If you’re looking for a generous serving of hope and inspiration, then look no further than Werner Brandt (Wally) from Lutzville West. Wally started with ASLA as a jolly jumper (mechanical earth compactor) operator, and today he is a construction manager with ASLA Construction’s Building Division. When he was 20 years old, Wally said “YES!” to an opportunity offered to him by contracts manager Schalk van Eeden, and – eighteen years of hard work later – he is an integral part of the team that brings Dignity Through Infrastructure.
“The construction industry changed my world, and the latest development in Lutzville is creating more opportunities for our younger generation. When I was a youngster, we used to walk on gravel roads to school, before the new houses and infrastructure were built – and as someone who comes from the same difficult background as the communities we are working for, I understand the change we are making,” explains Wally. “I also worked on the first phase (100 houses) of the current development in Lutzville, and it was an exciting prospect to construct houses for people in an area I come from. I felt good about that, as when I left there, people had happy hearts.”
As a child, 39-year-old Wally dreamed about becoming a financial planner. Until one day, in 2005, ASLA arrived in his home town and he began witnessing the transformation of Lutzville West. “Where I was living there were shacks and no roads and to see this kind of development happen, made me very excited,” says Brandt. “Schalk van Eeden was the guy who found me, and I started on his project as a local labourer – a jolly jumper operator doing the compaction. From there I went to the mixers, then to the stores, but I was drawn to working on site and wanted to be a part of the team that constructs houses for people to move into.”
Brandt was one of a few promising local individuals, recruited by contracts manager Schalk van Eeden at this project – two of whom (Brandt and Pieter Josephs) still remain with ASLA today. “I believe that when you see someone with potential, and you have capacity, you should do something about it,” says van Eeden. He describes Brandt as positive and a go-getter, who was willing to learn and able to work independently. “My motto or principal is to always strive to be the best, and to do the right thing,” says van Eeden. “If one doesn’t care about something, it’s just a job. But, when I look after my company, my company looks after me – and this is something I’ve tried to teach and advocate.”
Brandt’s journey
Back in 2006, when the project in Lutzville West finished, van Eeden asked Brandt if he would be keen to move on to the next project with him. “I didn’t even discuss this with my parents,” laughs Brandt. “I just immediately said YES!”
After working at a housing project in Koekenaap, Brandt worked at Riebeek Kasteel, where he continued to demonstrate his dedication and tried to learn about all the construction processes within an ASLA housing development. “The first time I saw Schalk in Lutzville, I wanted to understand what the guy with the tripod and dumpy level was doing. This is something he eventually taught me, and after a while I was able to do the setting out and levelling, to assist him, while he was on other sites.”
During this period the subsidised housing market was growing. ASLA had several contracts up and down the West Coast and, at one time, Van Eeden was running up to thirteen sites. “Wally, Pieter and Jan knew how I operated, and I could put each of them on a site, safe in the knowledge that they would keep me informed of progress, and I would be able to trust the information I was getting from site.”
Making ASLA history – ten units/day
In 2008 the Velddrif project provided a career highlight for both van Eeden and Brandt – in fact it was also an incredible milestone project for ASLA. “The community had stopped the project one week into the programme,” explains van Eeden. “At the end of October, we found common ground, and were then challenged by the municipal manager to complete the site by year end, while the actual building programme showed that we would finish in March the next year.” If ASLA did complete by year end, this meant that the site would not stand empty and vulnerable during the December builders break, so the decision was made to pull out all stops, and to do whatever needed to be done. “We had to complete ten units a day, over 24 days, and shifted a lot of our resources to the project,” explains van Eeden. “It was like we were working on steroids!”
The site received a lot of attention and visits from ASLA’s head office, with everyone rooting for the team to achieve this incredible turnaround. “I had to report back on a daily basis. My boss, Tony Byleveldt, couldn’t believe what we were saying, so he came out twice… Siebrits Laker came at least three times before the big hand over; as did Albe Laker and Johan Verwey,” says van Eeden.
“We made history in ASLA on this project, and the team really got into the spirit, working from scratch to people moving in, in only 24 days,” says Brandt. “It was planning and the resources that made it a success; we worked full time – even on Saturday and Sundays.”
The experience gained at this milestone project laid an incredible foundation for Brandt’s future work on the projects that followed, in particular with regard to setting up a site, setting a target and planning for on time material and supplies delivery. “Every site is also different – the more remote sites, away from the city, are less subject to politics and community action” says Brandt. “You also need to be able to think in the same way that people who work for you do, so that you are able to explain the quality and delivery of the product.”
His career has taken him to a number of places across the province, including the 1000km to remote Prieska. While working and living away from home forms a large part of life in the construction industry, it also creates the opportunity for many new experiences and interactions. “I’m the funny guy, that likes to bring laughter into people’s lives. When we’re working away, we are often together as a team for months, and people working with you become like your brother or sister, so we need to have a family relationship.”
Brandt’s life has changed dramatically over the past 18 years – from living in a shack, to being employed and able to financially support his family. From getting his driver’s licence, climbing the career ladder, driving a company car, and experiencing new environments and cultures.
“My proudest moment on all my projects is when it is time to put people in their houses – I see the smile of an older lady, and the tears of happiness rolling down her cheeks, and that makes me happy,” says Wally. “And, the fact that I have grown in my career, and have a passion for my work is of course the best reward.”
