Our History

Alwinus Van Niekerk started what is now known as Vela VKE in 1947 working initially from a flat in Johannesburg where he did soil tests in his bathroom.  Sieg Kleyn joined the budding firm in 1949, followed by John Edwards in 1951, and the firm started to operate as Van Niekerk, Kleyn and Edwards. They soon became known as “VKE”.

One of the many stories told about early Vela VKE days relates to an assignment in the then Northern Rhodesia  (now Zambia) where the schedule of quantities for the bridge contained one item; “One bridge complete”. In later years when asked about it Mr Van Niekerk retorted “The bridge stands and is still  being used!”

VKE initially provided consulting services in road and bridge design. However, the scope of activities and the fields of operations quickly expanded and by 1960 the company was providing comprehensive multidisciplinary services from offices located throughout Southern Africa.

Vela VKE employs a wide range of employees and owners across all communities and groups in Southern  Africa.

Over the years Vela VKE has assisted several firms to become established in their own right.

Being an employee-owned enterprise, with 30% of its ownership vested in previously disadvantaged individuals, is reflected in the increased number of employees who have an interest in the firm - from 30 in 1998 to 160 in 2003.

The company changed its name in 2003 to Vela VKE showing our colours as a truly South African company which embraces diversity and whose staff and stakeholders reflect the society in which we operate.  This was coupled with the launch of the new Vela VKE  logo that was created to reflect the culture, spirit and business philosophy of our organization.

The central theme incorporated in the logo is an African motif symbolizing ‘life’ and ‘humanity’, that represents the ‘ubuntu’ philosophy which highlights the belief that our people are at the heart of our success.

On the 1st of March, 2008 Munyai Malaka Engineers, a highly successful black owned consulting engineering firm, merged with Vela VKE. This was a natural and logical progression from the sense of mutual trust and respect  that both firms had developed through co-operation on successful major projects.

We see a bright future for South Africa and are proud to be Engineering  a better Way.