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FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
& SURVEYING
CO-OPERATIVE EDUCATION
NAME: SELLO MATSEPE
STUDENT NUMBER: 211174300
TITTLE: MID-YEAR WRITTEN REPORT
MODULE: CIVIL ENGINEERING
PRACTICE 1
COORDINATOR: MS P OVERMEYER
YEAR: 2014
DUE DATE: 27/06/14

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TABLE OF CONTENT Page
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 3
ABSTRACT 3
LEGEND 3
1. INTRODUCTION 4
1.1. IN-SERVICE OBJECTIVES 4
1.2. COMPANY PROFILE 4
1.3. STUDENT PROFILE 4
2. COMMENCEMENT OF THE PRACTICALS 4
2.1. HEAD OFFICE INDUCTION 4
2.2. SITE INDUCTION 4
2.3. SURVEY & BASE EXCAVATIONS 4
2.4. CONSTRUCTION AND SURVEY 4
2.5. STABILIZATION OF BASES AND LAYER WORKS 4
2.6. LAYER-WORKS AND SURVEY 4
2.7. BUILDING IN THE RAINY SEASON 4
2.8. SAFETY FINES
3. DISCUSSIONS 5
4. CONCLUSIONS 6
5. RECOMMENDATIONS
6. PLANT WORKED WITH UP TO DATE 7
*APENDIX A-report writing checklist 6

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The author, Sello Matsepe, would like to express his gratitude to Martin & East for giving
him the opportunity of doing his in- service training at their company. He would also like to
thank his colleagues, supervisors, production agent and site agent for being patient with him
as a student learning the culture and the norms of the working environment. Furthermore, he
wants to thank the operators for teaching him the work ethics and approach when it comes to
the levels of leadership at site and the age dynamics.
He would also like to express his gratitude to Gregg Higgs who made sure that he got an
interview with him even though Sello was out of Cape Town. He would like to acknowledge
that the company believes in the quality of work and they would do whatever it takes to reach
out to those who have potential. Finally and importantly, he wants to thank Megan Adonis for
placing him at the site as he found it helpful to him because the operations that were running
on site varied and that will help in covering the scope of requirements for in-service training.
ABSTRACT
In the department of civil engineering, at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, students
go for their in-service training in their second year, which was before S3 and S4. Even though
this is rarely done in the university’s other engineering departments, it is very significant for
the civil engineering students to go gain experience in the industry prior to the completion of
their studies as they do use some of the experiences in their third year.
This report will fully detail the knowledge that has been amassed at the head office and on
site for the first six months. It will mostly focusing on the site environment. This is because

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not much was done at the main office. It will detail the events that took place from the
inductions up to the operations on site.
This report will focus on the experiences of Sello Matsepe, a student who was placed at
Martin & East for his in-service training.
Legend
 M-grader: A grader that was fitted with tarcheometry equipment
 SSG: Selected Sub Grade
 OGLs: Original Ground Levels
 GPS: Geographical Positioning System
 G5: Crushed rock material that was mixed with fines
 QS: Quantity Surveyor
 SI: Site Instruction
 PPE: Personal protective equipment
 Troxler: an equipment used to test compaction
 Rover: a surveying equipment which works with the triangulation of the satellite
loaded with designs of the whole project
PLANT THAT THE STUDENT HAVE WORKED WITH IN VARIOUS OPERATIONS
M-Grader
Single drum roller
Tipper
Excavator
Digger loader
Dump trucks
Caterpillar
Rortivator
Loader

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1. INTRODUCTION
In the Civil engineering department, students were given exposure of the industry prior the
completion of their studies. This is done to give students a highlight of the industry. The
exposure allows the students to experience what it’s like to work in the industry and also
helps them decide which field to specialize in after they have received they National
Diplomas. Civil engineering has various sub major disciplines such as structural,
environmental, water resources, geotechnical, construction and transportation. These
disciplines involve knowing the global vision, approach to problem identification, problem
solving in areas such as infrastructure, environment, facilities and systems.
It is advised that every civil engineering student should have:
 A basic management knowledgebase in areas such as business, resources, personnel
management, good communication skills, cost and value judgments and time
management
 A solid foundation in personal and inter-personal attributes ethics
 An involvement with civil engineering practice as formal education evolves

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1.1. IN-SERVICE OBJECTIVES
Sello Matsepe had a few objectives prior to starting the in-service training. These objectives
were in line with what was required by the university curriculum but were also there to help
him achieve specific goals during his training.
These objectives are:
 Construction: Involved in or being responsible for earthworks,
roadwork, railways, marine work, the construction of any structure or
any pipeline (including the maintenance of any of the above) –
Supervision, Control, etc.
 Contracts: Preparation of contract documentation other than
drawings, i.e. specifications, Schedules and Bill of Quantities, acting
as resident engineers assistant, tendering, estimating, feasibility
studies (including traffic counts), measurement, ordering materials,
contract certificates, etc.
 Design: Structural elements, water reticulation, sewer and
stormwater, pipelines, roads, railways, parking areas, etc. (not
drawing or detailing).
 Drawing: Preparation of drawings, tracing, CAD, detailing, plotting
surveying data, interpretation of drawings for purposes of setting
out, steel fixing or checking etc.
 Project Management: Understanding objectives, meetings, co-
ordinating activities, quality assurance, planning activities, progress
reports and charts, resource management, etc.
 Survey: Setting out or surveying using level, theodolite, laser or
total station, GPS or GIS, leveling, tacheometry, co-ordinate work
(including determination of co-ordinates).
 Testing: Soils, bitumen, asphalt, aggregates, concrete, pipelines,
roads, water retaining structures, etc.
1.2. COMPANY PROFILE
Group Martin & East (Pty) Ltd is the civil engineering and construction management
operation of Martin & East Holdings. The group also includes the businesses of:

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 Zebra Surfacing - A long-established and highly reputable black top surfacing,
road rehabilitation and road maintenance company.
 TT Innovations - A specialist trenchless technology provider that offers
innovative underground drilling and construction solutions.
 Isidima Civils - A Cape-based civil engineering firm that is also the vehicle for
empowerment of Martin & East Group employees and managers.
 Isidima Trust - A voluntary employee trust that owns equity in the Group's
companies
MARTIN AND EAST (PTY) LTD
Phone: 021 761 3474
Fax: 021 797 1151
Email: info@martin-east.co.za
Website: www.martin-east.co.za
Physical Address:
3 Mercury Cres, Wetton, Cape Town, 7780
Postal Address:
PO Box 14335, Kenwyn, Cape Town, 7790
Martin & East are civil engineering contractors, they deal in road rehabilitation. Road
construction, laying sewers, building manholes and any construction related to roads.Sello
has been placed at Gouda,were the other team of Martin & East is contracting roughly for a
year.Martin & East act as a sub-contractor in this project as the main contractors are Aveng
Grinaker LTA.i.e.When Martin & East is done with its work,Aveng Grinaker LTA approves
if they are impressed with the work done.
The contract is based on:
 Base excavations
 Building G5 roads
 Building G5 & G7 platforms
 Stabilising platforms and bases

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 Excavating slopes
 Laying storm water pipes
 Bridge construction
 Back filling bases
1.3. STUDENT PROFILE
Sello Matsepe is a Civil engineering student who attend at Cape Peninsula University of
Technology.
As part of his diploma, he has complete a year of experiential learning with a civil
engineering company. He has successfully completed S1 and S2.He is currently doing his in-
service training with Martin and Eats PTY (LTD).For him, he takes this is more than just
work, instead he is taking it as a challenge. The student’s enthusiasm is beyond measure as he
is willing to work anywhere for anything to complete my diploma.
Sello good in concentrating for long period. He has been placed at Gouda. The main purse for
the site that he has been placed at is a wind farm facility. He is a good team player with
developed skills in writing, also individual hard worker and able to work under pressure. I
would love to be part of your team for my in-service training, He could not wait to apply his
theory work and gain as much experience as he is currently gaining.Sello runs a daily
production which he calculates averages every weekend to get an amount used and also

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attends cost meeting and plant meetings.He feels to be privileged as he is taken into account
during meetings and in brain storming.
He would not like to focus more on experience because for him every day for him he does
take it as a new day to learn and apply himself to the fullest.He really works hard as most of
the time he puts on too much overtime to be on schedule. However he reckons that he can be
able to survive in most of the operations that he has been through as he grasped most of what
was done.Sello will be completing his diploma in the academic year 2015 at . Cape Peninsula
University of Technology
2. COMMENCEMENT OF THE PRACTICALS
The student began his practical training at Martin & East on…
2.1. Head office Induction
At the initial stage of being considered by the company, they made a programme that ran for
two weeks at their offices. In this phase not much work took place. Instead the in service
students, including Sello Matsepe, were introduced to the staff members of the company, this
included the Chief Executive Officer and the Human Resources Management Team.
The programme at the office was categorised in sections that were more relevant to me as a
student as well as the Go for Gold students, which was introduction to production, logging
into the company’s net, the information technology department, safety, salary allocation

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sheets, procedures of reporting incidents and handling of orders. The programme was drafted
for student to bring them to up to speed with things that happens on site, also to make them
aware of unforeseen circumstances that might occur on site. During this period they focused
more on the disciplinary and administrative side of the company the students were taught the
ways and steps of reporting cases such as verbal violation, threats, maltreatment, harassment
and the others.
The cases that were introduced to the students were found by the company to be more
relevant to the students and because these were the type of incidents that could occur. It was
done in a manner which the students understood that if something good or bad happens which
department would be relevant for such a case.
On the last day at the head office the students were taken to various sites that were in Cape
Town for exposure of site work prior the formal departure to the sites that they were placed
at. Sello Matsepe went to The Settlers High School site, were a hockey turf was going to be
constructed. He mostly did the surveying. This included doing a two-peg test, checking the
corner pegs of the hockey turf and setting out a grid. As he was undertaking these tasks he
was under close supervision from a colleague who usually did the surveying. Later that day a
braai was made as the students were about to depart to their respective sites. During the braai
session the students were meeting up with their site agents.
2.2. Site Induction
Site induction consisted of the introduction of the plant that was being used on site, being
made aware the safety issues, driving through the whole site viewing operations, meeting the
senior management of the site and planning for the day .In this phase students were given an

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opportunity to read plans of what they were being inducted on. This was done to familiarise
students as it will be the environment in which the in-service training would take place. It
involved a lot of plan viewing while driving on onsite, viewing the operations.
The induction took only a day, as the bottom line of site was production. The site agent,
production agent and safety officer conducted the induction. They presented relevant
information that linked issues that will be concerning the students in case of reporting. This
was done to give the students a gist of which route they should take if they had matters to
report or queries.
This was where he, Sello, learnt that there was certain protocol to be observed in any
operation on site. Every operation had a start time and a due date or a hand over date; also for
every operation a daily production had to be carried out at the end of the day until it was
handed over to the client. In the induction phase students were still unsteady. They asked
questions which helped the people who were giving the induction to comprehend a bit of
what they had already learnt and what they needed to know.
.3. Survey and Excavation of bases
On the second day of being on site Sello was under the mentorship of the onsite surveyor. He
was introduced to a rover. It was mostly used for tarchy survey on site. They did levelling
with GPS(Geographical Positioning System) and also set out a road. They then took a survey
of a stockpile of G5 for quantification. After surveying the stockpile the information captured
onsite was computerised and was turned into a 3-Dimension model in order to quantify the
material. He was under a close supervision for three weeks, because of this all his work
including costing sheets were rechecked now and then.
Although He didn’t get the opportunity to use the software of quantifying as he was mostly
based on site, He had an idea of what happened after surveying a stockpile, excavating bases

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and over-excavating of trenches. With the aid of the surveyor He made control points using
the Geographical Positioning System.
He got moved to a new operation of excavating a base, prior the excavation of these bases,
trial bases were dug to check the bearing capacity of the soil. The trial hole had to be examine
by the geotechnical engineer .When the trial holes were dug, they were dug to design level
such as a level, bench mark height. A staff was required to monitor the excavation.
The base that Sello got placed at was already being excavated He just continued from where
it was left off. In the excavation of bases He was introduced to an automatic level, which was
very interesting to him as he would get to perform a bit of a calculation before everything can
start running. At first it was a bit challenging. The terms that were used took him almost three
days to figure them out.
Before a base was sunk, Sello and a team of labourers and plant operators, used the receiver
which responds to the automatic level when a level was maintained. It was also used for
determining the staff reading before it was set to the final base excavation. In this operation
He got to learn a lot of new information and processes because the base that He was placed at
had a high water table. This meant a mode was dug around the base and it was also required
that Sello and his team over-excavate by a meter below design until they hit shale.
As the base was too deep they had to open up gentle slopes, which were also derived by
holding a staff at the bottom of the excavation and multiplying that with a required factor for
sloping. They came across a situation were more water kept on rising in the base. They were
advised to place bidim, as it acted as a filter and a separator. After placing the bidim, blinding
was casted immediately to prevent the water from seeping through the bidim.

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Sello was moved from this operation to another operation as the situation was critical. The
base was still on hold until printing of this report as they were still waiting for site instruction.
The base was being pumped on a daily basis to keep the water level low.
He learnt more about safety on this operation as most aspects were involved such as:
 barricading when the operation stops on a daily basis
 making sure that the slopes were correctly excavated
 making sure the plant did not travel at the edge of the base
 stockpiling a reasonable distance away from the base
He did excavation of bases for a month, each base had its own characteristics as they were
dug almost 1.5kilometers away from each other. The second base that He went to was mostly
rocky, moreover the plant that He had to use was equipped with relevant tools to be able to
prevail in such conditions. Tools such as a rock bucket and a hammer were introduced.
Excavating in this condition was very precarious as the excavator operator was not using any
GPS as he was breaking the rock.
Therefore constant checks of the levels were required as the team did not want to exceed the
design level. It was very expensive to stabilise a base so normally when they were excavating
on shale, rock and stable areas they stick to the design levels. What He had also noticed in the
rock excavation was that it seemed that the slopes were not as important because they just
sloped the base a meter below the ground level.
Prior the finalisation of the base dips were required to be taken and also the average. Sello
normally took the dips on the other site that the plant was not busy with and later on switch
with the plant operator and instructed him were he still needed to polish up. When working
with the plant all the parties involved in that operation from supervisors to general workers

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had to inform each other about every move they were making around the plant. This was
done to make everyone fully aware of the environment they were working to increase safety
and also the plan for the day.
After the excavations, He went to quantify the trees and also the concrete structures that were
remaining on the farm which the site was located. This quantification was done prior to the
site clearance. Only the structures that were lying in the centre line of the project had to be
removed as this project was “’GREEN”. Afterwards the quantity that had to be removed was
submitted to the QS(Quantity Surveyor) to calculate the cost and compile a certificate of
payment.
Illustrations of base excavations

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Trial holes excavated prior a base is excavated (done to check the traits of the soil)
Excavating on stable material with good bearing capacity (Normally excavated to design)

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Poor bearing capacity leading to deeper
excavations, that will require stabilizing.
Finaling a base using an M-Grader prior a hand-over to Grinaker LTA

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2.4. Construction and Survey
After He was done with the excavations Sello moved to a bridge operation where Sello and
the team came across an area where the footing was crumbled. It was then decided that they
mark the sections that were crumbled prior to their removal. In this operation He was also
introduced to the other tools. He had to be strategic as most of our work was relying on the
physical work of the labourers.
In this operation our Site Inspector said the team should only remove 150mm of the crumbled
section. The operation was quite crucial as the footing had steel for reinforcement inside it,
hence more attention was given when they were doing the cutting. He also learned that there
was equipment that needed permits to operate that for that certain time.
Tools used in breaking the crumbled concrete
 Compressor
 Two breaker
 Centrifugal pump
Personal Protective Equipment
 Helmet
 Live jackets
 Ear plugs
 Reflector vests
 Protective gloves

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The operation took more days than estimated because as they broke the crumbled concrete it
went deeper than the 150mm given. Then it was suggested again that they break as much as
they could until blue concrete was reached. It took them three weeks to fully break the
crumbled concrete.
Afterwards they had to prepare the recesses in the culvert spacing, this became interesting as
Sello was using a dumpy level to cut those recesses. Lot of things started making more sense
around the bridge because at first a wooden plank was cut to 75mm depth to be used as the
dipping stick. Subsequently in setting up the dumpy and taking spot checks in the culvert
spacing that’s when he picked up a huge variation. It was discovered that the concrete had
expanded as it set because on the other spots He read the accurate level for the culvert and on
the other hand the spacing was 40mm higher.
It was suspected that the concrete might have also crumbled inside and in order to examine it
about eight trial holes were drilled to the bottom of the footing. After drilling the trial holes,
the crumbled areas were detected by inserting a hand into the hole and feeling the sides of the
hole the hand glided down the hole. The holes were then examined and if most of them were
crumbled inside, the bridge was supposed to be demolished. Fortunately after the test was
performed it was found that most of the area was not crumbled so they opted for repairs.
Having being done with removing the concrete, they prepared for the repairs .All this work
was dictated in the plan of the bridge.

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Prepping of the recesses prior the packing of the culverts and finalising the breaking of the
crumbled concrete.
Breaking the sections of the crumbled concrete on bridge footing.

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Testing between the storm water pipes using a troxler. Also the backfilling team carries on
the tested areas
2.5. Stabilization of bases and layer works
Sello moved to a stabilizing operation were him and his team had to make stabilized material
with G5 for stabilizing the bases that went below design. This kind of operation sounded like
a relaxed operation but it was not the case as the other operations relied on it. At times the
pressure was too much as the student got questions like “when must we expect the first loads?
How many cubes can we run until such a time? How many cubes are left on your site?”. This

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kind of operation needed good time management and a team that was willing to push the job
until it was done.
Afterwards Sello moved to a construction operation were He did site clearance were a
platform of about 6000 square metres was to be built, it involved identifying existing
structures, confirming electrical cable crossing, water supply pipes, cutting trees that were in
the boundary pegs, removing concrete structures, removing waste matter from the dump site
and so forth. He enjoyed the site clearance because he fully had an idea of the point to which
him and his team must clear. The surveyor on site made it easier by setting out the boundary
pegs. In that regard Sello had an opportunity to plan the work and as well communicate well
with the operators.
Having being done with the bulk site clearance they began with topsoil stripping of the entire
area. The topsoil was striped at 150mm deep; it was then stockpiled at outside the boundary
for use at a later stage. It was required that the stockpile should not be higher than 1.5m as
they were dealing with topsoil This was done because topsoil was not stable when disturbed.
When He was still on the same operation the student did day-works for AFRIMAT which He
had an excavator breaking concrete in their wash bay.
Eventually the topsoil stripping came to an end and Sello began with setting the grids within
the boundaries. He flooded the area with droppers also putting levels on the droppers. After
they had the grids with levels on, He dipped the SSG and worked on his average dip. This
helped when he was going to import because he could work out what he was supposed to dip
after importing the G5. Prior the importation of the G5, tests of the SSG were required to be
carried out and also the OGLs(Original Ground Levels) had to be taken.
They did work the dump spacing and place rocks prior the tippers start the importing, then
when they were done they could start running. This operation used to keep the student at

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work overtime from the morning as 05:45 am, throughout tea, lunch and until 19:00 pm.
Once the G5 importing was running they placed the material with the aid of a loader and also
dipped the material as it were placed to ensure there was enough material. There was nothing
as frustrating as being short of material while mixing and processing. They used to import
around 17:00pm to 19:00 pm, so this needed accurate calculation of dump spacing because
during the working hours they would normally mix, process, cut final and slush.
This operation took place 50 meters away from the our site office, client office and the other
offices at each end of Sello’s operation He had to protect his work by barricading the entire
area that He had worked on and also closing his working space. He also ran the dust control
around the area as we were working in the vicinity of the offices. This operation took place
over a period of a month. After the G5 has been imported, placed, processed and finalised,
Dips of the G5 were then taken and they were modelled with the OGLs to quantify the
amount of cubes used in building the platform.
After the completion of the first squares that the client required He then moved to
stabilization of bases. In this operation the student was on a site that receiving the stabilized
material from the other team. Sello and the team of labourers were stabilizing a base that
went 800mm below design. He understood many things when He was on the receiving site as
he had to ensure that the base was fully cleaned and also the dips were taken prior the import
The was a sequence that they followed when they were on the receiving site, the team was
required to stabilise in layers of 200mm.It became easy if you quantified the amount of cubes
you were going to need per layer prior to the import. After quantifying they could just
manage the number of trucks as they tip and went. Then after they achieved the cubes for that
certain layer, they let a loader to flatten the loads; a roller to compact and then we run tests

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after every 300mm.The tests were carried out with a troxler. The results, place, time, and the
operation were recoded.
As the layers were being built they used a rover to keep track of the cubes that they still had
to import in order to reach the required design level. In building the other layers prior to the
final layer, accuracy was not very important. Prior to the import of the final layer, dips were
taken to ensure the exact quantity required. After the final layer has been tipped, the loader
fattens the loads as normal, then they used the M-grader to level the layer to design. The M-
grader was loader with the centreline of the project, design levels and it made operations
quicker and thus saved time. The team normally used it for finishing of work as its schedule
was tight on a daily basis.
After the M-grader completed its work, they let a roller compact the layer and then they
immediately slush. The team slush the final layer to give it a smooth finish, but most
significantly it was done to cure the layer. Then after the completion of the slushing they rung
tests, took dips and handed over the work to Grinaker LTA to cast their blinding prior the cast
of their base. It was preferred that when taking final dips of a base, a staff, tripod and a
surveyor’s level must be used because we were only allowed to be out with a few mills.
They used a surveyor’s level because the rover changes with the satellite hence it changes
from time to time. Normally this kind of operation lasted a day or two depending on the
travelling distance of the plant. However this kind of operations were only done if the team
over excavated a base. Sello took a week in the stabilizing operation (receiving site).
He was fortunate he got an opportunity to experience a stabilizer
Prior the importing of G5 the team had a hole of 14mx8mx1.2m deem which was backfilled
with sand until SSG was reached. It was backfilled in layers of 300mm and for every layer
completed a test was ran to ensure the compaction was sufficient. As sand was not that stable

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we needed 100% plus on the troxler and it was achieved by adding more roller passes. Sello
and the team also did a bit of cut to fill on the final layer in order to shape the hole around it.
This kind of an operation was treated as a day work as it was not the main operation and it
was also claimed on a different cost sheet.
Stabilisation on the receiving site(hole fully prepared and signed off for stabilizing).Base
went below the design level,its being stabilised to design level.

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Site clearance prior setting out the grid, taking OGLs and importing G5 at the keystones.
Platform tipped with G5 ready for placing.

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Dump spacing worked out(Importation of G5 in progress).SI advised Martin & East to lay
bidim on the SSG as their mobile crane is going to be using that as the road for offloading
the keystones.(mobile crane also called the elephant)
Processing G5 with a grader(Constructing a platform for the keystones)
Far left is the elephant caring a keystone to its position.

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Finished section of the platform for the keystones signed off. Elephant offloading a keystone
on the up normal load horse and trailer. Platform is to be built up to 6500 square meters
which is close to 17000 cubes of G5.
Building in the rainy season
The last section of building the platform was the most crucial operation that Sello had worked
on. It was still the same process that they followed when building a platform but the team was
encountering a rainy season. Every day before importing material they had to check the
weather focus and then after importing on a sunny day they had to do a weather check before
they left the site. If there was possible rain they had to do everything by all means to protect
their work. They did this by identifying low lying areas, and cutting them or bring fill
material to fill them up in order to avoid puddles and ponds the following day. As they were
working with a large area it was very rare that they could protected the whole area. Therefore
after rainy days they had puddles that made their material to heave.
It was quite tricky to work with G5 during the rainy days because once it absorbed too much
water it took days to return to its initial stage and also become workable. In this season
normally water tables rose and places that naturally had a high water table will be running out

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of the SSG. The team had a situation where water was running out of the SSG where they had
to dig a box of 12mx9m x800mm and also dig a trench out of it. This hole was only felt with
rock to allow the water to escape through the trench prior it reaches the SSG. This was done
to provide drainage if the water level rise so that the water could be drained out of the
platform running through a channel that was dug under it.Sello also realised that rainy
seasons are not good for contractors as their plans are dictated by the weather.
2.8. Safety Fines
This category is ran by a safety officer and this is mostly done to ensure that the employees
on site wear their PPE and always barricade if need be. Sello as a student found this very
significant to every operation on site as it protects whoever who is on site at that certain time,
this was found that it prevent unforeseen circumstances and severe injuries. The fines are
treated as warnings because if you get more than three fines, employees do sit for hearing to
explain a few things that they don’t understand about PPE, barricading and so forth.
This program was introduced later after few incidents on site, which came to attention to the
site office. Since the fines were introduced, the employees seem to be cooperating because
everything is in a shipshape. Sello as a student found it also as a challenge as he had to instil
the motion to his general workers who took it easy. He was asked questions like “why do I
have to wear my helmet while dipping the grader or doing housekeeping. However with time
the employees blended with the motion.

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General Comments
Sello would have liked to run a storm water operation as he only got to experience it for half
a day. He would have liked to understand the specifications around the operation as he had in
the other operations he had performed over a longer period.
He would have liked to learn more about certain equipment such as the troxler and the
trimble equipment. He felt that being able to use the equipment would be more vital to him as
a student as these were the machines that were constantly being used around site.
He acknowledges and is grateful for the fact that he ran two major operations which were
about sixty thousand squares of a platform and the stabilisation operations. Both operations
went well and were delivered on time.
He learnt that effective communication was key to a good team. He developed in the way he
approached his colleagues. He realised that it was advisable to be down to earth in the
industry and that he had the authority to give the instructions to the plant but the operators
carried out the work and were to be allowed to have a say on the daily operations.
As a student, he saw that proper attitude was vital as he was still earning his place. It helped a
lot to have a proper attitude as it becomes easier for the senior management to approach him
with projects even though sometimes he got limited time to complete them. This was
extremely significant for students as they could be noticed for their ability to make the best
out of a severe situation.
The ability to be frank about the limits of your knowledge turned out to be very important in
his day to day work. It made it easier for management to understand the knowledge he had
and how to utilise that as much as possible. It also allowed him to focus a bit more on
acquiring knowledge on subjects and areas he did not know much about. It was a

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demonstration of maturity and allowed for him to ask the right questions to get answers he
needed.
Sello aimed to what was expected of him as a student and to excel at it. He also asked for
extra work whenever he had free time on his hands and thus was able to learn quicker and sat
up to date on what was taking place on site.
6. CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, with what he has learn and done so far, Sello Matsepe now has a better
understanding of the industry and the site environment and processes. The exposure taught
him ways of approaching a situation. It allowed gaining exposure that would allow him to
make an informed decision on what field he would specialise in. It also improved his work
ethic compared to the one he had whilst in university. By working closely with experienced
professionals, he has put in more than what is required and tried to excel in whatever he has
done.
Sello fits well with the team because he knows what is required of him, also with a better
understanding which was yield from frequent operations made him to be able to intensify in
what he has grasped. He also believes that with the scope of work that he has covered up to
so far,and having to go on for another six months will only made him rich of enlightenment.

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7. RECOMMENDATIONS
 In Civil Engineering team work and good commination are the first keys that ease the
tension amongst the employees and give them the liberty to become innovative and
proactive. The company needs to encourage good communication systems between
the different levels of leadership.
 Operators on site need to be acknowledged as most of them have quite a lot of
experience in this industry, if operators are happy they will work harder on a daily
basis. It’s said “together we prevail but division leads to doom”
 Its recommend that briefings every Mondays mornings and Fridays be implemented.
They will bring everyone up to date as to what the weekly plan is and also what was
achieved or lost in the past week. If most of the operators know what happens if they
lag behind they will be less likely to do so.
 It is advised that the company must draft the students a programme which the will
rotate them quarterly such as from working with the quantity surveyor, safety officer,
site clerk, production agent and whatever the categories that they have on site or at the
office, this will help the students be able to relate how the different departments are
interlinked. In other words a site of this magnitude cannot run without a quantity
surveyor or a site agent it will seem to be a ship without a captain.
 It might help a lot if students can get a proper introduction of the equipment that they
will be using. It would be interesting and an overwhelming experience if they are able
to fully use a rover in the absence of any supervision.

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Backfilling of bases with a layer of 300mm(After every 300mm a test is ran to check the
compaction)Test are carried out using as troxler.
Workmen placing the material for the roller

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*APENDIX A-report writing checklist*
Were the purpose & aims clear?
Were the readers needs taken into account?
Were the main points included?
Were the points supported with evidence/valuable information?
Was all the information relevant to the purpose?
Was there logical order?
Were the headings & numbering clear?
Was the style formal?
Was the tone suited for the purpose?
Were the diagrams clearly visible
Were the conclusions & recommendations clearly linked to the purpose and based
on findings?
Curriculum Vitae of Sello Matsepe
1111 PLAZA PLACE
CNR Jeppe and Rissik Streets
JOHANNESBURG
2000
+27 78 619 8511 /sellomatsepe1@gmail.com
Profile
A determined individual who is busy with ND civil engineering at the Cape Peninsula
University of Technology with developed skills in writing and working in teams. I
successfully completed S1 and S2.I am currently doing my in-service training with Martin &
East PTY(LTD)
Personal details
Full names Sello Matsepe
DOB 1991-06-19
Gender Male
Nationality South African
Learner’s licence Code 10
Languages Sepedi and English
Hobbies / Interests Reading, Sports and going to the gym.
Marital status Single

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Academic experience
Institution Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Qualification ND Civil Engineering
Subjects passed Construction material 1
Mathematics 1
Applied Mechanics 1
Topographical Drawings 1
Computer Skills
Technical Drawings 1
Surveying (Civil) 1 Theory
Surveying (Civil) 1 Practical
Mathematics 2
Communication skills 1
Theory of Structures 2
Construction Methods 1
Management Civil 1
Surveying Civil 2 Theory
Surveying Civil 2 Practicals
Civil Drawing 2(module 1)
Civil Drawing 2(module 2)
Last School Attended Boleu High School
Qualification Senior Certificate (Grade 12)
Completed 2009
References
1.Mr Tladi
Geography teacher
082 450 7166
2.Mr Madira
Principal
076 867 8461