By Megan O’Connor
Nkululeko Siphamandla Zungu is a qualified and licensed plumber and director of Siphamandla Plumbing and Projects. His journey in the plumbing industry has been one of steady progress, built around gaining qualifications, developing his skills and taking on the challenges that come with running a plumbing business.
Zungu says he entered the plumbing industry through gaining the necessary qualifications and has taken a “slowly but surely” approach to building his career.
Nkululeko Siphamandla Zungu.
Supplied by Nkululeko Siphamandla Zungu
Today, he says he enjoys the work and takes satisfaction from the practical nature of the trade.
“I like it and I enjoy every moment,” he says.
Like many plumbers, Zungu has encountered situations where having the right equipment can make all the difference. One challenge that stands out was dealing with a blocked drain without access to a drain-cleaning machine.
“I managed it using rods, which would have been easier and faster if I had a drain machine,” he explains.
For Zungu, continuing to develop his skills has been an important part of his journey. One of his proudest achievements was obtaining his solar and heat-pump qualification through CPD College.
As he continues to build his own business, Zungu says accessing opportunities remains one of the challenges he faces. He would like to secure opportunities to work on insurance panels, but says he has so far struggled to do so.
He also raises concerns about what he sees as a barrier for qualified plumbers trying to access this market.
“Unqualified [people] are getting into insurance panels because they know someone,” he says.
Despite these challenges, Zungu remains positive about the future of his business and the plumbing industry. While there are often claims that many plumbers who start their own businesses do not succeed, he believes this can change.
“I think that will change,” he says.
For Zungu, the goal is simple: to keep moving forward and grow.
