Having truly built his career from the ground up, Solly Phalanndwa (Pr Eng) embodies a career trajectory steeped in hands-on expertise and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
With a 27-year journey in the civil engineering sector, Solly’s experience stands as a cornerstone behind the establishment and success of the Mukona Group, where his role as Managing Director showcases a lifetime of industry achievements.
Solly’s story is a testament to resilience, determination, and the unwavering pursuit of one’s dreams. His journey began in 1994 with a vision to pursue a BSc in Computer Science at the University of the North. However, financial limitations diverted his path after just a year, leading him on an unexpected but transformative journey.
In a surprising turn of events, getting lost on his way to apply for a job as a lab technician at a pharmaceutical company, Firmenich, landed Solly at Franki Africa (now Keller Geotechnics), where his career took root in 1996.
His initial role with Franki involved general labour and some administrative work on site, marking the humble beginnings of his ascent. Determined to continue his education, and with sponsorship from his employer, Solly enrolled for a National Diploma in Civil Engineering at Vaal Technikon for one semester, later transferring to Technikon Witwatersrand to complete his studies.
The transition from labourer to contracts engineer and later design engineer was not merely a professional progression but rather a decision to become a tool maker rather than a tool user. Solly enrolled for a BSc in Civil Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he was exempt from completing his first year of studies due to his excellent performance at Technikon Witwatersrand. “It was a challenge going straight into second year, but I completed my degree on time and began my career as a design engineer,” recalls Solly.
SAICE – Civil Engineering (December 2023)