SA Affordable Housing May - June 2015 | Issue: 52

May - June 2015 // Issue: 52

COMMUNITIES | INFRASTRUCTURE | DEVELOPMENT R216 per annum incl.

MAY - JUNE 2015

ISSUE: 52

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Trademax Publications SA Affordable Housing Communities | Infrastructure | Development

Tel: 0861 727 663 Fax: 0866 991 346 Email: info@trademax.co.za www.trademax.co.za Postnet Suite 241 Private Bag X103 N1 City 7463

CONTENTS 10

16

22

2

EDITOR'S NOTE

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COVER STORY

PUBLISHER: Billy Perrin billy@trademax.co.za 082 266 6976 EDITOR: Jennifer Rees editor@trademax.co.za

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AWARDS

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GOVERNMENT INSIGHT

ADVERTISING SALES:

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HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

kylin@trademax.co.za

22

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

LAYOUT & DESIGN:

25

DOORS

Craig Patterson

26

RETAINING BLOCKS

28

CEMENT & CONCRETE

SUBSCRIPTIONS:

30

BRICKS & PAVING

belinda@trademax.co.za

32

ROOFING

34

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

38

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

40

MACHINERY

Kylin Perrin

craig@trademax.co.za

Belinda Thwesha

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 editorial content or advertisements, in this issue.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Learning curves While affordable housing represents an ongoing challenge for all South Africans, an interesting aspect of this challenge has emerged as requiring urgent attention from both public and private sectors involved in housing delivery - student accommodation.

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e learn from Craig McMurray, CEO of Respublica, a leading developer, owner and dedicated manager of student accommodation in South Africa, that available funding for student accommodation from both government and universities combined will not be “sufficient to accommodate a third of the new enrolment of students, let alone deal with the backlog.” He recommends more engagement with the private sector in the delivery of this type of accommodation. Read more on page 38.

Staying on this topic, we also feature the new R43-million Tygerberg campus residence, which is to be built using light steel framing. This project is being undertaken by STAG African, a prominent student accommodation group. More about this project on page 22.

That which needs urgent attention is also ripe with possibility. Although student accommodation has its own set of challenges, it is a worthy and potentially lucrative

investment. We look forward to revisiting this topic more often going forward, to showcase the great opportunities this sector has to offer, as well as the innovative solutions that will be used to realise these.

On the subject of innovation, we are delighted to have the South African Affordable Residential Developers Association (SAARDA) on the cover of this issue. SAARDA is making remarkable strides in making the process of housing delivery a more efficient and fruitful endeavour.

We commend them on their efforts, which we are proud to showcase in their cover story on page 4.

On this positive note, welcome to the May/June issue of the SA Affordable Housing magazine.

Enjoy the read!

Jen

CONTRIBUTORS CRAIG McMURRAY Craig has a background in international forestry and holds a BSc from Stellenbosch and an MBA from Oxford Brookes University in the UK. From 1998 to 2004, he was responsible for corporate debt restructuring and asset recovery at Standard Bank in Johannesburg and London.

In 2004 Craig founded Pendula Property Investments, a private equity fund that invested in inner-city residential property in Johannesburg. Later, he founded and is currently the CEO of Bridgehead Real Estate Fund (BREF), a South African private equity fund focused on commercial and development properties.

Craig is a co-founder and principal investor, through BREF, of Respublica, a specialist student accommodation development and management company. In addition to his involvement in BREF and Respublica, he is an Executive Director on the board of South African Property Opportunities Fund plc (SAPRO), listed on the London Stock Exchange.

CLLR. BENEDICTA VAN MINNEN Cllr. Van Minnen has a background in Law and Criminology and is passionate about ongoing learning, which is why she is currently completing her Master’s Degree. She decided to enhance her legal background with a foray into politics, which was always her first love. She is a former student activist and SRC member at UCT. She serves as a DA ward councillor in Somerset West and has served on the Civilian Oversight Committee, Municipal Public Accounts Committee and the Safety and Security Portfolio Committee during the course of her career. Before serving as the Mayco for Human Settlements, she served as the Mayco Member for Health in the City.

Cllr. Van Minnen is a resident of the Helderberg and enjoys hiking and kayaking.

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COVER STORY

Cosmo City FLISP

Onwards and upwards for housing association Newly relaunched SAARDA tackles housing delivery challenges to make bulk housing delivery a reality 18 months since the relaunch of the South African Affordable Residential Developers Association (SAARDA) as an association representing developers in the affordable housing market, the association is making remarkable strides in addressing a number of factors that play a role in producing the large number of houses required to accommodate lower- to middle-income groups.

• A master spatial plan has been created that will guide the locality of mega projects and identify areas where council will ensure the presence of bulk services.

Developers are requested to ensure that their projects are registered with the Housing Development Agency (HDA) as this agency will manage the further development of this spatial plan.

Since its relaunch, SAARDA has made good progress in furthering the cause of the industry and has solidly established itself as the representative body in the industry, with due recognition by Minister Sisulu of the Department of Human Settlements. SAARDA has gone a step further by endorsing the Minister’s plan to speed up housing delivery by systematically addressing critical bottlenecks in the housing process, and identifying activities in the development process that are still causing delays.

• So-called ‘mega projects’ have been identified, where a specific, government-created fund will assist with bulk and link services in order to accelerate development.

The following are the items noted in the Minister’s strategic plan aimed at speeding up the housing process:

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• The Department of Human Settlements (DHS), together with the Housing Development Agency (HDA), are working towards establishing a project tracking system based on a quarterly progress review which will identify challenges in the development process, and develop a strategy to remove these in order to facilitate the fast-tracking of development.

COVER STORY

Protea Glen Ext 16 (Glen Ridge) Experienced developers are under no illusions that this number will easily be attained, unless specific attention is paid to the bottlenecks in the development process, which the Minister has undertaken to address.

Protea Glen Ext 16 (Glen Ridge)

In addition to the above, SAARDA has committed its members to support the Minister’s Youth Development Initiative, as the proper education and training of youth in all aspects of property development and housing delivery will ensure a brighter future for the industry, whether these youth are taken up in either of the private or public sectors. The industry has a scarcity of much-needed, knowledgeable and passionate new entrants, as the barriers to entry are considered to be high, which only youthful enthusiasm can bridge.

In his recent presentation of a concept paper on development to representatives of local municipalities, the private sector and communities, Gauteng Premier, David Makhura endorsed the Housing Minister’s announcement of ‘mega projects’, stating that the small projects will never adequately address the housing backlog. It is envisaged that these ‘mega projects’ would comprise a minimum of 15 000 housing units, and be holistically planned to incorporate high density residential opportunities as well as recreational and commercial opportunities, strongly supported by public transport facilities.

Cosmo City – Hlanganani Gardens, rental units

SAARDA has committed its members’ full support to the Minister’s plan (‘Social Contract’ signed on 16 October 2014) to deliver 1.5 million houses in the next five years, by pledging a contribution by its members of at least 100 000 housing units in the fully inclusive package price range of up to R600 000.

It is notable that SAARDA, in its meetings with the Minister, has proposed that the ‘mega project’ concept be extended to comprise collections of smaller projects within geographical areas that, together, effectively provide the critical mass to make an impact in the housing space. Large projects, requiring massive infrastructural development, have lead times of many years. Smaller projects in turn provide a regular flow of housing units, providing housing opportunities in infill land portions which are often un- or under-developed.

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COVER STORY

Protea Glen SAARDA has identified and engaged with the major stakeholders in addressing the issues that hamstring the smooth development of projects and the delivery of housing units. In its past 18 months, SAARDA has attended to the following major issues: • Keeping an open channel of communication with the Gauteng NHBRC to ensure that any abnormal issues relating to enrolment of houses are addressed efficiently.

• The applications to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) for Water Use Licences (WULA), which are required on all projects where development encroaches on a buffer zone or flood-line, are processed in an inordinately long period of time.

Projects can literally be delayed for years as the current processing time of a WULA exceeds 2 years.

SAARDA is attempting to have the DWS consider the importance of processing these applications in a reasonable time period.

• As the National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) manages the approval and payment of FLISP capital subsidies for the Department of Human Settlements (DHS) , the Association has set it as a priority to liaise closely with the NHFC in the process and timing of subsidy approvals and payments. FLISP subsidies can have a large positive impact on the ability of lower income earners to afford to purchase a house.

• The process required for an application for electrical power to Eskom is extremely time-consuming, as the process entails a number of internal departments in

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the power utility. It is then an Eskom requirement that an upfront payment is required for a bulk connection that typically materialises years after the application is made. Developers have to deal with a limited number of approved consulting engineers, as well as limited number of approved contractors that have the financial capacity to contract for the reticulation of stands.

• The external services contributions levied by local authorities have escalated by well in excess of 100 percent in the past year for some services, and the various local authorities’ policies leave developers extremely vulnerable because the large quantum of these contributions have to be passed on to, and do have serious consequences for, home purchasers.

• Building plan approvals are not provided in less than 4 to 5 weeks at any of the local authorities. As building plans are standard and simple in the affordable housing market, this process should be streamlined to free up officials’ time and speed up the delivery process.

• The above, and many additional matters plaguing the industry, add time and costs to the delivery process. All efforts at streamlining the industry are eagerly supported and awaited, and will add value and contribute towards shortening the home delivery process.

The South African Affordable Residential Developers Association is an association for developers and stakeholders, including attorneys, town planners, engineers, contractors, estate agents and mortgage originators in the Affordable Housing Sector who provide the majority of affordable housing in the current residential market. re

SAARDA has a single goal to be the voice and support body for the stakeholders in the affordable residential housing network and ultimately to provide not only environments for communities to thrive, but also to stimulate the local economy and social growth.

South African Affordable Residential Developers Association

Dedicated to providing affordable houses to the people of South Africa

CONTACT DETAILS AND MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES

SAARDA drives change and will continue to serve the affordable housing network by engaging local authorities and industry stakeholders on matters that affect the industry.

Tel: (011) 607 8013 Fax: (086) 602 2481 Email: info@saarda.co.za Web: www.saarda.co.za

COVER STORY

Cosmo City FLISP

It is extremely important that all initiatives by stakeholders are focused and that these succeed in expediting the process to provide a development framework within which houses are delivered. Currently, all costs associated with delays, inappropriately high levels of service and high external services contributions increase the costs of providing serviced stands, which result in higher stand prices and less affordable housing packages.

SAARDA welcomes and fully supports all government initiatives to remove bottlenecks in the industry. It also welcomes initiatives towards providing a development policy that will enable all developers to deliver large numbers of houses into the affordable market at the lowest price that can be sustained, which would benefit all stakeholders.

For more information, visit www.saarda.co.za.

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AWARDS

Kwanokuthula Project – Bitou Municipality

Recognition of Excellence Winners announced at Provincial Housing Excellence Awards

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inners for excellence in human settlements delivery have been announced at the 2015 Provincial Govan Mbeki Awards held at the Lagoon Beach Hotel in Milnerton, Cape Town, on the 23 April.

The awards were hosted by the Western Cape Government Department of Human Settlements and Western Cape Human Settlements Minister Bonginkosi Madikizela.

In 2014/2015, the Department set a target of 17 583 housing opportunities, which was exceeded with the delivery of 18 817 housing opportunities, consisting of 10 421 housing units against a target of 10 357, 11 732 service sites against a target of 6 211 and 1 164 other housing opportunities against a target of 1 015. This delivery also ensured that the entire 2014/2015 Human Settlements Delivery Grant allocation of R1 934 billion was spent. In addition, the Department received a clean audit opinion from the Auditor General for the first time since 1994, indicating that every cent spent was properly accounted for.

The exceptional performance in both service delivery numbers and financial accountability was only possible

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through the contributions and efforts of municipalities, contractors, developers and other stakeholders in the human settlements delivery chain, and it is these efforts that the Department is acknowledging through the 2015 Govan Mbeki awards. Recognition of excellence encourages further excellence, and it is within this culture of meritocracy that service delivery for the citizens of the Western Cape is continually improved.

AWARDS WERE GIVEN IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: BEST INTEGRATED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME: • 2nd runner up: Klapmuts Project – Stellenbosh Municipality (Cape Winelands) • 1st runner up: Abbotsdale Project – Swartland Municipality (West Coast) • Winner: Kwanokuthula Project – Bitou Municipality (Eden)

AWARDS

Pelican Park Project – City of Cape Town

BEST CONTRACTOR IN THE NON-SUBSIDY MARKET: • Winner: Power Group – Pelican Park Project – City of Cape Town (Metro)

BEST COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL UNITS:

Steenberg Social Housing Project – City of Cape Town

• 2nd runner up: Scottsdene Project – City of Cape Town (Metro) • 1st runner up: Connaught Project – City of Cape Town (Metro) • Winner: Kewtown Project – City of Cape Town (Metro)

BEST INSTITUTIONAL HOUSING PROJECT: BEST UPGRADED INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME: • 1st runner up: Sidesaviwe Project – Theewaterskloof Municipality (Overberg) • Winner: Railton Smartie Town Project – Swellendam Municipality (Overberg)

BEST PROJECT IN IMPLEMENTING FINANCE LINKED INDIVIDUAL SUBSIDY PROGRAMME (FLISP): • Winner: Pelican Park Project – City of Cape Town (Metro)

BEST ENHANCED PEOPLE’S HOUSING PROCESS PROJECT: • 2nd runner up: Rondevlei Housing Project – City of Cape Town (Metro) • 1st runner up: Fairylands Project – Drakenstein Municipality (Cape Winelands) • Winner: Kwanonqaba Project – Mossel Bay Municipality (Eden)

• Winner: Harmony Village Project – City of Cape Town (Metro)

BEST SOCIAL HOUSING PROJECT: • Winner: Steenberg Project – City of Cape Town (Metro)

BEST WOMAN CONTRACTOR: • Ms Fransina le Roux of Ukhana Projects CC

MINISTER’S MERIT AWARDS: • PricewaterhouseCoopers for work on the Housing Data Demand Improvement Program • Fairylands Project Steering Committee for excellence in community participation and partnership • Ms Nandi Bulabula of Bulabula attorneys for the transfer of title deeds to beneficiaries in Bitou Municipality The Department wishes to congratulate all the winners of the different categories.

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GOVERNMENT INSIGHT

Image by woodleywonderworks

A view from the frontlines SA Affordable Housing invited Councillor Benedicta Van Minnen of the City of Cape Town to comment on the current state of housing in South Africa.

SAAH: What are the most critical impediments to housing delivery? That is, nationally, provincially and at a municipal level?

CLLR. VAN MINNEN: In Cape Town we lack available land for development. Several large land parcels belong to private owners or national government, and provide challenges in developing and providing housing opportunities at the rate we would like.

We also see a desperate need for GAP Houses in Cape Town. These houses would provide opportunities for those who earn just above the amount set by Government to qualify for state subsidised housing. This means that many families are not able to access housing opportunities, or unlock the economic opportunities that property ownership can provide.

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The rapid urbanisation faced by most big cities is a challenge that cannot be solved by just providing houses, but should be solved by engaging with various stakeholders in creating human settlements that are able to provide opportunities for the needs of the communities who live there.

SAAH: What are the main causes for this situation and what should be done to combat these? What support could be implemented to this end?

CLLR. VAN MINNEN: Cape Town is recognised not only for its investment and growth potential, but also as one of Africa’s economic giants in the international arena. Many individuals move to Cape Town in order to access better job opportunities, services, and education.

GOVERNMENT INSIGHT

We have a major need to develop open parcels of land and create housing opportunities for the most vulnerable, but we also need assistance from private developers to assist us to meet the need for GAP Housing. Partnering with the private sector is thus vital.

SAAH: What opportunities are there for ordinary citizens to play a role in deciding how and with what materials their homes are built?

CLLR. VAN MINNEN: The People's Housing Project (PHP) programme gives the participants considerable discretion on how their houses must be built.

Currently, the City has a number of PHP projects running where we consult the beneficiaries of these developments.

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SAAH: Can communities decide where community infrastructure should be positioned, what transport nodes are needed, where to place schools, etc.?

CLLR. VAN MINNEN: The City’s IDP, Sub-Council and Public Participation System give members of the public the opportunity to express their views on these matters. This is a key part of the City’s IDP objective of creating the Opportunity City.

When a housing development commences in a community, we advertise positions on a project steering committee, an election of the project steering committee takes place, and through this process, the community is actively involved in the process of the specific housing development.

The Human Settlements Department also has housing offices across the City and we host open days in communities to urge individuals to register on our database. Recently we also launched an online and mobile platform to register for the database at our free Smart Cape Internet Kiosks.

Local ward councillors also host regular public meetings where communities can voice their concerns, and my office sees members of the public every Friday. I truly believe that the only way we can make progress is if we make progress possible together.

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SAAH: What are your thoughts on the recent PICC resolution that 60% of government infrastructure buildings must be built with alternative building technologies/materials (ABTs) by 2017?

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CLLR. VAN MINNEN: It’s going to be difficult to meet this target within the stipulated time. Where possible and within budget parameters, the City will work towards achieving the target. We understand there is a desperate need for housing opportunities. At the moment we have about 270 000 people on our database, and providing houses to everyone is an extremely difficult task. We have, however, started to provide those waiting, with housing opportunities. This includes re-blocking, services to backyarders, and providing services to communities living in informal settlements.

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Tel: + 27 11 680 1660 Fax: + 27 11 680 8514

Continued on page 14.

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GOVERNMENT INSIGHT

SAAH: How are ABTs defined in your view and what role

CLLR. VAN MINNEN: I have been meeting with various

can these play in alleviating the housing backlog?

ABT companies to look at how we can change the perception of providing alternative housing. Local companies are doing great work to provide housing through transforming containers. I believe in the future, we will look at these alternative housing opportunities to meet the housing needs of Cape Town.

CLLR. VAN MINNEN: Apart from the traditional understanding of ABTs, the City also encourages any form of innovation under this category. Re-blocking of informal settlements and services to backyarders are examples of these.

Although the City has made good progress improving its utility service delivery to the 204 informal settlements in Cape Town over the past few years, the current design and characteristics of many of the settlements make it difficult for us to provide services at the national minimum standards. The highly flammable building materials and high densities of dwellings significantly aid in the rapid spread of fires and limit effective response by the City’s emergency services, often resulting in loss of life, homes and possessions. To address these issues, the City has drafted a policy that informs residents of its plan to reblock informal settlements. This is aimed at reducing the impact of fires and floods on households in these communities as well as facilitating better access to City services.

Due to constraints, it becomes necessary for the City to implement relief measures until the housing backlog can be eliminated. The City of Cape Town’s backyarder programme is one such measure and is a one-of-a-kind programme in South Africa. An annual amount of R50 million has been budgeted for the roll-out of this programme which sees the provision of services to residents living in the back yards of Council-owned properties.

As a caring city, committed to redress, we are determined to meet the housing needs of as many qualifying residents as possible. However, we are conscious that it will take some time before all applicants receive their own house in light of the high levels of demand, limited appropriate land, and finite funding.

During my time as Mayco Member for Health, we designed and built a green environmental health office constructed with local materials, which was energy efficient, and which was well received by the community and staff. Showcasing this kind of construction will go a long way to building acceptance of ABTs within communities.

SAAH: What programs are implemented in the Western Cape to prevent people from selling or sub-letting their RDP homes?

CLLR. VAN MINNEN: This is a very difficult phenomenon to manage, especially once homeowners have received their title deeds. Issuing more families with title deeds is one of the key projects I want to drive in my term as Mayco Member for Human Settlements and the City is stepping up to the challenge. Transferring title deeds is possibly one of the greatest methods to bring redress to our residents who were prohibited from owning property during the reign of the apartheid regime. Owning an asset unlocks economic potential for beneficiaries; it empowers and transforms.

With regards to reselling property or moving back to informal housing after you received a housing opportunity, we have drafted a new Allocation Policy that makes it possible for the City to act if it becomes known that beneficiaries have onsold their homes illegally. We also emphasise the importance of home ownership in our social preparation phases and educate recipients about the risks of not safeguarding their ownership.

For more information, visit www.capetown.gov.za.

SAAH: Historically, citizens have viewed ABTs with a measure of hesitation and scepticism, favouring traditional building materials and methods. Should people’s perceptions towards ABTs be altered, and if so, how?

SOUTHERN AFRICAN HOUSING FOUNDATION (SAHF) FOR SALE AFTER A SUCCESSFUL 10-YEAR TRACK RECORD Having lived up to its mission and objective to bring the public and private sectors together in service of housing delivery and supporting the development of sustainable communities, the SAHF, which has established important links with a number of countries around the world, is now for sale. Interested parties can contact the SAHF at admin@sahf.org.za.

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Savanna City

Savanna City Show Village

Located 35km South of the Johannesburg CBD in close proximity to Orange Farm, Savanna City is South Africa's largest privately initiated, mixed-use housing development.

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his greenfields mega project will take ten years to complete with a total development value of over R28 billion. The 1462ha will be developed into 18 399 integrated housing units. There will be a total of 5 517 fully subsidised units (RDP), 2 635 Res 3 units and 10 246 Res 1 FLISP subsidised units. The partners involved in the development are Basil Read, Housing Impact Fund of South Africa (Old Mutual, DBSA, Eskom, GEPF), National and Provincial Government, Midvaal Local Municipality, Emfuleni Local Municipality and Sedibeng District Municipality. Cosmopolitan is the selected developer responsible for marketing, sales and construction of the first phase of approximately 1 100 Res 1 Bonded and FLISP units.

Cosmo City was Basil Read’s first mixed-use development, a project that provided the platform for Savanna City.

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This benchmark project will also include 16 schools, a conservation area of 400ha, together with public open spaces, 32 institutional sites, clinics, churches, social facilities and 9 commercial and retail opportunities. All services and facilities are easily accessible and within walking distance. A North-South spine road links all of the economic and social facilities. Direct access links Orange Farm, Stredford train station and the new 30 000m2 Eyethu Mall, within 3km from site and will boost economic and social integration. It is estimated that Savanna City will provide 54 900 employment opportunities during the ten year construction period and 12 700 permanent employment opportunities after completion.

www.cosmojhb.co.za

011 553 6600

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

SAVANNA CITY SHOW VILLAGE Cosmopolitan launched the Savanna City Show Village in November 2014. The event was well attended. All the major banks together with the National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) approved the project. By way of reference to the sales results, it is clear that the public are extremely excited about Savanna City. All 164 FLISP units released were sold before launch day.

Construction of the bonded homes is planned to start by the middle of 2015, with first occupations around August 2015. Cosmopolitan’s target is to have the first 500 units sold by December 2015.

NATIONAL HUMAN SETTLEMENTS YOUTH BRIGADE PROGRAM The Director General of Human Settlements, Thabane Zulu officially launched the National Human Settlements Youth Brigade Program at Savanna City in December 2014. The Youth Brigade Program is focused on creating organised youth teams and to train them in the construction and engineering sector. This pilot project will include theoretical and practical training. Once the youth teams complete Basil Read’s theoretical training, they will join Cosmopolitan and Basil Read construction teams for practical experience.

Bapala Park opening by Midvaal Mayor Bongani Baloyi.

BAPALA PARK At the same time, the first park (a CSI initiative) called ‘Bapala’ in Savanna City was handed over to Mayor Bongani Baloyi from Midvaal Municipality.

The park was designed and built using local community participation. In this case, children from Lakeside Primary School inspired the design for the park by way of artwork and imagery of a dream park, consistent with Savanna City’s unconventional vision.

Children playing in the new Bapala Park.

Savanna City is a Government priority mega project and will play a critical part in contributing to Government’s second social contract of achieving the next five years’ housing targets.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Davina Piek (t) 010 010 5316 (e) info@savanna-city.co.za (w) www.savanna-city.co.za Jaco Slabbert (t) 011 553 6600 (e) jaco@cosmojhb.co.za (w) www.cosmojhb.co.za

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Youth Brigade Program ribbon cutting by Midvaal Mayor, Bongani Baloyi.

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STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

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SA’s greenest residence Using Innovative Building Technology and optimal architectural design, Stellenbosch University’s new 208-bed student residence, which is currently under construction, will help address the major accommodation shortage at the university.

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he R43-million Tygerberg campus residence, which is being built by student accommodation group, STAG African, will make use of Light Steel Frame Building (LSFB) and incorporate energy-saving features such as LED lighting and heat pumps, which will use 50% less electricity than a standard building. The residence, which is due for completion in November 2015, has set its sights on being the greenest residence in Africa.

“Sustainability and innovation are at the forefront of our green agenda; more than being a key focus for the university, our students expect it,” Pieter Kloppers, the Director of Student Communities at the University of

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Stellenbosch said. “Based on the success of Ubuntu House, our first green residence developed by STAG African, we look forward to the completion of the new residence, which will go a long way in addressing the accommodation shortage at our Tygerberg medical campus.”

By focusing on the students themselves, STAG African have pioneered a cost-effective, green alternative to building: "We wanted an optimal architectural design that ensured every square metre of the building was designed specifically for the needs of the student," John Schooling, MD of STAG African said.

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

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STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

While campuses are expanding, taking on more students and adding new departments, the one area of university life that is lagging is the issue of student accommodation.

“The cost of student accommodation is very expensive; the national norm is around R280 000 per bed – for a lot of universities, that’s unaffordable. We looked around for a building method that we could apply to the South African context and discovered a substantially cheaper solution to bricks and mortar; something that is much better," Schooling said.

Used to build the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building and the old and new World Trade Centres, Innovative Building Technologies have been widely used in many developed countries. Not only does it reduce the carbon footprint, it also dramatically reduces the cost and time

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taken to construct buildings. “Using this technology, we can reduce building time by 40% and the costs associated with it dramatically. For universities, where cost ultimately is the deciding factor, it’s an obvious choice. By default, it addresses the students’ need for a green living environment,” Schooling said.

“Accommodation for students is more than providing a place to sleep; it’s about creating communities – a listening, learning and living environment. This is crucial to the success of the housing facilities provided by the university,” Kloppers said. “Student housing, over and above providing a place to sleep, creates a sense of belonging; for many, it’s where real integration and camaraderie takes place – its importance cannot not be underestimated.”

DOORS

High quality Saligna doors for low-cost and GAP housing projects Africa Timber Marketing (ATM) manufactures quality Saligna doors for low-cost housing and GAP housing projects, and needs no introduction to architects, builders, contractors, property developers, hardware establishments and the export market.

S

aligna (Eucalyptus Grandis) is preferable for use in the manufacture of doors, due to its density, hardness, and bending strength. Africa Timber Marketing controls its own drying processes of its timber by means of a PLC timber drying control system, which ensures a superior end product.

With years of experience in the doors and timber trade, ATM customers are assured of the best quality and most cost-effective doors in the market, as well as fast, efficient, and personal customer service.

Africa Timber Marketing obtained SATAS (South African Technical Auditing Service) (SANS 545:2009) certification in 2014 and is proud to announce that it is in the process of developing panel doors (4, 6 and 8 panels), which will soon be available to the market.

ATM is able to supply the market in large volumes.

MANUFACTURER OF HIGH QUALITY SALIGNA DOORS At ATM our aim is to bring you premium quality Saligna doors at affordable prices

SALIGNA FLB DOORS

SALIGNA STABLE DOORS

• Saligna frame, ledged and braced • Solid Saligna construction • External/Internal door • Finished size: 2040 X 815 mm

• These doors split in two, which allows the top half to open while the bottom half remains closed • External/Internal door • Finished size: 2040 X 815 mm • FLB and BB stable doors available

SALIGNA BB DOORS & FIRE DOORS • Saligna appearance on both faces • Semi-solid and solid construction • External door • Finished size: 2040 X 815 mm

CONTACT SJ BADENHORST Tel: +27 12 802 2012 | Fax: +27 86 509 7603 | Cell: +27 84 811 3439 | Email: atm@lantic.net Physical Address: Africa Timber, Plot 365 Donkerhoek, R104 Road, Pretoria East

RETAINING BLOCKS

Combining construction with the healing process Green wall innovation at a new children’s hospital in Dubai

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he Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital, an initiative of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, is not only dedicated entirely to children, but was also designed by combining innovative aspects of design and construction with the healing process in mind.

Says Al Maidoor, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), “The hospital will be the first-of-its-kind facility in the region offering super-specialty and multispectrum pediatric care. It will provide pediatric services from newborns to 16 year-olds and will offer all necessary pediatric services under one roof for the children of the UAE and the region.”

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Al Maidoor adds that of the total area, nearly half has been dedicated to gardens and landscaping including a 'healing garden' with bright flowering shrubs, herbs and medicinal plants. “The use of natural light, greenery and a healing landscape is aimed at offering a high level of indoor air quality, reducing noise and creating a pleasant environment. The development will be highlighted by several energy saving initiatives including sustainable construction techniques to reduce energy use, an active wall façade system to reduce ambient temperature inside the hospital, and rooftop gardens that provide greater insulation. As part of its focus on sustainability, the hospital will use recycled water for irrigation purposes.”

When Italian architects and engineers, Studio Altieri International where looking for green building materials to use for landscaping on hospital grounds, they came across Terraforce, a South African-developed hollow-core, plant-friendly concrete retaining wall system.

Manufactured under license in the UAE and region by Consent LLC, the Terraforce system is akin to a living wall, the unique hollow-core design of the interlocking blocks allowing plants to become a part of the wall. By using water-wise plants and a good irrigation system, a sustainable, yet durable green wall can be created.

On request by Studio Altieri, Consent proposed a design for a number of earth-retaining and noise-reduction issues on the expansive site. This design is a unique variation for Terraforce, and was put together by Bryan Newby, a Namibia-based specialist Terraforce installer, Simon Knutton, a Johannesburgbased consulting engineer with extensive experience in designing Terraforce walls, and the input from the Terraforce head office in Cape Town.

Once the proposal was accepted, Al Aamal Construction Co. LLC was appointed as the sub-contractor, who, under the guidance of Bryan Newby, started with the installation in 2013.

RETAINING BLOCKS

Construction of the walls started with the placement of 1 800 x 1 000 x 300 precast foundations, 600mm below the finished ground level, onto which Terraforce L16 blocks where installed – double skin and concrete filled – to the finished ground level. Subsequently the blocks were placed double skin, soil filled and in the rock-face finish at an incline of 80 degrees.

As the wall progressed, the innovative faÇade of this Terraforce wall design came into play, by reversing and moving forward slightly every third row of blocks to provide a plant-supportive pocket that could also accommodate an efficient, easy maintenance dripper irrigation system. Out of these pockets, water-wise plants would eventually drape over the side of the block, softening the near vertical concrete surface with curtains of greenery.

Says Holger Rust, Cape Town-based founder of Terraforce, after he visited the site in February 2015, “This must be the most efficient irrigation system ever.

The exposed pipe was hidden by the plants (portulacaria afra) within three months. Each plant has a dripper, and water provision for each plant can be accurately controlled with a timer and wastage of the precious resource is reduced to a minimum. Further, the system is extremely maintenance friendly and repairs are a breeze.�

As the wall increased in height, backfill was brought in, compacted to specification with reinforcing layers of high strength geo-grid every second course, to the final height of up to 8m. Near the top and mid-way of the walls, a non-woven geo-textile cut-off filter layer was installed. Bryan Newby stayed on in Dubai for a few months, working with the team mostly at night to avoid the intense summer heat. Later Sinan Awad took over the supervision of the contract, which is still on-going.

MAIN CONTRACTOR: Al Futtaim Carillion ARCHITECT: Studio Altieri International CONSULTING ENGINEERS: Eng. Adnan Saffarini Office SUB-CONTRACTOR: Al Aamal Construction LLC TERRAFORCE DESIGN ENGINEER: Knutton Consulting Engineers TERRAFORCE CONSULTANT: Bryan Newby TERRAFORCE LICENSED UAE MANUFACTURERS: Consent LLC

Find a supplier www.terraforce.com

Tel: 021 465 1907 MAY - JUNE 2015

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CEMENT & CONCRETE

Sarma Readymix Conference 2014

Examining new roles for concrete Modern readymix concrete can be produced to give engineers and architects almost limitless strength characteristics, while simultaneous developments in decorative concrete are now giving designers the ability to make any concrete structure look spectacular.

I

n recent years, global companies in the supply of cement products, additives and equipment have needed to push the boundaries far beyond the ordinary in order to meet requirements for some of the most spectacular structures the world has ever seen. While these technologies allowed record-breaking achievements, they have also been made available in the market place to be used in a range of applications.

BRAVE NEW WORLD

“Now it is important that South African firms adopt these technologies and explore the almost limitless possibilities of new readymix concrete. This country has an advanced readymix supply chain and there is absolutely no reason why our readymix concrete suppliers cannot mix and match the concrete being produced in Dubai, China or Europe.

“To harness all the new developments, this year’s Readymix Conference hosted by Sarma will strive to showcase more of the abilities of readymix concrete and help put local suppliers and construction professionals into the picture to show them what can be done. We have also arranged a smorgasbord of technical speakers to discuss the possibilities of readymix concrete and look at practical ways of ensuring local suppliers are able to produce the best possible concrete,” says Johan van Wyk of the Southern Africa Readymix Association (Sarma).

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“New concrete products and equipment is making it possible to pump concrete higher and further, to dry quicker to have more flexibility, strength or lighter properties. Porous concrete makes covering vast expanses kinder to the environment, while self compacting concrete is making construction easier and faster than ever before.

CEMENT & CONCRETE

“This year’s Readymix Conference hosted by Sarma will strive to showcase more of the abilities of readymix concrete and help put local suppliers and construction professionals into the picture to show them what can be done,” says Johan van Wyk. “We will also focus on pushing the boundaries of local construction and improving practices, methods and machinery in order to ensure that our construction industry keeps up with global trends. Speakers will also examine new formulae and techniques available and will discuss and demonstrate the benefits of new products and techniques.

“The difference with our conference is that as far as is possible we will demonstrate these new techniques and products and delegates will have the chance to interact with technical experts and suppliers to discuss practical applications within their own businesses. Sponsors will also exhibit their offering and engage directly with visitors at the large indoor and outdoor show venue,” explains Johan.

POWER-PACKED AGENDA He adds that the program will also include talks from one of the country’s top economists, Roelof Botha, who will look at predictions made at last year’s event and see how they remain relevant this year. Brand Pretorius, past CEO of McCarthy Motors, known as Mr Fixit for his abilities to set companies on the path to profitability, will be the dinner speaker discussing opportunities for the readymix and broader construction industries.

A high-powered delegation of industry experts will also delve further into an array of topical issues such as road transport, truck and fleet insurance, pumping concrete, decorative trends and more. Technical and training sessions will also be brought into the schedule. The conference will be preceded by the association’s annual general meeting on the first morning until shortly before the opening of the conference at 10am and is open to all Sarma members.

“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. The conference will take place at Misty Hills Conference Centre on the West Rand on 13-14 August 2015.”

For more information, visit www.sarma.co.za.

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BRICKS & PAVING

Evening scene of the Denis Hurley Centre.

New Denis Hurley Centre built to

serve the community for years to come The heart of Warwick Junction is beating with new life in the form of the recently constructed community building, Denis Hurley Centre.

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eplacing the demolished 106-year-old parish centre which sits adjacent to the Emmanuel Cathedral, the new community centre is named after the former archbishop of Durban, Denis Hurley, who actively spoke out against the atrocities of apartheid for five decades.

Hurley believed a church should be a ‘community serving humanity’ and this centre will allow for his work to continue.

Talking about the multi-faith establishment, Gonzalo Prieto of Ruben Reddy Architects said the aim was to make the building as energy efficient as possible to cut down on future costs.

“We had a tight budget so we needed to make practical use of the materials and not rely on the finishes. We decided that face brick would be the right choice.”

Prieto said they opted for Corobrik’s range, selecting 65 000 Silvergrey Travertine face bricks, 50 000 non-face plaster and 20 000 non-face extra bricks.

Taking into account Durban’s summer heat, Corobrik Sales Manager, Pat Moon, said the Silvergrey Travertine was the perfect choice.

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“The light colour of the face brick has reflective properties which will minimise heat retention within the building,” said Moon. “Being colourfast with excellent resilience the face bricks will well withstand the elements so there will be very little maintenance later on. It is a great cost-saving choice, particularly for a community centre such as this, where funds will go towards the upliftment of those visiting the centre, rather than the upkeep of this magnificent building.”

Moon said the clay bricks also have a natural propensity to absorb and release humidity from the atmosphere on Durban’s typical summer days. It is this attribute that helps keep indoor humidity at the 40%-60% level necessary for supporting healthy living.

Architect, Prieto, echoed Moon’s views, saying the travertine fitted in with all the ideals of resistance and low maintenance.

“We wanted a contemporary look, but didn’t want to go for the traditional brick colours of red and orange, so we opted for the Silvergrey Travertine.”

BRICKS & PAVING

Initially the plan was to have no air conditioning throughout the building, relying rather on natural ventilation. However, it was eventually decided that the bigger multi-purpose rooms would need air conditioning in summer.

To maximise on natural light, yet reduce radiant heat so as to not direct too much of the budget towards glass, Prieto said long, narrow windows which were deeply recessed provided light while protecting the inside from the sun.

The triangular site proved challenging initially, but Prieto decided to use this to their advantage, giving the building character and personality.

“We introduced an atrium which resolved a number of issues. Firstly it introduces light into all the public spaces so there is no need for artificial lighting. We avoided the need for corridors, the only one being on the ground floor, so all the public spaces are interlinked and it feels much more spacious than it actually is. Secondly, it ventilates the building and, with the windows open it creates a draft.”

The atrium cools the building using an extraction system which creates a negative flow of air out of the building, drawing the hot air from each level.

Greg Hayhoe, contracts manager for GVK Siya Zama Building Contractors, further explained that the tinted glazing on the windows also has heat abating properties while letting in light.

Commenting on the building’s sustainability, Hayhoe said, “The finishes within the building are also minimalistic to save on costs and maintenance. These include polished concrete floors, off shutter ceilings and the third floor ceilings have acoustic and insulating properties.”

“The roof is chromadeck sheeting on a 100mm thick factorylite insulation which provides optimum insulation.”

In accordance with the municipality’s stipulations, water tanks and a pump were built in the basement for the sprinkler system. The heat pump provides hot water for the showers however all the ablutions use only cold water.

Originally the plan was to renovate the old parish centre, but it was so run down that it wasn’t financially viable.

Hayhoe explained, “The building was an AMAFA heritage site but, unfortunately, very little of the existing building or materials were worth recycling because of the state of disrepair.”

However, he explained that they did manage to salvage some components of the former centre which have been incorporated into the new centre. These include handrails from the staircase, decorative cast iron air grilles and 500 bricks which have been recycled to build the counter in the café.

Whereas the old centre had three floors, the Denis Hurley Centre has four floors catering for the three social programmes which assist the sick, hungry and homeless.

The ground floor has a room for the feeding scheme where people are given a meal and can shower. This leads into the clinic where screening and first aid is administered and finally a room for the refugee programme.

The centre also houses a library, with information on the history of South Africa, a prayer room, caretaker’s apartment and a number of multipurpose rooms.

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ROOFING

The roofing edge The Roof Buddy fascia system, designed and developed specifically for the South African building industry, offers a unique, patented alternative to the more conventional types of fascia systems.

T

he system is well suited to upgrading roofs (concrete or steel) and adds an attractive finish to any home.

Manufactured from high quality electro-galvanised steel, the product is then chemically cleaned and prime coated in a black E-coat finish, which is approved by the automotive industry and used to prime metal components.

The system surface area can be painted using roof acrylic PVA or enamel paint.

The Roof Buddy fascia system has a 19-year proven track record and offers numerous advantages, such as: 1. A suitable replacement for barge/fascia boards and concrete verge tiles 2. Ideal for concrete and steel roofing projects 3. Provides a secure, elegant and attractive finish 4. Waterproof, resilient to hail and adverse weather conditions

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5. Resists rough handling 6. Quick and easy installation – no power tools required 7. Lightweight and stackable for storage 8. *15 year product + 1 year prime coat warranty * Terms and conditions apply

ROOFING

We currently supply and support a number of established companies in South Africa and have been listed as a supplier to the Build It and BUCO Groups.

In 2006 and 2009, the system featured in the SABC 2 Show ‘Die Nuts Man’, complementing the roofs on the show’s featured homes.

Roof Buddy is committed to providing product and service excellence. We participate and facilitate regular sales promotions and offer free on-site product training.

For more information, visit www.roofbuddy.co.za.

SOUTH AFRICA’S MOST ATTRACTIVE ROOF FASCIA SYSTEM

15 YEAR

PRODUCT WARRANTY

IDEAL DIY PRODUCTS www.roofbuddy.co.za

Call John: 082 452 1240 or email: roofbuddy@telkomsa.net

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

Strides made in realising SA’s largest ‘holistic housing development’ Coega Ridge developers announce plans to break ground by 2018

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Mann said up to 5 000 jobs per month would be created during the construction phase, which was on track to start in 2018, and that the entire project had a capital expenditure value of R20 billion.

Nu-Way executive director, Jordan Mann announced to government and private sector delegates at the Eastern Cape Construction Summit held in Port Elizabeth on the 26th of March that the project was on track to break ground in 2018 and had the backing of the Coega Development Corporation (CDC).

A new waste water treatment plant planned for the Coega IDZ, adjacent to Nu-Way’s Coega Ridge development site, was a huge boost for housing project, he said. “The sewer pipeline which will run from Coega to Motherwell will help unlock the greater Coega Ridge project,” said Mann, who has been working closely with municipal and provincial stakeholders for several years to make the project a reality.

evelopers behind what aims to be South Africa’s largest mixed-use residential development, the multi-billion rand Coega Ridge holistic housing estate between Motherwell and Coega outside Port Elizabeth, have announced strides in making the mammoth project a reality.

“This project will alleviate Nelson Mandela Bay’s housing backlog of 87 000 units by almost half through the construction of 40 000 housing units,” said Mann. “Not only will Coega Ridge help substantially dent the metro’s housing shortage, but as the Coega IDZ attracts more and more top industries, we will build the housing they will need, as our project caters for all tenure groups.”

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Earmarked for 3 200 hectares of land along the R335 to Addo, Nu-Way Housing Developments was given the green light by the provincial Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) in August last year to proceed with town planning for the project.

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

“This is a mega project which will certainly go a far way to addressing the backlog,” said del Monte, who has commenced with the conceptual stages of the project’s town planning for Nu-Way. According to Mann, town planning for the project could be completed by 2017, after which – pending approval from all relevant provincial and local stakeholders – ground on Phase One could break. The project would unfold over six to 10 years, he said.

At a national housing indaba in Johannesburg last October hosted by Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, NuWay signed government’s housing charter which maps out the plan to reduce South Africa’s housing backlog of 2.3 million units.

Coega Ridge would also include community facilities in addition to schools, a university, a technical college, a hospital, neighbourhood shopping centres, and a regional shopping centre spanning up to 110 000m², said Mann.

Project civil engineers, Aurecon are confident that enough services are in place to begin the first phase of the estate – about 5 000 housing units. However, a bulk waste water treatment works in the IDZ would unlock the greater development, said Mann.

Award-winning housing expert, Lance del Monte, who is involved in the Coega Ridge planning, said the development would go a long way to addressing the city’s housing backlog.

BACKGROUND Also included in Coega Ridge will be a light industrial area, a railway station, office parks and a sports academy. An upmarket eco-estate with a golf course and a hotel are also in the pipeline. The project has been meticulously planned over the past eight years.

“The phenomenal growth of the Coega IDZ, with projects in the pipeline like the PetroSA refinery, is seeing a massive need for mixed-use housing in the area,” said Mann.

Nu-Way was established in 1986 and has developed over 65 000 subsided and affordable housing units around the country.

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AFFORDABLE HOUSING 2015 15 – 17 July 2015 Southern Sun O R Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa

Dear Executives, As you know there has been a need for affordable housing development for a few years, but the development of these has been stalled due to insufficient infrastructure, limited budget and lack of supporting services such as water, roads etc.

With 4 years remaining to deliver 1.5 million houses as pledged last year by Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, the Department of Human Settlement has decided to break new grounds in their overall strategy to deliver more than 270 000 houses a year.

Affordable Housing 2015 is tailored at a deal level to reflect on the minister’s agenda to transform South Africa into the biggest construction site in Africa and bridge the gap between policies and implementation.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? • National Government • Provincial Government • Municipalities • Property Developers • Mines • Banks & Financial Institutions • Investment Firms • Parastatals • Consulting Engineers • Contractors • Construction Companies • Architects

KEY FOCUS AREAS

• Sub-contractors

1. Delivering affordable housing through mega projects 2. Establishing clear guidelines and objectives for each stakeholder in order to facilitate and expedite the supply of affordable housing 3. Building better partnerships between the private and the public to facilitate financial flow in affordable housing projects

AMC International is pleased to announce Affordable Housing 2015, taking place from 15 – 17 July, 2015 in Johannesburg.

WHAT PART ARE YOU PLAYING IN THE DELIVERY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING? HOW TO REGISTER? • Email sifisoz@amc-intsa.com with your contact details and request a brochure!

• Sponsorship opportunities, email Angela Dube at angelad@amc-intsa.com • Call +27 (0) 11 341 1000 today!

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards Sifiso Zwane AMC International

Conference

∙ Trade Expo

12 – 13 August 2015, Cape Town International Convention Centre

Conference

∙ Trade Expo

ONSOR P S a s ate a Particip expand d n a R BITO ! or EXHI etwork n s s e n i s your bu CapeConstructionExpo

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Cape Construction CONTACT TANITHA JOlly

tanitha.jolly@cape-construction.co.za +27 21 700 4324

www.cape-construction.co.za

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

Partnering to solve the student accommodation problem In his response to debate on his 2015 State of the Nation Address, President Jacob Zuma said, "We have noted the frustrations of our students over accommodation challenges at academic institutions," confirming again what South Africans already know: there are not enough beds at the country’s tertiary education institutions.

By Craig McMurray, CEO of Respublica

Photo by j.o.h.n. walker

W

hat’s more, even the R1.6 billion that the government has set aside to address this issue is not going to meet the needs of the country’s

students.

That R1.6 billion together with the universities’ own contributions of R700m will create accommodation for 9 000 students. This is not sufficient to accommodate a third of the new enrolment of students, let alone deal with the backlog. Considering the limited resources from government and universities, it is imperative that all parties engage far more meaningfully with the private sector to help alleviate the shortage, as recommended in the Ministerial review on Student Housing back in 2012.

Apart from the obvious implications of not having a roof over their heads, this accommodation crisis has farreaching consequences. One of the main reasons that students drop out of universities has very little to do with their academic aptitude, or their commitment to their studies – it’s got to do with the influences on students’ lives when they’re outside the lecture hall or laboratory, and where they stay plays a significant part.

Many bursary students come from disadvantaged environments, and they are unaccustomed to the inconveniences and pressures that come along with moving to a big city university that could lead to them

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being one of the 49 percent of students that drop out before completing their studies. There are many reasons for this drop-out rate, but not least among them is that inexperienced students may make inappropriate accommodation choices that don’t offer social support, academic mentoring and tutorship, as well as basic facilities like kitchens and laundries, and connectivity to all the resources required during their studies.

There are bespoke student accommodation facilities that have been designed and built specifically with the needs of students in mind, providing students (and their parents, sponsors or bursars) with the reassurance that the investment in their academic programmes is going to be matched by the supportive living environment they need to achieve great results.

Beyond the public sector, the student accommodation environment is clearly one where demand exists, and there is significant opportunity for investors and developers who are equipped to invest in student accommodation. However, investors wishing to venture into the market need to be well aware that student accommodation is a management-intensive business with operational requirements that extend way beyond conventional property, but a venture into this environment will be well worth the effort, given the good return on investment.

MACHINERY

Total solution from PMSA saves Van Dyk Stene up to 30% on cement costs The newly commissioned Van Dyk Stene plant in Vredenburg in the Western Cape is saving the manufacturer up to 30% on its total cement input costs. The state-of-the-art plant is a showcase for the total concrete solutions available from Pan Mixers South Africa (PMSA), the largest manufacturer of concrete brick, block and paving machinery in Africa.

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an Dyk Stene is the first plant of its kind in Africa to use a full curing system from German technology leader, Kraft Curing, distributed locally by PMSA. The total automated solution supplied covers batching (mixing and weighing), a stacker and destacker, an RE1400 block-making machine and automated wet and dry side product handling.

The advanced technology from Kraft Curing allows PMSA’s customers to reduce their input costs by cutting down on the quantity of cement used in the production process, without compromising on the quality of the bricks and blocks.

“Van Dyk Stene is now able to achieve the same strength requirements, but with 30% less cement, a cost saving that will have a significant impact on its bottom line,” points out Quintin Booysen, PMSA sales and marketing manager.

The Kraft Curing technology allows for consistent control of temperature and relative humidity levels of between 90% and 95%, improved operational efficiency, high early concrete strength, uniform colour and a denser product surface.

The curing system uses air circulation to maintain temperature and humidity consistency throughout the top and bottom levels of the curing chamber. Together with increased humidity, this contributes to improved product strength. High early strength means that the end product can be tested and delivered more quickly, thereby reducing stockholding.

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PMSA has supplied a total concrete solution to Van Dyk Stene in the Western Cape.

Booysen explains that PMSA specialises in providing total concrete solutions to meet all of its customers’ requirements. It was awarded the contract by Van Dyk Stene to supply all of the equipment for the state-of-theart plant, which took nine months from design to final construction, and was opened officially on 20 May 2015.

Van Dyk Stene was established in Vredenburg in 1970.

Owned and managed by Mario and Andre van Dyk, the company manufactures and supplies precast masonry products, sand, stone, kerbs, pavers, walls and garden products. Its focus on customer service and high quality products has made it an industry leader in the Western Cape.

The company has invested heavily in modern production techniques for efficient high-volume output of its extensive product range. “The latest example of our commitment to innovation is the addition of our concrete curing process facility,” points out Andre van Dyk.