Lesego Ramonnye. Image: Supplied.
Growing up in the Northern Cape, Lesego Ramonnye pursued a career in mechanical engineering and was able to marry expertise with innovation which led to his business, and becoming the director of Sindisa Projects.
Ramonnye began Sindisa Projects in 2015 and in its almost nine-years of existence, the young business man built it into a multi-faceted company specialising in engineering infrastructure, construction works, and industrial solutions.
Their expertise includes boiler installations, waste handling systems, materials handling, and gas transmission, among others.
Ramonnye told Business Report that his leadership is guided by a commitment to community upliftment.
Sindisa Projects creates opportunities for local workers, providing mentorship and skills development to equip them for sustainable careers.
Through innovative projects and a focus on excellence, Ramonnye, is not only driving industrial growth but also creating pathways for empowerment in one of South Africa’s most underrepresented regions.
Ramonnye said, “Growing up in the Northern Cape, my journey was shaped by the region’s rugged beauty and its call for determination. Inspired by the untamed spirit of the land, I pursued mechanical engineering, laying the foundation for a career that would marry technical expertise with innovation.”
Through Sindisa Projects, Ramonnye continues to champion the belief that with the right vision and relentless effort, even the smallest seed can grow into a tree that shelters and sustains many.
Ramonnye, like many start-ups had to overcome many challenges in getting his business off the ground.
He said, “Securing startup capital was a major hurdle. Then establishing credibility in a competitive industry, as a 100% black-youth-owned business, was also difficult. Building trust within the industry was challenging, but I managed to succeed in eventually.”
Ramonnye further said “To overcome this, I leaned on a combination of personal savings, small-scale investments from family and friends, and applying for government-backed youth entrepreneurship grants. It was a gradual process, but these efforts eventually helped us get off the ground. As a black-youth-owned business, breaking into a competitive industry meant proving our expertise and professionalism at every turn.”
Having clients such as Anglo American and Assmang Iron Ore to name a few, Ramonnye said, even though the business is already established in the region, it still keeps him on his toes.
"Just because the business has been established and built trust, there are still many other aspects that one needs to work on. Such as maintaining a competitive edge against other established industry players.Economic fluctuations also play a part, where I have to navigate the impact of inflation and rising material costs on project budgets,“ he said.
“Early on, clients and partners were hesitant, often assuming we lacked the capacity or resources to handle large projects. We succeeded by consistently delivering high-quality results on smaller projects. Each successful project became a stepping stone, building our reputation. Additionally, I made a point of fostering relationships within the industry by networking with other professionals, attending industry conferences, and participating in initiatives that supported emerging entrepreneurs. Our credibility was further solidified when we achieved industry certifications and partnered with larger, more established companies on joint ventures. This demonstrated that we could handle projects of any scale while maintaining a commitment to excellence,” he added.
"Having a skilled workforce and retaining and continuously developing highly skilled workers in niche fields is also challenging at times. Managing the logistics and complexities of large-scale industrial projects is also difficult but I thrive on it,“ he said.
BUSINESS REPORT