Float Like A Butterfly, Cling Like A Brick

Float like a butterfly, cling like a brick 

Alex Khoza also known as Ali, whether he got his nickname from his full name or from portraying the characteristics of the famous boxer, Mohammed Ali, nobody really knows. But the brick layer from White River (Kabokweni) in the Mpumalanga Province has a story to share.

"Ali'' Khoza 

This 25 year old started and ended his studies in Mpumalanga as a boy from a low income family, striving for the best to improve the situation at home. Unfortunately things did not work out as he had hoped.

Ali's father was a professional bricklayer. He would often take Ali to work with him. This led to Ali discovering his passion for construction. He observed and picked up basic skills on bricklaying and plastering.

In 2006, at the age of 16, Ali decided to drop out of school due to financial difficulties. This was an opportunity for him to finally follow his passion in bricklaying. He worked with a few companies before he attained a bricklaying certificate. "This was a great moment in my life," he said, ''I'm fortunate to be the first in my family line to reach such an achievement," he continued...

In 2012, Ali started working for RBA Constructions and furthered his experience, and now he is determined to train others who are passionate about becoming professional bricklayers. Over the past year and a half, Ali has trained 10 people to become professional bricklayers. He is overjoyed by his achievements and would like to start his own company in the next 4 to 5 years.

Ali's motto is, "Take life one brick at a time, and before you know it, you'll have a wall." This means that we shouldn't be intimidated by the size of our dreams, problems or circumstances. We should just lay the first brick as best as we can and we'll realise that it is possible to achieve our dreams.

Ali loves his job, you can see it from each brick he lays. He says he never has bad days when he is building," I love my job, I love working with bricks and seeing people (clients) smile after a job well done." Ali lead us to realising how much we need specialists like him. People like Ali are components of a bigger picture, without them, we wouldn't have this bigger picture.

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