A friendship that developed between three friends, turned into a passion for building and resulted in them forming a company. Derah Manyelo, Kenny Sekhoela and Fortune Shabangu told Vutivi News that they established Ultra Fix Projects in 2020 because they wanted a business that offered construction services under one roof.
“We have been in the construction business unofficially for over two years, but when we realised that our services were sought after, we then decided to register the company in 2021,” Manyelo said. Ultra Fix Projects specialises in customised products made from aluminum and glass, glass doors and sliding doors. It also does renovations. The company, which is based in Ivory Park in Ekurhuleni, has clients in areas like Fourways, Blue Valley, Boksburg and Bedfordview.
Manyelo said that their love of construction bound them as friends and as business partners. “We all share the love of building and architecture and being involved in the process of constructing something from scratch,” he said. “When we were younger. we were inspired by various construction projects around us and how they would progress after not seeing or passing that construction site for months. Ultimately the vision of building someone’s dream home also drove us into this sector.”
According to Shabangu, when they started out, they wasted a lot of time as all three of them were trying to do one task. “We realised that if we delegate and share tasks, we get more work done,” he said. “We enjoy every job we do because we are overcome with a sense of joy after completing a project.”
Manyelo also said that the employment opportunities they created were worth noting. They had access to over 100 builders and 40 installers ready to work anytime. “Although they are not full-time employees, we know that when we get a big project, we will be able to hire them and make sure that they and their families do not sleep on an empty stomach,” he said.
“We know that if we can hire 30 people for a job, then we know that there are 30 families being fed.” However, the trio does not want to stop here. Sekhaoela told Vutivi News that they were planning on introducing new products. “We are in the process of acquiring a machine that will manufacture roof tiles, concrete slabs and pavements,” he said. “To us, it’s all about offering a quality and top-class service; something we pride ourselves in.”
