About Us

With over four decades of experience, Tractionel has evolved from being a Railway Electrical Contractor to an Electrical Engineering Contractor covering all of South Africa’s Energy and Rail challenges. Tractionel has rapidly become one of South Africa’s pre-eminent HV contractors, being able to address our clients’ requirements in Interconnectivity Grid Works from IPP substations through to ESKOM 400kV Transmission Grids. This expertise, experience, and capacity has allowed Tractionel to work from the general Distribution (Dx) substation and lines environment through to the highly specialised 400kV Transmission (Tx) substation and lines sector.

Having completed all the HV works in the country’s largest Solar and Grid Scale BESS project for Scatec (in Kenhardt) has enabled Tractionel to offer its clients these solutions in an integrated fashion. We have delivered the 540MW grid-scale BESS for Scatec, and we were also instrumental in completing two of the three ESKOM pilot BESS projects in South Africa. This experience makes us one of the country’s leading contractors in BESS projects.

A significant milestone for us is the first 400kV substation that has been built by the private sector outside of ESKOM (Seriti in Mpumalanga). This was handed over to ESKOM through a self-build agreement between the private sector and government. This was achieved in partnership with our parent company, Enza Construction.

Tractionel Enterprise, a dynamic force in the realm of electrical infrastructure, has undergone a remarkable transformation since its acquisition by Enza Construction. With a rich legacy of technical excellence spanning decades, Tractionel Enterprise has evolved into an empowered entity, aligning its mission and values with those of its parent company, Enza Construction.

Both Enza Construction and Tractionel Enterprise, share a family-owned ethos, a distinctive culture and business approach. This ethos centres on meticulous attention to detail, profound impact, and an unwavering commitment to stakeholders across the spectrum – from employees and clients to shareholders.

Our integration into Enza Construction has enriched us with over 25 years of experience from a black-owned parent company, with CIDB grading of 9GB, 9CE, 9SL & 8ME, further enhancing our standing as a preferred ‘infrastructure developer.’ This strategic pivot positions us as a key player in the rail infrastructure market, a cornerstone of Enza’s evolved focus.

Tractionel is 100% Black owned and controlled and is a Level 1 BBBEE contributor. Tractionel has also earned a CIDB grading of 9EP, 1EB & 1EC, and is ISO14001, ISO45001, and OHSAS 18001 certified.

The 9 grading is the highest rated status for work in the General Building, Civil Engineering & Structural Steel & Scaffolding sector.

At the core of Tractionel’s journey is a strong commitment to creating long-term value and sustainability for all stakeholders. This commitment shapes our vision — to be a leading provider of electrical engineering infrastructure solutions, setting industry standards and continuously growing our market presence. This vision has been further strengthened through our integration into the Crowie Holdings Group (Pty) Ltd.

Rowan serves as the Executive Chairman of Tractionel. Since Tractionel became a part of Enza Construction’s family of companies, following their partnership, Enza has acted as the parent company of Tractionel. Rowan founded Enza Construction in 2003 with his brother Clinton Crowie. Rowan has successfully managed a number of property development and project management companies under the Crowie Holdings banner. He has a B.SC in Construction Management as well as 28 years of hands – on experience in the construction industry. Rowan is a firm believer in developing and growing empowered teams and he leads Crowie Holdings with entrepreneurial ingenuity. Rowan sits on the boards of Crowie Holdings, and the School of Construction Economics and Management Industry Advisory Board with the University of Witwatersrand.

Neresh is the Chief Executive Officer of Tractionel Holdings, having joined the business as the Executive Chairman. Before this, Neresh was the Director of Infrastructure at Enza Construction our parent company. Neresh served as the Chief Operations Officer of MPAMOT before taking on the role of Partner, Head of Africa for HKA Global in the latter part of 2021. He was previously Director and Country Manager of Mott MacDonald in Africa. Neresh has a B.SC in Engineering (Civil) from the University of KZN and an MSc in Engineering (Transport). Neresh also served as the President of the Consulting Engineers of South Africa (CESA) from 2017-2019.

Diaan has been part of the Tractionel family for over 16 years. His journey with us began with his role as a Project Manager when Tractionel diversified into the conventional energy space. Diaan later became the Divisional Head of the Power Solutions Division, as the energy division grew within the company. He then took on the role of – Director Project Execution, where he managed both the Railway and Power Divisions. His exemplary performance and commitment were further recognised when he was nominated as an Executive Director to serve on the Tractionel Board of Directors. Diaan has been our Chief Operating Officer for over a year, and his contributions in this role have been invaluable. His expertise and experience have significantly shaped our operations and driven us forward to new frontiers in the energy sector. He holds a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering (HC) and is a proud member of the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).

Linus Kunene is a highly experienced Electrical Engineer (registered with ECSA and SAIEE) with over 20 years in the field. He began his career with Transnet as an Electrical Engineering Technician in 2003. Advancing his expertise, Linus completed his project management studies at Stellenbosch University in 2009 and further completed his business management course at UNISA in 2016.

He joined Tractionel as a Project Manager in 2016, where he was later appointed as an Executive Director for business development and proposals Engineering. He obtained an MBA from MANCOSA in 2021.