The story of Joseph and Bob, the skilled painters, and Mike, the tiler by trade.

We met Joseph, Bob and Mike on a construction site in Pretoria. Joseph and Bob are both painters who met each other one day when their careers as painters brought them to the same construction site. Mike is an independent tiler who has been working in this industry for about 8 years.

Joseph

Joseph was born in Zimbabwe and started working as a painter back in 1967 when Zimbabwe was known as Rhodesia. He worked as a skilled painter for the company Murray and Roberts on a few projects in Harare. After working for Murray and Roberts, Joseph went back to school. He then obtained his class one painter liscence and started working as a private painter. Joseph says that he enjoys his job very much and that at his age he will one day die as a painter.

 

Bob

Bob is also a painter who was schooled is Zimbabwe about 4-5 years ago. He received his training from a New Zeelander called John Howse. Bob said that the biggest challenge for him is to keep his focus at all time while painting, because if his work is not up to standard, the next job won't be his, for the taking. Bob looks up to Joseph because he said since they have been working together, Joseph has taught him a lot there is to know about the skill of painting.

Mike

Mike is a tiler of trade. He went to school in Zimbabwe where he was taught how to install tiles. He started working as a tiler 8 years ago, since then he developed a system of chronological steps that he follows from when arriving on site to where he finished installing the tiles. Mike says he enjoys his work very much.

After talking to these construction workers it is clear that you must always be willing to learn from someone else who has been in the trade longer than you have and to take pride in your work by doing it to the best of your abilities every time.