SA Affordable Housing November - December 2015 | Issue: 55 by Trademax Publications

November - December 2015 // Issue: 55

COMMUNITIES | INFRASTRUCTURE | DEVELOPMENT R216 per annum incl.

Created from nature built to last

THE

EO Y F THE CLA

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IN D U S T RY

BUILDING A

NEW HOME?

MAKE SURE YOU USE A NHBRC REGISTERED BUILDER FOR PEACE OF MIND. Building a new home is one of life’s most exciting milestones. But few things can ruin the occasion like defects that show up long after you’ve parted with your money. It doesn’t have to be this way. Work that is faulty and incomplete due to shoddy workmanship can be avoided if you stick with an accredited builder. The NHBRC was established by law to protect you, the housing consumer. Make sure you use a NHBRC registered builder and that your home is enrolled with us so that we can protect you.

Fraud Hotline: 0800 203 698

www.nhbrc.org.za @NHBRC

NHBRCSA

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

ISSUE: 55

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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

CONTENTS

Postnet Suite 241 Private Bag X103 N1 City 7463

PUBLISHER: Billy Perrin

billy@trademax.co.za

EDITOR'S COMMENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

GAUTENG HOUSING DELIVERY

EDITOR:

COVER STORY

editor@trademax.co.za

CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

FLEX BUILDING SYSTEMS

NHBRC UPDATE

kylin@trademax.co.za

CONCRETE STANDARDS

LAYOUT & DESIGN:

uPVC WINDOWS

INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING FOR JHB

FACE BRICK

AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE

CONCRETE

CMA AWARDS

INTEGRATED AFFORDABLE HOUSING

BUILDING STANDARDS

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

082 266 6976

Celéste Perrin

ADVERTISING SALES: Kylin Perrin

Craig Patterson craig@trademax.co.za SUBSCRIPTIONS: Belinda Thwesha belinda@trademax.co.za

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.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

EDITOR’S COMMENTS

‘Tis the season Hold on just a minute - where did 2015 go?

or me, this year has simply flown by, and I can hardly believe the festive season is upon us. I know I’m not alone in wondering if we unknowingly experienced some sort of time warp this year. Many folks agree with me, lamenting, ‘but it seems like just the other day that…’ Indeed. A lot has happened in the affordable housing sector this year, even amidst the economic downturn that is stifling advancements in infrastructure and housing development. It seems like just the other day that that we saw legislation direct that 60% of government’s social infrastructure development must be constructed of prefabricated alternative building technologies by 2017. It seems like just the other day that the Gauteng Provincial Government launched its Mega Housing Project approach. And it was only the other day that Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu announced that her Department will launch 77 ‘catalytic projects’ across the country soon, to enable it to build the desired 1.5-million houses over the next five years. It was only the other day that the City of Cape Town announced an 8,000-home ceiling retrofit commitment as part of its redress programme to improve living conditions of beneficiaries who received inadequate housing between 1994 and 2005. And it was only the other day that we were informed that only 12% of people in formal settlements across the country still have to use bucket toilets. So, both big and small things have happened and continue to happen on the affordable housing community landscape.

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NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

That is, if we can see more open dialogue between private sector business and government result in actual, successful public-private collaborations. Especially in light of the positive report coming from the consulting engineering sector recently, stating the housing and human settlements sector is a key market pillar for that industry, providing around 11% of its earnings in the first half of this year. Being hopeful about the immediate future of affordable housing is not wishful thinking, it’s being positively optimistic – just look at the projects and initiatives covered in this issue of SA Affordable Housing, and you’ll agree that ideals can be achieved with the right people behind the wheel. So, what is on your wish list this season? Whatever it is, the SA Affordable Housing team hopes you get it. We wish all our valued readers and advertisers a wonderful festive season to take us through to a new year and better things to come. Thank you for your loyal and ongoing support. Here’s to happy and safe holidays, and a prosperous 2016!

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EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS TOTALLY CONCRETE EXPO

9 – 11 MAY 2016, GALLAGHER ESTATE, JHB View www.totallyconcrete.co.za for more info

HOUSING FOR AFRICA CONFERENCE & EXPO 9 – 11 MAY 2016, GALLAGHER ESTATE, JHB View www.totallyconcrete.co.za for more info

A-OSH EXPO SOUTH AFRICA 2016

24 – 26 MAY 2016, GALLAGHER CONVENTION CENTRE, MIDRAND View www.aosh.co.za for more info

POWER-GEN AFRICA AND DISTRIBUTECH AFRICA 19 – 21 JULY 2016, SANDTON CONVENTION CENTRE View www.powergenafrica.com for more info

INTERBUILD AFRICA 2016

(CO-LOCATED SHOWS: GLASS EXPO AFRICA, PLUMBDRAIN AFRICA, ECOAFRIBUILD, WOODPRO AFRICA AND HARDEX AFRICA) 17 – 20 AUGUST 2016, EXPO CENTRE NASREC, JHB View www.interbuild.co.za for more info

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

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GAUTENG HOUSING DELIVERY

Gauteng takes stock of its housing delivery performance After a downward trend that stretched over several years, the Department of Human Settlements in Gauteng has been taking firm steps to improve the number of homes being delivered.

uring a recent media address, Gauteng Human Settlements MEC Jacob Mamabolo said that, despite an increase in annual budget allocations, the delivery of houses had dropped significantly since 2009. Only about 16,000 housing opportunities were created in the period 2014 – 2015, compared to the estimated 41,000 units delivered in the period 2009 – 2010. MEC Mamabolo confirmed that the lowest delivery of houses had occurred in the last financial year. “The drop can be attributed to a R2.6-billion irregular expenditure, part of which was redirected to repairing hailstorm-damaged houses, and the other to pay for invoices that were accumulated over the previous financial years,” he said. He added that an internal investigation was ongoing to identify the officials responsible for irregular expenditure, and that after questions about irregular expenditure started being raised, some senior managers had resigned voluntarily. Johannesburg, Gauteng province: Two-storey low-cost walkup housing project in Alexandra township’s East Bank. Photo: Chris Kirchhoff, Media Club South Africa. (www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com) NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

GAUTENG HOUSING DELIVERY

TURNAROUND STRATEGY To reverse the problem of decline and to increase the number of houses being delivered, the Department has implemented a turnaround strategy, MEC Mamabolo stated. This included the setting up of a central Project Management Office to help improve internal efficiencies, effectiveness, contract management and project management. Mamabolo remarked that, since the turnaround strategy was put in place, progress has been recorded – in this financial year already. More than 10,000 units have been built in only half a year. The MEC said the latter part of this fiscal year would be used to exceed the target of the last financial year. “We have seen a quarter-on-quarter improvement of 126%, and we are hoping that with each remaining quarter, we will up our figures.” He added that the Department has improved its financial management compared to the past two to three years, after receiving an improved and unqualified audit opinion in 2014 - 2015. When asked to comment on resident protests that have flared up in recent months over poor delivery of housing and other basic services, albeit on another occasion, Mamabolo indicated that, on the whole, solid relationships have been built with communities across Gauteng. “We remain steadfast in our belief that violence still has no place in Gauteng and that dialogue is our best option to resolve community matters,” the MEC stated.

WORKING WITH CONTRACTORS At a widely publicized meeting with small to medium contractors and developers that took place in September at the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Municipality, the Minister of Human Settlements, Lindiwe Sisulu, gave reassurances of the Ministry’s commitment to supporting small contractors. "All spheres of Government – national, provincial and metro – are committed to developing small contractors to become big players in the construction industry. We have developed a package of support programmes to be implemented by Human Settlements agencies, the National Home Builders Regulatory Council (NHBRC), the Housing Development Agency (HDA), and all layers of Government to help you with finances and skills development. We are here to help small contractors," she said. The minister presented a package of support that responds to the need for training, developing and mentoring of contractors, developing a credible and fair database of suppliers, and the fast tracking of quality human settlements delivery.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

But the Minister also, in no uncertain terms, told small contractors and developers to stop selling Government housing tenders to big construction companies for ‘quick money,’ saying, “Government wants to develop you from being CIDB 1 to CIDB 4. The selling of tenders to advanced contractors does not help us in developing contractors for tomorrow. We want hard workers, not those who want short-term luxuries."

INCOMPLETE PROJECTS MEC Mamabolo himself has had stern words for contractors who fail on their contractual obligations. At the launch of a ward-based housing audit to physically start verifying all incomplete and blocked housing projects across Gauteng, he addressed the problem of incomplete buildings and houses, which was brought to his attention by ward councillors and concerned residents throughout the province, and which he said affects RDP houses, hostels and flats. “Once we get the facts about why the project was abandoned, we will get the contractor and the employees who were involved in the project and investigate what led to the situation. Where we find negligence and a basis for people to be held accountable, we will not hesitate to take action,” he warned. Abandoned and unattended projects have, for a long time, been a cause for concern among thousands of Gauteng citizens. The verification audit was initiated to help government know the extent of the problem, to help government get a clear idea of who should be held accountable for the problem, and to determine what remedial action can be taken to ensure the projects are completed. “Currently there is no comprehensive detailed information of abandoned buildings in the province; there is no reliable data of where the abandoned buildings are, what their conditions are, and so on. The audit will also give details of how much was spent on each abandoned project, how much still needs to be spent, and how long it will take to complete,” added Mamabolo. He stated several reasons for the abandonment of projects, admitting that the Department’s capacity to make timely payments to contractors played a part. But he also emphasized that it was important to close the chapter on abandoned buildings and move over to Mega Human Settlements projects. “The turnaround of the Department must ensure that all legacy projects are completed as the new trajectory of Mega Human Settlements projects unfold,” he explained. The MEC concluded that site visit with the handover of an incomplete site in Alexandra Ext 31 to an appointed contractor for completion, officially setting the process in motion.

GAUTENG HOUSING DELIVERY

NEW STANDARDS In addition to the aforementioned remedies, the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements also recently introduced a new set of performance standards for contractors, in an attempt to manage and curb under performance in the industry. These revised standards also tie in with Gauteng’s ever-growing demand for housing and the Department’s desire to answer that demand with Mega Human Settlements Projects, which will require a drastic improvement in performance by housing contractors across the board. Again expressing concern over the downward trend in housing delivery over the past five years, despite the money spent on building houses having increased over the years, MEC Mamabolo is clear: “We must change the tide. My plea is that we cannot continue like this. By the end of this financial year we must see an upward trend in the numbers and we must close the gap between expenditure and output.” Performance will now be monitored through a revised Service Level Agreement (SLA), which all contractors in the province are expected to sign. “The SLAs will commit contractors to deliver on targets set, and agreed to, by all parties. The SLAs will not interfere with existing contracts. However, punitive steps will be taken against nonperforming contractors, which will include termination of contracts,” he explained.

One of the more urgent interventions put in place to assist in fast tracking housing delivery has been the involvement of the NHBRC to assist with inspections and approval processes.

ACTING AGAINST CORRUPTION Mamabolo furthermore indicated that performance standards have been revised for government officials (Construction Project Managers) as well, and warned that action will be taken against those responsible for poor performance. “The Department is taking action against corruption. One form of corruption relates to the corrupt relationships that employees have with some contractors. Another form of corruption relates to the awarding of houses to the incorrect beneficiaries, which included a number of people like councillors.” Acknowledging the concerns and frustrations coming from contractors themselves, related the Department’s lack of technical support, legal and contractual issues, and delays in quality assurance and approvals, MEC Mamabolo undertook to resolve the issues and to create an ongoing platform to regularly meet with contractors.

low voltage

COVER STORY

Photograph courtesy of Ocon Brick.

Shouldn’t affordable housing be affordable for life? South Africa is heading towards a perfect storm in the affordable housing sector, with the brunt of the fallout being borne by taxpayers and low-income property owners and residents.

his year’s 2015 budget speech announced government’s plans to provide an additional 563,000 fully subsidized and 27,000 social housing units this year. In addition, government plans to connect 810,000 poor households to the electricity grid by 2019.

Added to this, government has made a decision to use more ‘lightweight’ construction materials in social infrastructure, although these are shown to result in greater electricity use, high maintenance needs and short life spans.

However, it should be noted that from 2007 to 2015, electricity tariffs have tripled – and economists agree that the trend is likely to continue. With more affordable houses being built, and more households being connected to the electricity grid, South Africa’s diminishing electricity production becomes an even greater cause for concern.

This short-term focus on speed of construction at the lowest construction cost can come at a high long-term price. Historically, the low-cost housing sector has been marred by excessive repair and maintenance costs. In August 2015, The Department of Human Settlements reported that it had spent more than R2-billion in the last three years to repair 26,459 low-cost dwellings – more than double what it cost to build these houses to begin with.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

COVER STORY

This ‘8-star’ clay brick house uses just 15% of the heating and cooling energy of the average pre-1990 home. Photograph courtesy of CSR Limited, Australia. The question is, once their new subsidized houses are delivered, will the new property owners be able to afford the necessary maintenance, and still continue to pay for basic services in the years ahead? Electricity is not only an ongoing household expense but also a cost that increases every year. Heating is one of the largest contributors to home energy bills.

CLAY BRICK: THERMAL COMFORT & ENERGY EFFICIENCY Consider clay brick: clay bricks are dense and essentially perform like thermal batteries. They slowly absorb and store heat during the day over a 6 to 8 hour period, and then release that heat when it is needed most – at night. This prolonged ‘thermal lag’ – unique to clay brick – keeps indoor temperatures within the comfort range of residents, during both hot days or cold nights. The result is lower electricity use. In comparison, lightweight structures made from steelframe concrete panels or hollow concrete blocks can become ‘hotboxes.’ Because lightweight masonry responds quickly to temperature changes, rooms need fans

or air conditioning during the day, and then cool down quickly after sunset necessitating expensive heating on cold nights.

LOW MAINTENANCE A property owner with a clay brick house can be assured of a valuable, long-term investment with low operating costs. Exposed brick and face brick buildings are extremely low maintenance, reducing operating costs as well as labour, as they do not need to be repaired, replastered or repainted regularly. Clay brick is a highly prized building material, and the value of properties built from clay brick increase over the years for decades, creating stability, dignity and wealth for owners.

STRENGTH AND SECURITY The natural structural strength and dimensional stability of clay brick, coupled with its high fire rating, ensures that families are well protected against natural disasters as well as crime, vandalism and civic unrest.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

COVER STORY

Energy efficient and secure clay brick homes are a long-term investment for future generations. Clay bricks withstand extreme weather conditions; they are water resistant and impervious to all weather. They release moisture quickly, so that walls dry out fast (without ugly colour changes). The high compressive strength of clay bricks has been exploited for millennia to build structures ranging from single-storey homes to massive public buildings and scalable social infrastructure. This strength and durability leads to a lifespan that outlasts almost any other practical building material – 100 years and more.

HEALTH & SAFETY Clay bricks are entirely natural. They contain no pollutants or allergens and are resistant to ants, borer and termites. Clay brick is inert, releasing no VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) or toxic fumes to impact on air quality. Clay brickwork consists of dense inorganic material that cannot harbour vermin. Clay brick walls obtain maximum fire ratings. Brickwork does not burn when exposed to bushfire and can help protect the more combustible items inside a house. Brick homes are naturally quieter, as clay masonry has one of the highest acoustic attenuation values of any walling material.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

AVAILABILITY AND LOCAL SUPPLY One of the key benefits of brick walling is that, no matter where you build in South Africa, you have fast access to experienced bricklayers and quality products. Competitively priced brick suppliers can be found in every region to provide consistent quality stock-in-hand, and short transport distances. Brick products and manufacturing technologies are not imported; every brick is made here in South Africa under well regulated quality standards. Homeowners and construction managers can have peace of mind that the structure will meet the National Building Regulations.

THINK LIFECYCLE COST, NOT JUST CONSTRUCTION COST “South Africa’s public sector infrastructure backlog is pressuring the government to focus on low-cost materials like concrete blocks, or quick-fix prefabricated systems,” explains Jonathan Prior, executive director of the Clay Brick Association of South Africa. "Public Works departments are experimenting with cheap, alternative building systems to save during the construction phase, but it is the taxpayer and property owners who will foot the bills for years to come,” warns Prior.

COVER STORY

“We believe that affordable housing should also be affordable to maintain over a long lifetime of service,” he concludes. This graph summarizes the findings of a University of Pretoria study, ‘Thermal performance comparison between 6 wall construction methods frequently used in South Africa.’ Research shows that in coastal, inland and winter rainfall regions, homeowners pay an unnecessary premium for electricity when residential structures have been built with either concrete blocks or steelframe/prefabricated panels.

THE

Y F THE CLA

FOR MORE INFORMATION: The Clay Brick Association of South Africa (w) www.claybrick.org.za

I N D U S T RY

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

School of Concrete Technology prepares for busy 2016 The 2016 Education Programme of the School of Concrete Technology (SCT), operated by The Concrete Institute, is now available.

ohn Roxburgh, lecturer at the SCT based in Midrand, says the need for skills upliftment in the construction industry has never been more vital as South Africa prepares for the long-awaited roll-out of tenders in the Presidential Strategic Infrastructure Projects (SIPs) in 2016. “We are expecting a busy year. The scope of opportunities is great, but to take advantage of this, education in concrete technology is crucial. Companies in the construction and civil engineering industries, in particular, should use this opportunity to invest in their employees’ skills and career development by enrolling them for a SCT course. Using the School’s stepped approach to concrete education, an employer can map out a progressive career path for the employee, who could then start his or her concrete education at a level matched to individual competencies,” Roxburgh states. The School of Concrete Technology is South Africa’s leading provider of education in concrete technology with its broad spectrum of courses, and caters for a wide variety of educational needs within the construction, mining and concrete-related industries. “An SCT certificate is instantly recognized and highly regarded in industry. A qualification in concrete technology will open doors in many different fields of employment at a critical time in South Africa’s infrastructural development,” he adds. Training courses offered by the SCT are aimed at industries such as: • Ready-mix concrete; • Admixtures; • Construction and civil engineering; • Aggregate production; • Testing laboratories; • Materials; • Mining; • Related industries such as formwork, precast concrete, concrete products, and concrete production machinery; and • The increasingly popular decorative concrete market.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

A qualification in concrete technology will open doors in many different fields of employment at a critical time in South Africa’s infrastructural development, says John Roxburgh, lecturer at the School of Concrete Technology. The SCT will present ‘the pinnacle in concrete technology education,’ the Advanced Concrete Technology (SCT50 ACT) diploma in 2016 and then again in 2018. This internationally acclaimed qualification is presented by the SCT and examined by the Institute of Concrete Technology in London. “While enrolments are still open for January 2016 for those who qualify, it is recommended that students wishing to enrol for the 2018 Advanced Concrete Technology course use 2016 to complete the SCT41 and SCT42 Concrete Technology and Construction correspondence courses. Passing these courses will not only ensure that the student meets the entrance requirements for the ACT course, but the training is also excellent preparation for the ACT course,” Roxburgh adds. For more information on the 2016 SCT Training Programme, call the SCT Course Manager, Rennisha Sewnarain, on 011 315 0300.

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lex Building Systems offers high-quality, rapid assembly and costeffective building solutions with an alternative building technology that holds an Agrément certificate. The structures are lightweight and easy to assemble, and the system is ideal for classrooms, clinics, ablution facilities, site offices, stores, dormitories, guard houses and laundries – to name a few. The units can be erected as permanent structures on concrete strip footings, or as mobile units on a steel base frame with flooring.

VERSATILE AND BENEFICIAL Flex Building Systems plays an important role in community social upliftment and skills transfer initiatives, by creating employment opportunities for unskilled people. With agents representing the company in various countries around the world, Flex Building Systems has a global footprint.

PROPERTIES OF THE FLEX BUILDING SYSTEMS PROFILE • Waterproof and maintenance free • Fire resistance: Non-flammable/ self-extinguishable (meets fire and safety regulations) • Thermal insulation – up to 2m2 x °C/watt • Flammability class: four • Smoke density class: three • Deformation and dripping class: three • Construction reliability

THIS MODULAR HOUSING SOLUTION IS IDEAL FOR THE FOLLOWING APPLICATIONS: • Single family dwellings • Classrooms • Mobile clinics • Employee housing • Military camps and guard houses • Storage buildings • Utility sheds • Disaster relief and site offices

Show house, Rosslyn, SA (Image credit: Flex Building Systems)

Flex Building Systems offer a complete, high-quality solution, but at a low cost. The flexible and modular (scalable) design offers a unique building technology that is quickly assembled, even with unskilled labour.

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NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

Camp Grayling, Michigan, US (Image credit: Flex Building Systems)

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University of Pretoria Mineral Science building PVC composite external walling

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NHBRC UPDATE

New NHBRC Council outlines priorities for its term of office The newly appointed NHBRC Council has developed and agreed on a set of strategic priorities for its term of office with the shareholder, the Ministry of Human Settlements.

hese primarily include: Strategic capacitation of the organization, a clean audit, review of the operating model, a social transformation strategy, review of the legislation, visibility and accessibility, and being a leader in knowledge creation. From new chairperson, Abbey Chikane: “The most critical issue is to set the tone at the top in terms of governance and ethical perspective.” This entails implementing new protocols in terms of governance, accountability, responsibilities and reporting mechanisms that will ensure that the Council executes its mandate diligently. To address this, two new committees have been formed, including the Social and Ethics Committee, which will focus on ethical leadership, ethics in the industry, internal fraud cases, and contractors who build shoddy houses. “Other areas of interest include the new transformation strategy, which focuses on women, youth, military veterans and people with disabilities,” says Chikane. The Minister of Human Settlements, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, appointed new Council members with effect with from 01 August 2015 until 31 July 2018, comprising of the following members:

1. Mr Abbey Chikane (Chairperson of Council) 2. Ms Julieka Bayat (Deputy Chairperson of Council; Chairperson of the Industry Advisory Committee) 3. Ms Xoliswa Eunice Daku (Chairperson of the Social Transformation Committee) 4. Mr Themba Thomas Cyril Dlamini (Chairperson of the Registrations Committee) 5. Ms Hlaleleni Kathleen Dlepu (Chairperson of the Bid Adjudication Committee) 6. Ambassador Segogwane Samuel Kotane (Chairperson of the Social & Ethics Committee) 7. Mr Phetola Nailana Solomon Makgathe (Member of HCREMCO & Fund Advisory and Finance Committees) 8. Ms Mankwana Christinah Mohale (Member of HCREMCO & Bid Adjudication Committees, etc.) 9. Ms Busisiwe Nwabisa Nzo (Chairperson of Technical Research & Advisory Committee) 10. Mr Alvin Phumudzo Rapea (Chairperson of Human Capital & Remuneration Committee) 11. Mr Goolam Hoosen Manack (Chairperson of Fund Advisory & Finance Committee) 12. Mr Obed Lucas Molotsi (Department of Public Works representative) 13. Mr Lulama Andisa Potwana (Department of Trade and Industry representative) 14. Mr Mziwonke Jacobs (Member of Bid Adjudication & Industry Advisory Committees)

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CONCRETE STANDARDS

Growing support for SARMAcertified readymix Years of planning and hard work has culminated in widespread adoption of certified readymix as the construction material of choice by the country’s most influential construction bodies.

his positive outcome, highlighted at the recent annual general meeting of SARMA (the Southern Africa Readymix Association), bodes well for the association and its members: Increasingly, key decision makers such as engineers and building professionals, in addition to main contracting firms and parastatals including SANRAL (the South African National Roads Agency Limited), as well as other Government entities, have been specifying that only SARMA-certified readymix concrete may be used on their sites. “This had the knock-on effect of attracting a growing number of non-member readymix suppliers who have begun working tirelessly to meet membership requirements and become part of the Association. As a result, membership has grown in leaps and bounds with growth of 11% in accredited member numbers during 2015,” said current SARMA chairman, Deon Fourie. “This is good news for the local construction industry as it ensures our construction projects have world-class concrete. It also ensures that acceptable minimum standards are maintained that will put an end to building collapses and ramshackle houses as a result of inferior products being used,” continued Fourie.

GOOD FOR INDUSTRY Fourie said these developments mark a watershed as the construction industry embraces necessary quality over price. SARMA-certified members cannot cut corners, and yet had sometimes been undercut by non-compliant readymix suppliers. This not only jeopardized the integrity of the structure, but also led to unfair competition. Fourie acknowledged and thanked SARMA’s general manager, Johan van Wyk, for increasing the number of organizations that have turned to using only accredited readymix, and for slowly winning the fight to professionalize readymix concrete in South Africa. “Under his leadership, the Association is also throwing its weight behind the setting up and adoption of new modern-day standards for readymix, as well as pushing for higher standards of testing from the country’s laboratories when it comes to dealing with concrete.” “In addition, there are also moves afoot to start a cleanup squad to remove concrete spills from our roadways, as well as new training initiatives to improve the skills of concrete workers and professionals,” Fourie summarized.

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228858

71218

148191

192934

3 (50mm) Clay Brick

56178

93772

236063

78817

158572

197806

Light Steel Frame to SANS 517

68921

117083

250258

105389

180980

209769

LSF more/(less) energy consumed than Solid Double Brick

34.91%

41.25%

12,26%

57.22%

28.58%

10.09%

280mm Cavity

with insulation

uPVC WINDOWS

A new generation of windows presents opportunity in the affordable housing market Combining sustainability with affordability, the new Slim-Tec range of window profiles has made a big impression in a short time.

ffordable, good quality housing is paramount to improving the lives of families in South Africa, and is a stepping stone to helping communities achieve economic freedom. However, affordable housing should not mean poorly constructed units or that low-quality products must be used to keep the job below cost. Earlier this year, a new range of windows manufactured especially for South African climatic conditions hit the marketplace and is starting to attract a lot of attention in the affordable housing sector. The Slim-Tec range of window profiles, created by REHAU, is an energy-efficient, low maintenance, single-glazed product that reduces outside noise, and is both durable as well as UV stable. “To be truly attractive to the affordable market, a window needs to offer more than competitive pricing. We believe that windows can – and should – be created to also improve living conditions in a number of categories,” says Adrian Baker, Technical Manager: Windows of REHAU. “The Slim-Tec range of windows ticks all of these boxes, while being available at a reasonable price. The range offers both economy and efficiency.” REHAU is a leading systems and service provider for polymerbased solutions in the construction and automotive industries worldwide. The REHAU Slim-Tec windows were launched in South Africa in September of this year.

ENERGY EFFICIENT While the fitting of a window may certainly be one cost consideration, builders and homeowners must also contemplate the ongoing expense of heating and cooling the structure. Through the use of a three-chamber system, Slim-Tec uPVC windows help to reduce the burden of heating and cooling within a home. uPVC does not conduct heat, which results in less solar heat gain in summer. In winter however, the three-chamber profile has an opposite effect; protecting the interior of the building from the cold temperatures outside, resulting in a lowered heating bill.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

REHAU Slim-Tec window

uPVC WINDOWS

PVC is a thermoplastic, which means it can be re-melted and is therefore recyclable. Unlike thermoplastics that are entirely derived from oil, PVC is made from 57% salt, which gives it some unique technical properties and helps it to deliver unbeatable value. PVC also consumes less primary energy in its production than any of the other commodity plastics, making it more environmentally friendly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The window profile is suitable for the mass and affordable housing market and was driven by the demand for a lowcost window system that is energy efficient,â&#x20AC;? says Baker.

ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES Durable: Slim-Tec windows are made from weatherresistant uPVC, specially formulated for environments with high UV radiation, making the windows light, tough, and long lasting. This window system offers long-term benefits to go with its desirable sophistication and style, keeping its good looks for years to come.

In addition, they are also easy to clean. Dust can simply be wiped off using a soft cloth, warm water and dishwashing liquid. Noise reduction: The REHAU Slim-Tec uPVC windows are well designed for urban dwellers, especially those in close proximity to each other. When closed, they keep more noise outside, ensuring a calm and quiet living space.

WORLDWIDE EXPERTISE The company, which offers industry training globally, recently launched the REHAU Windows Academy in South Africa. A wide network of professional manufacturers and installers are now provided free training courses of international standard, ranging from a basic introduction to complex Survey and Installation classes. More than 30 years of global expertise have been passed on to the local industry through the Academy, ensuring that company representatives are able to offer a service that not only meets, but exceeds, international standards.

Low maintenance: Durability is important to homeowners. The Slim-Tec uPVC windows will not warp or rot, and they do not need sanding, varnishing or painting.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING FOR JHB

Planning the future of Johannesburg The goal of the City of Johannesburg’s Growth and Development Strategy is to create a future city that is people focused, caring, smart, sustainable, democratic, financially successful and institutionally functional. However, Johannesburg’s administration and its residents face a number of challenges in order to achieve these goals.

urecon has been appointed to create a Consolidated Infrastructure Plan (CIP) for the City of Johannesburg.

Aurecon Strategic and Integrated Planner, Johan van den Berg, discusses some of the key challenges that South Africa’s economic hub is currently facing and how the City of Johannesburg is planning to future-proof the City: The goal of this CIP is to consolidate and integrate planning, implementation and management of infrastructure-related programmes in order to meet the City’s current infrastructure backlogs and future growth needs. Infrastructure acts as the enabler for economic development to attract investment to an area and assist in social upliftment. Two of the biggest challenges that the City of Johannesburg is currently facing – and will continue to face without a CIP – are uncoordinated spending on infrastructure and effectively accommodating the rising population. “In 2011, it was determined that the City, cognizant of its ageing infrastructure, capacity constraints and backlogs, would need to spend in excess of R100-billion on the provision of infrastructure over a 10-year period. Adding to this complexity is a rapidly growing population,” says van den Berg.

THE PROBLEM OF POPULATION GROWTH The population growth is largely due to migration, and while Hong Kong is often cited as the most densely populated city, there are areas of Johannesburg that are more densely populated than Hong Kong. It has been estimated that Johannesburg’s population will increase by approximately 12,000 new people each month. To add to the problem, more than 80% of these people are economically disadvantaged, without jobs and an income.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

“According to ‘The Economist: Megachange: The world in 2050,’ a quickly rising population in Africa is going to put strain on a number of economies on the continent. The research in this book, which was done by The Economist contributors, has shown that 10 new cities will sprawl in Africa over the next 50 years in order to accommodate the influx Aurecon Strategic and Integrated of people to urban areas. In Planner, Johan van den Berg. southern Africa, people are drawn to the bright lights and the promise of financial security and jobs that Johannesburg has to offer, but the population keeps growing – and infrastructure such as water and sanitation, electricity and roads is struggling to keep up,” says van den Berg. Well located available land for housing is one of the key shortages that the city is currently facing. While the Housing Department is addressing the shortage by delivering housing units in a number of developments, socio-economic projections have shown that the population migration into the municipal area outstrips delivery, resulting in a growing backlog. “Besides the shortage of houses, there are also challenges related to the distance that people need to travel from where they stay to where they need to work. People living in informal settlements on the periphery of the city often spend more than 40% of their income on transport to get to work, which doesn’t leave much for living costs such as food. This is a problem that the City of Johannesburg is addressing through its spatial strategy, the Corridors of Freedom, which is supported by the CIP,” comments van den Berg.

INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING FOR JHB

The population growth and housing location, programme and project identification and prioritization, infrastructure capacity requirements and investment, are all being analysed as part of the CIP. Van den Berg says that the CIP is far more than a plan to address infrastructure maintenance and upgrades over the next decade – it’s a plan that will better the lives of the people of Johannesburg and future generations. “Instead of only addressing issues such as supplying houses and updating water and electricity lines, the City of Johannesburg has a long-term vision with this plan. Sustainability is a key principle in the CIP, so we’re investing a lot of resources in developing a strategy that will ensure people are able to live well, work well and move well in a prosperous, vibrant city,” van den Berg adds.

A NEW APPROACH TO CITY PLANNING The way that Aurecon is developing the CIP is different to how city planning has been done in the past. Van den Berg says that the traditional approach comprised planning the infrastructure needs of various sectors in isolation, without looking at the development of the region and its people as a whole. “Aurecon developed a socio-economic model that projects population growth, available land space, the density of suburbs and settlements, as well as the movement of people within the municipal boundary. This approach allowed us to create a baseline of what is available, how the needs of the city and the people will change, and how each sector’s plans need to be updated in order to accommodate the growth and planned expansions,” he says. The CIP enables all types of information to be spatially aggregated and disaggregated according to each sector’s reporting requirements. This also assists with sector funding consolidation in order to create an investment cash flow forecast for the various types of infrastructure that will be needed over the next decade. “Our model has helped the City of Johannesburg to integrate and prioritize its infrastructure spending over the next 10 years. This includes new infrastructure development that will accommodate growth, as well as maintenance of existing infrastructure. This CIP project is an example of how strategic planning could be done in South Africa. We’ve essentially integrated the planning, financial, institutional, sector and system dimensions to develop a custom-made, consolidated CIP,” he says.

The City of Johannesburg is currently working on the third phase of the CIP. While the first two phases focused on strategic, socio-economic planning and sector master planning to establish a strong baseline for infrastructure investment requirements, the third phase addresses the need for improved management decision-making information. “Developing a plan such as this for a city like Johannesburg requires commitment and support from the City, together with a component and effective consultant group that acts as a development partner of the client. To develop a good balance between social upliftment projects and economic projects that will stimulate economic growth, we are assessing the potential impact of all the proposed projects on the economy. The City of Johannesburg wants to embark on a plan that will offer maximum social and economic impact for the people of the City. Aurecon is proud to be assisting the City of Johannesburg with this project,” concludes van den Berg.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

FACE BRICK

Face brick elevates affordable housing development The Platinum Manor affordable housing scheme in Pretoria, completed earlier this year, features 2.37 million Corobrik Moroccan Red Travertine face bricks. 26

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

FACE BRICK

he Platinum Manor development consists of 220 houses which were built in two phases, under North Village and South Village. The houses are rented by single professionals, couples, as well as young families. Three types of houses are offered, at 100m2, 130m2, and 140m2 respectively, each with a loft. The complex is conveniently situated close to a shopping centre and a hospital. According to Corobrik’s Sales Director, Ockert van Heerden, face brick for the external façades was a fitting choice for these entry-level rental homes, as face brick not only raises the value of the homes but will also give good payback because it is such an enduring, low-maintenance material. Van Heerden listed several factors that make face brick the best option for quality residential living: • Durability and longevity; • Natural thermal performance properties that contribute to excellent thermal comfort and low cooling and heating energy costs; • Mineral properties of fired clay, recognized for meeting all necessary requirements for healthy living, combined with a lifetime of structural integrity; and • Competitive built cost and assured low life cycle maintenance cost. There are more benefits for people living in brick homes, van Heerden explained. For example, the inorganic qualities of fired clay ensure an indoor air quality that is virtually free of pollution. And the natural ability of clay brick walls to absorb and release humidity from the atmosphere help create a good humidity balance inside the home, reducing the risk of mould growth and the chance of ‘sick building syndrome,’ he said. “Add to these the natural fire resistance and soundproofing qualities of clay brick, and clay brick walling’s superior performance under extreme weather events, and it is understandable why brick construction continues to rule supreme with the home consumer – peace of mind is part of the deal.”

Residents are enjoying a good lifestyle in the new affordable housing scheme at Platinum Manor. Corobrik Moroccan Red Travertine face brick was selected for its durability and maintenance-free benefits.

In the context of the South African environment, today's sustainability imperative has elevated the value of clay brick construction with face brick to a whole new level. Platinum Manor marks the second development by Central Development Projects for which Corobrik has supplied face bricks. The first was the awardwinning Little Manhattan apartment complex that used 2.4 million Moroccan Red Travertine face bricks.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE

Johannesburg, Gauteng province: Two-storey low-cost walkup housing project in Alexandra township’s East Bank. Photo: Chris Kirchhoff, Media Club South Africa. (www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com)

DHS and BASA revive commitment to finance affordable housing Last year, the Department of Human Settlements (DHS) and the Banking Association of South Africa (BASA) entered into an agreement to solidify the banking sector’s goal to increase the number of approved end-user loans for affordable housing. Now the parties are giving effect to the commitment.

n 2005, in terms of the Financial Sector Charter, an amount of R44-billion was earmarked for the roll-out of affordable housing finance by the year 2008, for people earning between R1,500 and R7,500 a month. However, the programme never came to fruition. And now a housing backlog of 2.1-million has built up, the available government funding of R170-billion through the MediumTerm Strategic Framework is inadequate, and private sector support is required, says the DHS acting directorgeneral, Mbulelo Tshangana. The acting director-general, while speaking at a recent plenary session between the entities, explained that the DHS and BASA have revived their 2014 pact, which had included the undertakings to increase the number of approved end-user loans for affordable housing, to support urban development, to set a clear housing programme, to define delivery targets and outcomes, and to address the housing finance constraints that largely related to affordability.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

To ‘operationalize’ their partnership and accelerate the financing of affordable housing, DHS and BASA have committed to appoint working teams to effect implementation. There remains a lot to do: An estimated 54% of households that earn below R3,500 a month, meet the threshold for the partial finance-linked individual subsidy programme (FLISP). However, of the 31% of households that earn between R3,500 and R10,000 a month, an estimated 75% (which could be up to three million households) fall above the subsidy threshold yet cannot afford private sector housing. The intent behind the public–private partnership is to facilitate cooperation between the two parties and extend housing finance on a sustainable basis to the low-income borrowers who fall in this gap, as part of the DHS’ goal to pragmatically address the current backlog in low-income housing and deliver millions of affordable housing units by 2020.

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CONCRETE

Concrete elements build Lange Formal Township Topfloor, an Echo Group company, has supplied over 16,000m2 of prestressed hollow-core concrete flooring slabs for the construction of Lange Formal Township, the Western Capeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first multi-storey, load-bearing reinforced concrete block masonry development. 30

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

CONCRETE

ighteen low-income rental apartment blocks are being built by main contractor, the Power Construction Group, who formed an integral part of the project’s architectural and engineering development teams. Built for the City of Cape Town and situated on the Cape Flats off the N2, the development’s anticipated completion date is November 2015. Each block houses twenty five 35m² apartments, comprising two bedrooms, kitchen/lounge, bathroom, and balcony. Moreover, insulated roofing and solar heating are included to meet conservation requirements and reduce the cost of living for the occupants. In addition to the hollow-core concrete flooring slabs, Topfloor also provided the Power Group with precast staircases. Other precast concrete elements include high-strength concrete blocks, modular precast concrete door frames and windows, as well as polyfibre balcony railings. According to Power Group director Johnny Moore, precast hollow-core slabs were an integral part of the structural design criteria and saved months in construction time. “No shuttering was required, nor curing time for wet concrete, which meant that other services could begin work as soon as the slabs were installed. Further time savers were the smooth soffits and rough finishes on the upper sides of the slabs. This enabled the soffits to be painted without the need for skimming, and made screed bonding on the top sides hassle-free. All of these time-saving advantages meant substantial cost savings for the client.” “Topfloor was involved in the primary as well as secondary planning stages and helped resolve details such as the staircase/slab interfaces and pull-up bars for the reinforcing of the walkway balustrades,” said Moore. An aerial view of the Lange Formal Township housing development.

A close-up of some Topfloor hollow-core slabs used at Lange. NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

CONCRETE

Three of the Lange Housing Project’s apartment blocks nearing completion.

The Lange buildings have been designed to comply with seismic codes, and this meant that Topfloor had to provide pre-cut openings for seismic-stress connections. In addition, Topfloor supplied cut-outs for plumbing ducts. Topfloor general manager, Wessel Prinsloo, says another advantage of using hollow-core flooring is its superior thermal- and sound insulation properties. “Moreover, hollow-core slabs are produced in a well managed factory environment, which ensures high and consistent quality levels.” The professional team that initiated Lange’s design concept was led by Dieter Boessow of Architect Associates. Together with Power Construction’s project engineers and consulting engineers, Aurecon, and independent construction consultant, Günter Koch, they succeeded in setting a new standard and establishing a new trend in costeffective economic housing delivery in the Western Cape. Moore concluded by saying that the fiscal benefits gained with this project points the way forward in labour-intensive skills development and job creation potential.

One of the precast staircases supplied by Topfloor.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

CMA AWARDS

CMA lines up notable list of sponsors for Awards for Excellence Competition The Concrete Manufacturers Association’s NPC (CMA) 2016 Awards for Excellence competition is being supported by an impressive array of sponsors.

PC is the anchor sponsor and its contribution has underpinned the event’s organizational cost from the earliest planning stages. Other sponsors include Afrisam, Lafarge, BASF and Chryso. And in addition to being the anchor sponsor, PPC is also sponsoring the table settings. Afrisam is covering the pre-dinner drinks and dinner wines and Lafarge is taking care of the ladies’ gifts. BASF is sponsoring the production of a short film on precast decorative concrete, which will be shown at the gala dinner ceremony to be held at Summer Place in Johannesburg on April 23rd. Chryso’s contribution will cover the cost of producing miniature trophies, which will be presented to members of the winning teams during the ceremony.

CMA Awards committee chairperson and Echo Prestress MD, Monique Eggebeen, said that without the generous sponsorship of PPC and the other sponsors, the event could not take place. “We are extremely grateful to our sponsors. Thanks to them the 2016 Awards for Excellence competition will be a memorable event and one which makes a worthwhile contribution to the promotion of precast concrete and its numerous applications,” said Eggebeen. Entries will be judged on the contribution precast concrete elements make in one or more of the competition categories. Six floating trophies will be presented to the manufacturers of the precast concrete elements in the nominated categories. In addition, commendation awards will be made to three runners-up per category, providing these entries meet the standards of the judges.

The cost of eco innovation Ecological innovation has contributed to sustainable development, especially in the developing world, but remains a challenge due to the prices of ecofriendly products, says Frans Pienaar, Chairman of Inyatsi Construction. “Materials and specifications for civil engineering and construction projects change with the times – and the industry is forced to adjust to using new materials and processes. The impact of ecological innovation on building methods requires us to use more efficient and ecologically sensitive equipment and materials. It has become the norm and if you do not use it, you become obsolete.” Pienaar explains that the extraordinary benefits of highly energy-efficient building products are negated in practice, due to suppliers and manufacturers making undue profits out of new innovations in the environmental field. “The cost of solar heating systems, for example, does not reflect the cost of the materials or the technology involved.”

“As long as there are so few innovators and manufacturers in this industry, it will take unnecessarily long to realize the benefits of using new technology. Simple technologies and materials are sold at exorbitant prices because contractors are required to implement them,” he says. Pienaar suggests that governments can assist the industry by regulating the prices of new technology aimed at sustainable development to prevent abuse by manufacturers. “The commercial application of knowledge to develop products and processes that contribute to sustainable development must not price itself out of the market.”

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

INTEGRATED AFFORDABLE HOUSING

emPOWERing integration in Pelican Park The Power Group has successfully delivered the integrated housing development Pelican Park, and on a big scale. The developer has effectively apportioned its resources through cross subsidization and, through smart procurement, ensured maximized output at the lowest cost - ultimately benefitting the residents. 34

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

INTEGRATED AFFORDABLE HOUSING

ince October 2012, after Power Construction (part of the Power Group) was awarded the contract to develop 80 hectares of land owned by the City of Cape Town into a fully integrated residential community, 2,200 houses have already been built and occupied, and the entire civil and electrical infrastructure has been completed. Pelican Park is integrated across the full spectrum of affordability, and in its entirety comprises more than 3,250 homes in total: • 2,100 BNG (Breaking New Ground) Homes, totally subsidized; • Including 320 FLISP (Financially Linked Individual Subsidy Programme) Homes, selling for R315,000. • 440 GAP Housing (Starter Homes) selling for R375,000. • 360 Open Market/Bonded Homes valued from R480,000 to R700,000. Pelican Park is proof that cross subsidization is possible, and it’s laying the foundation for future affordable residential developments in South Africa.

UNIQUE SUCCESS STORY Pelican Park is unique in more than one way. To start, it is situated on a prime location, fronting onto the False Bay Ecology Park and incorporating a breathtaking vista that overlooks the historical Zeekoevlei lake and nature reserve. This type of location is typically reserved for upmarket developments. In addition, the development incorporates a combination of BNG, GAP, FLISP and Open Market homes. Moreover, it offers amenities within walking distance of all homes, including a primary- and secondary school, a health clinic, a small retirement home, a retail shopping centre, a fuel station, a library, and two commercial sites. Pelican Park started to become a reality when the City of Cape Town persevered in its aim to deliver the land at a reasonable value to private developers through a tender process. Power Construction used its 32 years’ experience in the affordable housing market and combined that with extensive onsite market research backed by an expert consulting team to carefully and sensitively design this groundbreaking, fully integrated development. The development does not promote any separation or discrimination in design or structure, and the bonded homes are not fenced off in a separate security estate. This is significant, being not only the largest, but also the very first such completely integrated residential development in South Africa – and possibly Africa.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

INTEGRATED AFFORDABLE HOUSING

SOCIAL COHESION Social cohesion has been a priority for the Power Group. The developer has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to provide extensive education to homeowners, both prior to and after moving in. Habitat for Humanity fosters this social interaction by facilitating the process where corporates bring their staff members on site to voluntarily help and physically build homes. This enables office workers to engage with not only sub-contractors, but also BNG beneficiaries whom they would never have interacted with before, bringing about a new level of respect and reconciliation between fellow South Africans. Another first is the establishment of a home owners association to uphold formal rules of conduct, namely the PPOA (Pelican Park Owners Association). The PPOA is unique because it is the first of its kind in a non-gated village, and the trustees were selected from all segments and financial categories within the development. This was a most creative solution to addressing initial disharmony among people on how the community should regulate its own affairs. Habitat for Humanity assisted here as well, providing training to the new trustees of the PPOA since none of the appointees had any prior experience in, or knowledge of, their expected roles.

MANY FIRSTS IN MANY WAYS A truly innovative approach to every aspect of this development has resulted in many firsts for the Power Group, one being the lowest-priced free title home ever

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

sold in South Africa – at only R290,000. In addition, it became the first and only private company to successfully receive 160 FLISP (Financially Linked Individual Subsidy Programme) approvals in the Western Cape. To date, more than 160 FLISP homes have been built and occupied. The Power Group was recently awarded the Provincial Govan Mbeki award for ‘Best project in implementing Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme.’ Power Construction was also awarded the ‘Best Contractor in the Non-Subsidy Market.’

FLISP One of the biggest hurdles, but also one of the biggest innovations from a cost perspective, was securing approval by the necessary parties (in government and finance) to build bonded homes with non-cavity walls and blocks. This had never before been done in the Western Cape, and it allowed the Power Group to become the first private entity in the province to develop and sell homes at R290,000 – which was under the FLISP ceiling of R300,000. This accomplishment was realized through teamwork and a shared goal of opening up the market to homeowners who could never afford a bond before. The process included consumer education and extensive groundwork, as well as several legal obstacles that the Power team had to overcome as the forerunners of FLISP. But now the road has been paved for other developers and contractors to finally make FLISP a reality within this industry sector.

INTEGRATED AFFORDABLE HOUSING

All BNG houses are built as close to the street-facing boundary as possible, ensuring that any alterations or additions to houses would not affect the streetscape negatively. This design element also helped to make it impossible to erect a shack next to the building, a critical factor to ensure that home values would not be reduced by informal structures.

MATERIALS

FLISP units include 2, 3 and 4-in-a-row double storey GAP homes. Units are 2-bedroom, 42m² homes placed on 60120m² erven. The size of erven posed another hurdle as some banks had never before bonded homes on erven smaller than 120m². The Power team again pioneered the way to removing yet another stumbling block, and now all four major banks in South Africa have approved and funded bonds for FLISP homes. FLISP takes double the amount of effort and time to approve, and was not a prerequisite of the development approvals. However, Power remains committed to opening the market up to GAP buyers. They attribute their success in this arena to collaborative teamwork between the Power Group in-house sales team and their project partners – the land owner the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements, Nedbank Corporate Finance, the four major banks providing end-user financing, and a number of NGOs including Cape Gateway International Church, Habitat for Humanity, and the Ruben Richards Foundations, to set the standard for future residential developments.

THOUGHTFUL AND WELL EXECUTED DESIGN Many months of market research and planning went into the town planning, including consultation with surrounding neighbours, extensive workshopping of the house designs, and creative sourcing of innovative materials. Critical drivers were security, energy efficiency, and providing the lowest-priced houses with good quality finishes. These principles were taken even further – into the development’s courtyards, which create natural safe zones and play areas for children as well as adding to the aesthetically pleasing streetscape.

Exceptional care was taken to research and procure the right materials, which were also tested. The main goal was to make sure that purchased homes were fully equipped and that residents would only need to bring their furniture, clothes and fridge. All BNG houses are piped and solargeyser-ready for future installation. All GAP homes receive a 100-litre high-pressure solar geyser, built-in oven and hob, energy-saving light bulbs, eco pump-in insulation, and extended roof overhangs on the north-facing side of the houses. Open market houses receive a 150-litre solar geyser, built-in oven and hob, LED light bulbs throughout, extended roof overhangs on the north-facing side of the houses, and eco pump-in roof insulation. The houses were designed specifically to ensure compliance with SANS10400-XA energy efficiency regulations and achievement of a satisfactory R-value.

FINANCE AND HOME OWNERSHIP EDUCATION The Power Group took a fresh approach and created a direct link with bank consultants so that dedicated bond consultants could handle all bond applications. It was agreed that no bond originators would be used and that bond applications would be processed within 48-76 hours. Most bond applicants receive 100% bonds, which is very rare in the current market and led to a record-breaking 79% bond approval rate – unheard of in any market in South Africa in the current economic climate being experienced, and made possible in part by the fact that the land was made available at a very competitive price. Power Group points out that the softer elements that don’t always bring in profits, often get overlooked. The developer again acknowledges the role that other project partners played in properly educating the beneficiaries and enabling the social integration that forms the cornerstone of this development: Habitat for Humanity and My Budget Fitness offered various workshops on the responsibilities of home ownership, with Habitat specifically running three workshops with all BNG homeowners prior to them moving in, followed by one more session after occupancy has taken place. This has proven very significant, especially for occupants of BNG homes, who are mostly low income earners: Uninformed people would try to extend or improve their homes with the types of low-cost, lowquality material that would degenerate the image of the entire development.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

INTEGRATED AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Proper education on looking after a home as a valuable asset has gone a long way in addressing this matter. Power Group continues to facilitate ad hoc workshops for residents to educate them on important home ownership matters.

SENIORS ARE NOT FORGOTTEN Senior citizens are often forgotten in developments, which is very unfortunate as they cannot afford expensive retirement homes and villages. But the seniors in Pelican Park have not been forgotten. Abbeyfield South Africa purchased six plots and contracted Power Construction to build a seniors home with 12 rooms, to house seniors under home care from caregivers out of the community. The seniors will give training to Pelican Park residents and also host a crèche and after-care facility. This social integration again demonstrates why Pelican Park is so unique and has created a new model for future affordable and integrated developments in our country.

LOOKING FORWARD At a total cost of approximately R750-million, which includes State funding and private investment, Pelican Park has received Gold Star status in the City of Cape Town Mayor’s Portfolio for Sustainable Development.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

Earlier this year, while Nelson Mandela International Build Week was being celebrated in Pelican Park, the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Benedicta van Minnen, was quoted in saying, “With our partners, we are making progress possible and this project shows that we cannot forever rely only on government to fund the large-scale delivery of housing opportunities to our marginalized residents. We must draw in the private sector to balance the dynamics of the housing market and we have to devise new ways to ensure delivery of scale. The City cannot do this alone. The increased delivery of housing opportunities to our vulnerable residents must become part of the mainstream conversation.” To date, the Power Group has successfully completed more than 37,700 affordable homes in South Africa. There are challenges at Pelican Park that the company is working through, like dealing with crime, but overall, Pelican Park is testament to the company’s capabilities and it has undoubtedly set the benchmark for others to follow. As a turnkey developer, the Power Group is committed to delivering affordable residential developments supported by sustainable innovations, quality management, continuous improvement, and extensive consumer education – underpinned by an ethical ethos. For more information, visit www.powergrp.co.za.

BUILDING STANDARDS

Durban’s multi-billion rand projects get housing regulator nod Newly appointed members of the NHBRC recently assessed building standards at two of Durban’s largest building projects - Cornubia and Clermont.

s part of the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) Member’s oversight mandate, the purpose of the inspection by these senior officials was to highlight the importance of regulation in the housing industry. NHBRC’s Provincial Manager for KwaZulu-Natal, Gary Olckers, said that repairing poorly constructed houses had in the past years cost South Africans billions of rands. “With a multi-billion project such as Cornubia, ensuring quality becomes vitally important,” he stated. Olckers continued to say that each of the thousands of units have to be assessed at various stages of construction to ensure that problems are identified early and rectified as soon as possible. “Instead of trying to correct possible issues after the house has been built, compliance is tested throughout the duration of the project,” he explained. NHBRC Member of Council, Ms Hlaleni Dlepu, went on to express that the NHBRC’s role goes beyond this, “A home or a housing development that is registered with the NHBRC automatically falls under a warranty against construction-related defects,” she said, adding that many homeowners are unaware that building contractors are required by law to register all building projects with the NHBRC. “Members of the South African public have a right to demand that their builder or contractor is registered with the NHBRC. The Council members are conducting unannounced site visits in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape,” she continued. Olckers acknowledges that, since the NHBRC obtained responsibility as a regulator, there have been significant improvements in housing quality standards. “A lack of proper skills is one of the major reasons that a contractor’s work may not be up to standard,” he said and added that other reasons could be the use of inferior materials.

Through the NHBRC’s interventions, builders get to know the implications of using materials that are not of the right standard. “Regulation plays a vital role as it ensures contractors and homeowners recognize that they, too, have a part to play. As a regulator, we work closely with contractors and builders to ensure compliance in building standards,” he concluded. Another Member of Council, Phetola Makgathe, confirmed that the councillors were satisfied that work on the sites was progressing smoothly and in keeping with the required standards. “Our inspectors are here on a regular basis and working in conjunction with the eThekwini Municipality to ensure compliance at every stage of the building. We are very pleased at what we saw,” he commented. Other members of the Council who participated in the unannounced site visits included Mr Goolam Mameck and Ambassador Sam Kotwana. The NHBRC is a statutory body with the responsibility to provide protection in terms of the Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act (Act No.95 of 1998). It is mandated to provide protection for housing consumers and to regulate the home building industry. For more information, visit www.nhbrc.org.za.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

Potchefstroom, North West province: Students at the University of North West. Photo: Hannelie Coetzee, Media Club South Africa. (www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com)

Green student housing can

increase pass rate and create jobs With university budgets facing major constraints, student accommodation in South Africa is in a dire state. According to John Schooling of STAG African, the knock-on effect of poor accommodation is directly linked to the high failure rate at universities: "By creating optimally designed residences, the pass rate can be increased from 60% to 80%." “Simply put, by not providing adequate housing, we’re setting up our learners to fail. The ramifications are huge,” says Schooling, MD and founder of STAG African, now leading the way in the student accommodation sector after changing the company’s direction in 2008 due to the property crisis and recession. “Developers were crashing right, left and centre, and we found ourselves in some serious trouble; we had to innovate in order to survive. During that time, we identified an opportunity to develop, build, operate and finance student residences,” explains Schooling. The problem for universities is that the cost of student accommodation is very expensive. By using green building practices, STAG African is able to reduce building time by 40% and therefore the costs associated with it, dramatically. At universities, where cost ultimately is the deciding factor, sustainable building is an obvious economic choice. Likewise, more and more developers are adopting a sustainable approach – driven not only by the environmental aspect, but increasingly so by the economic benefits of green building. According to a World Green Building Trends survey run by US-based McGraw-Hill Construction, the growth of green building in South Africa trumps that of established sustainability building regions such as Europe, Australia, the USA, United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Brazil.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015

Schooling sees STAG’s commitment to green development as one of the company’s biggest advantages. “In the very near future, it will be the preferred way of building.” With this in mind, STAG is already developing skills in its local areas of operation to prepare for a more environmentally aware construction sector – an initiative that fits perfectly within the company’s much more encompassing philosophy of enriching lives. “Not enough is being done at the moment to promote internal development through green skills and green jobs. We are committed to creating unique skills in the use of new technology in the green building sector and have received a lot of support from the Department of Higher Education and Training to do so,” remarks Schooling. “We project around 6,700 employment opportunities based on our current work scope. This will go a long way in addressing high unemployment rates and upskilling young job seekers with sustainable skills.” Over the next five years STAG African wants to build 50,000 beds, with at least 30,000 of those being constructed under management. “We approach every development holistically and take the social, physical, financial, political and environmental impact of our proposal into account. We then apply our founding principal of developing green skills – for green jobs for a green economy,” says Schooling.