Challenges

The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG), adopted by the world leaders in 2000, has provided a development framework for human social and economic upliftment.  The MDF policies and strategies are particularly relevant for continental Africa.  The need to build infrastructure has been identified as one of the primary requirements for the development of the continent and its peoples.  HHO Africa understands the needs, the environment and has the skills and local knowledge to plan the design appropriate and innovate infrastructure.

Roots & Achievements

In 1926 Mr J.C Hawkins opened our first consulting engineering office in Johannesburg, South Africa.  The name HHO is the acronym of the three founding partners, Mr J.C Hawkins, his son R.D Hawkins and Mr D.F Osborn.  The company Hawkins Hawkins and Osborn was founded in 1950 and operated in a partnership for many years.  In 2003 the company restructured to trade as HHO Africa with its new stylized African logo. For over 80 years HHO Africa has been contributing to the infrastructural development in both rural and urban regions of Southern Africa.

HHO Africa has been a major contributor to water projects that have brought potable water to urban and rural communities, thereby providing a radical improvement in public health.  Similar key highways, airports and rail links have enabled HHO Africa to be part of the creation of modern communication network providing access to markets for people, goods and services.  HHO Africa has been acknowledged for their excellence in planning and design through numerous awards for technical excellence, innovation and environmental sensitivity.

Our People

With our motivated, versatile professional engineers, technologists, planners and technicians, we aim to meet the needs of our clients and to help them build the infrastructure that will improve the quality of life of all who benefit from their projects.  At the same time we are committed to the development of our own people through in-house training, bursaries for tertiary education and mentorship.  Our current staff complement is over 130, consisting of engineers, technologist and support staff.

Ownership

For more than 40 years HHO Africa has been an equal opportunity employer and today more than 50% of our staff come from previously disadvantaged communities.  Today HHO Africa represents a transforming consulting engineering practice with a 35% black equity ownership.  This black ownership has been achieved through a systematic skills transfer programme involving building each individual’s capacity through training, mentoring, supporting and finally promoting our staff.