Military Artisans Bypass Bureaucracy: SANDF Works Formation Delivers Infrastructure Upgrades in Mpumalanga

SANDF's Works Formation showcases military artisan skills by refurbishing housing and bungalows in Ermelo and Middelburg, bypassing traditional tender delays.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 12, 2026, 6:31 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from DefenceWeb

The Rise of the Military "Handyman"

The Works Formation within the Department of Defence (DoD) has solidified its role as the essential "handyman" of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Originally conceptualized by retired Chief Solly Shoke to address the slow pace of the Department of Public Works, the formation has evolved into a sophisticated logistics asset. Today, under the leadership of Major General Lesiba Kekana, the unit operates across all nine provinces, providing the military with an internal, rapid-response construction and maintenance capability.

Successes in Mpumalanga: Ermelo and Middelburg

The Mpumalanga Regional Works Unit recently demonstrated its operational efficiency at two key locations. In Ermelo, uniformed artisans were tasked with the total refurbishment of military housing at the Air Defence Artillery School. Simultaneously, in Middelburg, the unit focused on the 4 SA Infantry (SAI) Battalion bungalows. The project involved installing high-quality partitioning to transform open-plan barracks into modern, dignified living quarters for soldiers, highlighting the unit's commitment to improving troop welfare.

A Strategic Shift from Outsourcing to Self-Reliance

The formation’s primary goal is to circumvent the traditional public works approach, which often involves time-consuming tender issues and contractor approvals. By maintaining its own training school near the Gerotek facility in Pretoria, the Works Formation cultivates a workforce of skilled building trade artisans. This shift to self-reliance allows the SANDF to maintain its facilities with greater speed and accountability, ensuring that critical infrastructure does not fall into disrepair while waiting for administrative clearance.