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DP2 Construction carves a niche T
en years after André and Julian du Preez founded DP2 Construction with one bakkie, a rented store in Strand and four people, the civil-engineering firm has grown to 18 vehicles, a permanent home in Firgrove and 204 contracts on the books, in a decade built on grit, trust and the quiet conviction that doing good work would be enough. André had been retired for three years, keeping busy building and selling houses, when his son Julian called with a declaration that would change both their lives. Julian was working at a company that had morphed from what he describes as a family business into a multi-billion-rand corporation, and the frustrations had become too much. “I can’t do this anymore,” he told his father. “I need to find a different opportunity. Either someone smaller or start talking to the few contacts I have.” André phoned him back a little while later with a question that made the decision for both of them: “So what are we going to call our business?” By the following day they had
a name – DP2, the two Du Preez. While Julian worked out his notice, André was standing in government department queues registering the business. DP2 Construction was formally established on 1 August 2016, entering the civil-engineering market backed by André’s more than 40 years of contracting experience and Julian’s 16 years at Power Construction, where he had worked his way through the ranks while studying for his civil engineering diploma. BUILDING BLOCKS The new business set up in a rented store at Pryde Business Park in Strand, furnished on a shoestring. On day one the team comprised Julian, André, bookkeeper Thea Benade and a parttime mechanic. They had one bakkie, no work and a month to fill, so they spent it building quality and costing systems in preparation for what they hoped would come. Their first opportunity arrived as a subcontract on the parking extension at the Pick n Pay Centre in Ceres, working under Wesrem Construction, owned
From a rented store in Strand to a home of its own – DP2 Construction’s head office in Firgrove stands as a marker of a decade’s growth.
Founded by André and Julian du Preez on 1 August 2016, DP2 Construction entered the civil engineering market backed by decades of experience. A decade on, the owner-managed business has successfully completed a range of projects across varying disciplines within the industry.
by Julian’s uncle and André’s brother, Pierre du Preez. It nearly undid the young director’s confidence. “Even though things were moving along okay it just felt as if we had a lot of costs to cover. I called my dad and he drove out immediately,” Julian recalled. “Once he had looked at the process he assured me things are going to work out, and they did. His calm confidence gave me all the motivation I needed.” FINDING FOOTING From there the company ticked over with odd jobs until its first civil- services contract was awarded in Wellington in February 2017. The early years demanded everything the founders had. André focused on procurement, tenders and structuring the business while serving as a primary mentor to Julian, who handled op-
erations and, as he put it, ended up being the roller operator, site manager, site clerk, safety officer, quality controller and everything else that goes with running a small construction business. The pair spent most nights preparing tenders while working operationally during the day. Ensuring they had enough capital to pay creditors at the end of every month was their main priority. Through André’s contacts DP2 quickly built relationships with key roleplayers, among them Phoenix Insurance Brokers, Nedbank, Privatactus, Mazars and select suppliers willing to extend credit on faith alone. Brother Pierre showed the duo the ropes, guiding them to whatever they needed, whether materials, machines or people. “We had a lot of interest from people we had worked with in the past and systematically we
became colleagues once again,” Julian said. The most important thing, he stressed, was finding people who could understand and live the company’s culture. STEP UP The values that shaped those lean early years – performance, quality, trust, integrity and an unwavering focus on the needs of clients – became the cornerstone of the business. “You can’t build a good relationship on a poor performance,” Julian said. “This applies to any relationship that anyone has, work or personal.” A massive step up came when Alicia Robertson joined as a partner and director three years after founding. Having known André and Julian for about 20 years, she took over the tender department, the admin team, legal processes and HR – responsibilities the founders had previously juggled themselves. “The growth that the company has achieved since her appointment to the board would never have been possible [without her],” Julian said. The inclusion of Jacques du Preez, another of André’s brothers, as operations manager was also instrumental in the company’s growth. A defining project was the Summerhill Drive road contract behind the Vergelegen Plein shopping centre, at the time by far DP2’s biggest tender value. The “moving” of a dam in the middle of winter was the team’s greatest challenge, but with support from Wesrem and Marais Plant Hire they delivered a contract that proved DP2 was a firm that was here to stay.
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Right people on board – way to go From a first-year turnover of R1,8 million to tendering on contracts worth up to R80 million, DP2 Construction has scaled up dramatically in a decade. However, said director Julian du Preez, the real ambition is not bigger projects but bigger opportunities for the people who build them. Today DP2 Construction owns permanent premises in Firgrove’s industrial area, runs a fleet of 18 bakkies and a range of yellow machinery including digger loaders, excavators and rollers, and employs 30 monthly staff, 30 permanent labourers and up to 80 short-term employees at any given time. The company’s first-year turnover was R1,8 million. Today, DP2 is tendering on contracts valued up to R80 million and can collaborate with partner companies for anything larger. Contract numbers tell a similar story: 204 and counting, up from 37 when director Alicia Robertson joined the board. With a CIDB grading of 7CE and a Level 2 B-BBEE rating, the company delivers township infrastructure, bulk earthworks, road construction, pipelines, dams and project management across the Cape Peninsula, Cape Winelands
and Swartland. Yet asked when he felt the business had truly turned a corner and become sustainable Du Preez’s answer is telling: “I don’t think I have ever had that feeling. It is a constant process of focus and anticipating the next move to try and stay ahead of the curve. Things change very quickly in construction.” The stability DP2 enjoys comes from relationships built with all stakeholders – clients, professionals, suppliers, subcontractors, financial institutions and guarantors – which have created a stable environment for the company to perform and excel. STILL INVOLVED The people who were there at the start remain woven into the fabric of the business. Du Preez’s dad and partner André is still involved on a limited basis, assisting with strategic guidance and tendering and still enjoying time on sites adding value to operations. Thea Benade is still doing the company’s books and has become, in Du Preez’s words, a very important cog in the engine. Du Preez continues to assist with operations, tender finalisation, team structures and general PR
DP2 Construction offers a comprehensive range of civil engineering services. These include township infrastructure, retaining wall systems, bulk earthworks, and project management. The company also undertakes urban roads construction, minor concrete works, pipelines, and brick paving.
responsibilities. The company’s shareholders comprise three family trusts, managed by the three directors. CULTURE IN PRACTICE Ask Du Preez what DP2 does be er than anyone else in its market and his answer is immediate: “We employ the right people.” This philosophy shapes ev-
erything from how the company maintains quality to how it approaches client relationships. Keeping feet on the ground – literally – means spending time on sites, checking progress programmes, ensuring work is done correctly the first time and connecting with people so they are a name and not just a number. “That builds commitment,” Du
Preez said. “Our culture, backed by our values being the cornerstone of our performance, is what underpins our focus on quality. Our people’s pride also plays a major role.” Being owner-managed gives DP2 a distinct edge. Clients and engineers deal directly with the decision makers, which means decisions are made immediately and the process can continue. “In our industry, any lost time costs everyone’s bo om line,” Du Preez noted. “What adds to the process is that a er working together over a period people get to know each other and understand the parameters within which to work.” The company is also occasionally approached to financially support the kick-starting of a project, and has, in some instances, been involved in the funding of selected projects – a level of investment that sets it apart in its market. The feedback from clients has reinforced that approach. DP2 is o en complimented on its professionalism and the way staff go about their work. One client was so impressed they went out and bought the site agent a fancy fishing rod as a gi of thanks. “My proudest moments are when
Congratulations
DP2 Construction on 10 Years of Excellence It has been a privilege to be part of your journey and to witness the growth and success of DP2 Construction. May this 10-year milestone be the foundation for continued growth and success for many years into the future. From all of us at Phoenix Insurance Brokers North
www.pibn.co.za 021 683 8383 Authorised Financial Service Provider FSP:4880 NM10075439-DP211026
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Anniversary “WHAT ADDS TO THE PROCESS IS THAT AFTER WORKING TOGETHER OVER TIME, PEOPLE GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND UNDERSTAND THE PARAMETERS...” people compliment our people on how they conducted themselves in successfully completing a project,” Du Preez said. “That gives me joy.” LOOKING AHEAD As DP2 marks 10 years, the goals for the next decade are deceptively simple: keep delivering good products and, above all, create opportunities for employees to grow and flourish. “The rest will come if we focus on our people,” Du Preez said. A significant shift is under way as the company looks to move into the government tender market, having to date serviced only private clients. Du Preez sees good opportunities there and is keen to expand. To prepare for that growth, DP2 has started training programmes to upskill its staff, building from within. “We want to ensure the company will be in good hands from now on,” Du Preez explained. “It will be a long road, but we believe we have the talent to take the next step.” He cited the adage “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is now.” “We are very excited about the process that lies ahead.” The legacy he envisions extends
far beyond the physical infrastructure DP2 builds. “We very quickly came to realise we are not just creating opportunities for our people. Everyone is supporting someone else, whether it be a sister, a brother, a grandmother, a friend. By employing one person, we are possibly creating an opportunity for them to support another three or four people in need. That is what we are fighting for.” While creating those opportunities, the company is also creating monuments that give people safety and security – safe roads to travel on, safe stormwater management systems, dignified effluent management. Asked what message he most wants to share with the community, clients and partners who have been part of the DP2 story, Du Preez’s response was one of gratitude. “We are grateful for every opportunity we have been granted, every supplier that took a risk with us in the early days to give us credit with no assurances, just faith in who we are, and the clients and engineers who entrust us with building their dreams. Everyone wants to be proud of something they have delivered, and we are honoured to play a small part in a very big production.”
NM10078502-DP281026
DP2 builds more than buildings
Daniel Plaatjies
David Tyhimi
Kyle Gillion
Andre du Preez and Luke Muzanembi
Wayne Pretorius
Andile Tshavata
Kyllan Kruger
Chriswin Abrahams and Andre du Preez
Peter Noyo
A decade of dedica�on, excellence, and outstanding service is truly something to celebrate. Congratula�ons on reaching this incredible milestone! Wishing the company con�nued success, growth, and many more years of excellence ahead. Here's to 10 remarkable years and an even brighter future!
NM10075316-DP281026
Cgratulatis 10 YEAR
on your anniversary in business, we wish you con�nued growth, success and many more years of achieving great things. Thank you for you loyal support, cheers to you!
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Walking the road from first day When DP2 Construction opened its doors Thea Benade was one of three people in the room. A decade later the woman who has handled the company’s finances from day one said being part of the journey has made the work worthwhile.
Thea Benade has been with DP2 Construction since its establishment.
Knowing she was not stepping into the unknown, she joined DP2 Construction on 1 August 2016 – the very day the business was established – and construction was already familiar territory. “Construction was not new to me, as I had previously been employed by a building contractor.” What drew Benade to DP2 was the chance to bring her corporate finance experience to a young company where she could make a real difference. At that stage the business was tiny: just her, Julian du Preez and André du Preez working out of a rented store in Strand. “DP2 was a good fit for me because of my past corporate experience in finance,” Benade said. “The company was tiny at that stage...” Ten years on she is still there and DP2 is a very different business. “It has grown significantly since then. I am really proud to continue to be part of DP2’s journey.” That growth, she said, is most visible in two areas: the sheer scale of the company and the development of the people within it. The most significant change she has
17 Romulus St, Somerset West 082 339 6876 021 851 9591 heidi@hallitrust.co.za www.hallitrust.co.za
Happy 10th Birthday DP2 Construction! Thank you for standing alongside Halli Trust over the years. Your support means so much to us and has helped us make a real difference in our community. We are truly grateful for your partnership. Here’s to many more years of making a difference together! NM10076366-DP281026
Congratulation’s DP2 Constructio� o� your 10t� Anniversar� ma� yo� grow �ro� strengt� t� strengt�� NM10076348-DP281026
witnessed over the years has been the growth of the company and the development of the team , watching colleagues take on greater responsibilities and rise with the business. EVERY CONTRACT Ask Benade what has kept her at DP2 for a decade and her answer is straightforward: the people she works with and the opportunities to grow. “I am still continuously learning and growing,” she said. That sense of continual development runs through everything she describes about her time at the company. She has developed in many ways, becoming more experienced, better at handling challenges and more versed in teamwork and taking responsibility. “I am still learning,” she said. The colleagues she works alongside are, in her words, what stand out most from her decade at DP2. What stays with her is not a single moment but the collective experience of facing challenges together as a team and eventually achieving good results. Looking back at her own contribution, Benade points to those same challenges and successes. “I am proud of how I have grown with the company and the contribution I have made over the years,” Benade said. “It is rewarding to know I have played a part in DP2’s journey.”
QUIET ENGINE Working for an owner-managed business such as DP2, Benade said, brought a quality that larger corporate structures often lack: the feeling that your contribution genuinely matters. “They are confident, firm, but supportive,” she said of the directors. “You feel your contribution matters.” Her description of the leadership style is similarly warm: “They are always supportive, driven and involved, They have also given me opportunities to learn, take responsibility and develop.” That leadership has shaped a culture she describes as hardworking, supportive and team focused. It is one that has held firm even as the company has grown from three people in a rented store to a business with a permanent home in Firgrove, a fleet of vehicles and 204 contracts on the books. For anyone considering joining DP2 today, her recommendation is simple. “DP2 is well managed and there is a lot of room to grow at DP2.” As the company marks 10 years, Benade said the milestone is deeply personal. “I am so proud to have been part of the journey and cannot wait for the road ahead. Milestones are challenging but possible.” For the next decade her hopes echo the philosophy that has carried her this far: learning, growing, taking on new challenges and achieving more together.
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Very rewarding journey Seven years a er joining DP2 Construction as a director, Alicia Robertson said the real measure of the company’s success is not in the contracts it has completed but in the people who have grown alongside it. She didn’t come to DP2 Construction looking for a job; she came looking for purpose. A er two decades of working alongside André and Julian du Preez in the construction industry, the opportunity to join the business they founded three years earlier arrived at a pivotal point in her career. “I was seeking greater validation and a sense of purpose in my professional journey,” Robertson said. She joined in June 2019, stepping into a role that would see her take over the tender department, the admin team, legal processes and human resources, responsibilities the two founders had previously juggled themselves. At the time the company’s project list stood at 37 contracts. Seven years later DP2 is working on contract number 204, and Robertson is a shareholder and director. “That journey has been about so much more than numbers,” she said. “For me it’s been my seven years of learning, adapting, overcoming challenges and constantly finding be er ways to do things.” Along the way Robertson has helped build the systems and processes that have streamlined the company’s operations, guided it through inevitable hiccups and strengthened it.
ROOM TO GROW For Robertson being part of DP2 when the company was still finding its feet and working through the “teething” challenges of a growing business, has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her journey. “My two wonderful business partners and I have invested countless hours, hard work, passion and dedication in building DP2 into the successful company it is today. It’s been an incredibly rewarding journey, and I’m proud of everything we’ve achieved.” Her own growth has mirrored the company’s. Robertson’s background is primarily in construction and engineering, and she understood the technical side intimately, but running and managing a growing business was a completely different challenge. To bridge the gap she completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management and Administration, gaining a stronger grasp of the financial, strategic and administrative dimensions of the business. Yet she is the first to acknowledge that the classroom only went so far. “In many ways the biggest learning experience has been doing it every day,” she said. “The last seven years have taught me more about running a business than I could have learnt in the previous 20 years.” She has had to step outside her technical comfort zone to learn about finance, people management, strategy and decision-making, and to understand what it takes to grow and sustain a business. “It has been challenging at times, but also one of the most rewarding
parts of my journey with DP2.” Robertson has watched DP2 transform physically and operationally over the years. LEVELLING UP One of the biggest changes has been seeing the company grow from operating out of a rented space in Strand to building its own office, and now moving into newly renovated premises it can truly call home. The team has grown significantly too, both in numbers and experience. “We have watched people grow with the business, which has been incredibly rewarding,” she said. Perhaps the biggest change, though, has been the level at which DP2 now operates within the industry. The company has moved into a different playing field, taking on larger, more complex projects and greater responsibilities. “It is a reflection of how much DP2 has grown, not only as a business, but also in confidence, capability and experience.” Ten years on, and Robertson said the milestone was incredibly special to her. Construction was close to her heart, but then so is working with and empowering people. “The real measure of our success is not only in the projects we have completed or the growth of the business, but in seeing our people develop, take on greater responsibilities and grow alongside DP2,” she said. Looking back over the past seven years, seeing both the business and people within it grow gives her a tremendous sense of pride. “It tells me that, despite all the challenges along
Alicia Robertson, DP2 Construction director.
the way, we must be doing something right. This milestone is not just about celebrating ten years of DP2; it is about celebrating the people, relationships, hard work and shared journey that have brought us to where we are today.” Looking ahead, Robertson would like to see DP2 continue to grow and evolve while staying true to what has made the company successful. She sees opportunities to become more involved in projects within the local and provincial government sector, to expand the company’s geographical footprint beyond where it currently operates, and to diversify its service offering into new areas within the industry. “As the business grows, it is important that we remain open to new opportunities and continue challenging ourselves,” she said. And as for retirement in the next decade? “I think we have already established that I am still far too young for that,” she joked. “Exactly what will the next 10 years look like? Well, we’ll just have to wait and see...”
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Van ons almal hier by ITHUBA INDUSTRIES met jul 10de verjaarsdag NM10075021-DP281026
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‘Hands-on’ is best Chester Adams could have taken a site manager’s post at a bigger firm, but in 2018 he chose a small, hands-on operation that he believed would give him room to grow – and the Summerhill Drive project he ran for DP2 Construction proved him right.
Adams arrived at DP2 Construction in 2018 with an offer already on the table from another company. He had been offered a position as site manager at Baseline, a larger outfit, but he turned it down in favour of a business that was still small enough to feel its way. “I chose to join DP2, which was a small company at the time, as it will give me the opportunity to grow with the company,” Adams said. He was the earliest appointment at site-agent level in DP2’s history, a fact that gives his perspective a particular weight. The DP2 he walked into in eight years ago was a small, hands-on operation with small teams and limited equipment, mainly focused on getting the job done. Today it is a fully-fledged compliant construction company, a transformation he has watched unfold from the ground up. The most significant change he has seen over the years has
been the growth of the company and the size and complexity of the work it takes on, a shift that mirrors his own trajectory from site agent on early contracts to running the company’s biggest project to date.
STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE Adams’ first project with DP2 was also the one that would become the company’s biggest at the time – Summerhill Drive, situated in the Somerset West area, valued at R22,6 million. The project demanded a diverse range of structures, including a dam and retaining walls, bulk underground services, road construction and general brick and concrete works. All of it, Adams said, was successfully executed. The Summerhill Drive contract behind the Vergelegen Plein Shopping Centre was a defining moment for DP2. Its largest tender value at that stage and a project that involved the unusual challenge of moving a dam in the middle of winter. For Adams it was both his introduction to the company and the project that would come to define his tenure. What stands out most from his time at DP2, is not any single
dramatic moment but the feeling that comes when a job is done. “Moments which stand out most is when you successfully handover projects to a happy client,” Adams said. That pride deepens long after the site is packed up. “Coming back months later and seeing functional roads with working underground services, which we have installed, gives me real pride,” Adams pointed out. It is the physical evidence of work done well – roads that people drive on, systems that carry water – that tells him the formula works. FRONT LINE Working for an owner-managed business like DP2, is about direct involvement, fast decision making and accountability, qualities that matter enormously on a construction site where delays cost money. “I enjoy the direct involvement, fast decision-making and accountability.” The leadership style Adams works under is, in his words, demanding but very fair and handson. “The directors lead from the front and set the standard high.” He believes that culture is what has kept him at DP2 for the better part of a decade. Growth and
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Chester Adams, DP2’s site agent since 2018, the earliest appointment at that level back then.
loyalty are what have sustained Adams, and the reason is the people around him. “There is a good culture in place with hardworking teams and we take pride in what we build.” He describes it as a family culture, built on respect, loyalty and pride in what they build, one where newcomers adapt quickly and therefore it will remain in years to come. Adams has developed tremendously since joining DP2. The company taught him leadership, accountability and how to deliver under pressure, lessons that has
shaped him into the professional he is. For someone considering joining DP2, his advice is characteristically direct. “If you are a disciplined hard worker and want to grow as a professional, DP2 will be the right choice of company.” Of the 10 years DP2 is marking Adams said the milestone carries a simple but powerful message: “It means our formula of being hands-on and obsessed with quality actually works.” Looking ahead, his hopes are for more growth and prosperity over the next 10 years – and, he added, that he can be part of it.
Baie Geluk DP2 met jul 10de jaar van bestaan!! Dankie vir julle lojale ondersteuning & ons is trots op ons assosiasie met julle as maatskappy. Beste wense vir die pad vorentoe.
Cape Concrete Works (PTY) Ltd.
George, Liezl & JP.
Helderberg Lubricants SUPPLIER OF DIESEL & LUBRICANTS
DP2 Construction on this milestone May you grow from strength to strength 021 905 1200
info@capeconcrete.com
3 De Kock Street, Strand
021 853 6878 | 083 261 6125
Wimbledon Rd, Blackheath
george@helderberglubricants.co.za
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Congratulations on 10 years DP2 CONSTRUCTION
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083 725 1450 www.sandandstone.co.za NM10076343-DP281026
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DP2 Construction’s team celebrates a decade of building and the people who built the business.
DP2 Construction marks its milestone A decade done
Congratulations DP2 construction on your 10 year anniversary may you grow from strength to strength.
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Ten candles for a business built to last, and the cakes says it all!
At the celebration André du Preez recalled DP2’s inauspicious beginnings and recounted how it had always done business over 10 years.
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Delivers Quality Engineered Security Projects
DP2 Construction on your 10th Anniversary. May you grow from strength to strength!
Tel: 021 841 4260
fang.co.za The FANG Group congratulates DP2 on the celebration of its 10-year anniversary. This remarkable milestone is a testament to a decade of dedication, excellence, and achievement. We wish DP2, its management, and all employees continued prosperity, growth, and success in the years ahead.
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