SA Affordable Housing June - August 2014 | Issue: 47 by Trademax Publications

COMMUNITIES | INFRASTRUCTURE | DEVELOPMENT June - August 2014 // Issue: 47

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JUNE - AUGUST 2014

ISSUE: 47

Trademax Publications SA Affordable Housing Infrastructure & Development Tel: 0861 727 663

CONTENTS 6

EDITOR’S COMMENT

TRANSITION HOUSING

Cell: 082 266 6976 Fax: 0866 991 346 www.trademax.co.za Postnet Suite 241 Private Bag X103 N1 City 7463

PUBLISHER:

COVER STORY

CEMENT & CONCRETE

EDITOR:

AWARDS

editor@trademax.co.za

CEMENT & CONCRETE

0861 727 663

NEWS

ADVERTISING SALES:

CEMENT & CONCRETE

FINANCE & INVESTMENT

0861 727 663

LOGISTICS

LAYOUT & DESIGN:

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

Craig Patterson

CEMENT & CONCRETE

SUBSCRIPTIONS & DATA:

BRICKS & PAVING

belinda@trademax.co.za

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

021 595 3422

INSULATION

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

DISCLAIMER The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of Trademax Publications. Although we have done our best to ensure the accuracy of our content, neither Trademax Publications nor SA Affordable Housing magazine will be held liable for any views expressed or

Billy Perrin billy@trademax.co.za 0861 727 663

Jennifer Rees

Celeste Perrin info@trademax.co.za

craig@trademax.co.za

Belinda Thwesha

information disseminated in this issue.

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ED’S NOTE

Business as usual In this issue, we turn the spotlight on women in the workplace, a fantastic local transition housing project, and of course, cement and concrete.

s we turn our attention to women in the workplace for Women’s Month, we bring you the inspiring story of Sibongile Manganyi, Managing Director of the Indigo Kulani Group of companies, and that of Zimkhitha Zatu, PPC Executive Manager in the office of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Rather than dwell on the challenges facing women in the workplace, these two strong women lead the charge in making their opportunities work for them.

mind for us, are ever-present in this issue. Sephaku Cement graces our cover, and tells us more about their new Aganang plant, The Concrete Institute shares insight on the benefits of recycling concrete, and helps debunk myths surrounding the cube test, and of course, the concrete industry’s calendar does not disappoint with events like SARMA’s conference taking place from 13-14 August on the West Rand, and the Fulton Awards taking place in June of 2015 (deadline for nominations is the 31st of August).

We also take a look at the Light House project in Hout Bay, another innovative transition housing solution from Touching the Earth Lightly that cleverly addresses, in planning stages, the infrastructural challenges that can come with RDP housing delivery.

With that, welcome to the June-August issue of the SA Affordable Housing magazine. I hope you enjoy the read.

Last but not least, cement and concrete, imperative components of the built environment and always top of

Jen We love hearing from you. Send us your comments, questions and suggestions via email at editor@trademax.co.za, or via Facebook or Twitter.

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CONTRIBUTOR & EVENTS

CONTRIBUTOR

SPECIFY

ADVOCATE PAUL HOFFMAN Advocate Hoffman completed his BA LLB at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1974, and in 1975 he was admitted as an attorney practising in Johannesburg. He took silk in 1995 and continued to practice at the Cape Bar where he headed its advocacy skills training program. Three successive Judges President of the Cape High Court invited him to grace their Bench as an Acting Judge. In 2006, he left the Cape Bar in order to take up an appointment as Director of the Centre of Constitutional Rights, whose mission to uphold the Constitution dovetails with his personal commitment to the rule of law and the promotion of constitutional democracy. As a director of IFAISA since 2009, Hoffman has become well known for the work he has done fighting corruption, creating the general class action, while tackling the bread manufacturing cartel and seeking to exact accountability from the education authorities in relation to the provision of basic education. Next on his ‘to do list’ is access to basic housing.

UPCOMING EVENTS

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JUNE - AUGUST 2014

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TRANSITION HOUSING

Accommodating homes Affordable ‘light houses’ a humane transition housing solution Words: Paul Hoffman Images: Giles Ridley

TRANSITION HOUSING

eeting herbalist !Xam Ayobi is a peculiarly South African experience. When his neighbours in Hangberg, the fishing village part of Hout Bay, were temporarily moved into a soulless line of wood and iron structures so that new housing could be built, Ayobi refused to move, with good reason, too. He has a couple of horses, several dogs and a chicken coop surrounded by extensive gardens in which he grows vegetables and herbs. His informal dwelling on municipal land is not comparable to the cheek-by-jowl existence of his relocated neighbours. But it is in the way of a proposed redevelopment. City officials, at their wits’ end with Ayobi’s recalcitrance, approached Stephen Lamb of Touching the Earth Lightly with an unusual proposition: deal with this problem at the same cost to the city as a temporary relocation area house, that is R50 000, and enable us to move Ayobi without litigation, if you can. Lamb took on the challenge, drawing on his experience of the conditions on the ground and the vagaries of construction in ‘the fairest Cape.’

Lamb sat down with Ayobi in much the same way as an architect consults a potential new home builder. They ascertained the wants and needs of Ayobi properly and together they co-authored the design of the first light house in Cape Town. The standard light house addresses some of the fundamental issues which face the informally housed in Cape Town. Flooding in winter, fires in summer, food shortages all year round and the perennial hot potato: faeces disposal. Creative and low-cost design has successfully addressed all of these challenges. The light house is on stilts and is therefore flood proof. Those of its windows that open are shuttered and the shutters are designed to close automatically in the event of fire (their ties are quick to disintegrate in the flames) thereby depriving the fire of the oxygen it needs to spread. Ayobi’s house does not have this feature because it is not in a densely packed high fire-risk location.

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TRANSITION HOUSING

On the outside of the north-facing wall of the light house is a vertical garden of the kind already tried and tested at crèches in Khayelitsha. Made of cutthrough PVC water piping and enclosed in transparent fibreglass sheeting, the vertical garden takes up virtually no ground space but can, properly tended, feed a family all year round. The light house has a choice of toilets: either a composting toilet if there is no water-borne sewerage available or a normal flush toilet if there is. Unlike the single-room shack it replaces, the light house has a small upper floor that serves as a bedroom. The pre-fabricated panels of which it is made are treated with magnesium, which has fire retardant properties that will render the issues around those fires that spread so rapidly in wood and iron informal settlements a part of history. Ayobi is excited to be the first recipient of a light house. The site chosen for him is a few metres from his existing informal dwelling. It has a magnificent sea view over Hout Bay Harbour towards Chapman’s Peak. He is quick to point out the features of the landscape which envelopes the site. The Sentinel, viewed from Ayobi’s perspective is a bearded old man’s head, his body is cooling off in Hout Bay; Karbonkelberg’s peak is the breast of a young woman lying on her back, head toward the Sentinel and feet dipped in the cold waters of Sandy Bay. Ayobi’s eyes dance good humouredly as he points out the sweep of his imaginings. It was necessary to get planning approval for the light house from each department of the city that routinely passes building plans for formal housing in the leafy suburbs. The light house came through all processes with flying colours. It is an officially approved structure. Some regard it as ‘too beautiful’ to replace the tried-and-tested temporary relocation area structures of Blikkiesdorp and Hangberg, but these objections become minor when the advantages of light houses, at no extra cost to the state, are explained. The design is available to all on the ‘open source’ basis. Ayobi’s light house was erected in two days on March 14 and 15 by Lamb and his partner, Andrew Lord. It stands proudly above the fish factories of Hout Bay, made of wood and iron, just like the temporary huts that Ayobi refused to occupy. The difference is that wondrous creativity and design acumen were brought to bear on the light house, whereas the temporary structures are no more than boxes that are too hot in summer and freezing in winter. The airflow and insulation in the light house sees to it that no such disadvantages trouble its occupiers.

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Ayobi’s light house was erected in two days on March 14 and 15 by Lamb and his partner, Andrew Lord. It stands proudly above the fish factories of Hout Bay, made of wood and iron, just like the temporary huts that Ayobi refused to occupy.

Using materials locally available (only the magnesium insulation is imported) Lamb was able to bring the project to fruition with the R53 000 which the city gave him. This was done by buying the materials from hardware shops at retail rates. If the pre-fabrication was done on a mass scale with material acquired at wholesale prices it would be possible to deliver a light house for assemble on site in Cape Town for around R37 000, including shower and toilet, vertical garden and chicken coop. Connection costs to local services is dependent on local municipality supply-chain management. Estimated costs would be around R10 000 for servicing. The advantages of pre-fabrication, besides the lower cost, include speed of delivery, elimination of ‘shrinkage’ due to theft of materials lying loose on site and a consistent factorybased standard.

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TRANSITION HOUSING

If light houses went into production in Cape Town they could be used to bridge the gap between delivery of a proper RDP house and the untold misery of living for years in a shack vulnerable to floods and fires and always undignified. The sanitation issues that have bedevilled relations between city and citizen would be addressed and the vertical gardens would give the unemployed decent work to do and a means of feeding their families. There are prospects for marketing the expensive herbs that grow in the vertical gardens – sweet basil, rocket and coriander all command great prices in Cape Town, especially if organically grown. A serious problem shack dwellers have is rat infestation. An experiment conducted by the Sustainability Institute in Stellenbosch found composting organic waste using sealable buckets deterred rats. The light house is not accommodating of rats due to its superior design. Even the vertical garden can be rat-proofed with bunched chicken wire at its base and closed shutters. A lock on the shutters makes theft of produce more difficult, too. Alex Boraine remarked in his new book What’s Gone Wrong?: “It is extraordinary that the city council and the province cannot come up with a blueprint that will supply adequate and decent toilet facilities for the thousands that have totally inadequate facilities… informal settlements are washed out by the winter rains and the only solution appears to be to give out blankets and food parcels, which of course doesn’t solve the problem at all.” But he was writing last year, before the first light house was built. It could do in life, for those living in informal settlements what the pyramids did in death, for the pharaohs of ancient Egypt.

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Hoffman SC is a director of the Institute for Accountability: www.ifaisa.org. For more information about Touching the Earth Lightly, visit www.touchingtheearthlightly.com.

COVER STORY

Sephaku Cementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kiln ready to fire up Sephaku Cement chief executive, Pieter Fourie was asked what the South African market can expect from the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first new cement entrant in 80 years. The resounding answer was, "we are people who deliver."

COVER STORY

“Following the successful commissioning of our plant in Delmas, we have delivered quality cement to the South African market since early this year. We are reaching our ultimate milestone as the countdown to completion of our flagship plant, Aganang, builds,” said Fourie. The fully integrated cement and clinker plant is scheduled for completion in the coming months. Cement manufacturing operations to be conducted at the plant will include limestone mining, chemical processing of raw materials to produce clinker, as well as milling of approximately 50% of the clinker and blending, as appropriate with other components to produce the company’s range of finished cement products. The balance of its cement will be produced at the Delmas milling plant.

QUALITY CONTROL “Building greenfield cement operations gave us the opportunity to ensure that we use the most high-tech cement manufacturing equipment available. From our offering of Sephaku 32, Sephaku 42 and Sephaku 52 cement products to technical support and customer service, we will deliver quality from start to finish,” he explained. As a new project, Sephaku Cement was in a position to dictate product quality rather than be dictated to by

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existing operational constraints. Technology in use at its plants includes latest generation Loesche vertical roller mills. The Delmas plant mill, for example, has performed faultlessly since its first 48 hour run of zero stoppage time. Delivering reliability of over 98%, the Loesche Mill continues to exceed expected throughputs. “We had a hugely impressive start up at this plant and look forward to continued high performance from our high-tech operations,” added Fourie.

PRODUCTION CAPACITY Built using in excess of 120 000m3 of concrete and 14 600 tons of structural steel, the Aganang plant is a concrete superstructure. With clinker storage capacity of 50 000 tons, its clinker silo is one of the largest single clinker storage bunkers in South Africa and its 6 000 ton kiln the biggest single cement kiln in the country. Its raw meal silo storage capacity will accommodate 20 000 tons, along with raw material pre-blending and storage stockpiles that extend the length and breadth of four rugby fields. The facilities also have the capacity to store approximately 22 000 tons of finished bulk cement products.

COVER STORY

In the region of 1.2 million tons of cement will be produced annually at Aganang, and combined, Sephaku Cement’s plants are projected to achieve cement production volumes of 2.5 mtpa by 2015.

DELIVERY FOCUS “Our goal is to be people who deliver,” said Fourie. “Our industry is personal. With this comes the need to be approachable and to find solutions. We need to demonstrate absolute commitment to delivering to people, whether it is our sales or technical team, our finance or marketing team.” For customers of the company, one of the ‘perks’ will be direct access to Fourie and his executive team, together with quick decision making. “Face-to-face customer service without red tape remains the most effective way of listening to customers and responding in a way that meets their needs,” he added. Looking back over the founding team’s seven year journey, some intense challenges have been overcome. “We never lost belief in why we were entering the market and we remain committed to making South Africa’s cement industry about the needs of the people who make the end product a reality,” he emphasised.

COMMUNITY AT HEART Since the start of the Sephaku Cement project in 2011, the company policy has been to support communities where it operates. Affected communities in the North West Province in which it has invested are Itsoseng, Springbokpan and Verdwaal, all of which are adjacent to its operations, as well as Bodibe. “To date, we have invested in community infrastructure and supported local income generating projects. This has included building and equipping a clinic through which upwards of 3 000 people have a dedicated clinic, to running a Driver Training Programme to make local community members more employable,” noted Fourie. During the construction of Aganang, Sephaku Cement created over 300 limited duration employment opportunities, of which more than 50% of the people employed were recruited from local communities. During the current operational phase of the plant, 76 permanent employment opportunities have been created, of which over 60% of these appointments are from adjacent North West Province communities.

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COVER STORY

RECESSION PROOF Sephaku Cement’s entry into the market is based on belief in the long-term sustainable growth of cement. Our country, says Fourie, may have relatively good infrastructure, but there is still a lot to be developed. “Significant competitiveness and cost-efficiency lies in the state-of-the-art technology backing Sephaku Cement’s plants.” The company is a 64% owned subsidiary of Dangote Cement plc and an associate company of JSE-listed Sephaku Holdings. “We navigated our way through the global recession through determination and belief in our ability to change the face of the South African cement industry,” he said. The team is passionate about the possibilities enabled by cement. Recalling what it has taken to build cement operations from the ground up, Fourie said, “While we have all been in the industry for many years, this project has been a once in a lifetime experience. Not only has it made us better cement experts, but better people.”

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He concluded, “High quality product, which in our industry calls for consistency, strength and durability is imperative, but of equal importance is the need to prioritise people. Solutions focused on every customer’s needs should be a constant measure of great performance for every employee, and for us, it is.”

DID YOU KNOW? • Aganang’s site footprint (site levelling cut and fill) was prepared over an eight week period with some 128 000m3 of cut and 155 000m3 of fill processed. • Slip forming was maintained at 4m lifts every 24 hours, a rate much higher than that of the industry average. • The 15m (height) by 8m (diameter) concrete cone in the raw meal silo was completed in just 10 days. • The Aganang brick laying teams laid between 1 000 and 1 200 bricks per brick layer, per day. • Construction of the batch plant was completed in 90 days, the pre-heater foundations and steel super structure were completed in 488 days and the raw meal silo was done in approximately 547 days.

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COVER STORY

PRODUCT INFORMATION Available in 50kg bags and bulk, Sephaku Cement provides high quality cement for all applications.

Its product range covers all classes of cement, from high strength product needed by the technical sector to general purpose cement often used in less technically demanding projects.

SEPHAKU 32

SEPHAKU 42

SEPHAKU 52

General purpose Sephaku 32 (32.5R) cement is ideal for use in general concrete, mortar, plaster, screed and all domestic concrete applications. Due to the additional factory blended highgrade fly ash, this product delivers professional quality and uses less water to produce a cohesive mix and long-term durability. Sephaku 32 is compatible with a wide range of admixtures and additives.

The early strength of Sephaku 42 (42.5R) cement provides a high quality, cost-effective product for applications where higher strength and improved technical features are needed. Sephaku 42, which is available in bulk and bags, delivers excellent all-round performance. Its innovative formulation allows readymix end users to extend further with additions.

High strength Sephaku 52 (52.5N) cement is predominantly supplied in bulk, although there is availability in bags as well. It is specifically suited to applications that need increased 1-day strength and is highly beneficial for precast work, as well as cold weather working. Sephaku 52 is ideal for use in major infrastructure projects where high quality, excellent strength and long-term durability concretes are imperative.

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CEMENT & CONCRETE

Fulton Awards 2015:

Celebrating Excellence and Innovation The Concrete Society of Southern Africa is calling for nominations for its prestigious biennial Fulton Awards which recognise and reward excellence and innovation in the design and use of concrete. The awards continue to celebrate the legacy of scientific and technological advances in concrete in the built environment, and the late Dr. ‘Sandy’ Fulton’s life and achievements in the industry.

he 2015 awards take on a new look with revised categories, a new approach to judging and a new Anchor Sponsor – PPC Ltd. The categories for nominations and entries are: • Civil Engineering Structure a) Project up to R100 million in value b) Projects in excess of R100 million in value • Building Structure a) Project up to R100 million in value b) Projects in excess of R100 million in value • Architectural Concrete a) Project up to R100 million in value b) Projects in excess of R100 million in value • Innovation in Concrete

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The awards are made symbolically to the structure and are presented to the entire team responsible for its construction, including the owner/developer, all specifiers and contractors. The Innovation in Concrete category is included to attract new ideas in projects or initiatives where totally new materials, techniques, technologies, applications, design and/or analysis concepts or procedures, using concrete as the principal material, have been developed and utilized. Deadline for nominations is 31st August 2014, while the completed Entry Packs have to be submitted by the end of November 2014. The 2015 winners will announced at a special gala dinner to be held in Drakensburg on the 6th June 2015. Full details of the 2015 awards are available on the Concrete Society website at www.concretesociety.co.za.

CEMENT & CONCRETE

Stripping the myths from the cube test The Concrete Institute receives many enquiries on testing of concrete, mostly about testing for compressive strength. From these it would appear that many in the construction industry do not fully understand the importance of testing, the significance of test procedures and the interpretation of test results. By Bryan Perrie, MD of The Concrete Institute

he industry generally seems to place too much emphasis on the humble cube test and overestimates its significance. The fact is that the cube strength in itself has no absolute meaning: it is simply a standardised way of comparing concretes. The cube strength does not indicate what the strength in the structure is because it is handled, placed, compacted, cured and loaded differently to the concrete in the structure. Differences in the size and shape of the test piece or in test procedures will give different compressive strengths for the same concrete: the difference between the strength of a standard cylinder and a cube is a good example. The industry lacks appreciation of the vital importance of correct sampling, making, and storage procedures for cubes. Time and again suspect cube strengths are the result of poor cube-making, curing and testing procedures rather than suspect concrete. For compliance with SANS 2001 CC1, cubes should be made strictly in accordance with the procedures given in SANS 5861-3 and tested in accordance with SANS 5863: if they are not, they are worthless. Indeed, it has been suggested that a site cube made in accordance with SANS 5861-3 does not exist. Cubes should preferably be tested in a laboratory accredited for that test. Contractors often forget that payment is not based on concrete in the structure, but on the strength of cubes and therefore do not allocate adequate financial and management resources to the making and testing of cubes. The message needs to be driven home to both contractors and specifiers that unsatisfactory cube-making will often lead to expensive, time-consuming and unnecessary disputes over suspect concrete. The construction industry places too much emphasis on the humble cube test and overestimates its significance, says Bryan Perrie, MD of The Concrete Institute.

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CEMENT & CONCRETE

CUBE STRENGTH ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA Very often there is confusion regarding the acceptance criteria for concrete cube results with average values as little as 0.5 MPa above the specified strength being incorrectly accepted. SANS 10100-2 defines specified strength as “the characteristic strength required by the engineer” and characteristic strength as “the value for the compressive strength of concrete, below which not more than 5% of the valid test results obtained on cubes of concrete of the same grade fall.” This implies that the target or average cube strength needs to be significantly higher than the specified strength. How much higher will depend on how accurately the concrete is batched and is normally based on the standard deviation of the results. The target strength will need to be higher than specified by 1.64 standard deviations (SANS 2001 CC1). For example, if the specified strength is 30 MPa and there is good control at the batch plant, this will mean a standard deviation of around 5 MPa. The target strength, i.e. the average strength of the cubes, needs to be 1.64 x 5 = 8.2 MPa higher than specified for concrete to be accepted. Often there are not enough results to carry out a statistical analysis and arrive at a meaningful standard deviation. SANS 10100-2 has the following requirement if a statistical analysis is not carried out:

• no individual test result (an average of three valid cubes) shall be more than 3 MPa below the specified characteristic strength; and • the mean of any group of three consecutive and overlapping results shall exceed the specified characteristic strength by at least 2 MPa. This also shows the requirement for the average cube result to be higher than the specified strength. These analyses of cube results for compliance are often not carried out and strength just slightly higher than specified is accepted. When cube results do not meet the above requirements, the first thing that should be checked is that the concrete is being sampled correctly and the cubes are being made, cured and tested properly. If cube results do not meet specification, SANS 10100-2 gives guidance on the corrective measures that should be taken.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND ADVICE ON CONCRETE CUBE TESTING, CONTACT: The Concrete Institute (t) 011 315 0300 (w) www.theconcreteinstitute.org.za

CEMENT & CONCRETE

Sustainable readymix under the spotlight While readymix concrete remains the single most important construction material used in Southern Africa, the sustainability of supply of all materials used in its manufacture needs to be secured to ensure that suppliers are able to keep pace with construction projects in years to come.

SARMA GM, Johan van Wyk.

his year the annual conference of the Southern Africa Readymix Association (SARMA) will focus largely on securing the sustainability of the industry in future by means of improved practices, advanced methods and machinery, as well as some ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking from speakers that will focus on new and different ways of producing readymix.

Raw material suppliers to the industry (cement, aggregate, extenders and admixtures) also play an active role in the conference and provide insight into new products available in the industry.

The ‘Readymix Conference by SARMA’ is an annual institution among members of the readymix, cement and construction industries and aims at aligning the abilities of manufacturers and suppliers in the industry with current and future needs of the construction, engineering and architectural industries.

“This year we want to focus much of our attention on future sustainability and have invited speakers like Jason Drew, who built an empire by farming with flies and mosquitoes, for example, and will be able to provide delegates with insight and ideas on doing things differently in order to succeed in a competitive environment.

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PAVING THE WAY FORWARD

CEMENT & CONCRETE

“We will be looking at energy saving initiatives that can be implemented both by our manufacturers on site, as well as by customers making use of SARMA members’ products. Carbon taxes are another topic to be discussed and we will also look at ways of reducing our environmental footprints and manufacturing green products. “Simultaneously we will share ideas on new formulae and new techniques that are able to support sustainable building techniques and will look at new building methods that make use of readymix concrete to speed up construction of houses and buildings, etc. Some innovative machinery will be displayed and discussed. Money saving methods through the elimination of wastage, faster, more efficient construction methods and other methods will also be discussed,” says SARMA General Manager, Johan van Wyk.

PARTICIPATION WELCOMED It is a jam-packed schedule that will enormously benefit delegates. In keeping with the theme of sustainability, members will also be able to share in incentives that will offset their entire annual SARMA membership fee in savings and enable the funds to be redeployed back into the business. Outdoor and indoor displays of conference sponsors will showcase products and equipment used to manufacture and deliver readymix concrete, as well as equipment used to transport and place concrete on construction sites. The conference will be followed by the association’s annual general meeting and is open to all SARMA members. “Following interactions between our members, suppliers and customers, we will bring our members together to decide upon the future path of our association and to draw up a new agenda and action plan for the year ahead. We therefore advise everyone in the industry to be part of the change and to participate in both the conference and the AGM.” The conference will take place at Misty Hills Conference Centre on the West Rand, 13-14 August 2014. Those who wish to attend the conference should book early to avoid disappointment.

TO SPONSOR OR BOOK SEATS AT THE CONFERENCE, CALL MARY-ANN SUTTON: (t) 011 791 3327 (f) 086 647 8034 (e) office@sarma.co.za (w) www.sarma.co.za

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AWARDS

Human Settlements beneficiaries are the biggest winners in the Govan Mbeki Awards On the 27th of May 2014, the Western Cape Minister of Human Settlements, Minister Bonginkosi Madikizela handed out eighteen awards to various companies that have shown excellence and innovation in the provision of Human Settlements in the Province.

Winner for the Best People’s Housing Project: From left to right are Ministers Bonginkosi Madikizela and Albert Fritz, (Human Settlements and Social Development, respectively), Mawethu Penxa from Knsyna Municipality, who was the winner in that category and the Department’s Ms Phila.

inister Madikizela handed out the awards as part of the Govan Mbeki Awards, an annual occasion to showcase, celebrate and award excellence and innovation displayed by various building contractors, developers and other service providers in the human settlements delivery chain. Competitors entered different projects they had built in a range of categories, such as Upgrading of Informal Settlements (UISP), Enhanced People’s Housing Project, Integrated Housing Projects (EPHP) and many others (IRDP). Minister Madikizela congratulated all the participants and stated that he believed that all of them were winners. “Unfortunately, in any competition there has to be someone who wins first prize, however, there is no doubt in my mind that all of you are winners when it comes to what you have delivered to communities,” he said. Minister Madikizela went on to say, “It is also clear from the innovation and excellence that has been displayed here tonight, that the biggest winners are the beneficiaries of these projects.”

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The minister also used the platform to outline his key priorities for his second term as Western Cape Minister of Human Settlements. Top of his list was continuing to engage closely with every stakeholder in the human settlements space, including businesses, professional bodies, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), housing intuitions and municipalities. “More importantly there is a particular buzzword that you will be hearing a lot from my department and that is Public-Private-Partnerships, because the reality is that government cannot do it alone. This speaks to the slogan of the Western Cape Government, which is, ‘Better Together.’” During the awards ceremony Minister Madikizela handed out Minister’s Merit Awards, which were aimed at acknowledging and rewarding those companies that have ‘gone beyond the call of duty for the citizens of the province.’ According to him, these were people and organisations that he could call upon to assist the Western Cape Government in the provision of housing opportunities free of charge.

AWARDS

Winners in the category, Best Finance-linked Project (FLISP). This is an instrument that assists qualifying households by providing a once-off down payment to those households who have secured mortgage finance to acquire a residential property for the first time. Motlekar Construction is the developer of Fountainhead, a project that won in this category. From left to right are: Rieger van Rooyen, Director for Motlekar Construction, Minister of Human Settlements, Bonginkosi Madikizela, Greg de Villiers, Project Manager, Anwar Swartz and Anthony Hazell from the Department of Human Settlements.

THE CATEGORIES AND THE WINNERS FOR THE EVENING WERE: BEST UPGRADING OF INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS PROJECT (UISP) This is the category, which awarded excellence and innovation in the provision of basic services to people while the government is still in the process of building houses for them. Here, beneficiaries are given sites with water, electricity and roads so that those who can afford to build brick and mortar houses can start. The winner in this category was the Thembalethu Project in George, followed by the Wolwedans Project in Mosselbay and the Vision 2002 project in Knysna.

BEST INTEGRATED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (IRDP) The programme has been introduced to facilitate the development of integrated human settlements in welllocated areas. It is also aimed at creating social cohesion. One of the biggest challenges here is that the project has to be integrated into the existing settlement(s). For example, one of the winners in this category – the Arniston Project – built houses that blended well with the heritage site on which they were built. The Arniston Project in Arniston was the winner, followed by the Koelpark Project in Stellenbosch and then Matjiesfonteinin Laingsburg.

BEST ENHANCED PEOPLE’S HOUSING PROJECT (EPHP) In this category, people take part in the building of their own houses by contributing what the Minister calls ‘sweat equity.’ Here beneficiaries get together and form an organisation and may even contribute additional money from their own pockets for any extras they want. They also appoint their own contractor while also providing free labour to build their own houses.

Vision 2002 OUPAD in Knysna was the winner and the runner up was Drommedaris in Paarl.

BEST SOCIAL HOUSING Social housing caters for those beneficiaries who earn salaries and therefore can pay for their accommodation and those who are mobile and therefore want to buy a house but would prefer to rent. Steenberg-Steenvilla complex in Steenberg was the winner, followed by Bothasig Project in Bothasig

BEST WOMAN CONTRACTOR Among many things that Minister Madikizela is passionate about, including the empowerment of emerging business, is the empowerment of women. In this category Masiqhame Trading 28 cc was the winner, followed by Inyameko Trading 618 cc. In some categories there was just one entry, which was therefore an automatic winner, including:

BEST PRIORITY PROJECT NATIONAL Drommedaris in Paarl

BEST FINANCE LINKED INDIVIDUAL SUBSIDY PROGRAMME (FLISP) Fountain Head in Blue Downs

BEST YOUTH CONTRACTOR B J Plaatjies

MERIT AWARDS FOR ENHANCED PEOPLE’S HOUSING PROJECT ( EPHP) Sakhuxolo Housing Project – Wallacedene Luxolo Housing Project – Phillipi

MINISTER’S MERIT AWARD Mellon Housing Initiative

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CEMENT & CONCRETE

Her Excellency Elisabeth Barbier, French Ambassador to South Africa, and Lafarge South Africa’s Country CEO, Thierry Legrand.

Lafarge sets the stage at Alliance Française in Sunnyside, Pretoria Lafarge South Africa, the local presence of the international Lafarge Group, a world leader in building materials, recently donated innovative concrete products to create a community stage for cultural events at the Alliance Française of Pretoria.

he project will be an asset for the local community and Lafarge’s support is in line with the Group’s brand baseline of ‘Building better cities’. This reflects Lafarge’s ambition to use its strength at innovation to contribute to the construction of cities that are more beautiful, durable and desirable living environments for everyone.

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Over the years, the Alliance Française has become a cultural drawcard in the capital city, attracting members of the diplomatic community, students, members of the Francophone community and the public, to its performances by African and local artists at its premises on Rivier Street in Sunnyside.

CEMENT & CONCRETE wt4764 pmsa sa affordable housing ROOF TILE j

On Friday 30th May, the new Lafarge stage was officially opened by Her Excellency Elisabeth Barbier, French Ambassador to South Africa, and Lafarge South Africa’s Country CEO, Thierry Legrand. The inaugural event also featured a concert by well-known local guitarist and writer, Nibs van der Spuy. The stage has been constructed using Lafarge Artevia™ Polish, a decorative concrete with a beautiful marble-like finish that is slip-resistant. It forms a durable structural floor and has a high quality architectural standard finish. The pathways surrounding the stage were poured with Lafarge Hydromedia™, the company’s technological breakthrough in permeable concrete, allowing water to flow through the concrete into the soil. This product ensures rapid storm-water removal from horizontal surfaces. “Lafarge South Africa is proud to be associated with the Alliance Française and to have helped create this marvellous cultural asset for the Pretoria community,” Legrand commented. “We are in a unique position to contribute to building better cities and infrastructure through having a strong presence in all our construction related business lines: cement, aggregates, readymix concrete and plasterboard. We use this wide footprint to support the communities around our sites, to help make their environment more durable and more beautiful.”

ABOUT LAFARGE

Located in 64 countries with 65 000 employees, Lafarge is the world leader in building materials, with top-ranking positions in its Cement, Aggregates and Concrete businesses. In 2012, the Group posted sales of 15,8 billion Euros. Lafarge places innovation at the heart of its priorities, working for sustainable construction and architectural creativity to help build better cities around the world: more beautiful cities that are better connected, have more housing, and are more compact and durable. Since 2010, the Lafarge Group has been part of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, the first global sustainability benchmark, in recognition of its sustainable development actions. In South Africa, the company manufactures and supplies cement, aggregates, readymixed concrete, gypsum plasterboard and interior building fittings. It focuses on providing solutions to help the sustainable development of better cities that benefit the country’s people. Through having a strong presence in all of its business lines, it is in a unique position to contribute to urban construction, while also helping to build better rural towns and villages. Lafarge South Africa also demonstrates active concern for the conservation of the country’s wildlife heritage and is a major supporter of the world’s first dedicated baby rhino orphanage in Limpopo Province. Additional information is available on the website: www.lafarge.co.za

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CMY

NEWS

Speakers Set to Share on ‘Building a Sustainable South Africa’ The 2014 annual Master Builders South Africa (MBSA) Congress will be taking place from the 21st to the 23rd of September at The Boardwalk Hotel and Convention Centre, in Port Elizabeth. Now in its 109th year, the MBSA Congress has become the premium gathering for building contractors, construction and project managers, built environment professionals, manufacturers and suppliers to the building industry.

nder this year's theme of ‘Building a Sustainable South Africa,’ the MBSA Congress will once again provide an opportunity for national and African representatives to come together and discuss the latest trends, opportunities and challenges faced by the building industry. The line-up of top speakers together with panel and delegate participation will stimulate relevant information and insight into many aspects of the industry.

results in physical science and mathematics in South Africa. He has also written popular books like ‘Great South African Teachers’ (with two students), ‘We need to talk,’ and ‘We need to act,’ and is a columnist for The Times and Die Burger. He was recently awarded the Education Africa Lifetime Achiever Award in New York and the Spendlove Award from the University of California for his contributions to tolerance, democracy and human rights.

The focus will also be on the Eastern Cape, the province that is seeing the fastest growth in a number of areas, such as infrastructure, power generation and commercial and industrial developments.

When accountant Pierre Voges turned 41, he decided that he was tired of arguing about profit sharing and wearing suits and ties every day. So when the mayor of Port Elizabeth approached him to create the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), the objective of which was to regenerate the central business district, he accepted.

Some of the speakers scheduled to address delegates will include Clem Sunter, Prof Jonathan Jansen and Dr Pierre Voges. Top-selling business author Clem Sunter is one of the few specialists in the world on scenarios and their use in corporate strategy. He was one of the driving forces behind the South African High Road-Low Road scenarios that helped pave the way towards the country's peaceful transition to democracy. Since 1987, he has authored 17 books including the best-selling 'Fox Trilogy' with fellow scenario strategist Chantell Ilbury. Sunter was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Cape Town for his work in the ﬁeld of scenario planning and was also voted by leading South African CEOs as the speaker who has made the most signiﬁcant contribution to, and impact on, best practice and business in South Africa. Prof Jonathan Jansen is Vice Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State and President of the South African Institute of Race Relations. He holds a PhD from Stanford University, an MS degree from Cornell University, and honorary Doctorates in Education from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland), Cleveland State University (USA) and the University of Vermont (USA). He is a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association and a Fellow of the Academy of Science of the Developing World. His book ‘Knowledge in the Blood: Confronting Race and the Apartheid Past’ (Stanford 2009) was listed as one of the best books of that year by the American Libraries Association. His new book, ‘Schools that Work,’ uses videodocumentaries to capture what happens inside disadvantaged schools that nevertheless produce the best

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The agency is not a municipal department but a section 21 company with the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and the Industrial Development Corp as shareholders. Voges explains, “At the MBDA we work on a master plan. Every year we implement two or three infrastructure projects.” According to MBSA Executive Director, Tumi Dlamini, “We are very excited not only to be celebrating our 110th Congress but to hear from these and other exciting speakers about how we as an industry can build a sustainable South Africa. With South Africa celebrating 20 years of democracy, the building industry will continue to play a significant role – driving growth and job creation for the sustainability of the country.” All members of the building and construction industry are invited to attend the MBSA Congress. For engineers, architects, construction managers, regulators or contractors both large and small the Congress is an important event to address issues affecting the industry and country. Construction managers, engineers, quantity surveyors and architects attending the Congress will gain Continuous Professional Development (CPD) points. Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities are available to companies wishing to support the event and ensure visibility of their brand, products and services to industry players. For more information about this year’s MBSA Congress, please visit www.mbsacongress.co.za.

CEMENT & CONCRETE

Getting a grip with the new Decorwall block In October 2011 Murray & Roberts Western Cape, an operating division of Murray & Roberts Construction, was awarded a R193-million contract to construct the R300-million Willowbridge Place office development. The new development is located on the corner of Old Oak Road and Carl Cronje Drive in Tygervalley in the northern suburbs of Cape Town. 36

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CEMENT & CONCRETE

G e n u i n e competition

s building commenced, the planning and construction of this prominent building was met with a number of challenges. Says Gerald Kriedemann, the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s senior contracts manager, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The site layout predetermined limited space around the perimeter of the site, which, added to the proposed strip of permeable paving right around the building, meant that the footprint of the entire structure took up 90% of the site area. As a result, the steep embankments on three sides of the building prohibited the original plan to have gently landscaped slopes below the busy Tygervalley Road.â&#x20AC;? Neill Zaaiman, main contractor on site, called in retaining wall specialists, Decorton Retaining Systems, to propose a cost-effective solution. Based on a design by Fred Laker, Terraforce-recommended engineer, a terraced retaining wall design â&#x20AC;&#x201C; using the new Decorwall block â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with walls of up to 7m high, was accepted by the client. The walls are built on a concrete foundation at an inclination of 65 degrees.

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The close proximity of a busy road made it necessary to beef up the installation with reinforced concrete infill inside the blocks and geogrid layers in the backfill at certain intervals. In this fashion, the block facing and the backfill material form a combined force to resist overturning momentum. As excessive groundwater was unearthed during excavation, a substantial drainage system was installed behind the block layer to keep the installation stable over time. Says SP van Blerk of Decorton Retaining Systems, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We managed to successfully excavate the backfill as well as install 10 500 Decorwall blocks within a tight timeframe of two months. The client is very happy with the end result and with landscaping complete, the walls create a pleasant green belt around the building.â&#x20AC;?

CLIENT: FirstRand Bank and Growthpoint Properties DEVELOPERS: Eris Property Group ARCHITECTS FOR THE MAIN CONTRACT: Stauch Vorster Architects

ENGINEERS FOR THE MAIN CONTRACT: Sutherland Associates MAIN CONTRACTOR: Murray & Roberts CIVIL CONTRACTOR: Neill Zaaiman RETAINING WALLS: Decorton Retaining Systems LANDSCAPING: Servest Landscaping

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TERRAFORCE

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FINANCE & INVESTMENT

ERF 256, Kempton Park.

Gauteng Partnership Fund (GPF) Entrepreneur Empowerment Fund celebrates success The GPF was established by the Gauteng provincial government to address specific challenges in the social housing sector in terms of affordable rentals. The GPF’s mandate is to facilitate, through partnerships, delivery of affordable housing to income earners of below R15 000. The GPF has, over the last ten years, funded developments yielding over 20 000 housing units through partnerships with the private sector.

wo housing projects that were part-funded by the Entrepreneur Empowerment Fund (EEPF), which is administered by the Gauteng Partnership Fund (GPF), have successfully been completed – both on schedule and within budget.

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GPF CEO, Boni Muvevi says,“We are delighted to see the first two projects part-funded by the EEPF come to fruition. It is another milestone for the GPF in successfully supporting the development of affordable rental housing by entrepreneurs who cannot access funds from traditional financial sources for a first-time property development initiative.”

FINANCE & INVESTMENT

“We have adopted a holistic approach to promoting black economic empowerment (BEE) participation in the affordable housing market.” explains Muvevi. “Applicants are invited to participate yearly through public tender,” says Acting Chief Investment Officer Vinolia Mashiane. Participants of the programme receive up to 40% project funding from GPF, which includes a maximum interest-free loan of up to R2-million, depending on the project’s cash flows. “Our loan repayment terms are also flexible, between 15 and 20 years, depending on projects’ financial feasibilities. Our undertaking is not restricted to part-financing – we also have four mentoring companies with different property industry expertise to assist with capacity building for our entrepreneurs,” Mashiane adds. Castle Crest Properties obtained a 36% loan on a R12-million project from the GPF, with 7% of the loan being interest-free. The GPF also afforded Castle Crest Properties bridging finance to acquire the property while waiting for senior funder approval. Tsebò Consumables Supplies’ Dennis Marodi found vacant land in Kempton Park, that he thought suitable for a greenfield development. The GPF provided the R8.1million project with 40% funding of which R1.5-million was interest free.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE GPF PRODUCT RANGE, OR TO APPLY FOR FUNDING, PLEASE CONTACT: (t) 011 685 6600 (e) info@gpf.org.za (w) www.gpf.org.za This article was originally published by Creamer Media's Engineering News at www.engineeringnews.co.za.

Joe’s Place, Pretoria CBD.

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LOGISTICS

Cargo Carriers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; where innovation meets B-BBEE Adding value through enterprise development in the transport and logistics industry

-BBEE is a controversial subject. Some see it as a necessary process in the normalisation of our country, while others believe it is a blunt tool which, until now, has benefitted only a fortunate few. Almost no one is neutral on the subject. In a refreshing example, Cargo Carriers and Lafarge have concluded a deal which supports the real spirit of the concept. And innovative thinking is at the heart of the solution. In a logistics industry where optimisation, high levels of SHEQ and critical mass are often required to manage productivity upwards and costs and risk down, these two organisations have found a way to create a safe and valuecreating gap without sacrificing the holy grails identified above.

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Since 2003, Cargo Carriers have been introducing the concept of owner drivers to contracts where opportunities presented themselves, to create enterprises that could flourish under their guidance. And this guidance is by no means paternalistic; Cargo Carriers source the business opportunity, provide the benefits of management systems that they use in their own business, and then allow these businesses to flourish with mentorship and training to a point where they are self-sufficient. Thus, the Lafarge owner drivers are not subject to the same risks and failure rates as stand-alone new businesses. The most recent of these owner driver schemes started discussions in 2012, where Lafarge saw an opportunity to develop an empowered enterprise to provide a transport service to them with respect to an increase in volume of their bagged cement products in the Free State, Northern Cape, and North West Province.

LOGISTICS

As an existing customer of Cargo Carriers, they approached the company to help them set up an enterprise development initiative. “This is a slightly different version of our Owner Driver Scheme, because up until this contract with Lafarge, owner drivers were contracted directly to us with a service agreement – we assisted them with everything and we could then claim for preferential procurement and enterprise development. In this instance the owner drivers are contracted directly to Lafarge and Lafarge benefits from the B-BBEE benefits of the scheme,” says John Sprenger, Cargo Carriers Owner Driver Manager. Cargo Carriers appointed the owner drivers from within their own company to ensure that the drivers had the right qualifications. The drivers also underwent intensive training covering contractual issues, operating parameters, accounting matters, budgeting principles, business management and communication. One of the key conditions for participating in the scheme is the requirement to comply with the rigorous Lafarge South Africa safety standards for driving and maintenance of the vehicles at all times.

To further increase their B-BBEE rating, the owner drivers appointed black female partners. Because of this structuring, Lafarge can now claim at three different B-BBEE levels: at the overall level, at the EME/ QSE level, and at a black female shareholding level. This example of co-operation between Lafarge, Cargo Carriers and the team of owner drivers has no losers. “We believe our Owner Driver Scheme is a win-win initiative. It is about a continuing partnership where the drivers are empowered to determine their own success and future, while at the same time leading to increased productivity and enhanced service levels,” says Tim Nelson, Lafarge Cement’s Supply Chain Manager. With the Owner Driver Scheme and its evolution to suit the specific needs of Lafarge, Cargo Carriers prove that providing innovative supply chain solutions can go beyond the obvious areas of application, such as performance and safety, to deliver value to their customers in other areas such as B-BBEE solutions within the transport and logistics industry. This is what happens when innovation meets B-BBEE. The results are truly transformative.

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WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

Zimkhitha Zatu:

Debunking an ageing male-dominated construction industry For as long as it has existed, the global construction industry has been dominated by male employees and managers. However, times are changing in South Africa and PPC Ltd.’s Zimkhitha Zatu believes that the general population will be surprised by how much the local industry has changed its view on female employees.

atu (30), a PPC Executive Manager in the office of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), believes that women who enter the construction industry must keep an eye out for male counterparts willing to become mentors. “You will be surprised by the number of male employees who are always willing to mentor their female colleagues and help them to make a success of themselves in this hard industry,” said Zatu. Zatu believes that it is normal for women to get the impression that they have to work harder than men in some industries to become noticed. “This is not necessarily a bad thing, this will help women throughout their career and help them achieve great things, both at home and at work,” said Zatu. Having joined the cement giant two years ago, Zatu regards PPC’s CFO, Tryphosa Ramano as one of her greatest mentors. “I have been lucky in my career to have had fantastic mentors who have been immensely supportive of me and my endeavours throughout the years. I’ve had to work hard in my career to have accomplished what I have and at PPC, Ramano has been instrumental in me taking that one step further in my abilities,” said Zatu. Zimkhitha Zatu

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WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

Zatu has had to work hard and persevere to make a success out of her career. She matriculated in the Eastern Cape at Kingsridge High School for Girls and went on to receive her Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Accounting at Wits, before obtaining her Higher Diploma in Accounting, also at Wits.

“Over the weekends I make a point of spending time with my daughter, I always try to do fun things with her. For a woman, it can be very hard as you have responsibilities both at work and at home. The trick is not to lose sight of the bigger picture and always remember why you are where you are,” said Zatu.

Before joining PPC, she spent four years at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), where she discovered her passion for helping better the lives of people by financing infrastructure products and three years prior to that she did her articles at KPMG.

Her long-term goal is to become a business owner. “I would like to run my own business one day. I’m not yet sure what type of business yet, but it must have a strong foundation and be a catalyst for changing people’s lives for the better. However, I still enjoy my life here at PPC so this dream will only be many years down the line, and who knows, maybe PPC will be involved,” said Zatu.

“It was at IDC’s steel division where I worked that I came to realise that I didn’t just want to finance projects, but more so those that will change the lives of people. I wanted to be part of an organisation that was on the ground, looking to make a difference in the lives of the communities in which it operates. This remained my motivation until an opportunity to joined PPC came my way. I regard the cement company as a leader in the industry and their ethos to change the lives of people for the better was aligned to my vision,” Zatu said. Zatu is adamant that in order for anyone, regardless of their gender, to be a success in their career a strong support base is necessary. “You even need support from your children. I have a daughter (7) and at her young age she understands why I have to go to work every morning and sometimes come home late,” she said. On juggling family life and the fast-paced world of corporate, Zatu said that you have to put quality over quantity.

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CEMENT & CONCRETE

PMSA provides Leo Bricks with quality UNI plant machines Local brick manufacturer, Leo Bricks, has expanded, thanks to the quality machines supplied by Pan Mixers South Africa (PMSA) – the largest supplier of concrete brick, block and paving-making machinery and technology in Africa.

ohannesburg-based Leo Bricks was established in 2007 and the company has grown considerably since then by expanding its reach into the sand and cement industry. Leo Bricks Plant Manager, Olga Maroga, notes that an increased demand for sand and cement has prompted the company to incorporate sand and cement into their product range, in addition to the bricks, in order to have all building materials available in one convenient location. However, their main focus is the manufacturing of bricks and blocks. According to Maroga, the past year has been slow for the brick industry; however, the beginning of 2014 has seen an upturn in business. Leo Bricks’ biggest clients are the owners of the RDP houses in and around Bram Fischer, Meadowlands and Soweto, who purchase bricks to extend their houses. The company bought its first UNI plant in 2007 and to date they own two of these machines. Maroga explains, “There were 11 employees at our facilityin Meadowlands working with only one machine. A second UNI plant was purchased in and our employee base has grown, as we needed more people to work the extra machines, as well as drivers and delivery staff.” She adds that Leo Bricks has since expanded to include two RE600 machines, which has resulted in the company opening a second site in Bram Fischer, Johannesburg. “The facility in Bram Fischer will allow us to manufacture twice the number of bricks and blocks, and I believe that the company can continue to grow.” Maroga points out that Leo Bricks has been working with PMSA since its establishment. “PMSA offers innovative machines to its clients, has provided good quality machines and excellent after-sales and service support. I will definitely continue to work with them in the future,” she concludes.

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The one and only construction show for the Western Cape

Highlight: Social infrastructure development conference session

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13 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 14 August 2014 Cape Town International Convention Centre Cape Town, South Africa

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CEMENT & CONCRETE

Benefits of recycled concrete not fully realised The many benefits of using recycled concrete as a construction material are generally overlooked and not by any means fully utilised in South Africa, says Bryan Perrie, MD of The Concrete Institute. 46

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CEMENT & CONCRETE

At ready-mixed concrete plants, wash water can be collected and reused in fresh concrete, and aggregate from returned concrete can be screened out and reused. This would reduce the amount of waste generated at the plants. Perrie says precast components from structures can also be reused in new buildings instead of demolishing and recycling the concrete. Structures using precast elements can be designed for such reuse. In former industrial areas and inner city precincts, there are many old factories or old warehouses that can be converted into acceptable dwellings. Concrete buildings can often be adapted relatively easily for new uses, for example, unused office space can be retrofitted as residential accommodation. The benefits of reuse and retrofitting include: • Saving of natural resources, including raw materials, energy and water required for new structures; • Reducing the quantity of solid waste sent to landfill; and • Lowering the energy consumption and pollution emanating from the extraction, manufacturing and transportation of virgin materials. “The durability of concrete structures is a key factor in their suitability for reuse. The architect or designer needs to apply many different strategies to ensure that the structure is sustainable in terms of its environmental and social impact, to minimise the use of energy, to minimise the use of water, and the generation of waste during the life cycle of the building. All of this can only be assessed by carrying out a full life-cycle assessment of the structure,” he adds. Perrie believes recycled concrete has a significant role to play in creating a sustainable and ecologically responsible built environment. Concrete derived from demolished structures can be recycled and reused as construction material, says The Concrete Institute.

errie says the use of recycled concrete could reduce the carbon dioxide emission of concrete, as well as lower the depletion of natural resources and dumping of concrete at landfill sites. “The demolition of in-situ, precast and tilt-up reinforced concrete can be achieved relatively easily by modern cutting, breaking and lifting equipment. Once demolition of reinforced concrete has been completed, the concrete and reinforcing steel can be separated for recycling. Recycled concrete can be used as aggregate for building products, such as bricks, blocks, layer works in road construction, or land reclamation, thereby reducing the amount of material sent to landfills. This recycling also reduces the need for new virgin materials, thereby saving resources and the energy required to process them. Crushed concrete also absorbs carbon dioxide.”

He says when considering a building that has reached the end of its first life, the order of decision-making should be: reuse of the building, reuse of the components and then – as a last resort – demolition with the recycling of materials. Recycled concrete aggregate made from crushed concrete has proved viable and makes economic and ecological sense. As a coarse aggregate, it is particularly appropriate as bedding material in concrete roads and pavements, floors, reinforced concrete, precast and masonry elements, and foundations.

FOR COPIES OF THE CONCRETE INSTITUTE’S PUBLICATION, SUSTAINABLE CONCRETE, CONTACT: (t) 011 315 0300 (e) info@theconcreteinstitute.org.za

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BRICKS & PAVING

One of the RDP houses under construction at the Lindelani Youth Build Project in Kimberley using Corobrik Nebraska Travertine Light clay face bricks. Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa officially handed over the house to a very proud beneficiary on Youth Day. (Corobrik donated the bricks for the first two units).

Corobrik secures specification of double skin clay brick for Kimberley RDP housing Corobrik has secured the specification of double skin brickwork for 500 RDP houses at the Lindelani Youth Build Project in Kimberley and has commenced supplies for first phase of 153 houses under construction.

he project was officially launched by Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa on Youth Day, 16 June.

“This project is a testament to the utility and affordability of clay brick construction in this lower end of the market,” said Corobrik managing director, Dirk Meyer.

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“The specification of double skin face brick for RDP housing is supported by the findings of the WSP Green by Design research report on the energy modelling of 40m² low-cost houses. The research shows that double skin walling is an enlightened design solution for low-cost housing in South Africa, being cost-effective as built, and with all the lifecycle benefits that come with the durability and robustness of clay brick.”

BRICKS & PAVING

“On a national level, when the thermal advantages of double skin clay brick walls are applied to thousands of RDP houses, this was found in the research to result in lower peak energy demands on the national grid and less pressure on boosting power generation to meet the electricity needs of government’s future housing programmes.” “Another important consideration when building for this sector is that the homes meet the aspirations of the prospective homeowners to live in ‘proper’ houses built using quality materials that lend dignity and provide a sense of home.” The contribution of clay brick walled houses to healthy living is also important. Being incombustible and benign, clay bricks release no toxic fumes that could affect air quality – in both normal conditions or during a fire. They also have natural sound insulation properties, supporting quiet indoor environments. “Simply put, a double skinned face brick home fulfils all three sustainable development imperatives – economic, social and environmental – and is the optimal solution for affordable housing in this country,” Meyer said. Each of the Lindelani houses is a 42m2 RDP house with face brick finish and tiled roof. They are being constructed using Corobrik’s Nebraska Travertine Light clay bricks from the company’s Lawley factory, with the plaster bricks coming from the Odendaalsrus factory. “Face brick was a popular choice with the beneficiaries of these new RDP homes,” said, Tebogo Bonokwane of the Sol Plaatjie Housing Support Centre, the initiating agents and managers of the Lindelani Youth Build Project. “They are very pleased that their new homes look attractive because of the natural colour of the face brick and that they will never have to spend money on painting the outside walls.”

Thomas Dlengezele (Corobrik Sales Representative) and Brenda Solomons (Senior Secretary of the National Department of Human Settlements) who co-ordinated the official handover ceremony. “The WSP Green by Design research compared insulated lightweight system building technologies, such as LSFB with uninsulated double skin clay brick houses, and found that, notwithstanding, clay brick construction’s lower built cost, the clay brick houses also provided superior thermal comfort and lower heating energy usage.” “The high thermal mass inherent in double skin clay brick cavity walls of these smaller footprint homes is what helps keep the inside of such homes cool in summer and warm in winter,” Meyer said. “This is particularly valuable in the Northern Cape, which borders on the Kalahari desert with its extreme fluctuations in temperature through the seasons.”

“Knowing that they will also save on energy costs and that they are living in a good quality house is just as satisfying for them. The community is very happy with this project.”

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WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

S is for Sibongile Indigo Kulani Group is a collective of forward-thinking companies, each with its own specialised yet complementary field within the built environment.

hriving, and boasting a clientele that stretches internationally, the Group strives to maintain the impressive growth it has experienced since its inception in 2006, by ‘Building People Places and Spaces.’ At the helm of this group you will find the remarkable Sibongile Manganyi, a self-proclaimed ‘social entrepreneur’ who has imbued a strong culture of People Empowerment within the organization as it continues to leave a positive footprint in whichever community it serves. Sibongile, who was born in Soweto as the youngest of 14 children and quite accustomed to hardship, founded the Group’s first company when she was only 26. This followed a childhood that saw her toil hard but taught her valuable lessons about teamwork and ethics, topped by a gruelling schedule as she put in many long hours before graduating with a National Diploma and BA Degree in Architecture from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 2004. In those early days her determination and flexibility served her well, and helped her gain valuable experience at respected architectural firms. It was her after-hours work on a freelance project that made her realize that she could, instead of helping improve a BEE score, go into business for herself – and make a difference in people’s lives. And so the first of the Group’s concerns, Indigo Kulani Architects and Urban Planners, was born. Long gone are the days when Sibongile could not afford a laptop, had a single client, and had to sub-let office space. Success has followed this well-respected businesswoman* as she implemented sound business plans and steered her operations from a platform built on honesty and open communication. Her keen perception in recognizing individual talent and empowering smaller entities to join the group in its commitment to delivering exceptional and reliable service, and to grow under her leadership, has seen a fledgling company step up and tackle progressively more intricate and large-scale projects. Sibongile’s work has taken her all over the world, honing her design skills and giving her valuable industry insight. Her ability to identify with different and varying client needs ensures that the Indigo Kulani Group can deliver on commitments and exceed client expectations. Today, the Group aims to become South Africa’s infrastructure building company of choice. * Sibongile Manganyi received the 2012 BBQ Businesswoman of the year award.

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Managing Director of the Indigo Kulani Group of companies, Sibongile Manganyi.

PRESENTLY, THE INDIGO KULANI GROUP IS MADE UP OF: • Indigo Kulani Architects & Project Managers • Indigo Kulani Interiors • Indigo Kulani Properties • Indigo Kulani Foundation • Nabila Consulting Engineers • Ndima Quantity Surveyors

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY “Working on school, health and housing projects is most rewarding as each person has the right to these basic human needs. Being able to contribute to these areas and more, and seeing the difference it makes, is one of the Indigo Kulani Group's and one of my own greatest personal achievements.” – Sibongile Manganyi In collaboration with developers from the private sector, as well as government departments and parastatals, Indigo Kulani has done extensive work in the affordable housing market. Specifically, through projects such as Polokwane Mixed Income Housing and Parsonvlei Mixed Income Housing, the group has been involved in creating socially and economically balanced urban communities. Indigo Kulani aims to provide both affordable and sustainable solutions in addressing the urgent need for social housing in South Africa and in bridging the socioeconomic gaps where housing is concerned, by supplying houses for low- to medium-income households. The purpose and passion behind the Indigo Kulani Foundation, also founded by MD Sibongile Manganyi, is to uplift communities. Sibongile has expressed the belief that a successful nation is determined by the passing of vision from one generation to the next.

She explains, “Mentorship is also very important in preparing future generations for their careers and their personal lives.” The Foundation provides a sense of hope and purpose to students from various backgrounds who achieve exceptional results but face financial challenges, by offering scholarships and bursaries to these students to enable them to further their studies. ‘Kulani’ is a XiTsonga word that means to continue growing. And, when translated, ‘Sibongile’ means thanks. As we celebrate Woman’s Month, it seems only appropriate to express the sentiment that the Indigo Kulani Group, which is 100% black- and women-owned, will continue to grow, and continue to flourish, under the steadfast leadership of its revered leader, who has never been shy to give thanks to the team who stands behind her.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE INDIGO KULANI GROUP, THEIR WORK AND NUMEROUS ACCOLADES: (t) 011 440 2672 (e) info@indigo-group.co.za (w) www.indigo-group.co.za

SA Patent no. ZA2011/01062

Brick Easy is a patented device that enables semi-skilled workers to radically improve their performance in bricklaying. This unique innovation - if used as intended – will revolutionise the current method of construction and bricklaying.

ADVANTAGES: Boosts productivity Saves costs on site

HOUSE

Saves time A team of three semi-skilled builders can lay an average of 500 bricks per hour. The Brick Easy system has seen its best results in the low-cost housing field, with ground-breaking projects already being implemented. The latest and most successful low-cost housing project using the Brick Easy system was done on the East Rand, where the house was built using maxi bricks in only 8.5 hours by eight semi-skilled labourers.

BUILT IN East Rand low-cost housing project

Giuseppe Dalla Torre +27 (0) 83 305 5191 gadallatorre@telkomsa.net

8 HRS

INSULATION

Covering Gap Housing: Eco-Insulation. Image by Gareth Griffiths Imaging.

Eco-Cape Town insulates the Gap Gap housing is best described as those residential units whose prices fall between those supplied by government and those delivered by the private sector. A perceived gap exists in the monthly income requirements for the prospective owner of between R3 500 for government housing and R15 000 for private.

hese levels of income are too little to enable them to participate in the private property market, yet too much to qualify for state assistance.

The approach of the City of Cape Town is to induce the private sector to supply housing units at lower prices, and also to encourage low-income, employed individuals to build their own homes. According to the City, more costeffective building technologies and materials contribute to delivering the gap housing product in greater numbers. Pelican Park is situated along the Southern shore of Zeekoevlei off Strandfontein Road and is about 5km north of the False Bay coast. When completed, it will include more than 2 100 statesubsidised houses, 696 single-storey semi-detached gap houses and 63 double-storey house shops from which

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residents will be allowed to operate small businesses. The budgeted cost was R 5-million of which a significant contribution is to be received from the provincial government of the Western Cape. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are so excited about this project, as it will provide houses to 3 200 families in one of the first integrated housing projects in Cape Town. Home ownership is one of the most significant economic achievements for an individual,â&#x20AC;? said the City's Councillor Gqada. Eco-Insulation was contracted to install ceiling insulation to specification SANS 10400 XA Code of Practice. According to Eco-Insulation GM, Richard Ellis, this means that product had to be pumped into the ceiling of each residential unit to a thickness of 135mm. Each housing unit (pictured), varying in size between 48m2 to 74m2 in area, is constructed in compliance with the SABS Energy Saving codes of practice.

INSULATION

It is not uncommon for insulation to be laid at below the minimum specified thickness in order to cheapen the price to get the job.” “SANS legislation requires minimum thermal performance standards, so installers who support this practice are not only flouting the law but also doing property owners a grave disservice. Check the trade association website www.tiasa.org.za for technical information in this regard, or visit the new Eco-Insulation website at www.ecoinsulation.co.za for some good advice,” says Ellis. The City of Cape Town’s Gap Housing Project at Pelican Park. Image by Gareth Griffiths Imaging.

Made from flame-retarded recycled cellulose fibre, EcoInsulation is an established green brand, giving developers peace of mind – meaning seamless service on site and 100% coverage inside the roof. The brand is truly the contractor's dream due to the very efficient process of installation. The product is installed professionally by teams of qualified fitters. Each home owner is issued with a certificate of warranty and hence peace of mind. Teams are available nationwide and in Botswana. “Specifiers, project managers and quantity surveyors are advised to appoint insulation contractors carefully.

From the design perspective, Eco-Insulation provides the lowest carbon footprint of all insulation types available and is key to providing sustainable green-compliant solutions to the built environment for the foreseeable future.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Eco-Insulation (t) 021 555 3766 (e) info@eco-insulation.co.za (w) www.eco-insulation.co.za

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4th AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUMMIT

Strategies for Building and Delivering Quality Affordable Houses in a High Demand Market 26 – 28 August 2014 Crowne Plaza, Johannesburg, South Africa

Featuring Key Presentations From: Boni Muvevi, Chief Executive Officer, Gauteng Partnership Fund (GPF) Adelaide Steedley, Affordable Land and Housing Data Centre (AL+HDC) Dr. Simphiwe Madikizela, Policy and Research Division General Manager, National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) Lefadi Makibinyane, Chief Executive Officer, Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) Ben Pierre Malherbe, Chief Executive Officer, Calgro M3 Mongezi Mnyani, Chief Executive Officer, National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) Yusuf Patel, Executive Director, Basil Read Malefetsane Mokoena, General Manager Mixed Development, Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality Roselyn Valloo, National Mortgage Manager, TUHF (PTY) LTD Aidan-John Rothman, Chief Executive Officer, RBA Housing Jordan Mann, Executive Director, Nu-Way Housing Development/ Nu-Hold Group Michael Kihato, Centre for Affordable Housing Finance Anton Gollub, Chief Executive Officer, BSC Projects Anton Crouse, Managing Director, Cosmopolitan Projects Tinus Erasmus, Project Manager, Calgro M3 Simphiwe E Mini (PhD), Professor, School of Environmental Sciences - UNISA Louisa Hetisani, Manager, National Credit Regulator (NCR) Sharon Trail, Chair of Investment Committee, Social Housing Regulatory Authority Renney Plit, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, AFHCO Ismail Carr, Marketing and Communications Executive, GPF Silver Sponsor:

Solution Provider:

Strategic Partners:

Special Guests: Lee Mhlongo, Chief Executive Officer, Affordable Housing, First National Bank (FNB)

5 Key Reasons for Attending: 1. Benchmark your development projects by ensuring high quality construction at affordable costs 2. Outcome and knowledge based sessions to create better partnerships between the private and public sector 3. Gain insight into alternative loan structures and innovative financial approaches 4. Discover how to unlock the South African affordable housing market through identification and acquisition of available land for housing 5. Learn how to tailor your affordable housing project development and target your market – not every municipality or project is the same

Media Partners:

Researched and developed by:

For more information or to register - Tel: +27 11 593 2267 Fax: +27 11 612 3182 Email: enquiry@iqpc.co.za www.affordablehousingsa.com

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

PPC - from grey to green Earlier this year, leading supplier of cement and related products in southern Africa, PPC Ltd, moved to Eastgate 20 on Katherine Street in Sandton. Located in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the Northern Johannesburg business centre, it was imperative that PPC took note of its own environmental footprint. The new building was strategically designed to efficiently reduce energy and water - and was awarded a four-star rating by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) in recognition of the building’s "Best Practices." BY DESIGN, EASTGATE 20 CONSUMES LESS ENERGY: • Utilises efficient lighting that is only activated when an area is occupied • Uses natural light, reducing the building’s electricity demands during office hours • Uses inverter technology for the air conditioning system’s compressors, thereby controlling the speed so that only as much cooling as is needed, is provided

EASTGATE 20 EXPECTED TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE USAGE OF POTABLE WATER: • Through the installation of water-efficient fittings for taps, urinals and toilets • By increasing the quality of the water in the adjacent environs. (The PPC stormwater treatment site adjacent to Eastgate 20 treats all the stormwater from their premises and that of the neighbouring sites to ensure that it is clean before it flows into the river.)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT PPC LTD AT: (t) +27 (0)11 386 9000 | (f) +27 (0)11 386 9001 | (e) contactus@ppc.co.za

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