From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report. Our top stories this week: the Ben Schoeman highway expansion is on track and on time; green building is gaining momentum in South Africa; and the Ekurhuleni jewellery project empowers communities.

Shannon O’Donnell:
The R29-billion Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project will see the upgrade of many roads and bridges in around Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane. This work is divided into various work packages. Irma Venter takes a closer look at package C.

Irma Venter:
This is the Olifantsfontein bridge. Or rather, the additional bridge that will be added to the existing bridge to create a four-lane carriageway over the N1 between Pretoria and Johannesburg. It forms part of the South African Nationals Roads Agency's, or Sanral's, R1,7-billion package C of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement project.
Sanral project engineer Hennie Kotze explains.

Sanral project engineer Hennie Kotze

Irma Venter:
The Olifantsfontein bridge is not the only one which will be upgraded as part of Package C.

Sanral project engineer Hennie Kotze

Irma Venter:
At the moment, work on Package C is progressing largely according to schedule.

Sanral project engineer Hennie Kotze

Shannon O’Donnell:
The interest in green building in South Africa is rapidly growing. After the break, we speak to the green building council of South Africa’s CEO, Nicola Douglas, on the work the council is doing.

Den Braven advert

Christy van der Merwe:
The green building council of South Africa was established in 2007, and by November 2008, launched the Green Star SA rating tool for office buildings. The race to be the first Green Star certified and rated office building in South Africa is on. There are five buildings registered to be rated, and the council is satisfied with the interest in the tool to date.

Green building council of South Africa, CEO, Nicola Douglas

Christy van der Merwe:
Next on the agenda, the council will create a Green Star SA rating tool for retail and shopping centres, and following that, a tool for existing buildings focusing on energy, water, and waste management performance of a building. There is demand for an existing building rating tool, particularly in the current economic climate.

Nicola Douglas

Christy van der Merwe:
In South Africa, it’s apparent that a more sustainable and responsible way of constructing, and operating buildings is transforming new built environment projects. It’s important to remember the larger context in which this takes place.

Nicola Douglas

Shannon O’Donnell:
Skills development and job creation are two of the main challenges facing South Africa on its way to improve living standards for the majority of the population. Loni Prinsloo takes a closer look.

Loni Prinsloo:
The Ekurhuleni Jewellery project is modelled on Vukani-Ubuntu’s integrated development model combining expertise from different industry and development partners in an aim to address unemployment and skills development challenges. Vukani-Ubuntu CEO Demos Takoulas tells us more.

Vukani-Ubuntu CEO Demos Takoulas

Loni Prinsloo:
He explains how this project will benefit the community.

Demos Takoulas

Loni Prinsloo:
The beneficiation project is based at Rand Refinery’s premises in Germiston. Rand Refinery MD Geoff Millet tells us why the company decided to house, sponsor and support the project.

Rand Refinery MD Geoff Millet

Shannon O’Donnell:
And now for a sneak preview of this week’s Engineering News magazine:

In our cover story this week, we highlight the fact that the soccer World Cup is only a year away, but will recession-wary fans still come, and is South Africa ready for them?

Global energy equipment vendor Alstom is confident of being able to meet the localisation promises it made to Eskom in supplying two major turbines.

And, South African State-owned defence industrial group Denel responds to a Request for Information from the Brazilian Air Force regarding unmanned air vehicles for surveillance missions.

And in Mining Weekly this week:

Uranium One’s CEO, Jean Nortier, says that the company’s roller coaster ride is continuing, but that there are still prospects for solid organic and acquisitive growth for the company.

We report that palladium and rhodium may come to the fore as smaller petrol cars are targeted to reduce the world’s carbon footprint.

And, read how Nicky Oppenheimer wants the economic lions of Africa to be allowed to roar by urgently improving the continent’s competitiveness.

Shannon O’Donnell:
That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy.

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