GVK-Siya Zama nurtures interns’ growth

Nasser Gamieldien, Commercial Director of GVK-Siya Zama’s business in the Western Cape, serves as a beacon of hope and proves that hard work does pay off. Gamieldien, who is described as a high-performer and over-achiever, started his career at GVK-Siya Zama as an intern in 2007.

Despite growing up in a small community in Ottery, which was severely impacted by drugs and gangs from neighbouring communities, Gamieldien was strong-willed and steered clear of any bad influence. “Although my parents sent my sister and I to good schools, this meant we had to be up at the crack of dawn to catch buses and taxis. Using different modes of public transport opened my eyes and gave me a glimpse of the real world, as I met different types of people, all with different careers,” he explains.

Upon matriculating at Camps Bay High School in Cape Town’s affluent Camps Bay suburb, Gamieldien had no idea what to do next. He decided to take a gap year, which lasted all of three weeks. He started job shadowing and then working on site with his grandfather in the construction industry for two years. This is when Gamieldien, through the guidance of his uncle, decided to study Quantity Surveying at the Cape Town University of Technology.

“I applied for my in-service training at GVK-Siya Zama, as I noticed that they had an incredible company profile and showed a keen interest in growing their staff,” he says. Seeing how passionate and hardworking Gamieldien was, the GVK-Siya Zama leadership team granted him a bursary.

Gamieldien describes his first day at GVK Siya Zama as one of the most exciting days of his career. Along the way, his managers and the team as a whole always ensured that they nurtured his growth and pushed him to reach beyond his limits. The business believes in unlocking as many opportunities as possible for staff to ensure that every employee reaches their maximum potential in the company. Gamieldien says he was fortunate to work on a number of projects with great mentors who led him to become a Senior Quantity Surveyor by 2015.

As with any other career, Gamieldien has faced numerous challenges, such as working away from home and his young family, and working long hours, which impacted his personal life. However, these challenges have been easy to overcome as management places a strong emphasis on family life and balance.

According to the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors, the history of quantity surveying dates as far back as 1859. Since then, the construction industry has evolved through the expertise of Quantity Surveyors, as they serve a pivotal role in any construction project and they ensure that projects meet clients’ value systems.

Gamieldien says, “The industry is constantly evolving and there are many technological advances which South Africa needs to still understand and implement to keep up with our international counterparts.”

He believes that there is a huge gap in the market for young people to pursue careers within the construction industry. Over the years, he has noticed a significant skills shortage, particularly when it comes to subcontracting.

Gamieldien’s influence as a young leader has been remarkable. He has surrounded himself with a tight crew of quantity surveyors with the same work ethic, and together they hunt like a pack. There’s no slacking on his watch and he lives by his own credo: “Stay focused and committed to your goal, have a positive outlook on life, and work hard. Remember: failing to plan is planning to fail.”