Exploring the Built Environment:

Van Der Berg Facilities Management (Pvt)

Big 5 Construct Southern Africa and NAFBI to host Stakeholders Engagement Forum

Driving progress towards a resilient, transparent, and transformed construction industry, top ministers to attend

Tackling corruption, imbalance and destructive delays in the local construction environment are essential for the industry to do well. From AI-based solutions to removing regulatory stumbling blocks, the industry needs to come together to plot the way forward.

To facilitate this, the Big 5 Construct Southern Africa Stakeholders Engagement Forum, hosted in partnership with NAFBI will once again be taking place at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg this June. The Forum is co-located with a number of industry events including Totally Concrete, the African Smart Cities Summit and the Big 5 Southern Africa Construction Impact Awards.

“The Forum is an open platform for honest engagement, and this year’s theme, ‘the rejuvenation of the built industry’, will bring direction, hope and clarity on issues that the built industry has struggled with over recent years, including corruption, electricity, legislation and regulation, as well as the digitisation of the sector,” says Tracy-Lee Behr, Portfolio Director: Built Environment at dmg events.

The construction industry can be regarded as a broad conglomeration of industries and sectors that add value through the creation and maintenance of fixed assets within the built environment. “This industry is central to the process of economic and social development in any country and as such may be regarded as an engine of growth,” Behr says.

“Serving as the official keynote opening session for the annual built environment exhibition, the Forum is focused on gathering industry professionals to address, among other topics, the growth and competitiveness of small and medium enterprises in the built environment. We are pleased to announce that Minister Sihle Zikalala, the new Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure has been confirmed among guest speakers this year focusing on the state and rejuvenation of the built industry and the governance at the core of it all.”

What is the current status on good conduct within built environment professions, are we winning with transformation and how successful have we been in protecting the interest of the public? Dr. Msizi Myeza, CEO of the Council for the Built Environment, South Africa will also be among speakers this year and will tackle this topic. Other discussions range from the pledge of the private sector to take the industry forward to dealing with the so-called construction mafia.

Khulekani Mathe, Deputy CEO of Business Unity South Africa will be a panelist discussing the future of the construction sector. “We have to look at feasible, practical solutions to our problems now to work towards reinstating a thriving construction sector, one that is sustainable and resilient,” Mathe says.

“The Stakeholders Engagement Forum and colocated events provide a platform to explore issues, trends and opportunities in Southern Africa’s construction market. They also serve as a celebration of the industry’s great work, inspiring further advancements, and striving towards a futureproofed industry,” adds Behr.

From 27-29 June 2023, Big 5 Construct Southern Africa, now in its tenth year, will provide contractors, engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, designers, and property developers with a convenient one-stop-shop offering free access to over 6000 products and technologies and more than 30 CPD accredited workshops.

The African Smart Cities Summit, being held on 28 June, is the only dedicated conference exploring the benefits of smart cities in Africa enabled through economic growth in IoT, technology and creative thinking; while the Big 5 Southern Africa Construction Impact Awards on 27 June have been created as a platform to celebrate the achievements and transformation of the construction industry that goes beyond traditional measures of project delivery.

“These events serve as a celebration of the remarkable work accomplished in the industry, inspiring even greater achievements and contributing to building a resilient industry that can adapt and thrive,” Behr concludes.