about Zimile

Zimile: A multi-disciplinary infrastructure engineering firm in South Africa. Our core competency is the design, construction and supervision of various infrastructure projects through a single-source support framework from concept planning through to completion.

We are a Proudly South African, Level 1, 100% black-owned and managed company with a strong focus on youth employment.

Our company has an extensive footprint across South Africa with a strong presence in both the public as well as private sectors. Our experience across diverse industries and includes, but is not limited to, work on several rehabilitation, maintenance and upgrades of roads; preliminary, detail design and environmental impact assessments; tender documentation; taxiway reconstruction; and the rehabilitation of runways.

We are Zimile – where bold ideas meet practical solutions. We fuse technical excellence with imaginative thinking to design infrastructure that serves today and shapes a sustainable tomorrow.

Rooted in African ingenuity, we engineer with purpose, passion, and a commitment to meaningful impact.

VISION

To be the engineering service provider of choice to all of our new and potential clients by inspiring engineering excellence across South Africa and beyond.

MISSION

Zimile’s mission is to provide clients across South Africa and beyond with professional and quality engineering services, from concept planning through to completion for infrastructure development projects, through the deployment of a highly skilled professional team.

SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES

Projects are structured to include community input and participation in the planning, design and implementation stages. This transparent approach enables equal engagement with professionals, supports skills transfer and empowers communities. Job creation and training are integral to every project the company delivers.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM

SHAWN GAMA

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

With nearly 20 years of experience in the civil engineering industry, Shawn specialises in transport infrastructure and has a strong focus on the development of rural infrastructure. He holds a B.Tech in Civil Engineering from the University of Johannesburg, along with a PDBA, PGDip, and MBA from the Gordon Institute of Business Science. He is a registered professional with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and a member of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE).

As Chief Executive Officer, Shawn is responsible for leading the development and execution of Zimile’s long-term strategy to create lasting stakeholder value. His role includes overseeing day-to-day operations, ensuring the successful implementation of strategic plans, and driving the organisation’s growth and sustainability. He serves as the primary liaison between the Board and management and represents the company in engagements with shareholders, employees, government authorities, and broader stakeholders.

STEPHANI SERFONTEIN

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

Stephani holds a Bachelor of Science degree and an MBA, and brings over 25 years of experience across strategic project management, governance, operational leadership, and business improvement. Her extensive background in the engineering consulting sector has equipped her with deep insight into both project execution and business performance.

Known for her analytical thinking and solution-oriented mindset, Stephani excels at interpreting key business metrics to drive performance and develop effective strategies. She combines tactical execution with strategic initiatives, aligning organisational goals with innovative technologies, streamlined processes, and commercial priorities.

Stephani plays a pivotal role in driving accountability, improving project margins, and supporting individuals and teams to reach their full potential. Her ability to build strong relationships and foster behavioural change ensures lasting impact across the business.

VICTORIA ABE

FINANCE MANAGER

Victoria holds a B.Compt degree and an Honours in Management Accounting. She is professionally registered with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) as an Associate General Accountant AGA(SA).

With over eight years of accounting and audit experience across the energy, construction, engineering, financial services, and public sectors, Victoria brings valuable insight to Zimile. She is responsible for overseeing the company’s financial health, advising executives on accounting and tax compliance, guiding investment decisions, and shaping the business’s financial strategy. As a skilled auditor and accountant, she also leads the implementation and maintenance of strong internal control processes.

TSHEPO RASEROKA

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

Tshepo brings more than eight years of experience in human resources, including four years at management committee level, where he has played a key role in shaping strategic people practices. With a strong foundation in industrial and organisational psychology, supported by advanced labour law and finance qualifications, he offers a balanced and forward thinking approach to HR leadership.

As Human Resources Manager at Zimile Consulting Engineers, Tshepo leads initiatives that strengthen organisational capability, support business growth and enhance the overall employee experience. His expertise includes strategic HR planning, talent acquisition, employee relations, organisational development and performance management. He works closely with leadership to implement people centred solutions that improve engagement, promote a positive workplace culture and ensure alignment with organisational goals.

Tshepo is known for his strong communication skills, practical mindset and ability to build trusted relationships across all levels. He is committed to developing clear HR policies, navigating complex employee matters and ensuring compliance with labour legislation. His passion for cultivating a supportive and high performing workforce underpins his approach to HR, and he is dedicated to helping Zimile continue building a resilient, skilled and empowered team.

MARISA NAIDOO

BUSINESS UNIT HEAD:

INNOVATION AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Marisa holds a Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering and a National Diploma in Chemical Engineering from the Durban University of Technology, and is currently completing her MBA at UNISA. She also holds project management certifications from the University of Cape Town and the Association for Project Management, UK.

With more than a decade of experience spanning research, development, and innovation leadership, Marisa has built expertise across water and wastewater management, the circular economy, energy, and precious metals. She has held senior roles including Portfolio Manager (Natural Resources) at the Technology Innovation Agency, Country Lead for Innovate UK KTN in South Africa, and project leadership positions at the Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology and Gauteng Refinery.

Her work has focused on driving technology adoption, leading multi-stakeholder collaborations, managing donor-funded programmes, and championing gender-inclusive innovation ecosystems. She has specialised in the “strategy-to-value” lifecycle, IP commercialisation, techno-economic evaluations, and developing business cases to ensure that technologies transition seamlessly from concept to market.

At Zimile, Marisa will lead our newly established Business Unit for Innovation and New Technologies, created as part of our brand relaunch to deliver forward-thinking, sustainable infrastructure solutions. A results-driven leader with a passion for mentorship and building high-performance teams, Marisa will play a pivotal role in shaping Zimile’s innovation journey and creating lasting value for clients across Southern Africa.

LETLOTLO BORANE

BUSINESS UNIT HEAD:

WATER

Letlotlo is a registered Professional Civil Engineer with over a decade of experience in the design and delivery of complex infrastructure projects. His expertise spans the full project lifecycle—from planning and cost estimation to contract management, construction supervision, and quality control. Letlotlo has successfully delivered large-scale projects including municipal infrastructure, bulk water supply systems, water and sewer reticulation networks, roads and stormwater infrastructure, and residential developments.

His mining sector experience includes conducting feasibility studies and designing clean and dirty water stormwater systems, stormwater and pollution control dams, silt management strategies, and the design of silt traps and storage pads.

A strategic thinker with strong technical, business development, and financial acumen, Letlotlo is deeply committed to safety, sustainability, and client satisfaction. He is also a dynamic leader, known for his excellent communication and team management skills.

He holds a BSc (Eng) in Civil Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand and a Business Consulting Engineering Certificate from CESA (Consulting Engineers South Africa). Letlotlo also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PDBA) from Wits Business School (WBS).

CHARMAINE ACHOUR

SPECIALIST

DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS

With over 34 years of experience, Charmaine leads Zimile’s digital communication strategy, bringing deep expertise in storytelling, user experience, and cross-functional collaboration. She is passionate about driving innovation, enhancing brand visibility, and delivering communication solutions that reflect Zimile’s technical excellence and client focus.

Charmaine oversees the company’s digital platforms, including the SharePoint intranet, corporate website, social media channels, as well as PR and media engagement. Her focus is on creating seamless, user-centred experiences that align with strategic business objectives.

She plays a key role in driving digital transformation and introducing automation to streamline communication processes and improve operational efficiency. Her collaborative approach across marketing, engineering, and product teams ensures that Zimile communicates with clarity, impact, and consistency to both internal and external audiences.