Infrastructure & Development MAY 2013 // Issue: 37
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MAY 2013
Issue: 37
Trademax Publications
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SA Affordable Housing Infrastructure & Development Tel: 0861 727 663 Cell: 082 266 6976 Fax: 0866 991 346 www.trademax.co.za P.O. Box 37053 Chempet 7442 Publisher: Billy Perrin billy@trademax.co.za 0861 727 663 Editor: Jennifer Rees editor@trademax.co.za
CONTENTS
0861 727 663 Advertising: Gail Cupido gail@trademax.co.za
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EDITOR’S COMMENT
0861 727 663
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news
Layout & design:
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cement & CONCRETE
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cover story
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FINANCE
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news
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news
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road safety
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insulation
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windows & doors
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cement & CONCRETE
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cement & CONCRETE
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events
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SAHF
Craig Patterson craig@trademax.co.za SUBSCRIPTIONS & DATA: Celeste Perrin celeste@trademax.co.za 0861 727 663
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 information disseminated in this issue.
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ed’s note
Concrete matters Welcome to the May issue of the SA Affordable Housing magazine. This month, we learn more about the outcomes of research conducted to ascertain the multiple benefits of tenants and owners of homes provided by International Housing Solutions (IHS), take a look at healthier habitats created by the Johannesburg Housing Company (JHC) and Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA), and bid a sad farewell to the C&CI.
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esearch conducted on the benefits of affordable housing in South Africa suggests that with housing comes “improved welfare and social cohesion” and that adequate, quality housing “is also an important facilitator of opportunities and wealth creation.” This indepth study was conducted by a team led by Associate Professor Francois Viruly of the University of Cape Town. Read more about this on page 4. Makhulong A Matala, a community development subsidiary of the Johannesburg Housing Company, is working closely with food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) to develop two building projects that aim to create greener and healthier habitats for those living there. Read about these inner city permaculture food gardens and green roofs that are making meaningful changes in people’s lives on page 18.
For your hard work and contributions to the construction industry over the years, we thank and salute you. SA Affordable Housing magazine is a media partner for the TotallyConcrete Expo taking place from the 3rd to the 5th of June. The Expo forms a part of ConcreteWeek, a week of activities dedicated to promoting the development and application of concrete, technical site visits, as well as the prestigious Fulton Awards. With that, I leave you to enjoy this issue of the SA Affordable Housing magazine. Please contact me at editor@trademax.co.za with any questions, comments, or suggestions. Jen
Finally, it is with deep regret that we say farewell to the Cement & Concrete Institute, which has been of service to the South African Construction industry for no less than 75 years.
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Physical Address: Sunnyside Ridge Office Complex Building B, Ground Floor 32 Princess of Wales Terrace Parktown Johannesburg South Africa
news
Research shows gap housing
creates opportunities and wealth The latest research into the provision of affordable housing in the so-called gap market in South Africa shows that it not only brings with it improved welfare and social cohesion, but is also an important facilitator of opportunities and wealth creation.
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he study found that those who obtain homes in this sector move beyond viewing them as a mere shelter. Instead, their homes become assets and through appreciation of these assets, entrepreneurship, job creation and/or access to higher levels of education are stimulated. The research was conducted by a team led by University of Cape Town associate professor Francois Viruly. Its findings were recently released. It is the second such study commissioned by International Housing Solutions (IHS), a global private equity investor which has pioneered the financing of numerous affordable housing projects in South Africa with a total value of almost R8-billion to date.
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The primary focus of the research was to assess the direct and indirect benefits to tenants and owners of housing units provided by IHS, to assess the social and economic benefits of living in developments like these, which are changing the face of South African suburbs. The study also aimed to establish whether such affordable housing developments meet the objectives of government policy regarding sustainable human settlements. The research was expanded this year to include some 500 households across more than twenty different developments. The survey also considered the views of students who this year made up 17% of the respondents.
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Aurora Place in Belhar is a good example of the gap housing projects which are changing the social fabric of society all over South Africa. Affordable housing refers to households with an income between R3500 and R18000 per month. People in this segment earn too much to qualify for government’s lowcost subsidised housing and too little to afford the cheapest standard private sector houses or to qualify for bonds. This is why it is known as the gap market. The report points out that according to Absa’s March 2013 House Price Indices report, small houses (80m²-140m²) have the highest price appreciation at 17.5% nominal growth annually. Houses in this category (and smaller) make up the majority of IHS units with households falling in the affordable housing band with incomes of between R7500 and R15000 per month. Among the major reasons listed by respondents for moving to an IHS funded development was a desire for better access to their places of work, an improved and safer environment, proximity to schools, and financial considerations. Looking at the welfare improvement of respondents, the study found that overall 72% thought their quality of life had improved while only 3% of respondents believed their life had worsened to some degree. The biggest improvements were noted in respect of leisure time, social life, health, access to education and employment opportunities.
An important factor impacting on people’s decision to move to one of the developments included in the research was the ongoing discriminatory impact of apartheid-era spatial planning on household transport spending. In Gauteng, research shows people spend 21% of their income on transportation, which is among the highest in Africa and more than double that of most other major African urban areas. Commenting on the research findings, IHS Managing Partner, Soula Proxenos said that while government’s RDP housing initiative has been a unique and successful programme, there was a need to fix the whole housing spectrum. “Housing is like a ladder, if there are rungs missing, the ladder is broken. Creating housing stock in the gap market gives previous RDP households housing to move up to. If there is nowhere for these families to go to then they are not able to improve their lot and new families then are not able to move into previously used RDP housing.” “Government cannot fix the whole housing ladder and the gap market is ripe for private sector development, especially of the right kind of sustainable initiatives which allow more people to join the formal housing ladder in the affordable housing sector.”
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Soula Proxenos, Managing Partner of IHS, and Francois Viruly, property economist and UCT professor, at Aurora Place in Belhar. She said traditionally, housing in the lower end of the market offered only a shelter role, but housing in the affordable sector enables a broadened role. “Housing becomes an asset that appreciates, stimulates economic activity and creates wealth. In the USA it is the single biggest source of funding for new business creation.” “The units play a role as a financial asset and a majority of those interviewed during the research believed the value of their assets had indeed increased.” Viruly says that increasing the affordability of housing as an asset together with the appreciation of this asset should in turn stimulate increased entrepreneurial activity, as well as access to higher levels of education. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Extended Report – 2011 published last year, 9.1% of adults aged 18 – 64 in South Africa are involved in earlystage entrepreneurial activity with 2.3% being established business owners compared to 12.3% and 9.1% respectively in the US. Increasing entrepreneurship in South Africa through affordable housing will also lead to increased employment, as entrepreneurship has been shown to be a key contributor to job growth globally. In the US it has been the primary source of job growth for the past 30 years.
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This year’s study also corroborated last year’s findings that the construction of houses in the affordable housing developments of IHS created over 51 000 direct and indirect jobs. Over the 10-year life of the IHS fund, some 100 000 man-years of employment will have been created. During the past two years affordable or gap housing was given increased prominence by government. Various programmes and subsidies have been established and many related issues – also those covered by Viruly’s research – are included in the National Development Plan. Government’s “Breaking New Ground” policy is focused on increased housing delivery, housing as an asset, creating sustainable human settlements where housing developments are integrated with social infrastructure, creating employment, and social cohesion. Viruly’s research supports government findings that massive urbanisation was constantly adding to the housing backlog which includes the gap market. Gauteng’s population, for instance, could increase by a further 10-million people over the next thirty years. A specific need for affordable housing for the urbanised and urbanising middle class has thus been identified, which government alone cannot address and for which private sector participation is crucial.
news
Aurora Place, Belhar - a perfect example of community living Aurora Place in Belhar is a good example of the gap housing projects which are changing the social fabric of society all over South Africa. IHS’s R1,9-billion South African Workforce Housing Fund has invested in seven projects in the Western Cape worth R1-billion in total and 28 projects worth R7,5-billion in Gauteng and other provinces. The Western Cape projects will provide an additional 2 186 affordable homes for sale and to rent and include the Belhar project, as well as similar ones in Parklands and Stellendale. Soula Proxenos, Managing Partner of IHS says the Belhar project, which is being built by Asrin Property Developers, is a good example of the kind of development IHS is putting its financial muscle and expertise behind. “It meets all the requirements for a good affordable housing investment. Firstly, its location is good and there is a high demand for both sales and rental properties in the area. The proximity to the Belhar Railway Station, Cape Town International Airport and the universities make this a very attractive location. It also has great local amenities and is situated next to a park and a church and is close to tertiary institutions.
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“The project is situated on the corner of Kanna and Suikerbos Roads in an older, more established part of Belhar, which is very secure, serene and on the doorstep of the University of the Western Cape and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.” “A further plus factor is our strong development partner, Asrin Property Developers, which has a good track record based on previous developments completed within the time and quality parameters. This is one of three projects IHS has partnered with this developer, whom we believe represents the best tradition of South African entrepreneurship.” “The founder, Ishmail Essa, established Asrin Property Developers in 1994, with just a computer and limited capital. He and his team grew the business from its first project of one semi-detached residential unit in Athlone, into one of the top property developers in the Western Cape renowned for delivering high quality developments.” The development offers 96 sectional title two bedroom apartments in a three-storey walk-up building. Other amenities include parking, laundry area, club house and pool, as well as a security gatehouse. The units will be complete by mid 2013. Selling prices are R439 989 (1st and 2nd floors) and R483,329 for ground floor units. Unsold units will be managed as rentals and will be let for around R4300 a month.
Cement & concrete
The end of an era as the C&CI closes After 75 years of serving the construction industry in South Africa, the Cement & Concrete Institute (C&CI) closed down at the end of April this year, following the resignation of the Institute’s main funding members, the SA cement producers.
The staff of the C&CI pose – for the last time – at its final location: Waterfall Park in Midrand.
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he Institute was a much revered organisation that has left an indelible mark on the South African engineering, construction and building sectors.
History In 1938, the South African cement industry decided to establish a body to promote the use of portland cement and concrete, in line with overseas moves where the Portland Cement Association had been started in 1916 in the USA and the Cement and Concrete Association in 1935 in the UK. Over the next 75 years, the new association was to operate under four names: the Concrete Association of South Africa, The Concrete Association, The Portland Cement Institute (in 1958), and finally, The Cement & Concrete Institute (1996). The Institute had five directors: A .E. Wynn - 1938 to 1951, F.S. Fulton - 1951 to 1970, D. E. Davis 1970 to 1984, S.W. Norton - 1984 to 1990, G. R. H. Grieve - 1990 to 2008, and B. D. Perrie - 2008 until the closure in 2013.
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During its earliest years, the C&CI operated from rented offices in downtown Johannesburg, but moved to its own premises in Richmond during 1958 and then to the sprawling grounds of Portland Park in Halfway House in 1981. The C&CI moved to its final accommodation in Waterfall Park, Midrand, in 2006. Among the early objectives in the days of World War ll were education and training, advice and information and trouble-shooting. These activities changed over the years as the South African economy developed, new applications of cement and concrete were introduced, and the role of the Institute altered. However, promoting the competent use of cement in concrete and stimulating the sale of cement were always part of the Institute’s activities. As blended cements were increasingly produced by the manufacturers, PCI became more involved with testing their use in concrete and giving advice to such users.
Cement & concrete Focus areas From its earliest years, the Institute endeavoured to promote concrete roads, but felt that success depended on an especially high degree of expertise. Louis Marais was accordingly appointed in 1964 to promote concrete for road applications. He played an important role in ensuring that Johannesburg’s Western Bypass was constructed using concrete. In 1984, Bryan Perrie was appointed to the roads and paving team and subsequently led it after Marais retired. The team’s active engagement with local engineers and government agencies led to concrete becoming more favoured for major paving contracts, concrete overlays and inlays, and low-volume roads. The major role concrete is playing in SANRAL’s current Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) is the latest testimony to the legacy C&CI has left behind in this respect. The other focus areas are: Architecture, Human Settlements and Structural Concrete. In all these areas the team leaders have made substantial contributions to furthering the role of concrete for a wide range of applications.
In the years following 1938, dozens of new publications in the form of leaflets, booklets and books on concrete usage were produced. At the time of its closure, C&CI had 55 publications available for distribution (in hard copy or online), ranging from highly technical books to leaflets for the DIY enthusiast.
Education and training As part of its information dissemination quest, training courses for engineers and technicians were introduced and presented from 1975. This led to the establishment of the Institute’s School of Concrete Technology which, from 1980, occupied its own fully-equipped premises at Halfway House. In 1990, the first Advanced Concrete Technology (ACT) course outside the UK was conducted at the School. The course, offered by the Institute of Concrete Technology (ICT), remains the most comprehensive and authoritative in the world. The School also initiated practical undergraduate programmes for various South African universities and technikons.
Marketing Information Centre The PCI Library was established in 1957. It has, over the years, developed into what finally became the C&CI Information Centre, equipped with qualified information specialists and state-of-the-art computerised systems. One of the largest and most respected sources of information on concrete in the southern hemisphere, the Information Centre’s portal went live on the C&CI website four years ago. It became an icon for the engineering profession and many of Southern Africa’s most respected engineers, academics and consultants will readily admit that the C&CI ‘library’ greatly assisted them in their studies and successful careers.
Publications In 1951, A .E. Wynn, then the director, proposed the writing of an authoritative South African cement and concrete handbook. Written almost entirely by Sandy Fulton, Concrete Technology (1957) was one of the earliest global attempts at a comprehensive book on the subject. ‘Fulton,’ as the book became known, was extremely well received and glowing tributes poured in. After Fulton’s death in 1979, all subsequent editions were named Fulton’s Concrete Technology as a tribute to this doyen of concrete technology in South Africa. In 2009, the ninth edition was published with input from some of the leading authorities on concrete in the Republic. To date this book remains a prescribed textbook for students in civil and structural engineering and building science.
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From 1996 the C&CI Board charted a new direction for the Institute – to become a technical marketing organisation to promote concrete and protect the market against competitive construction materials. Top priorities for marketing were roads, architectural concrete, human settlements and structural concrete. The Institute celebrated its 60th anniversary in September 1998, the year the first issue of the C&CI’s new promotional journal, Concrete Trends was published. It became apparent that the C&CI would benefit from having a more inclusive membership and obtaining greater input from the broader concrete industry. A change in the constitution enabled new categories of membership to be offered and at the time of its closure the Institute had four Producer Members, 12 Associate Members and eight Built Environment Professional Members. For the Institute, it has been 75 years of success and the justifiable earning of respect from the entire construction industry. South Africa will be the poorer without the Cement and Concrete Institute.
cover story
Dezzo Roofing A pioneer in lightweight steel roof trusses specifically designed and manufactured to be competitive in the RDP market.
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ezzo Roofing has been involved in a number of projects nationwide, ranging from residential houses, rural schools, social facilities, hotels, factories and army barracks to office buildings. The product range caters for all roofing styles, including basic lattice and girder beams to carry profiled steel sheeting, trusses that can accommodate concrete roof tiles, pressed steel tiles or any of the profiled steel roof sheets. Trusses can be supplied in kit form, including trusses, battens, tilting battens, beams and purlins. Dezzo Roofing utilizes zinc and aluminum coated steel for all of its components to ensure the best possible performance of its roofing structures. The company is also a member of the South African Light Steel Frame Building Association (SASFA). Dezzo Roofing offers a comprehensive training option for larger sites with high monthly production demands. The company’s recent skills development initiative in Vryheid has been completed with the local roofing team being accredited as a qualified erector for the Dezzo Roofing system.
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The team comprised of unskilled local labour, which, over a period of five months, was trained according to the good roofing practice codes with the Dezzo Roofing system. This enterprise development exercise was welcomed by the local committee of contractors and received the green light from the local council and implementing agent, who saw this as a meaningful contribution to the empowerment of the poor and disadvantaged communities in and around the area.
cover story
Dezzo Roofing has recently doubled their under-roof production space to meet the industry demands for the roofing system. With a production capacity of 500 tons per month, Dezzo Roofing is well-equipped to provide roofing material for at least 100 000m² of roofing per month. Dezzo Roofing’s reputation of delivering quality roofs on time, and at a competitive price, has earned the company preferred supplier status with all of their existing clients. Dezzo Roofing heeded their KZN clients’ call to provide the same impeccable service and quality for their timber roof requirements by recently commissioning a timber roof truss plant licensed by Alpine Automation South Africa in Durban. The company also holds a membership with the Institute for Timber Construction.
For more information, Contact (t) 031-7136571 (f) 0866 777 837 (e) vee@dezzo.co.za (w) www.dezzo.co.za Address: 8 Posselt Road, New Germany
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finance
FNB invests in affordable housing units FNB Commercial Property Finance (CPF), alongside partners, Kiron Projects has launched the Windmill Park Project in Boksburg, an affordable housing estate which caters for a wide spectrum of the housing market.
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indmill Park offers a variety of unit types, 830 in total, priced from R285, 000 to R340, 000 for sale, or alternatively for rent at average rental rates of R2500 – R3200. At the recent opening of the Gauteng Legislature, the Gauteng Premier made note in her address that Gauteng is home to 12.3 million people, becoming the province with the largest population that accounts for 24% of the national population in South Africa. She also noted that the 2011 Census findings show that 80% of Gauteng’s residents now live in formal housing. Carollize Laing, FNB CPF Head: Residential and Affordable Housing says, “The demand for housing remains high, particularly in metropolitan areas as a result of rapid and continued urbanisation. Whilst subsidised housing (Breaking New Ground) is aimed at families earning up to R3, 500 per month, the income bracket between R3, 500 and R15, 000 is known as the affordable housing segment, and homes can be acquired through a combination of government subsidies and conventional mortgage bond finance. The challenge in the South African housing market, however, is the so-called GAP market - households earning between R3, 500 and R7, 500, simply because no stock is available at prices that these households can afford. It is impossible to build houses at prices which would suit this segment, unless land and infrastructure costs can be minimised. This segment of the market is therefore reliant on rental tenure, as opposed to outright ownership, which is exactly what Windmill Park offers.” The estate encourages a sense of community through the provision of play areas for children and open park areas. It furthermore offers safety and security to its residents and makes it the ideal place to raise a family. “FNB is very proud to be involved in this exciting development. It is one of our flagship projects in which we, as a bank, are involved, and we will continue to add value and sustainability to the growing Affordable Housing market segment,” concludes Laing.
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BRICK LAYING MADE EASY! Brick Easy is a patented brick laying device that enables semi-skilled workers to radically improve their performance in brick laying!
SA Patent no. ZA2011/01062 International Patent Pending - PTC/IB2012/050547
Saves time Saves on building costs 3 semi-skilled builders can lay on average 500 bricks per hour
Contact Giuseppe Dalla Torre 083 305 5191 info@brickeasy.co.za www.brickeasy.co.za
BRICK LAYING MADE EASY!
news
Makhulong A Matala Greener pastures Johannesburg Housing Company (JHC) is creating greener and healthier habitats. Two buildings in downtown Johannesburg are being developed with Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA), one of them for green roof food gardens, a practise that has become popular in the US, and is beginning to take hold in South Africa too.
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akhulong A Matala, a community development subsidiary of JHC, approached FTFA , South Africa's greening social enterprise. FTFA has pioneered permaculture food security, climate change awareness and national greening over the past 23 years and has been waiting for an opportunity to develop inner city permaculture food gardens and green roofs. “JHC's greening strategy has always kept an eye on facilitating greening lifestyles within our cities.
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In line with this strategy, Makhulong A Matala’s work focuses on the provision of development services for our resident communities and our vision was pairing this greening strategy with poverty alleviation/food security,” said Lindi Malinga of Makhulong. “Food gardens were the perfect choice as they provide the opportunity to keep the buildings clean through the recycling of unwanted waste and dirty water and using those as a fertilizer for the gardens, as well as provide a source of healthy, organic veggies.”
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An invitation was extended to all interested tenants at Carr Gardens and New Hampstead buildings to participate in the food gardening projects and FTFA ran permaculture workshops with them. Now, less than five months since the first workshops, the resident gardeners are reaping many rewards. “We save money and eat fresh organic vegetables, it also teaches us and the young people involved in the project that they can plant vegetables in the limited space we have in the flats, it is also a skill that we can transfer to others here or at home. Permaculture encourages team work and community spirit. We save money, something many of us don’t have much of and we now eat healthy vegetables,” says project coordinator, Bridget Dube at New Hampstead. Both projects have also sold produce and are working on plans to become self-sustainable. The workshops will continue over the next few months to cover companion planting, crop rotation, planting calendars, soil conditioning, vermiculture, container gardening, pest management, plant identification and uses (herbs, medicinal plants, indigenous plants). The Carr Gardens project members are excited by their understanding of permaculture, which they describe as a branch of ecological design, ecological engineering and environmental design which develops sustainability and encourages self-maintained, horticultural systems modelled from natural eco systems. “The food garden brings the members of the community together. We have also been able to obtain fresh veggies which are free of harmful chemicals such as pesticides. Most of all we have been able to save money,” says Aashia Lorgat, project coordinator at Carr Gardens.
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“Permaculture is permanent agriculture,” according to Ms Dube. “We use resources that we have, like rain water for watering, recycling organic waste material for compost and we get the seeds from the same plants that we planted to replant.” The two projects competed on the 23rd of March and a prize-giving took place on 13 April. Certificates were awarded to all participants and category prizes included: Community Involvement, Best progress/most work done, Most economically productive, Best innovation, Best effort and Most improved. “They have come together as communities, tended the gardens and have harvested crops, such as tomatoes, potatoes, green peppers and many herbs,” says Lindi of Makhulong. “The gardens have become areas of interest in the buildings and all tenants are curious and have been watching the progress.”
For more information, contact: Joanne Lee Carty (t) 011 656 9802/3 (e) joanne@trees.org.za
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www.elematic.co.za
TEL: +27 (0) 11423 2700 | FAX: +27 (0) 423 2717 P O BOX 17261 Benoni West, 1503
| EMAIL: info@elematicsa.co.za
R29 main Reef Road, Benoni
news
Elematic SA and Balwin Properties build on concrete relationship Time lines are tight on most construction projects these days, and especially on those projects in which a developer has made a commitment to multiple buyers in a scheme to hand over on a particular date. Having reliable suppliers and good relationships in place goes a long way to ensuring peace of mind for the developer - and in turn, for the client.
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lematic South Africa’s outstanding delivery on Glenvale – a residential development consisting of 224 luxury sectional title apartments in the southern suburbs of Johannesburg – ensured that the company will secure repeat work from Glenvale’s developer, Balwin Properties. Elematic South Africa (ESA), a leading supplier of precast concrete hollow core slabs, supplied approximately 12 000m2 of slabs for Glenvale. The development broke ground in April last year and has been built in four phases. It is currently on track for completion at the end of April 2013, as planned. “We certainly intend to work with ESA again,” comments Balwin Properties’ MD, Rodney Gray. “Their performance on the Glenvale project was critical to our being able to complete the project on schedule.
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They maintained the necessary schedules and continued to do so even when we had to accelerate our construction schedule ahead of the December 2012 holiday,” he says. In addition to the time-saving and construction programme benefits that Balwin Properties sees in using precast slabs on its developments, ESA’s ability to step up and deliver even under pressure has ensured its appointment on another of Balwin’s developments – Central Park (also in the southern suburbs) for which ESA will supply approximately 25 000m2 of slabs. ESA director, Craig Webber says that whilst the importance of delivering a high quality product cannot be ignored, the team at ESA believes that delivering on promises made and maintaining a good relationship with the client are critical to maintaining the company’s competitive edge.
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Balwin Properties has been developing residential sectional title units in Gauteng for some 17 years, during which time it has developed some 7 000 units in total – or between 600 and 800 per year. The company recently also ventured into the Western Cape and currently has a 1075unit development under way in Somerset West. “We would like to increase the number of units we complete a year to around 1000,” Gray says, adding that Balwin tends to deal with suppliers with whom it has a good relationship for years on end. With ESA having proven itself on the Glenvale project, this bodes well for securing future work from a developer that has become known for the quality of its projects, and which is clearly going from strength to strength.”
About ESA
Glenvale is built in blocks of four units with two apartments upstairs and two downstairs in each block. The complex is designed to appeal to families living in the area, and units are a 50/50 mix of two- and three-bedroom apartments of approximately 85m2 and 100m2 respectively. Prices range from R850 000 to R1 million. With its modern design and the classy finishes that Balwin Properties has become known for, together with its convenient location near The Glen shopping centre, Glenvale’s success is evident in the fact that the development sold out in 10 months.
Elematic South Africa (Pty) Ltd manufactures precast hollow core concrete slabs for the South African market. Elematic is a well established international brand. The company was established in Finland in 1959 and has since set up precast production plants in more than 70 countries worldwide. As part of the Consolis Group, which focuses on research and development in cement and precast concrete products, Elematic is backed by extensive knowledge and experience. Elematic South Africa supplies the latest available technology in precast concrete products. Its state-of-the-art production facility on Gauteng’s East Rand is ISO 9001 certified and all its products carry the SABS mark of quality.
For more information, contact: Craig Webber (t) 011 423 2700 (c) 083 614 9848
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road safety
MBA North wants to stop the shocking number of road fatalities in the building industry in its areas of operation.
MBA North campaign to reduce builders’ road accidents Master Builders Association North has launched a campaign to bring down the shocking number of road fatalities in the building industry.
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oug Michell, Occupational Health & Safety Manager of the MBA North, says the campaign forms part of the Association’s drive to impart a safety culture among members. “MBA North has in recent years seen a major improvement in reducing the volume of health and safety incidents on construction sites in Gauteng, but we are still extremely concerned about the constantly rising number of road fatalities and serious accidents incurred by contractors’ vehicles,” he stated. “It’s not surprising – just one overloaded bakkie involved in a serious accident could kill six, seven or more workers.” MBA North has enlisted the aid of Thabo Training Services, authorities on road safety, who offer driver assessments at the premises of Association members who wish to become part of the new campaign.
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“In the first place, we are putting the focus on drivers who are either pressurised to overload bakkies or apathetic about the safety risks involved. Our campaign is also strongly concentrating on management executives, as we believe internal company moves to end the unnecessary carnage should emanate right from the top,” Michell states. “We want employers to include transport management in their management controls, and assign a competent person to scrutinise vehicle checklists and ensure identified problems are resolved timeously. Spot checks on the condition and loading practises of company vehicles should also be a management responsibility, and drivers’ capabilities and health should regularly be assessed.”
road safety
Michell recently completed the Advanced Safety Drivers course at Volkswagen Driving Academy. “I found the lessons learnt invaluable and intend to strongly recommend that our members’ middle to senior management – who spend many hours driving from site to site – also enrol for this course. The hijack prevention and reaction tuition, for example, is extremely important. With South Africa having one of the highest per capita road death rates in the world, acquiring defensive driving skills has become a necessity, not a luxury anymore,” Michell adds. Gys McIntosh of the Federated Employers Mutual Assurance Company (FEM), leading insurers for the South African building and construction industries, says FEM welcomes the new MBA North initiative. “FEM statistics for the past five years show that over 50% of the fatal injuries experienced in the building sector, both nationally and in the Gauteng region, were motor vehicle-related. In Gauteng, there were 89 road deaths during that period with 23 taking place last year and 11 in 2011. The number of motor vehicle accidents last year in the Gauteng building industry totalled 401 with another 510 having taken place in 2011,” McIntosh states. Doug Michell says another 100 injuries – which had resulted in permanent disability over the past five years – should be added to these totals to fully illustrate “the horrific consequences of the brazen disregard for road safety practices.” Contact MBA North on email info@mbanorth.co.za or phone 011 805 6611 for more details.
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Insulation
Eco-Insulation is pumped into place.
Eco-Insulation for multi-residence development schemes and retrofits Energy efficiency and professional installation are key Energy efficiency is a key ingredient in the global initiative to combat the effects of global warming that are causing climate change.
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t is important in mitigating the social, economic and environmental impacts of climate change on the economic growth of developing nations. Energy efficiency is also needed to help stabilise South Africa's appetite for increased energy usage. One company, Eco-Insulation, believes itself to be the definitive cost-effective solution for housing projects and retrofits. According to the company's GM, Richard Ellis, “Our promise is energy efficient, on time and on budget. Hence, we aim to save the project manager and, ultimately, the property owner money. There's no arguing about that!”
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Eco-Insulation believes that there would be no incentive for a landlord to do a refit unless there is a demand for the upgraded space to be energy efficient, or a demand from occupants to lower their operating costs. “The best things about our recycled cellulose fibre insulation is that it is an extremely easy and efficient retrofit. The client calls, and we install. As simple as that,” says Ellis. Eco-Insulation might be made from fire-retarded recycled newsprint, but this belies the high-tech and robust nature of its performance. The product is both SABS-approved and fire-rated, meaning no spread of fire in the roof where it is installed.
Insulation
Professionally installed, it is rapidly and efficiently pumped into place in the roof, cavity wall or even under the floor. Due to the fact that it is professionally and correctly installed, it meets all the specifications prescribed by the Thermal Insulation Association of South Africa (TIASA), and SANS building codes.
Eco-Insulation has produced some innovative ways of minimising this risk, but some surprisingly well established conventional insulation products still carry heavy risk if downlighters are not treated correctly.
Ellis tells us that the product is ideal for roofing in a multihome residential development. “Rats, mice and other household pests find it very difficult to nest inside a roof that contains Eco-Insulation – in fact, they are repelled by it. So this makes the product an ideal solution for low-cost areas where such animals naturally reside and where little prospect for maintenance exists.�
For more information, contact : Eco-Insulation's General Manager Richard Ellis (t) 0860 105 231 (c) 083 357 1870 (e) richard@eco-insulation.co.za (w) www.eco-insulation.co.za
The insulation industry is challenged by the entry of unaccredited low-cost, low-delivery new installers. Industry association, TIASA, strives to make a difference, but at present, new operators are not obliged to join. In the case of insulation, there is also the ever-present (electrical) downlighter fire hazard above the ceiling.
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windows & doors
A window of opportunity Introducing Swartland’s innovative Kayo Pre-Sealed, Pre-Glazed range of wooden windows and doors that has been successfully used for affordable housing.
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n the past, Swartland’s Kayo range of affordable wooden windows and doors was only available in raw wood. However, recently, Swartland launched the Kayo Pre-Sealed, Pre-Glazed range of wooden windows in an attempt to improve the build quality of low-cost housing, and to provide the market with a range of wooden windows and doors that is beautiful, durable, eco-friendly, and easy to maintain. Says Cobus Lourens, National Sales Manager for Swartland, “Traditionally, wooden windows and doors came with their own set of problems. First off, installation methods were often not able to guarantee perfect results due to inconsistent levels of workmanship. Also, any raw timber products left outdoors are at the mercy of the elements until they are installed, glazed and sealed. Exposing raw timber to damp or wet conditions, for example, can lead to serious damage down the line. Since you need to install, then treat and seal the wood, and then install the glazing,
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installation can be very time consuming and costly. Lastly, in the past, properly maintaining wooden windows and doors could be an arduous and laborious job.” He notes, however, that with the launch of Swartland’s Kayo Pre-Sealed, Pre-Glazed range, all the aforementioned problems are a thing of the past. “Kayo Pre-Sealed, PreGlazed wooden windows and doors are professionally sealed and glazed before they leave the Swartland factory, so that when they arrive on the building site, they are ready to be installed with no further labour required to seal or glaze them. This not only saves time and money on installation costs, but it also ensures that the windows and doors are adequately protected against exposure to the elements. It also vastly increases the overall build quality – ensuring that the windows and doors are finished to Swartland’s exacting standards and therefore, ensuring that any warrantees are upheld,” he explains.
windows & doors
Cobus notes that there are a number of benefits to the PreSealed, Pre-Glazed range, including: • The benefits of being pre-sealed - All Kayo Pre-Sealed, Pre-Glazed windows and doors are pre-sealed with Swartland’s new German-manufactured Maxicare water-based sealant before they leave the factory, to ensure unbeatable protection against the elements. Maxicare water-based sealant boasts a number of benefits, including the fact that it is an environmentally-friendly sealant, with low VOC emissions, it is UV- and water-resistant, non-flammable, lead-free, and it contains anti-fungal properties to protect the timber from fungus, such as dry rot, for example. It will also offer years of protection from the damaging effects of extreme temperatures, humidity, cold, rain and sunlight. To cater for darker colours, such as Teak and Imbuia for example, the Maxicare waterbased sealant contains heat-reflective pigments that lower the surface temperature of the wood to reduce natural movement. • No more sanding required - What really makes the Maxicare water-based sealant a real winner is the fact that it makes wooden windows and doors a cinch to maintain in the long-term. Gone are the days when you had to laboriously sand wooden windows and doors before re-sealing them – now you can simply wash and wipe them down using the specially formulated Maxicare Wash ’n Wipe Wood Maintenance and TouchUp Kit to restore them to their original beauty. The kit comes complete with a Cleaning Agent, Protective Emulsion, Protective Glaze and a sponge, and it is readily available from leading building merchants nationwide.
• All glazing is taken care of - All Kayo Pre-Sealed, PreGlazed windows and applicable doors come pre-glazed with standard 4mm glass in accordance with the National Building Regulations. • Wood is an eco-friendly option - Wood is an environmentally friendly choice of building material, as it is renewable, an excellent insulator, and, if properly maintained, it is exceptionally durable and long-lasting. • The windows and doors come plastic-wrapped - All Kayo Pre-Sealed, Pre-Glazed windows and doors are wrapped in protective packaging that protects them during transportation, and also during installation. Cobus concludes, “Due to time saved on site, and the improved build quality that can be achieved, the Kayo PreSealed, Pre-Glazed range of wooden windows and doors is becoming increasingly popular on affordable housing sites across the country.” Visit www.swartland.co.za for more information, or call Swartland’s customer service department on 086 10 2425 or email them at customerservice@swartland.co.za.
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Cement & concrete
Digging deeper into an environmental dilemma Mines have the potential to play a positive role in society without massively impacting the environment, as long as careful management is applied over the entire duration of the mine and well beyond its closure.
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lthough the practice of mining is, by its very nature, detrimental to the environment, companies nowadays are being asked to find ways of limiting damage and leaving a positive legacy for future generations. In context, mines exist on a giveand-take basis, where the benefits to society should always far outweigh the negative environmental consequences for surrounding communities and the economy in general. Speaking at a specially hosted workshop of the Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa (Aspasa), Professor May Hermanus, director of the Centre for Sustainability in Mining and Industry at the University
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of the Witwatersrand, said mining should always be seen in this context and that environmental management should be adapted to not only protect the environment, but to enrich it for future generations.
Economic pillar "The reality in South Africa is that we need mining. It contributes a total of about 18.7% of our gross domestic product and employs nearly one million people. It is also the most important means of balancing the deficit between imports and exports.�
Cement & concrete
"On the other hand it also contributes to extreme inequality with mine owners enjoying most of the benefits, while communities suffer a reduced quality of life and the environment is left forever changed – often to the extreme detriment of the surrounding area.” "Today mines are being asked to break this cycle and become more environmentally responsible and socially sustainable. We need to look for mining technologies that can do the same work with less harm to the environment. As long as we apply ourselves to solving this dilemma we can do it," Hermanus said. She added that the same dilemma faces miners throughout the world. Even in the most developed economies there is a disparity of benefits and spoiled environments. However, South Africa has an opportunity to show the way, as it represents a microcosm of the world with some of the richest mining companies and poorest communities, as well as environmental management extremes.
Forward planning "The world has limited natural capital and it is our responsibility to make the most of it by using mines sustainably to ensure human capital and social capital is
intact to support manufacturing industries and the economy. The key is to build up durable forms of capital in surrounding areas that will survive far beyond the life of the mines – just like Johannesburg did." She said mines could further improve environmental management by: • Preserving and conserving within their boundaries • Avoiding adverse impacts on surrounding communities • Reuse aggregates and market them as a second tier commodity • Contribute to the sustainable growth of surrounding communities Hermanus ended her presentation by adding that mines needed to begin planning on a far greater scale than simply extracting mineral and metals; rather to think of the impact regionally and get the buy-in of surrounding communities – with their assistance to plan the region’s future. Simultaneously, people should be well informed and aware that mining changes everything, including the environment, population dynamics, land usage and much more.
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Cement & concrete
Getting better In support of Prof. Hermanus, the next speaker, Alan Cluett agreed with her sentiments, while giving his input regarding the state of aggregate and sandiminers' commitment to environmental matters. As the Aspasa "About face auditor for 2012," his insight bore a direct reflection on the sand and aggregate industry's mines. "Last year our audits spanned a wide range of mines from small family-run businesses, to large companies with multiple mining operations around the country. Across the board it was clear that the environmental standards of our mines have improved dramatically since we implemented our environmental audits nearly eight years ago." "But more careful attention still needs to be paid to physical implementation of mines' environmental management plans (EMP), as there is often a disconnection between what is written and what is happening on the ground. Record keeping also needed to be improved to avoid mines falling foul of legislation."
Legal opinion Environmental law specialist, Michael Vermaak, of Bowman Gilfillan, reinforced the importance of legal compliance. "Considering the severity of fines that may be incurred or the closure of a mine, the risks of noncompliance are enormous. Owners whose mines are in breach of environmental laws may even be jailed over serious infringements, which underpin the importance of careful environmental management.� "It needs to be administered at senior management level and implemented according to a carefully drafted environmental plan. It should also be measured and monitored continuously against the terms within the mining and water licence, as well as its EMP. My advice is not to skimp on legal compliance when operating a mine and know what you are getting into when buying an operation - you may inherit more than you bargained for." He added that despite the sometimes complex nature of environmental law, much of the risk of non-compliance can be mitigated through the use of experienced, credible environmental consultants and lawyers.
Getting it right De Wet Botha of Greenline Environmental Consulting concurred, adding that consultants with specialist knowledge were able to add value to mine operations beyond compliance where the needs of mine owners are balanced with surrounding communities and the environment.
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In some instances, rehabilitation can enhance land use and through the use of specialist consultants, mines can attain compliance, as well as create an improved relationship with surrounding communities to the benefit of the environment. "With the right environmental skills mines can set realistic and attainable environmental goals that comply with legal requirements and contribute to sustainable mining practices." In conclusion, Aspasa director, Nico Pienaar underscored the importance of planning in conjunction with various environmental specialists, such as lawyers and consultants. As suggested by Alan Cluett earlier, he agreed that companies that do not have the necessary skills or resources or that needed independent opinion on environmental matters should make use of specialists with specific knowledge of the areas that needed to be addressed. "Through ongoing programs in environmental management, Aspasa also aims to assist all its members to attain the highest levels of compliance and act as a beacon within the mining industry. Aggregate and sand mines that are not yet members of the association can contact us to find out what we can do to assist them to meet everstricter environmental legislation."
For more information, contact Nico Pienaar at Aspasa: (t) 011 791 3327 (e) nico@aspasa.co.za (w) www.aspasa.co.za
Cement & concrete
Concrete block paving and precast concrete used extensively in Klapmuts housing project Very wet winters, a high water table and unstable sub-grade material (earth) has necessitated approximately half a 24 000m2 road-building and accesscourse project in Klapmuts, Western Cape, to be surfaced with concrete block paving (CBP) because of its superior strength and stability properties.
A recently constructed CBP road in Klapmuts in which precast concrete kerbing and bollards were also used.
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sphalt was only used where the water table was deemed low enough and the sub-grade sufficiently stable by the main contractors, Power Construction.
The road-building project forms part of a turnkey housing contract which is being financed by the Department of Human Settlements. The tender was awarded to Power Construction by the Stellenbosch Municipality, for whom the project is being undertaken. It involves the construction of 1 067 x 40m² subsidy houses in two phases over five-years. Phase 1 is being undertaken in two portions of which Phase 1A sees the construction of 480 houses, due for completion by the end of March this year.
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Designed by BKS Consulting Engineers and built by Seymour Paving, the road and access-course project involved surfacing some 11 000m² with CBP, 6 600m² of access course and 4 400m² of roads. Asphalt was only used where the sub-grade was considered sufficiently stable. Steven Levey, senior quantity surveyor at Power Construction, said that the contract includes a 10-year latent defect clause and this was the main reason why concrete block paving was deployed in the sections where the sub-grade was unstable.
Cement & concrete
Some of the hollow-core slabs which were used on the double-storey units at Klapmuts. Klapmuts subsidy housing project, which was NHBRC approved, is an excellent showcase for precast concrete. Not only was CBP chosen for the roads because of its superior durability and all-weather properties, but precast concrete formed the main building components in the construction of the houses. These included: precast building blocks supplied by CMA member, Boland Concrete for the masonry; precast hollow-core slabs for secondstorey flooring of the double-storey units and precast staircases; and concrete roof tiles supplied by CMA member, Eagle Roof Tiles. One of the precast concrete staircases being used in the construction of the double-storey units at Kalpmuts. “CBP provides a long-term paving solution, unlike asphalt, which under these conditions, would most likely have begun cracking within five years. Moreover, CBP surfaces are aesthetically pleasing and can easily be lifted and replaced as new, for example, during the installation of electric cables, which often takes place after the roads have been laid.” Power’s contracts manager, Pietre Smit says that grey 60mm and 80mm 35MPa interlocking concrete paving blocks were used for the CBP. They were supplied by Concrete Manufacturers Association (CMA) member, C.E.L. Paving. “We laid the paving on a G4 base, which is superior to a sub-base and can easily withstand the high water table. Moreover, it has good load-bearing capacity,” said Smit. Seymour Paving director, Jon Whiting, said the borders of both the access courses and the roads were edged with double cobble pavers, which were also supplied by C.E.L. Paving. “It finishes off the project very neatly,” said Whiting, “and we have used the process extensively on other projects.” CMA executive director, Wally Armstrong, says this
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“Hollow-core slab flooring is ideal for multi-storey structures, not only for subsidy housing, but for designer homes, hotels, apartment and office buildings as well. It’s a much faster and cleaner building process than in-situ flooring, and because it’s produced in a factory environment, offers high and consistent quality. “Similarly, precast staircases provide an excellent building solution. They are much easier to install than their steel or timber equivalents and require no maintenance.” The largest precast component of the Klapmuts project was the masonry which comprised concrete blocks in three sizes 400mm x 200m x 190mm, 400mm x 200mm x 140mm and 400mm x 200mm x 90mm. Once built, the outer walls were plastered and painted and the innerwalls were bag-washed. “The superior aesthetic properties of CBP and concrete roof tiles has meant that the Klapmuts project is visually appealing, and as such, is likely to encourage pride-ofownership and a greater sense of community among the lucky few who qualify for these houses. Furthermore, another plus was the fact that that much of the labour for the project was drawn from the local community. Many of them were unskilled and received CETA-accredited training from Power Construction,” concluded Armstrong.
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Events
TotallyConcrete offers solutions for innovative and sustainable housing delivery Residential and commercial developments are on the upswing in Africa with retail space in shopping centres experiencing a growth rate of 7.8% a year and affordable housing at the top of the agenda.
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evelopers, now more than ever, require solutions for innovative, sustainable construction, and will be at the TotallyConcrete Expo to learn from construction and housing experts such as Eng. Hans Rossocha, Engineering Director at Group Five Engineering and Construction (Pty) Ltd, South Africa and Kutoane Kutoane, CEO of the Gauteng Partnership Fund, who will be in attendance to share innovative models for affordable housing finance. In the face of change and fresh opportunity, contractors, engineers, quantity surveyors, architects, designers, property owners and property developers need to better understand how to identify viable project tenders, how to evaluate partners, materials and technology, and how to complete projects on budget and on time. The TotallyConcrete Expo is the only all things cement, concrete and construction event crafted to provide the entire industry ecosystem with the tools and solutions needed to manage projects of all sizes and ensure their delivery on time and on budget. John Sheath, CEO of the Concrete Society of Southern Africa, one of the endorsing associations of the event, states, “The TotallyConcrete Expo 2013, as part of ConcreteWeek, will provide a distinctively African platform on which the concrete and construction industries can converge for skills development, access to cutting edge building and construction technologies and cross-border information sharing.” TotallyConcrete is attracting participation from 20 countries across the African continent. The event features over 80 internationally renowned speakers with experience in residential, commercial and industrial project delivery to foster regional cooperation, socioeconomic development and infrastructure delivery. In South Africa, the property sector delivered a 15.2% return last year, an increase from a return of 10.3% in 2011. HE Thembelani Thulas Nxesi, Minister of Public Works South Africa, will offer insight into South Africa’s systematic and comprehensive approach to regional infrastructure delivery and VIP participation from HE Erkki Nghimtina, Minister, Ministry of Works and Transport, Namibia, will outline Namibia’s Vision 2030 and sustainable urban development framework. In Nigeria there is growing demand for high-quality commercial and residential property and in Kenya the market is dominated by retail driven investments, such as large shopping malls, offices and industrial property.
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Dan Brown, International Property Executive, Century Property Developments, South Africa.
HE Thembelani Thulas Nxesi, Minister, Minister of Public Works, South Africa.
ABSA bank reports there was a 9.53% house price increase last year, which marks the greatest gain South Africa has seen since the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008. With the economy on the cusp of significant growth, the time is right to build relationships that will enable stakeholders to perfect their project delivery. The comprehensive TotallyConcrete programme includes a seminar wholly dedicated to finance and investment for real estate construction, housing, and socio-economic development featuring future-proofed solutions for sustainable, commercially viable housing. Dan Brown, International Property Executive from Century Property Developments, will address the growth in the housing market during this seminar. The industrial, commercial and residential projects now cropping up across the continent are setting the pace and raising the bar for the African construction industry. A unique skill set and a crystal-clear picture of where the industry is headed is required to surmount the challenges that come with industry growth and change, and the TotallyConcrete Expo is set to provide a quintessential platform to launch the African built environment of tomorrow. For more information, visit www.totallyconcrete.co.za.