Thato Monaheng Lesia
Engineer-Civil
Johannesburg,GP
Summary
Estate Manager – Limpopo & Mpumalanga managing a telecommunications site portfolio of approximately 2,500 sites across two provinces. Leads lease renewals, landlord relations, municipal engagement, vendor management, and OPEX control for mission-critical network facilities, including BSC and repeater sites. Delivers fast structural mast application turnaround, governance, and service continuity across a regional portfolio.
Overview
5
5
Languages
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Estate Manager-Limpopo & Mpumalanga
MAST Services (Pty) Ltd
Johannesburg, Gauteng
04.2023 - Current
- Responsible for Estate Management across Limpopo and Mpumalanga, managing a telecommunications site portfolio of approximately 2,500 sites.
- Key Responsibilities
- Lead regional Estate Management activities across Limpopo and Mpumalanga, including staff, vendors, landlords and key stakeholders.
- Manage rental expenditure and develop initiatives aimed at aggressively reducing and optimising operating costs.
- Oversee civil and structural engineering requirements relating to telecommunications infrastructure.
- Manage projects, contracts, logistics and capital optimisation initiatives across the regional portfolio.
- Maintain high standards of service delivery, customer excellence and quality assurance.
- Develop and implement innovative initiatives aimed at reducing and optimising OPEX.
- Compile management dashboards, strategic reports, operational reports and executive presentations.
- Oversee the processing of structural mast applications, targeting turnaround times of approximately 7–14 days.
- Manage Power-as-a-Service requirements, including additional rental negotiations, site extensions and lease amendments.
- Manage face-to-face engagements and negotiations with landlords.
- Engage municipalities regarding lease agreements, renewals and property-related requirements.
- Apply strong stakeholder management, negotiation and communication skills to resolve complex operational and commercial matters.
- Drive teamwork, customer focus, critical decision-making and execution excellence across the region.
Property Manager
Vodacom (Pty) Ltd
Polokwane, Limpopo
04.2018 - 04.2023
- Managed an end-to-end portfolio of more than 1,700 telecommunications sites across Limpopo, with the majority comprising greenfield/tower infrastructure.
- Key Responsibilities
- Approved co-location structural applications.
- Controlled site maintenance and infrastructure upgrade budgets.
- Managed site acquisition for network infrastructure.
- Oversaw construction of network infrastructure.
- Managed maintenance of passive network infrastructure, including telecommunications towers.
- Managed CAPEX budgets relating to infrastructure projects.
- Managed OPEX budgets covering programmes, lease rentals, electricity consumption and related operational expenditure.
- Managed lease renewals, landlord changes and associated property administration.
- Ensured Estate Management targets were achieved across assigned areas of responsibility.
- Managed MSAs, SSLs, lease/licence negotiations, financial controls, site access, rental payments, planning permissions and Legal instructions.
- Acquired new and replacement sites in accordance with network requirements.
- Maintained accurate rental information, including CPI and contractual adjustments.
- Took ownership of new site leases/licences and ensured accurate information was transferred into the relevant systems.
- Managed landlord and site-provider relationships through a proactive, commercial and professional approach.
- Resolved legacy property and landlord matters.
- Ensured documentation and system records remained accurate and current.
- Provided timely reports to internal and external stakeholders.
- Collaborated with internal TowerCo teams, customers and tenants.
Civil Specialist
Vodacom (Pty) Ltd
Bloemfontein, Free State
09.2013 - 04.2018
- Key Responsibilities
- Conducted telecommunications tower inspections and managed structural upgrades.
- Performed/reviewed structural analysis and wind-loading requirements.
- Managed construction of new telecommunications towers.
- Managed maintenance of existing towers and associated infrastructure.
- Managed construction and maintenance of site access roads.
- Managed site permitting and network rollout requirements.
- Supported network expansion programmes.
- Managed lease negotiations and renewals.
- Managed electricity billing matters associated with telecommunications sites.
- Reviewed and approved detailed construction methodologies prepared by project teams.
- Reviewed and approved inspection and test plans.
- Reviewed structural calculations and engineering reports.
- Assessed technical submissions for quality and sufficiency.
- Prepared project progress reporting and identified relevant risks, issues and opportunities.
- Provided programme status reporting, identified problem areas and implemented agreed recovery plans.
- Prepared and submitted engineering project reports to management.
Design Engineer
UWP Consulting Engineers
Bloemfontein, Free State
01.2011 - 09.2013
- Key Responsibilities
- Designed civil engineering projects, including roads and associated infrastructure.
- Evaluated existing infrastructure and identified requirements for repairs and improvements.
- Analysed engineering data to determine project requirements.
- Prepared schematic engineering designs and drawings.
- Supervised technicians and other project personnel.
- Oversaw project implementation and completion.
Resident Engineer / Engineer's Representative
Vela VKE Consulting Engineers
Johannesburg, Gauteng
02.2009 - 01.2011
- Key Responsibilities
- Assisted the Resident Engineer with the management of road construction projects.
- Supported project scheduling, budgeting and resource allocation.
- Conducted regular site inspections to monitor construction progress, quality and safety compliance.
- Coordinated with contractors, subcontractors and other project stakeholders.
- Reviewed engineering drawings, specifications and technical documentation.
- Prepared progress reports, work schedules and cost estimates.
- Provided technical support and guidance to project teams.
- Monitored compliance with relevant engineering regulations, codes and standards.
- Assisted with resolving technical issues and project changes.
- Maintained accurate project records, drawings, reports and correspondence.
- Supported client relationship management and project delivery.
Education
National Diploma - Civil Engineering
Central University of Technology
Free State01-2010
Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry
University of the Free State
01-2007
Grade 12 / Matric - undefined
Grey College Secondary School
Bloemfontein01-2003
Skills
Project management
Contract management
Budget & resource management
Risk management
Strategic & operational reporting
Lease administration
Portfolio management
Stakeholder management
Commercial negotiations
Property operations management
DECLARATION
I, Thato Monaheng Lesia, hereby confirm that the information contained in this Curriculum Vitae is true and correct.
Timeline
Estate Manager-Limpopo & Mpumalanga
MAST Services (Pty) Ltd
04.2023 - Current
Property Manager
Vodacom (Pty) Ltd
04.2018 - 04.2023
Civil Specialist
Vodacom (Pty) Ltd
09.2013 - 04.2018
Design Engineer
UWP Consulting Engineers
01.2011 - 09.2013
Resident Engineer / Engineer's Representative
Vela VKE Consulting Engineers
02.2009 - 01.2011
Grade 12 / Matric - undefined
Grey College Secondary School
Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry
University of the Free State
National Diploma - Civil Engineering
Central University of Technology