Leading South African tower crane rental company MES Crane has joined forces with Afribiz Invest, a multi-disciplinary pan-African construction company investing in the continent’s strategic sectors specialising in infrastructural space.
The joint venture, to become known as Afribiz-MES Cranes and Lifts Hire, ushers in a new era of economic growth in construction in South Africa, in what is set to become one of the biggest crane and lift hire entities in the rest of Africa.
Commenting on the partnership, founder and executive chairman of Afribiz Invest, Collen Mashawana, emphasised more on the projected growth of the construction market in Africa, which is expected to record an annual growth rate of more than 7.5% during the forecast period (2022 -2027), as he explained how the company plans to capture a significant share of this market.
“There is no doubt that tower cranes are set to become a regular feature on Africa’s rapidly modernising skylines. As urbanisation and population density in African cities continue to increase, governments will introduce a focus on infrastructure, resulting in larger construction projects. This is a very exciting development,” the Johannesburg-based businessman and founder of the Mashawana Foundation said.
African cities are changing with several major projects, ranging from magnificent skyscrapers to megacities built from scratch. These multimillion-dollar construction projects in Africa are giving its cities a much-needed transformation.
“All the industries in which we operate will benefit greatly and the partnership ensures that Afribiz MES is prepared to offer the necessary resources and solutions to clients across Sub-Saharan Africa,” added Van Niekerk.
Afribiz-MES Cranes and Lifts Hire; unique service offering
Developing infrastructure has been a focus of many governments to meet the needs and requirements of a growing population, making construction the largest sector in Africa.
In Africa alone, there are over 570 construction projects with an estimated value of $450 billion. The energy sector on the other hand has projects worth over $370 billion, followed by the transportation sector, with projects that include roads, airports, and railways, worth $280 billion.
Egypt leads the market with over 300 active projects worth $338 billion. With active projects worth around $207 billion, South Africa comes second, followed by Nigeria, which has ongoing and upcoming projects worth $200 billion.
The two partnering companies believe that the venture will bring enormous value mainly based on the unique service offerings as well as the accessibility to the African continent.
What exactly are the company’s unique service offerings? Afribiz MES Cranes and Lifts Hire will specialise in the establishment, rental, dismantling and sale of tower cranes and projects related services, the company said in a media statement.
It will also specialise in vertical access solutions and all connected services with specific focus on the construction and industrial sectors in South Africa, as well as Sub-Saharan Africa.
Afribiz MES boasts access to MES’ sizeable fleet of 170 tower cranes, mobile cranes and a fleet of heavy equipment trucks. The company’s rental crane fleet includes anything from 1.8-ton self-erector cranes to 40-ton top slewing cranes.
“We are delighted and thrilled to see Afribiz MES start this next stage of growth. We feel that this is the solution that Africa requires right now and we are excited to be able to provide the services to Sub Saharan enterprises in need of a flexible and comprehensive partner. We are thrilled that our tower cranes and lifts will be helping to shape Africa’s future,” Mashawana further said.
