VOLUME 1
ISSUE 2
M&D:
by Andrew Murray
The main theme of this newsletter will be the importance of the health and wellbeing
of employees and what we can all do to ensure this.
IT’S IMPORTANT WE ALL INSIST THAT WE WORK IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
Khula Nathi
This means making sure that both your work area and the work area of others is safe.
Working to high quality standards helps us to achieve a safe working environment. It means that our
working conditions are neat, that we don’t have to redo poorly done work and that we have pride in the
work that we do. If we all maintain a goal of working with pride in a safe environment, we will, without
any further effort, deliver a quality product to our client.
We welcome Lance Cox to the Murray and Dickson Group, as our SHERQ manager. Lance has
introduced himself and outlined some of the initiatives that he will be pursuing and why they are
important to all of us within this newsletter.
As part of our contribution to the wellbeing of our employees, M&D created the company Provident
Fund, managed by Alexander Forbes. Please carefully read about the benefits offered by the Provident
Fund in Yolanda’s HR article on page 5. This fund protects you during retirement and your family should
you pass on while employed by M&D.
Sadly, we have lost employees through sickness or accident over the last few years. The families of
those that were members of the Fund have received a payment of 2 years pensionable salary, plus
Contents
Chairman’s Note 1
Editor’s Input 2
H.R. 2
CEO’s Message 3
SHERQ 4
H.R: Provident Fund 5
any accumulated savings in the Provident Fund and R18, 000 in
funeral benefits, whereas the families of those who were not members
have had to cope on their own.
I encourage you to save as much as you are able through the
Provident Fund as all savings will be for your own benefit and are
transferable should you change jobs. Remember, we will all either
retire at some stage, or sadly die before we reach it, but contributing
to the Provident Fund assists you in both cases. The only people who
can benefit from your Provident Fund contributions are you and your
family.
Projects 6
Introducing… 11
Our People 13
M&D Details 16
MURRAY & DICKSON GROUP
1|Page
Vol. 1: Iss.2 – First Quarter 2015
PERFORMANCE MATTERS!!

by Jaime Ramsook
As a steadily growing company – we have realised the need
to manage our performance in the business as an ongoing
Over the past 3 months, there have
practice. This requires support by management and
been many changes in M&D.
employees, as well as involvement by all parties for it to
We have welcomed a new SHERQ Manager and
succeed.
have committed ourselves to positively changing
What is it?
and introducing policies to better our company in
•
line with our slogan, khula nathi.
conversations
Our new web domain is up and running!
•
interactive page on which updates on the company
will be posted. Included in the endeavour to connect
is our introduction to social media. The company
has
Linked
In
and
Twitter
Why?
•
•
manager
•
many of you who are based outside of Gauteng
have expressed your interest in joining but cannot.
•
How:
•
•
employees having a blast, more of these will appear
on the website soon.
Agreement on expectations (Key performance
Indicators (KPI)) between line manager and
employee for the year ahead
•
Continuous tracking of outcomes against the
expectations
involvement and your fitness.
to page 15 to see some pictures of the monthly paid
Document role profile of each job and
employee
recreational activities closer to your locations to add
M&D’s 2014 Year End function was a success, go
Create accountability and responsibility of own
contribution in the company
We are hoping to find other runs or similar
to M&D’s employees’ repertoire of community
Skill and personal development of each
employee in the company
M&D Group has entered the JP Morgan Challenge
again this year. It has come to our attention that
Encourage continuous two-way communication
and feedback between employee and line
would like to post under the company name, please
contact me on M&D’s info email
To drive and improve performance of the
company
(@M_DConstruction). We invite you all to follow
M&D on these mediums and add your input. If you
Engagement by both employee and line manager
on what is expected of each of them
www.mdconstruction.co.za is now set up as an
currently
Formal and informal performance
When?
•
Formal review against the expectations twice a
year (April and October)
•
Informal discussions on a monthly basis to
track against expectations
….coming soon!
By Yolanda Sedibe
- Senior HR and Remuneration
Manager
MURRAY & DICKSON GROUP - Khula Nathi :
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Vol. 1: Iss.2 – First Quarter 2015
M&D:
by Rukesh Raghubir
We have received excellent feedback from our employees regarding the reintroduction of the company newsletters. Well done to Jaime for resurrecting
this! Now everyone will be in informed on what’s happening with Murray and
Dickson Construction Group during these exciting times.
We will also be resurrecting the mentorship and training program that was initially started in
2013. This is a practice which is key to addressing the age gap that currently exists between
the employees of M&D and in the construction industry as a whole. This will help ensure the
continued growth of the company whilst creating challenging career paths for employees who
want to get ahead.
I am also pleased to inform you that M&D’s new website was recently launched, this finally
completes our re-branding. I would like to stress to everyone that
is a brand and we
must at every opportunity positively market this brand. We must also be focused on our
mission:
“To
deliver quality workmanship through pride and teamwork,
producing customer satisfaction in a safe working environment.”
The senior management of M&D Group recently spent an entire day discussing the strategy
for the Group going forward to ensure that we capitalize on the opportunities available to us
and to make M&D the company of choice for our clients.
A point of agreement at this meeting was that there will be Zero Tolerance to fraud, theft and
dishonesty within M&D Group. Recently, a Site Manager and a Safety Officer were dismissed
for fraudulent activities.
I would sincerely like to thank the employees who came forward to make us aware of these
individuals. Going forward, I would like to encourage employees to contact me directly should
they believe that there is someone within our organisation, including suppliers and subcontractors, who are engaging in dishonest and/or fraudulent activities. My cell number is
083 788 3979.
Please keep up the hard work and let’s keep working together to make this company a force
to be reckoned with.
Women in Engineering - A Safer Touch?
MURRAY & DICKSON GROUP - Khula Nathi :
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Vol. 1: Iss.2 – First Quarter 2015
“Welcome to the new and exciting
Group SHERQ Department”
Hello All M&D Group employees, I am Lance Cox your newly appointed
Group SHERQ Manager who will be responsible for overseeing the following
within the complete Group compliment:
 Safety
 Health
 Environmental
 Risk
 Quality
Together with this comes a very important and exciting feature as we roll out and implement an
Integrated ISO management system, incorporating ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environmental) and
OSHAS 18001 (Safety) Standards. The purpose of this is to set a Group Standard for everything that we
do, also allowing the production on sites to flow better and streamline the paperwork for all areas of the
Group activities.
My background: I received a strong Military background before joining the construction sector, having
previously worked for Group Five Coastal (Durban based), Inyatsi Construction (East Rand Based) and
Mota-Engil South Africa (Rosebank). I am a driven and strict person who likes achieving results and I
now bring this to M&D Group.
This new and exciting SHERQ Department will be focussing on aligning our mission to support the
company vision by getting the certification for an integrated SHERQ Management System for the Group,
focusing on Quality, Environmental and Safety according to the set International Standards.
Taking into account the changes in the legislation we need to focus more on getting ourselves properly
geared to meet these requirements and this means that the Group will be taking a hard stand on working
safely and complying with the legal requirements and delivering a quality product to its clients.
So by simply working to a standard, in a safe, environmentally sound and quality driven manner we
become responsible for our own futures and growth. It’s just a matter of each individual/employee
focussing on SHERQ as a way of life and the end result will be successfully meeting the client’s needs
and we all know that a satisfied customer is a happy customer. Let your goal be to continually improve
on your output and you will see the rewards.
Please give your fullest support to the safety practitioners and quality engineers on your sites as they
are there to help drive the client satisfaction goals.
Remember to PLAN (plan your work properly), DO (execute your tasks with quality in mind), CHECK
(check that you have met the requirements), ACT (see where you can improve and refer back to your
planning).
As our motto says… “khula nathi”
By Lance Cox
- Group SHEQ Manager
Quality improvement is the responsibility of everyone, at all levels in
an organisation, not just those in the quality department.
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Vol. 1: Iss.2 – First Quarter 2015
The Importance of a Provident Fund
By Yolanda Sedibe
We cannot stress enough how important it is to prepare financially for your retirement or how important it
is to make financial provision for your family should you pass away whilst you are still providing for them.
If you are not convinced of the need for such provisions, speak to someone who has retired, or speak to
a family who have lost a breadwinner. They will tell you of the hardship of living with no income, or the
tragedy of suddenly losing the income that a breadwinner provided every month.
The Alexander Forbes Provident Fund for Murray & Dickson employees was started 6 years ago in 2009,
to give our employees financial peace of mind and to provide for their retirement. All newly employed, full
time monthly paid employees are compelled to join the Provident Fund when they join the company. Hourly
paid full time employees (unless they are on a Fixed Term Contract) must join the Provident fund after
they have worked with the company for one completed year.
You can decide to contribute 7.5%, 10%, 15% or 19.5% of your pensionable monthly salary to the Fund.
We encourage all employees to contribute the maximum that they can afford to their fund as this will give
them greater financial security when they retire.
The Risk benefits M&D pays for you, as a participant of the Provident Fund are:



Life Policy - pays out 2 years of your monthly pensionable salary to your dependants, nominated
through the Nomination of beneficiary form, should you pass away whilst employed by M&D,
provided that you are under 65 years old.
Funeral Policy - pays out up to R18, 000 for the funeral costs on the death of you, your partner or
any of your children under 21 years old.
All the management and administration costs of your fund.
This means that every cent that you contribute to the fund is invested for your future.
M&D believes so strongly that being a member of the Fund is important that it will be agreeing with
Alexander Forbes that it will add another benefit to members of the Fund:

Permanent disability cover paid for by the company, for each member whilst they are employed
by the company. This means that should you become permanently disabled through an accident
or illness, you will be paid one year’s pensionable salary by the Fund - This is at no extra cost to
you.
As there are a large number of full time hourly paid employees who have been with the company for a
year, but who have not joined the scheme, M&D will arrange that Alexander Forbes and the HR team
come and meet you on site to discuss the benefits of the Fund and the need to plan for retirement so that
you too can benefit from the Provident Fund and the added benefits that M&D gives to all members.
** Pensionable salary = 75% of monthly remuneration
The achievements of an organisation are the results of the combined effort of each
Individual - Vince Lombardi
“Safety doesn’t happen by Accident”
MURRAY & DICKSON GROUP - Khula Nathi :
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Vol. 1: Iss.2 – First Quarter 2015
Articles by the Division Head/Manager
Building
Projects
by Renell Samuel
We have completed our Maropeng contract (see pictured on Website) and are attending to snags at our
Secunda Mall Apartment contract which should be finished in the beginning of March. We have also
commenced with smaller new contracts at Wits University namely the new Parktown Campus Gatehouse,
the Bulk Chemical Stores and the Genmin roof replacement and are hoping to commence with the second
building contract at Kimberley by June 2015. The work in Kimberley will absorb the majority of our
employees for the next year.
Mike Roy has joined our division as a Contracts Director to undertake new projects with private developers.
We have been meeting developers and professionals involved in private developments to enable us to be
invited for future tenders. We would like to welcome Mike and know he will be successful going forward.
In the last week I managed to visit all our building sites. My biggest concern raised regarding safety was
the edge protection when working at heights. We tend to walk past an area where there are gaps in
barricading or the barricading and handrails are insufficient to stop someone from falling. Accidents do
happen and it is easy to lose concentration when working at height or trip and fall. Accidents can happen
to anyone. So over and above having the correct edge protection when working at heights, we need to be
aware of our surrounding and only access areas that are permitted to us.
At M&D take pride in our safety and always try and improve on safety to be one of the best companies
when it comes to safety and more importantly ensure a safe working environment for our employees to
operate in. The phrase “Safety comes first” must be adopted by all employees. This means that before
you undertake any task you need to understand the risks involved in undertaking the task and mitigate the
risks before commencing with the work. Safety is every employee’s responsibility, not just of the
management, safety officers and safety reps.
Our largest contract is in Kimberley, the Sol Plaatje University, which is 450km from Johannesburg. We
are also working on a second contract at the University set to commence in June this year. The company
now has the majority of its contracts outside Gauteng and this trend will continue in the near future. This
means a change in working environment for most of the building employees, whereas other divisions in the
company are used to working outside Gauteng. By the middle of this year most of the building division will
be based in Kimberley where we are fortunate to have continuous work that is not available in Gauteng.
Although change is difficult, it is essential for the continued success of the division and the benefit of the
employees. We need to work together to ensure the success of contracts like Sol Plaatje and demonstrate
we are capable of delivering on these type of projects.
Kimberley: Progress at
Sol Plaatje University
003
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Vol. 1: Iss.2 – First Quarter 2015
Pipelines
by Mike Johnston
Work on the Mafenya Pipeline (43km of 1016mm diameter pipe) is progressing well. The team has
reached record production rates since returning from the December break. The production for January
was 3.9km and the anticipated production for February is 5.5km. This equates to around 250m per
day, which is by no means an easy task, taking the challenges into account.
M&D are completing the PFG Gas Pipeline and the ORT
Fuel Depot Fire Ring Main at the end of this month. These
have been challenging projects and we have learnt a lot
about the Oil and Gas sector which will pay dividends on
future projects.
We would like to thank Juan and his team who have
been working extended hours and every weekend
including sacrificing part of their December break to try
and complete the PFG gas line. The end is near and
gas will soon be flowing through this pipeline.
After successful completion of the TCTA Central Basin
AMD Project in Germiston with Group Five, we have now
been awarded the Western Basin Contract. We are also
in negotiations with CMC de Ravenna for the Eastern
Basin Contract. The client for all these projects is TCTA.
We anticipate more work from TCTA in the future.
Arne Rheeder, our Estimating/Contracts Director has
been working on some exciting tenders for Emfuleni Local
Municipality (HDPE Pipes) and Rand Water (Pipe refurbishment). These tenders are for work of a
complicated nature where M&D has partnered with strategic companies to provide innovative solutions
to the water and wastewater industry. We hope to have some positive results in the near future regarding
these tenders.
Mafenya Pipeline: Pipelaying
"Cluster…" by Dave Slater - Installation of PRS at PFG
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Vol. 1: Iss.2 – First Quarter 2015
Vaalkop Dam: Re-branded Mixer truck at work
PFG Gas Pipeline: A Power Nap for Lunch
A must due to the long hours being worked to
reach targets
Civil Engineering
by Rukesh Raghubir
We are pleased to announce that we have
received the final completion certificate for the
Vaalkop Water Treatment Plant Phase 1 (15ML
Reservoir and 30ML Treatment Plant) (pictured to
the left).
Work is on track to complete the remainder of this
project in August 2015. It’s to be noted that this
team is also installing 1500mm diameter GRP
pipes at this site.
We are currently exploring innovative financing
models to unlock the next two phases of this
project, which if successful will ensure continuity
of work for another two years.
We anticipate the Civil Division experiencing
considerable growth this year. We are on the shortlist for a few major reservoirs and water and
wastewater treatment plants.
Our Estimating Division is currently working
around the clock to submit the 20 plus tenders on
their current list.
Vaalkop Dam: GRP Pipes
MURRAY & DICKSON GROUP - Khula Nathi :
Vaalkop Dam: Inlet Works
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Vol. 1: Iss.2 – First Quarter 2015
by Warren Alexander
Plant
M&D have recently converted three MAN tipper
trucks into new Water Carts. These have been
prepared in the new M&D livery and will be
servicing the Mafenya and O6 Pipeline contracts.
Murray & Dickson has taken delivery of a new
Komatsu PC350 Excavator (pictured to the right)
on our 06 site, this bears testimony to the fact that
M&D is standardising on leading earthmoving
equipment brands namely Cat and Komatsu.
We have also recently taken purchase of a Potain 60m Crane which is stationed at the Building
Division’s Zamokuhle Hospital site. This crane had been branded with the new livery (even if the
site itself has not yet had that pleasure) and is pictured below to the left.
In January, M&D Plant purchased a
Sandvik Screen which was pictured on the
company’s Linked In page and now can be
seen on the website as well. This screen is
based at the 06 Project and has increased
fill material production by 100%
Currently, we are in the process of rebranding all of our Plant and we hope to
complete this task soon.
Getting out the ground at Zamokuhle (Building Division)
MURRAY & DICKSON GROUP - Khula Nathi :
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Vol. 1: Iss.2 – First Quarter 2015
Roads & Earthworks
by Chris Porter
NEWSFLASH
M&D Roads & Earthworks has been awarded a bulk earthworks and demolition project in Rietfontein,
Germiston, just off the N12 at Edenvale.
The project includes the demolition and removal of a small double storey office building and around
6,000 m3 of excavation, half of which has to be removed offsite to a spoil site. Some onsite earthworks
and compaction will result in a building platform ready to receive a new warehouse construction, which
will store comics… Yes, there are still people who read and collect comic books.
We are looking forward to seeing our tippers in their new colours in action on this site, scheduled for
completion in April 2015.
This photo shows the “Before” earthworks, next photo in April will show the completed site.
Part of the field area to be excavated, worked and compacted
Don’t resort to extreme measures… USE PPE!
MURRAY & DICKSON GROUP - Khula Nathi :
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Vol. 1: Iss.2 – First Quarter 2015
M&D Pipe
M&D Pipe
Themba Dhludhlu is one
of our newly employed
Junior Site Engineers who
is currently based at the
PFG site.
He has his NDip in Civil
Engineering and is a family
orientated, driven and
ambitious individual.
- there are no shortcuts to anything
worth having
Tshegofatso
Prudence
Phahlamohlaka is a Junior
Site
Engineer
who
is
completing her NDip in Civil
Engineering.
She previously
Magalies Water.
worked
at
“I am a hardworking and
humble person who enjoys reading. One of
my favourite books is ‘Lean in’ by Sheryl
Sandberg-Coo.”
M&D Building
M&D Building
Mike Roy has worked 25
years in the property
development,
property
management
and
construction industries.
Leszek Ryszard Tyrkalski is
a Polish born South African. He
has an Evaluation Diploma from
Poland and is a Foreman by
proffession who previously
worked at Attra Construction.
Previously the CEO of
Attra Construction and
“I am a family man of integrity
Blackstone Properties, he
that takes pride in his work and
has joined us as a Contracts Director.
strives to achive perfection. My experience has
been defined by my life,education and work
“I am an abstract Artist in my spare time
abroad
and
local.
My
intrest
are
and enjoy painting in oils and sketching
history,architecture and swimming.”
in charcoal. I also keep fit with an early
morning mountain bike ride.”
-
It is not length of life, but depth of life.
Ralph Emerson
M&D Pipe
Ian Martin Foord has joined us from Esor Construction as a Site Agent. He is currently
based at the 06 Pipeline with Kyle Peinke.
-
Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep
your mouth shut. Ernest Hemmingway
M&D Building
Rashaad Mia is a Professional Quantity Surveyor who was previously employed at
KDMQS and Dryden Projects.
“I enjoy travelling, new experiences, a good workout at the gym & most importantly
family. My values, as well as the good morals and principles instilled in me by my hard
working parents, have made me grounded & well balanced.”
For more introductions, please turn over
MURRAY & DICKSON GROUP - Khula Nathi :
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Vol. 1: Iss.2 – First Quarter 2015
DECEMBER 2014 –
[Building]
[Plant]
-
Junior Quantity Surveyor
General Worker
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Pipe]
[Pipe]
[Pipe]
[Pipe]
[Pipe]
[Pipe]
[Pipe]
[Pipe]
[Pipe]
[Pipe]
[Pipe]
[Pipe]
[Pipe]
[Plant]
[Plant]
[Plant]
[Plant]
[Plant]
-
Safety Officer
Safety Officer
Carpenter/ Painter
Carpenter/ Painter
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
Bricklayer
SHEQ Officer
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
Bricklayer
General Worker
Welding Assistant
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
Truck Driver
Truck Driver
Truck Driver
Excavator Operator
Truck Driver
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Building]
[Pipe]
[Pipe]
[Pipe]
[Pipe]
[Plant]
[Civil]
[Civil]
[Civil]
[Civil]
-
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
General Worker
Foreman
Shutterhand
Assistant Welder
Bricklayer
Truck Driver
Carpenter
Concrete Hand
Concrete Hand
Carpenter
JANUARY 2015 Keanon Ruiters
Tlale Popane
Glen Shongwe
Emmanuel Thusi
Vusi Sithole
Motladi Thutse
Elvis Mapunye
Thsepo Manayetso
Council Malatji
France Khetheng
Rachel Kalamange
Asanda Dingindawo
Mbukiso Manake
Bernard Mawungeli
Mongezi Mbolompo
Sibusiso Mnyeba
Ezekiel Moyo
Siphamandla Mtshali
Foster Muavha
Nkosi Ntuli
Siyakholwa Nyakatya
Zamakhule Sisulu
Patrick Tshabalala
Elvis Kwinda
Francis Maphanga
Abel Mohale
Norman Mushiwana
Siphiwe Ngcobo
FEBRUARY 2015 –
Hlako Kgwete
France Maganedisa
Lillian Mahlomuza
Mpho Mahlaela
Klaas Mamakoka
Vusi Matlala
John Mdhluli
Ben Mocwana
Phakamile Modise
Samuel Mohlala
Mpho Molotsi
Rosina Molopo
Themba Phalali
Malosi Raleho
Staffel Riet
Godfrey Shingira
Andre Stoop
Morris Kameni
William Makhungela
Lazarus Sekele
Kleinboi Mthimonye
Charles Chauke
Alfred Gaobusi
Adrejan Lebucwane
Tebogo Ramawela
MURRAY & DICKSON GROUP - Khula Nathi :
Research shows that employee participation in a project’s decision making stage, increases an organisation’s
productivity. This is due to the human tendency to put more effort into a project which was, even partially,
developed personally so as to witness the possible success of their decisions.
(input from Dlozi Labase)
Lungelo Mthombeni
Gift Nkosi
12 | P a g e
Vol. 1: Iss.2 – First Quarter 2015
“A person who sees Quality and feels it as he
works is a person who cares. A person who cares
about what he sees and does is a person who’s
bound to have some characteristics of Quality.
Quality is in its essence a way of managing the
organization.”
-
Phillip Locke (QA/QC)
Kyle Peinke (06 Pipeline,
Senior Site Agent)
100% inspection is
business suicide!
"Coming together is a beginning,
keeping together is progress, and
working together is success" – Henry Ford
-
Zukisa Gumbo (Storeman at PFG
Springs)
Put your heart, mind and soul
into your smallest acts. This is
the secret of success.
- Swami Sivananda
- Leszek Tyrkalski
(Foreman)
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Vol. 1: Iss.2 – First Quarter 2015
Some more
pictures from
PFG – Coating of Valves for PRS
06 Pipeline– New Screen at
work
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Vol. 1: Iss.2 – First Quarter 2015
M&D Year End Party
-
MURRAY & DICKSON GROUP - Khula Nathi :
2014
Sansui Summer Cup
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Vol. 1: Iss.2 – First Quarter 2015
MURRAY AND DICKSON CONSTRUCTION (Pty) Ltd
Contact Details:
Below is the basic layout of M&D
noteworthy posts which include occurrences within the divisions and company and updates on progress
on site, links to our social media pages and the general company details.
Please visit the site and let us know what you think!
We would also like you to please follow the M&D Construction Group at:
@M_DConstruction
Murray and Dickson Construction (Pty) Ltd
MURRAY & DICKSON GROUP - Khula Nathi :
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