Sun City empowers female-led construction firm

Charlotte Mosito’s one-year-old construction company may have been through a few challenging periods, but her perseverance has paid off, after the 31-year-old businesswoman’s CPKM Group was awarded part of Sun City’s Sun Vacation Club’s expansion project.

CPKM Group is the principal contractor for the Sun Vacation Club’s phase 3 of the Lefika Villas construction project, responsible for the reception and recreational areas. The first phase started in October 2022 and upon completion, will comprise 48 three-bedroom villas and 10 four-bedroom villas, providing accommodation for an additional 400 guests. A recreational facility, “The Face of Lefika”, will be where guests arrive for check-in, relax, read a book in the lounge, dine at the restaurant, and enjoy a swim in the pool while the kids explore the surrounding play areas.

Before this big win, CPKM had done several small projects, such as stormwater drains and road reconstruction as a sub-contractor at the JST Hospital in Rustenburg and indoor security fencing installations for NHC Medical branches in Gauteng.

CPKM’s staff complement of two permanent and four part-time employees has since grown to 22 members to meet the project’s requirements.

Mosito said she’s knocked on many doors seeking more rewarding opportunities, before landing the Sun City contract. “The Sun City project is massive and will boost my profile,” she said.

Steep learning curve

No stranger to Sun City, Mosito spent many holidays at the resort as a child and, as a young adult, managed Sunglass Boutique from 2017 to 2019 in Sun City’s Sun Central multiplex. “My love for Sun City has been passed down to my nine-year-old son, who has a keen interest in the project, even though he doesn’t fully understand the magnitude of it.”

She has always had an interest in running her own business and fascinated with infrastructure, decided to venture into the world of construction. “I’ve always been intrigued by building something from the ground up and leaving a legacy for future generations. I acquired a strong foundation in engineering graphics and design during my school years, which sparked my interest in construction-related fields. I’m keen on expanding my knowledge in this domain and exploring avenues to developing my expertise in this area,” she explains. She's also recently completed a short course in construction management at the University of Cape Town.

Mosito drew on the experience and guidance of several female mentors to prepare herself to work in the male-dominated construction industry. “I was prepared for long days and the fact that that projects I bid on do not always land, meaning cashflow must be carefully managed.”  Her BCom Business Management degree from Unisa has come in handy as it allows her to manage her company skilfully.

“There are days when I've been challenged, but I never give up. I network with other successful entrepreneurs on social media to create opportunities,” she says.

Local Involvement

Meetings with architects are underway, and Mosito is working with all parties to ensure a superior development bolsters the province's tourism sector. The deal includes a provision that 30% of the build value must be allocated to local contractors.

“This arrangement will see skills transferred to the communities, helping them secure further work opportunities. The bulk of workers will come from Moses Kotane municipality, and staff will also be sourced from Sun City’s doorstep communities,” said Tebogo Mokgejane, Sun City’s Socio-Economic Development and Stakeholder Engagement Manager.

Mokgejane said that by including women and youth from local communities in the project, Sun City was affirming its local socio-economic development strategy.

“We are pleased to contribute to eradicating poverty and the sustainability of the local economy through skills development and job creation. It will be a legacy that will be remembered for years,” said Mokgejane of the project, which was officially handed over to CPKM on 21 November 2022 by Sun City General Manager Brett Hoppé.

Abe Magashoa, Local Economic Development Manager at the Moses Kotane Municipality, where Sun City is located, said the planned upgrades were an exciting progression for the popular resort. “We are grateful to Sun City for continuing to grow tourism in the area with this investment,” he said.