher). The Buyers, using our Directory, select a trade and region and a list of the relevant Vendors under that Trade and Serviceable Region appear, they select who they want to send to and click ‘Send RfQ’. You (the Vendor) will then receive an RfQ email (as above).

You have received this email, now what?

Firstly you need to check if the RfQ you have received is relevant to what your company does. If not, you will need to click on the “Update my Trade Profile”.

If the items are of relevance and you would like to price you can click on “Intend to Price”. If the items are of relevance but you are unable to quote for that time period (see respond by date/start date) you can click on “Decline to Price”. This will indicate to us (L2B) and the Buyer (who’s details are listed on the top right hand corner of the email) whether you will or won’t be pricing.

You’ve decided to Price the RfQ, where to next?

You will need to go ahead and work out the relevant rates required. Remember to take note of the Buyers T’s & C’s as some of these may specify whether VAT should be exclusive or inclusive and whether delivery or labour should be included. If you require Drawings in order to price you can click on the “Drawings” link in order to view or download the drawings. If there are no drawings on that link you will need to contact the Buyer. It is vital to note that we only have the information that the Buyers have provided. Any additional information required that is not available online, will have to be requested directly from the Buyer by the Vendor.

In order to use any of the L2B online features you will need your Vendor login details (Registration is Free). If you cannot remember these or have never registered as a Vendor you are welcome to contact us, via email, telephonically or via our Live Help option in order to request assistance.

Once you have all your relevant rates you can then go ahead and choose how you would like to respond to the RfQ. You could choose Fax, Email or Online Pricing, please note that Online Pricing is the quickest and easiest.

You’ve (wisely) chosen to use Online Pricing, where do you start?

You can use Online Pricing by clicking on the “Price Online Now” link which will take you to the L2B website where you will log in using your Vendor login details.

Once logged in you select the Vendor Home page on the Home drop-down. Your Active RfQ’s will now be displayed where you can click on “Submit Price” next to the relevant contract number and you will be redirected to enter your T’s & C’s, after submitting, the “Pricing” page will be displayed where you can simply enter your rates for each item which are automatically multiplied by the quantity to give a total and a grand total in red at the bottom. You are also able to interact with the other tabs as their relevance requires. Once you are happy with everything you can click on “Submit Prices”, ticking the “Send a copy to my email” box if you would like to keep a copy of the pricing you have submitted.

What do you do once you’ve submitted your prices?

Once the contract is awarded you will receive a notification via email. If the Buyer who sent you the original RfQ is awarded the contract you can now follow up with them regarding the prices you previously submitted to see if they will require your services and how competitive your prices were. If the contract is awarded to a different contractor you can still contact them and offer to send them your prices (you should have a copy if you selected to send a copy to your email) or by logging into your L2Q Vendor Profile and clicking on the relevant “Download Sent Bill” icon.

Receiving and responding to RfQ’s has never been easier with Leads 2 Business Online Pricing.

Want to know more about being a Vendor/Buyer, our Platinum Directory Listing (PDL), Leads 2 Quotes (L2Q) or any of the other Services we offer? Contact me on SashaA@L2B.co.za

About Sasha Anderson

Millennial Mom + wife living the hash-tag life. Reach out if you want to talk: L2B, social media, construction, technology, marriage, parenting, popular culture and travel. Remember: If You Fail - Fail Forward

8 Jun 2016

Tendering Online – Bringing your A Game

by Carmen Barends | posted in: Construction Chat, Frequently Asked Questions, How To | 0

Tendering Online – Bringing your A Game

Tendering online in 7 (easy-ish steps)

How do you even begin in this process? It can be fairly daunting right? Perhaps starting with what NOT to do is a good way to go. In order to really learn what not to do when tendering online, you should check out How to stuff up a Tender. South Africa is quite au fait with the term Tenderpreneur. In fact, we actually have a top Ten list. Although it is a tongue in cheek kind of humorous thing to refer to (South Africans love to make fun of themselves in a way the rest of the world is baffled by), it is a serious issue in South Africa. Here are a few news articles on the Topic of Tenderpreneurs for you to browse:

http://businesstech.co.za/news/finance/115828/tenderpreneurs-vs-the-rest-of-the-anc-in-south-africa/

http://www.news24.com/Archives/City-Press/Meet-the-R77m-tenderpreneur-20150429

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/a-guide-to-being-a-tenderpreneur-2013-02-01

But I reckon the reason you are here reading this post is because you want to do Tendering online as well. So let’s take a look at some steps to help you with tendering online:

Step One

Get yourself a desktop/laptop/tablet or just simply use a smart device.

Step Two

To be online you need to be hooked up to the World Wide Web. Yes, the Internet. The purveyor of many evils and sometimes, a little surprisingly, just as much good.

Step Three

Sharpen your pencil, because here we go….

You need to find Websites that provide tender notices. Or instead, a service provider that will wonderfully just deliver the notices to your email daily (shameless punting I know – but hey – you are reading our blog).

Store this list of websites on a word document (or just open your email inbox if you are subscribed to our services). Check this daily to see whether there are new tenders that match your criteria.

Step Four

Are you registered on the Supplier Database for the particular Municipality putting out the tender? Check with them if this is required. It would be a pity to submit the perfect bid and not meet this criteria.

Step Five

OK, so you have identified what tenders you wish to bid on. Yay! Half way there. If you want to know what procedures you need to follow, I will leave that to the Pro’s to tell you. Check this link out for tender procedures and more steps to help increase your chances of getting your foot in the door.

Making sure you have the correct documentation is important. Check out a comprehensive guide for making sure you have all your ducks in a row (so to speak).

Step Six

Check where the Site Inspection is (if applicable) and whether it is compulsory. Wouldn’t want to miss out on that!

Step Seven

Sharpen your pencils and do your calculations – put your bid together. Make sure you have all the necessary forms to submit with your bid along with the correct place to submit it by the correct date.

So the big questions is…..

How Do I Win A Tender?

Well, listen up close. If you want to win.. you need to be persistent. Its unlikely to happen on the first tender, so keep at it. Some winning tips may help you though. Ultimately, tendering online streamlines some of your processes, but isn’t so much different from doing it old school in that attention to detail, diligence and persistence will take you a long way to earning a winning bid.

So from the desktop….. to you on the other side of the Web, good luck with your tender. I hope to hear of your success.

If you are interested in becoming one of our subscribers, please visit our website.
To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit our Wiki site.
To view more articles, please visit our blog.

About Carmen Barends

Social media adventurer for Leads 2 Business, exploring new frontiers and taking new ground. “Not all those who wander are lost.” JRR Tolkien

1 Jun 2016

How Online Tender Information is changing the industry

by Claire Donaldson | posted in: Uncategorized | 0

The Industry has been changed for awhile now. Getting your tender information online is nothing new, at this point. Numerous companies in South Africa, and around the world, are making tender information accessible online and have been doing so for years. The internet and email are tools that has become so common place now, that there are some that don’t know a life without it. Never mind dial-up. Not being able to use your landline at the same time that someone else was using the internet. Anyone? Anyone remember this? The pained squarks, whistles and beeep-par-beee grrrrrshshshshshshs….as your poor modem searched for lord-knows-what signal down a Telkom line.

When I first started at Leads 2 Business, asking if a potential subscriber had an email address and access to the internet was common place. “No. We do not fax you the 200-odd tenders each day“. Having to explain the difference between email and the internet was also sometimes necessary. This question rarely gets asked now. Nearly everyone has an email address and access to the internet, whether through a smartphone or tablet or home/ work ADSL. I think at this point an email address, smartphone and IG account are being issued along with birth certificates. So what does this mean? Freedom to access information. Any information, whenever you want it. Granted, there are certain disclaimers connected to certain areas of the internet. You have access, just like everyone else. Not everything that is available is true or good or even necessary. Just like people. Lol. It’s a huge market place for information, and everyone is wandering around bumping into weird little facts, and interesting stories and catching up with long lost friends from nineteen-voetsak. Social Media, in all its variants, brings people together. For better or worse. People are living their entire lives online, and their Professional lives as well.

News is no longer a newspaper or TV broadcast at seven o’clock monopoly. News is Shared and Posted and Commented on.

Education and Knowledge has received a revamp, as being sent to “look it up” doesn’t mean the bookshelf of Encyclopedias in your living room anymore (Geez, I hated that. It was just Parent-Speak for “I don’t know”). “Googling” is a verb. It’s the go-to to learn and research and stalk. Search Engines have a say on whether you will be found at all. Who looks at page 2 of a search result? Someone who is desperate, that’s who.

Communication moved from snail mail to the telephone to cellphones to email and LiveChat and Instant Messaging. (Although I do enjoy a letter now and again. That isn’t a bill, of course). Anyone flipped through a Yellow Pages recently? Nope. An internet presence is today’s advertising. It allows any potential clients to find you and therefore use you. No successful business hides from their potential clientèle.

People want what they want when they want it. That’s usually now. Time management is a huge consideration today, as “time is money”. Accessing your tender information online (and receiving it by email) saves money and time. Obviously, if you know who to subscribe with (Hint, hint. Nudge, nudge).

The Government has finally caught on. With the launch of the ePortal last year, the National Treasury is hoping to shore up our five principles of Procurement, namely Transparency, Fairness, Equitability, Competitiveness and Cost-Effectiveness. They’ve bragged about the millions, if not billions, that Government will save by utilising the ePortal for all their Procurement needs. Granted, it’s a bit of a blow to the publishing industry as tender adverts are being pulled from newspapers (but currently these haven’t dried up yet). Making tender documents accessible on the ePortal as well, will save huge document printing costs. Sad for you, if you now have to print these documents but I’m sure if you’re staring down a CIDB 9 contract; you’ll muddle through.

The Centralised Supplier Database (CSD) will ensure that a supplier or contractor or professional that wants to work with the Government, only has to register once. Then Government Departments can see and compare prices for their required goods and services. And this hopefully will ensure that every Government Department is paying the same price for bread and pens. Comparisons in the light of day, can have a major impact. But this is still new. It’s still a work in progress, as clicking through 20 to 30 odd pages of tender adverts multiple times a day is not what I would call efficient or user-friendly. I had a conversation with a subscriber of ours, and her relief when I assured her that I would be doing this for her; was quite comical. The ePortal has a ways to go and that will take time.

I like to think that we’ve done the time. And in any endeavour when you’ve sacrificed time, you gain experience. Endless conversations and emails with subscribers, have shaped our website. Understanding our subscribers’ needs and wants, and empowering them to make the L2B website work for them. Ensuring that they have the opportunity to broadcast their services and products to those who would use them. Ensure that they are listed correctly on our Directory, so no “flipping of pages” is required. Putting one more nail in the coffin of the poor fax, and facilitating their sending out countless Request for Quotes to hundreds of potential vendors. Quick and efficient searches, with relevant results. With all the advantages and benefits of being online, the most important is to use them. And regardless of how innovative the internet gets, nothing can replace the people on the other side (whether the phone or keyword or touch screen) ready to assist and support you.

About Claire Donaldson

I started working at Leads 2 Business in February 2005, and have served as Head of Department of Daily Tenders from 2007 until the present. I oversee both the Daily Tenders South Africa and Africa Departments.

25 May 2016

Local News: Drought in KZN

by Debbie Wessels | posted in: Construction Chat, Uncategorized | 0

A little bit of rain has fallen, the valleys and hills in the Kwazulu-Natal Midlands have turned a lush green…..makes it hard to believe that we are in the midst of a debilitating drought. But the reality is, Kwazulu-Natal (and most of South Africa) is experiencing one of the worst droughts ever and many towns have run out of water, subsistence farmers have lost their crops and cattle farmers have lost their herds.
Excerpt of a recent news article posted on the official website of the eThekweni Municipality reads as follows:
“The Kwazulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department has warned that despite the recent rainfall, the prolonged drought remains severe. MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, said the province would need weeks and weeks of sustained rainfall to refill its fast declining water reservoirs to return to water levels considered safe and sustainable”.
Is there anything more that you and I could do?
I am an avid reader and have read many books including some about cowboys and Indians and then I thought….what about a rain dance!?! This is what we need to do! Only problem is, I am not native American and also have no idea on how to do a rain dance, so….my go-to place when I am unsure….Google…off I went to do some research on how to do a Rain Dance and eHow.com was very helpful!
Hmmm……
Things You’ll Need
• Comfortable clothing
• Moccasins or tennis or aerobic shoes
• Music with a steady beat featuring a flute or drum
How to do the Rain Dance:
Step 1
Form two lines parallel to each other and about four feet apart. Men stand in one line; women in the other.

Step 2
Step forward with your left foot.

Step 3
Raise your right foot while moving forward and bring that foot to the floor. The men can stomp more vigorously than the women.

Step 4
Continue to step forward in this way–left foot, right foot higher, stomp to floor. Unlike other Native American dances performed in a circle, rain dancers move in a square pattern around the sides of the room or area in which they’re dancing.

Step 5

During one measure of the song, and while moving forward, face to the right. During the next measure, face to the left. A zigzagging pattern is formed as you continue on in this manner.

Step 6
Between measures, dancers can stop and twirl in imitation of the wind, which is showing the promise of rain. The women may chant or sing the song that’s playing, and the men can yelp with the beat.
Tips & Warnings
• Find authentic Native American music to accompany your dance.
• For an actual performance, use accessories traditionally worn by American Indians specifically for a rain dance. Feathers and turquoise incorporated into headdresses represented the wind and rain. Men and women wear masks made from feathers, horsehair and goat hair, and strips of turquoise. The women’s masks hid their faces, their shawls covered their hands, and they wore long black dresses, making their bare feet the only parts of their bodies exposed.
• Dance as slowly or vigorously as your health allows.
• Do not do this dance if your doctor has restricted your activity.
Come on folks, lets do this!!! If this does not work i.e. no rain falls during or after, not all is lost. I am sure that we would have had a fun time, with lots of laughter and pointing at our friends and colleagues, and maybe, just for a short while, we would not have thought about our problems and lack of water.

Sources:
http://www.durban.gov.za/Resource_Centre/new2/Pages/Despite-recent-rainfall,-drought-remains-severe-in-KZN.aspx
http://www.ehow.com/how_5519447_perform-raindance.html

About Debbie Wessels

I started at Leads 2 Business in April 2008 in the tenders Department and transferred to the Projects Department during the same year. I was appointed Head of Department for Projects from February 2011 to March 2022. April 2022 I started a new adventure as Content Regulator.

18 May 2016

Developments in KZN under Construction

by Sasha Anderson | posted in: Construction Chat, Construction Events, General | 0

This month on the Blog we have covered Trending Tenders in KZN and the Municipalities which produce the Top Tenders in KZN.

By now I’m sure you’ve guessed our theme for the month of May is KZN.

Do you know which Tenders were awarded recently, which developments are underway or nearing completion in KZN?

Knowledge about current events can allow you to decide where you stand on developments and other issues impacting your city, region and country. This knowledge can provide you with the ability to start discussions with friends, colleagues and the community about issues and the economy. Professionally speaking this kind of knowledge can be extremely beneficial for business allowing you to get ahead of the competition by getting in contact with the relevant key players and as an individual it’s vital to set yourself apart from your peers by displaying a broad understanding of current events among others.

With that said, I thought it would be apt to highlight some of the developments in KZN currently under construction that will soon be part of the KZN landscape.

DTA 491631 – Construction of a New Wellness Centre (Durban Station) related to PPA 15337

DTA 409809 – Emapheleni Phase 1 Housing Project (Mhlabunzima Ridge) related to PPA 12591

DTA 501521 – Rectification of 486 units Shallcross related to PPA 15697

DTA 458636 – Construction of Amajuba Disaster Management Centre related to PPA 11052

DTA 428462 – New 3 storey, 192 Bed Adult in Patients Accommodation including New Crisis Centre, Perimeter Fencing and Demolish Wards E,F,G,H and Relocate Crisis Centre Parkhome related to PPA 13069

DTA 479270 – Home Affairs: Hluhluwe: Construction of New Offices related to PPA 14823

DTA 504069 – Construction of 150 rental housing at Ndumo related to PPA 15956

Want to know more about Projects and Tenders on Leads 2 Business? Access this information right now with us. Contact me on SashaA@L2B.co.za

About Sasha Anderson

11 May 2016

Which Municipalities Produce the Top Tenders in KZN? (Segment Volume, Award Info & ease of Contact)….. AKA WHO’S the Coolest!

by Sherina Shawe | posted in: Construction Chat, Frequently Asked Questions, Uncategorized | 0

No offense to the person who comes up with these blog topics – “But who comes up with this stuff?!!!”

I think I may have nodded off between the words “Municipalities” and “ease” but luckily for you I am a master of skim reading, so what I took from this topic is, they want me to tell you who is the best in the land! (KZN)…

so that is what I’m gonna give you:)

Buckle up, this should be riveting!!!

Let’s begin by giving you a comprehensive list of the District and Local Municipalities in KZN – (Knock yourself out!)

OK so what I thought I would do is start by throwing them all into a pit – a dog fight if you must and see who are the “Big Spenders”

Criteria: Developments R100 Million + and from stages of Conceptual through to Underway. (Information compiled from Leads 2 Business)

Lets do this!

Conceptual – Procedural: And straight out the gate well we have some contenders!

Technology Hub Pietermaritzburg Airport – Msunduzi Local Municipality (Pietermaritzburg)

New Central Library in Durban – eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (Durban)

Ok….so far we have a tie but I’m not worried yet, its still very early in the game…..Next is…..

Design:

Right of Way from the Piesang River to Malandela Intersection – eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (Durban)

Msunduzi Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network IRPTN – Msunduzi Local Municipality (Pietermaritzburg)

I’m sensing a pattern here…..

Tender:

Moses Mabhida Road Upgrade Km 88 to 103 – Msunduzi Local Municipality (Pietermaritzburg)

And finally someone takes the lead!! – Way-to-Go PMB!

Awarded: And it looks like we have some new contenders!! Welcome Ixopo & Escort !!!!

Buhlebethu Community Housing – Ubuhlebezwe Local Municipality (Ixopo)

Jika Joe LowCost Development Infrastructure – Msunduzi Local Municipality (Pietermaritzburg)

Paapkuilsfontein Housing Stages 1 2 and 3 Infrastructure – Umtshezi Local Municipality (Escort)

And then our last category but most definitely not the least and where I suspect the “Big Spender” will be revealed…

Underway:

Usuthu Water Purification Plant – Zululand District Municipality (Ulundi)

Hilton Water Reticulation Replacement – Umgungundlovu District Municipality (Hilton)

City Fleet Redevelopment Phase 1 – eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (Durban)

Right of Way from Bridge City to Proposed Bus Depot – eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (Durban)

Ntuzuma D Phase 2 and 3 Housing Project – eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (Durban)

Right of Way Lanes in Anderson Road – eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (Durban)

Right of Way Lanes in Beviss Road Qashana Khuzwayo Road – eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (Durban)

Right of Way along MR577 Inanda Malandela Intersection to Umgeni Viaduct – eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (Durban)

Right of Way lane Along MR577 M25 to InandaMalandela Intersection – eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (Durban)

Umshwathi Municipality Slums Clearance Project Services and Infrastructure – uMshwathi Local Municipality (New Hanover)

Western Aqueduct – eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (Durban)

Whoop! Whoop! to our Big Spender eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (Durban)!!!

Ok so that’s settled, but let’s not count out the rest of the province just yet, let’s lower the bar a little and open the “ring” as it were and find out who exactly is putting out volume in terms of tenders…..

(Please be advised that these figures are ever changing and are taken from the day I composed this blog post and not necessary the moment you read it 😉 also I took this information from the Leads 2 Business website, which is focused on the Construction and related industries – for the current up to date figures, feel free to subscribe to Leads 2 Business http://www.L2B.co.za )

Criteria: Number of Live Tenders in each region

And the results are:

eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (Durban) – 30

Okhahlamba Municipality (Bergville) – 18

uMzimkhulu Municipality (uMzimkhulu) – 9

uThungulu District Municipality (Richards Bay) – 8

uBuhlebezwe Municipality (Ixopo) – 7

uMhlabuyalingana Municipality (Kwangwanase) – 5

Nquthu Municipality (Nquthu) – 5

uMngeni Municipality (Howick) – 4

Zululand District Municipality (Ulundi) – 4

Hibiscus Coast Local Municipality (Port Shepstone) – 4

Emnambithi / Ladysmith Municipality (Ladysmith) – 4

Richmond Municipality (Richmond) – 3

The Msunduzi Municipality (Pietermaritzburg) – 2

Dannhauser Local Municipality (Dannhauser) – 2

Umgungundlovu District Municipality (Hilton) – 2

Nongoma Local Municipality (Nongama) – 2

uPhongolo Local Municipality (Pongola) – 2

Jozini Municipality (Jozini) – 2

Ndwedwe Local Municipality (Stanger) – 1

Mkhambathini Municipality (Camperdown) – 1

Ntambanana Municipality (Empangeni) – 1

Mtubatuba Municipality (Mtubatuba) – 1

Maphumulo Local Municipality (Maphumulo) – 1

Big 5 False Bay Municipality (Hluhluwe) – 1

Newcastle Municipality (New Castle) – 1

Mandeni Municipality (Mandeni) – 1

Endumeni Municipality (Dundee) – 1

So there we have it folks, no big surprise with the 1st place winner eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (Durban) considering it is the largest of all the Municipalities, but the number two spot I was sure would go to The Msunduzi Municipality (Pietermaritzburg), but no, this went to the little town of Bergville!!! Well Done Bergville!

Now lets get down to the nitty-gritty – ease of contact…..

I’m not sure how many of you have had the pleasure of trying to call a Municipality…..but let me tell you, this can truly be the most frustrating exercise you will ever do…sober!

You either get cut off during transfer, left on hold for days or have the endless ringing, which you hold onto with every last strand of hope that someone, just anyone will pick that ringing phone up and put you out of your misery…. but no, you generally have to, just HAVE to, eventually take a toilet break, coffee break or just simply wash your now sticky sweaty phone holding hand!!!

And when you are back, it all starts again……

Now that I have explained how I feel about this, let me tell you that in the name of good “Journalism” I will take on the task and I will report back on each of the Local Municipalities, I will start by clicking though to their websites and see if those work, then I will call the prescribed contact numbers and see if those work and if so, how long does it take them to answer my call!

Municipality	Website	Contact number	Ring Duration
ABAQULUSI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY (Vryheid)	Works	Works	3Min2Sec
DANNHAUSER LOCAL MUNICIPALITY (Dannhauser)	Works	Works	15Sec
EDUMBE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Constantly Engaged
EMNAMBITHI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	8Sec
MANDINI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	3Sec
ENDUMENI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	20Sec
GREATER KOKSTAD LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	1Min & Disconnected
HIBISCUS COAST LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	12Sec
HLABISA , IMPALA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Doesn’t Work	Works	50Sec
IMBABAZANE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	16Sec
IMPENDLE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	1Min50Sec & Disconnected
INDAKA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	14Sec
INGWE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	I gave up after 3Min
EZINQOLENI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Doesn’t Work	Works	I gave up after 3Min
JOZINI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	1Min51Sec
KWA SANI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	40Sec
KWADUKUZA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	3Sec
MAPHUMULO LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	23Sec & Disconnected
MFOLOZI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	I gave up after 3Min
MKHAMBATHINI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	I gave up after 3Min
MPOFANA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	18Sec
MSINGA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	3Sec
MSUNDUZI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	19Sec
MTHONJANENI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	6Sec
MTUBATUBA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	I gave up after 3Min
NDWEDWE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	I gave up after 3Min
NEWCASTLE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	1Min4Sec
NKANDLA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	8Sec
NONGOMA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	9Sec & Disconnected
NQUTHU LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	6Sec
NTAMBANANA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	18Sec
OKHAHLAMBA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	8Sec
RICHMOND LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Doesn’t Work	Works	I gave up after 3Min
THE BIG FIVE FALSE BAY LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	5Sec
UBUHLEBEZWE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	14Sec
ULUNDI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	6Sec
UMDONI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	9Sec
UMHLABUYALINGANA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	I gave up after 3Min
UMHLATHUZE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	5Sec
UMLALAZI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	14Sec
UMNGENI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	I gave up after 3Min
UMTSHEZI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	36Sec
UMUZIWABANTU LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	19Sec
UMVOTI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	1Min & Disconnected
UMZIMKULU LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	5Sec
UMZUMBE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	10Sec
UPHONGOLO LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	5Sec
EMADLANGENI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	4Sec
VULAMEHLO LOCAL MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	6Sec
ETHEKWINI METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY	Works	Works	27Sec

21-comics-that-capture-the-frustrations-of-depres-1-8251-1443638180-6_big

And I’m Done!!!

Now just so you know, I only called the switchboard of each of these and I didn’t try connecting with anyone in Procurement #NotCrazy, so the numbers look a little better than what I’m sure you were expecting after my earlier “rant”, however I would like to add that anything after 10seconds is far too long!

But after all is said and done, I realise I can no longer generalise about the efficiency of the Municipalities in KZN, there were some clear “Ball Droppers” during this exercise and, well, the rest weren’t all that bad:)

So there are the facts people – I personally find it hard to pit these guys up against each other over procurement as such, purely because of the vast differences in size of their regions etc. but I gave it a good shot;)

Where I think the real measure would be found, is in their capabilities in terms of service delivery……hmmmmmmm

But that’s another topic for another day!

So, until next time 😉

About Sherina Shawe

4 May 2016

Trending tenders in KZN

by Claire Donaldson | posted in: Construction Chat, Uncategorized | 0

Trending – The most searched for. The most viewed. The most talked about and commented on. It implies a general need to know something about that topic regardless of what it is simply because everyone else shows an interest. Because nobody wants to be left out or left in the dark or deemed to not know the latest scandal. Obviously, “everyone else” is up for debate. One person’s “everyone else” is very different to anothers. It’s got to do with common interests and hobbies or where you live and work and in what industry you work. Trending doesn’t mean universal or applicable even. If the topic applies to a very large group of people (say the fuel price) then there’s going to be a lot more activity concerning that than compared to a news story concerning rain in a desert in an unpopulated area. If no one cares, than it doesn’t count. Basically.
An apt metaphor might be “feeding frenzy”. A lot of thrashing around for access to limited resources. Not a bad analogy for the construction industry. There’s just only so much to go around. Being on the outside of the construction and building industry, my focus is different to those on the inside. I have to ensure that all the relevant information is readily available for those on the inside to make use of and run with. I don’t have to jostle with competitors to win tenders etc. But there are signs that a certain tender or project is getting way more attention than others. I use the term “Mentionistis” to describe this phenomenon. It usually manifests in the searches I see coming through the Leads 2 Business website. Different companies searching for the same tender or project. We start to get calls and emails and LiveSupport chats all asking the same question “Do you have [insert tender of the moment]?”. Then the race is on, because if we have [insert tender of the moment], we can send the subscriber away happy; but if it’s some obscure invited behind-the-scene tender that’s only been whispered about in dark corners, then this presents its own challenges.

Below are a few examples of the latest instances of “Mentionitis”:

DTA 564841 – Durban Heights Water Treatment Works: Construction of New 383 M/ Day Filters.
DTA 567429 – Construction of Earthworks, Layerworks, Surfacing and Drainage on District Rd 880 from km 0.00 to km 7.700
DTA 570925 – Periodic Maintenance of National Route 2, Section 21, between Brooksnek (km 0.00) and Staffords Post Interchange (km 43.13)
DTA 568627 – Construction of New Student Residences at Howard College Campus
DTA 568629 – Construction of New Student Residences at Westville Campus
DTA 566584 – Construction of Earthworks, Layerworks, Surfacing and Drainage on Main Rd 706 drom km 0.000 to km 6.200 in the Nkandla RRATT Area
DTA 567719 – Request for Proposals for the Construction of Bulk Earthworks at Tradezone 2 located at Dube Tradeport
DTA 571008 – Periodic Maintenance on National Route 2 Section 25, from EB Cloete Interchange (km 17.0) to Mt Edgecombe Interchange (km 30.8)
DTA 568200 – Replacement of Mud Structures at Glen Garry Secondary School – Sisonke District

About Claire Donaldson

27 Apr 2016

Is going off the Grid Feasible?

by Claire Donaldson | posted in: Did You Know | 0

Most households have experienced the inconvenience of load shedding or no water or both. This led to people preparing on some scale, particularly in response to load shedding. Whether it was torches, batteries and candles or installing gas appliances or hybrid appliances or installing generators; people reacted to minimise the inconvenience of being without power. Being without water, just meant looking into rainwater harvesting tanks, or boreholes or greywater systems. In the current water shortage, these are not bad ideas. In fact, it’s just common sense. Some households have adopted all of these in a bid to save money and be more environmentally conscious. But is it off-the-grid? The below definition is supplied:

The term off-the-grid (OTG) can refer to living in a self-sufficient manner without reliance on one or more public utilities. Off-the-grid homes are autonomous; they do not rely on municipal water supply, sewer, natural gas, electrical power grid, or similar utility services. A true off-grid house is able to operate completely independently of all traditional public utility services.

So how do these homes generate their power and get their water?

Electrical power: Electrical power can be generated on-site with renewable energy sources such as solar (particularly with photovoltaics), wind, micro-hydro, geothermal; with a generator or Micro combined heat and power with adequate fuel reserves. Such a system is called a stand-alone power system.

Water: On-site water sources can include a well, stream, or lake. Depending on the water source, this may include pumps and/or filtration. Rainwater can also be harvested.

In reading up about off-the-grid homes, it became apparent that there is very much a cost consideration. Those that have gone full “off-the-grid” almost seem to treat it like a challenge.

How far can they remove themselves from the everyday use of public utilities? Obviously, there’s the cost of setting up whichever system you’ve chosen. Then it involves how long until you recoup your costs of the equipment and installation. If you make your money back, and then continue to function without having to fork out for power and water; then you’re golden. But I wondered about the expertise involved. I, myself, have very little knowledge about battery lifespans and generators and ensuring that I don’t blow something up; while connecting all the bits and bobs that are required to power my home. So is it a case of just hiring the correct professional to assess and set you up, while you learn to read battery levels and be aware of where your hot water is currently coming from?

Is that it?

Just becoming conscious of what you require every day for your home, and where it is coming from? Has the convenience of public infrastructure removed us from our individual impact on said infrastructure and the environment? Is that why we get so upset when Eskom turns off the lights? Because now we actually have to consider how dependent we are? But this isn’t true for all. This is very much centred on the urban and suburban communities. We have electricity and water. And we have options should these be temporarily turned off. Are all those shacks out in the stix considered off-the-grid? Where do women walk kilometres to bring backwater? The communities that use the car batteries that you see being pushed in wheelbarrows? Where paraffin and Lion matches, are staples. Are these homes that are not connected to electricity or running water or sewer systems, considered environmentally conscientious and green? No. These homes and people that are doing without. Never mind no access to basic services, the fact that wood and coal are burnt for cooking and warmth doesn’t help the environment or people’s health. Lack of sanitation has a detrimental impact on public health. The Government has a responsibility to get everybody onto the grid, but at the same time is encouraging innovation and environmental thinking to allow people to get off the grid.

The National Infrastructure Plan was adopted in 2012 in a bid to get basic services to those communities that are without. Its aim is to get electricity to the people, and water and sanitation. To improve lives. To ensure safety and healthy living conditions. How does this weigh up with the drive to be greener and environmentally conscious? More connections to the existing infrastructure, weaken it. (Eskom, I’m looking at you). We’ve seen it. The new RDP houses have been built and they all have solar panels and solar water heaters. A bid to meet all requirements halfway. But we’ve also read the articles where they haven’t been installed correctly and are woefully facing the wrong direction. North, the solar panels are apparently supposed to face north. So once again, it’s a balancing act.

Existing infrastructure has to be maintained, it then has to be increased to increase coverage and capacity. But this has a greater impact on resources and the environment; which is so not on in this day and age. So what do you do? Any damn thing you can. If you just want to not be paying huge electricity and water bills, then pay attention to how you are using these services. Because let’s be honest, money is a huge consideration and motivator. Whether you leave buckets out in the rain or install full-on rainwater harvesting tanks; it all adds up. Solar panels, solar water heaters, restricting when your geyser is on and energy saver bulbs (which pretty much are your only option now) are all good habits and options to take on.

Off-the-grid definitely involves research and commitment and money. In some cases, it is very much a necessity and in others, it does seem a bit of a luxury.

Source
Wikipedia
Fin24
IOL
Ellies Renewable
Lotto Star
GovZa
SABC

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About Claire Donaldson

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