Ikemeleng Architects

Back in 2004 three friends bound by a common vision of impacting positively on the lives of ordinary South Africans through quality design resigned from their jobs and took the plunge to form a small architectural practice. Our twenty year journey has taken us from Gauteng to North-West, Mpumalanga, KZN, Free State and the Eastern Cape, and across our borders to Mauritius and Kenya. We have built Parks, Public Spaces, BRT Stations, Hospitals, Universities, Head Offices and Shopping Centres. We have fitted out Standard Bank’s Head Office, upgraded O R Tambo Terminal B and renovated the Union Buildings. This week we celebrated our 20th birthday with our hardworking and talented team. We pay tribute to them and to others who have contributed to the growth and evolution of Ikemeleng Architects over the years.

Refurbishment work at Bedworth Centre in Vereeniging proceeding apace. Vukile Property Fund Edilcon Construction (Pty) Ltd

Kay Moodley and I are at the SAPOA (South African Property Owners Association) Convention in Sun City this week.

Refurbishing an existing shopping centre can be challenging, but the Edilcon Construction (Pty) Ltd team is making steady progress on the Bedworth Centre in Vereeniging. Construction Team: Ryno Reyneke, Israel Mphohoni, Moses Mashifane and NOKUTHULA MAGQAZOLO (SACPCMP REG) Architect: Ikemeleng Architects Civil and Structural Engineers: L&S Consulting (Pty) Ltd Electrical Engineers: RWP Taemane Consulting Engineers Mechanical Engineers: Graeme Page Quantity Surveyors: Quest Cost Consultants (Pty) Ltd #edilcon #construction #refurbishments

Construction of Ikemeleng Architects’ Nature Conservation Building at the University of Mpumalanga has reached roof height. Located at the new Orchard Campus, the building provides lecture venues, academic offices and laboratories set out around a landscaped courtyard.

Some aerial photos of our recently completed Letsheng Mall

Today marks two weeks since the devastating news of the passing of our dear colleague and friend Jacky Dlamini. Here is the tribute delivered by Sibusiso Mauze last weekend at Jacky’s funeral. Many people’s first encounter with prospective employers is a job interview. I remember Jacky walking into the Office, with a business proposal: He was working on a project, and was seeking partnership with Ikemeleng. Our discussions ended with me offering him a job instead. The proposal had very short prospects for success, but the man presenting it, had great potential. He was driven, quick to acknowledge, what he knows and where he lacks understanding, and always willing to improve on himself and his work. Jacky was dedicated to the Company. Everyone who has worked with him knows, that in all circumstances, they can rely on Jacky being there, in the trenches. He was always willing to go the extra mile, spend the extra hour, travel longer. We had weekly trips to Nelspruit, that started in 2019, and Jacky was at the wheel, longer driving to Nelspruit, early hours of the morning, picking up team members, and dropping them off after the visits, without complaining. He has driven the furthest for Ikemeleng, as far north as Venda, to deliver documents, and back to eSwatini, to do the same. This was not his job description. He could have told us this, but The Office, and the Company came first. That is the kind of Person, Jacky was, dependable, and loyal. As I got to know Jacky over the years, and got to do the Nelspruit trips with him more after COVID, I realised his drive and motivation even outside Ikemeleng. I learnt that he had made attempts at property development, he wanted to register a car with Taxify, had a long distance Taxi. A story that had me laughing when he told me he was robbed in Nelspruit and in anger started walking to Joburg from Nelspruit to show them they will not defeat him. Fortunately, someone who knows him spotted him early in the walk and gave him a ride. He loved animals, strangely had this idea of us stopping and grabbing a monkey from the road and he was convinced he would tame it and keep as a pet. He was devastated when he had to get rid of his dog that chewed electrical cables in his Minivan. We are going to miss his bursts of laughter in the middle of the day, throughout the day, his long strides to the kitchen, his willingness to offer solutions to work problems, his dependability, his small cars in the street, his full and unfulfilled potential. At Ikemeleng Architects we might, over time fill the void left by Jacky, but for the family, this might not be as easy. We offer our heartfelt condolences, we acknowledge your loss, what we would like to leave you with, is the knowledge that your loved one was cherished, he made a difference, he made people laugh and sometimes mad, but all in good spirits and he was respected and admired in the Office. He was a valuable member of the Ikemeleng Family and will be sorely missed.

Some more photos from yesterday’s opening of Letsheng Mall

Letsheng Mall is officially open!