Tri-Star Construction has once again proven why it stands among South Africa’s most respected construction companies. At the prestigious MBA North 2025 Annual Regional Safety Awards, the company walked away with multiple top honours; a powerful testament to its unwavering commitment to creating safe, well-managed, and high-quality project environments.
This year, the competition was fiercer than ever, with 75 entries representing more than R13.4 billion in project value. Yet in a field full of strong contenders, Tri-Star’s consistency, discipline, and culture of safety excellence stood out.
1st Place for Wits Zylstra: A Major Win in a Major Category
Tri-Star secured 1st place in the highly competitive R250 million to R450 million project value category for its work on the Wits Zylstra project. This category recognises contractors managing large-scale, complex builds — the kind of work where strong systems, vigilant oversight, and a safety-first mindset become absolutely essential.
Winning in this category reflects more than just meeting safety benchmarks. It shows that Tri-Star is confidently operating in the upper tier of construction excellence, proving that large projects can be delivered safely and efficiently without compromising on quality or people.
Best Performing Construction Manager: Individual Excellence Recognised
Another standout achievement was Tri-Star’s win in the “Best Performing Construction Manager” category, awarded to Prince Mabuza.
This award highlights individuals who embody the gold standard of on-site leadership: communication, discipline, team morale, safety enforcement, and a deep ability to anticipate and manage risk. Prince’s recognition reinforces what clients often say about Tri-Star, the company’s true strength lies in its people.
When individuals excel, organisations shine. And this year, Tri-Star shone brightly.
3rd Place for Melrose Apartments: Consistency Across Projects
Tri-Star also earned 3rd place in the R100 million to R250 million category for its Melrose Apartments project. High standards are not concentrated in one project or team, the quality runs across the company.
Multiple awards from separate project teams show that Tri-Star’s health and safety culture is deeply embedded, consistent, and lived out daily.
3rd Place for Ford Paint Shop: Excellence in a Technical Environment
Tri-Star secured an impressive 3rd place in the R15 million to R40 million category for its work on the Ford Paint Shop Preparation Works: Package A project. This recognition highlights the team’s ability to uphold rigorous safety standards in a highly technical, fast-paced industrial environment. Working within an active automotive manufacturing setting demands precision, tight coordination, and strict compliance, and Tri-Star’s placement shows that their safety culture remains strong no matter the scale or complexity of the project.
A Company Built on Integrity, Safety, and People
Tri-Star’s success at the MBA North Awards isn’t accidental. It reflects years of dedicated work, strong leadership, and an unwavering belief that people come first, always.
The company’s Health & Safety department, guided by CEO Derek Wheals and led operationally by Ruan van der Merwe, follows a disciplined system aligned with MBA North guidelines. Over the years, this department has helped Tri-Star earn numerous safety awards, solidifying its reputation as a contractor that doesn’t just build structures, it builds trust.
Their organisational values, integrity, transparency, fairness, and professional accountability are clearly alive in every project they touch.
Why These Awards Matter for Clients and Stakeholders
For clients, these wins offer more than prestige. They’re a reassurance that their projects are in capable hands:
Strong safety systems reduce project delays
Skilled site managers reduce on-site risks
A track record of excellence improves project outcomes
External recognition validates internal culture
In a competitive industry where reliability matters just as much as quality, Tri-Star’s accolades position them as a contractor of choice for high-stakes, high-value developments.
Looking Ahead: Building With Purpose
The 2025 awards add another chapter to Tri-Star Construction’s growing legacy of safe, responsible, and high-calibre construction. But more than that, they serve as fuel; motivation to keep raising the bar, empowering their teams, and delivering projects that make a meaningful impact on clients, communities, and the industry at large.
Congratulations to the entire Tri-Star team, and especially to the individuals whose daily work makes achievements like this possible. Here’s to building safely, building responsibly, and building the future.
