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Not all is lost for the construction industry, says AfriSam

By: Simone Liedtke 28th February 2020 The 2020 Budget, as outlined by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni earlier this week, “didn’t give much hope to the construction industry”, construction materials company AfriSam sales and marketing executive Richard Tomes told Engineering News on Friday. Growth in this sector was expected to remain... →

Hyprop forges ahead with its strategy despite tough trading conditions

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 28th February 2020 JSE-listed real estate investment trust (Reit) Hyprop’s interim results demonstrate progress in implementing its new strategy, with the trading density of its South African portfolio having increased by 0.6% for the six months ended December 31 and by 1.4% over the past 12 months. The trading... →

Association battles to attain curriculum accreditation

By: Halima Frost 28th February 2020 In its efforts to generate a full curriculum for the broader spectrum of flooring installation over the last seven years, Flooring Industry Training Association (Fita) has had difficulties with the Quality Council for Trades & Occupations (QCTO), as the qualifications process seemed to take much... →

FLOORED Training and accreditation in the flooring industry has taken a knock because of delays in the accreditation process

Construction changes affect flooring quality

By: Halima Frost 28th February 2020 Changes in materials and construction methods in the built environment have led to an increase in problematic subfloors, which lead to poor end-results, says flooring distributor Polyflor SA CEO Tandy Coleman. These changes include the addition of chemical additives in concrete manufacturing, the... →

PICTURE PERFECT The recipe for a perfectly fitted vinyl floor starts with a well laid self-leveling screed

Flooring company to start green project

By: Halima Frost 28th February 2020 Flooring contractor KBAC Flooring will handle a 1 400 m2 external raised paving installation project in Centurion for M&T Development, set to start in April 2020. The project is believed to be the first of its kind in Africa using a unique locally manufactured product. KBAC Flooring will... →

UPLIFTING Raised flooring allows for increased aesthetic appeal and accesses to hidden building services

Local steel industry still holds much potential

By: Mamaili Mamaila 28th February 2020 The current capacity and capabilities of the local steel industry are still largely understated, says export trade promotion agency the International Steel Fabricators (ISF). →

International Steel Fabricators CEO Neels van Niekerk discusses the South African steel sector. Camerawork: Creamer Media’s Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Creamer Media’s Nicholas Boyd. Recorded: 30.01.2020

The night a Van der Merwe and Ledwaba took gold in London

By: Irma Venter 27th February 2020 After twenty years of first finding ways to kickstart the Gautrain project, then building and running the urban rapid-rail system, Gautrain Management Agency CEO Jack van der Merwe has retired. His skills are not lost to Gauteng, however, as he is set to lead the newly established Transport... →

Jack van der Merwe

Dangote Cement to start exports from Congo after Nigerian export woes

By: Reuters 27th February 2020 Dangote Cement said on Wednesday it planned to start exports from its Congo Republic plants to neighbouring States after its Nigerian exports fell 41% in 2019 when Nigeria's government closed its borders. Nigeria shut its land border in August to curb the smuggling of rice to neighbouring states... →

LafargeHolcim sees 3% to 5% sales growth in 2020 despite China slowdown

By: Reuters 27th February 2020 LafargeHolcim reported slightly better-than-expected net profit during 2019, the world's largest cement maker said on Thursday, saying it expected solid market conditions in most countries this year except China. The building materials maker said net income rose by nearly 50% to 2.25-billion... →

Cranes, construction equipment to become everyday sight across South Africa

By: Simone Liedtke 26th February 2020 Over the next three years, the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) will package blended finance megaprojects of at least R200-billion, while government has committed R10-billion for such projects over the same period. Capital spending is the fastest-growing component of non-interest... →

Cities to receive grant funding in efforts to boost infrastructure development

By: Simone Liedtke 26th February 2020 Cities will receive grant funding through the integrated city development grant to institutionalise an effective system for preparing programmes and projects. This is in an effort to continue expanding the tools available for South African provinces and municipalities to improve spending, after... →

Private electricity generation identified as most urgent structural reform for reigniting growth

By: Simone Liedtke 26th February 2020 With a weak economic outlook characterised by a real gross domestic product that is expected to grow at 0.9% in 2020, 1.3% in 2021 and 1.6% in 2022, South Africa is in dire need of far-reaching structural reforms to achieve faster economic growth. In contrast, global economic growth is expected... →

Ethiopia asks US to postpone final talks on Blue Nile dam

By: Reuters 26th February 2020 Ethiopia has asked the United States to postpone what was expected to be the final round of talks on the giant Blue Nile hydropower dam, it said on Wednesday, delaying the potential resolution of a dispute that sparked a years-long diplomatic crisis. "We have asked that we need more time for... →

Gauteng to build 100 schools, six hospitals in ten years – Makhura

By: News24Wire 26th February 2020 Gauteng Premier David Makhura has promised to build 100 schools and six hospitals in the next ten years, reopening 70 township schools which were not attracting enrollment numbers. Makhura made the announcement during his State of the Province Address (SoPA) in Tshwane on Tuesday. →

Record stash of steel in China as demand slammed

By: Bloomberg 25th February 2020 The world’s largest steel industry just sent out another warning flare as producers grapple with the coronavirus outbreak: nationwide stockpiles of reinforcement bar have swelled to the most on record. The surge is a reflection of the dislocation caused by the disease and efforts to fight it.... →

Streamlined Aveng says core units are poised to grow as disposals taper

By: Terence Creamer 25th February 2020 Infrastructure and resources group Aveng, which is at the tail-end of a far-reaching restructuring exercise that has already resulted in disposals collectively valued at R1-billion, reports that its two remaining core businesses – Moolmans and McConnell Dowell – are both operating profitably and... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Aveng CEO Sean Flanagan

Shoprite forms JV with Equites

By: Reuters 25th February 2020 South Africa's Shoprite Holdings will transfer its distribution centres and undeveloped land valued at R2-billion to a new joint venture (JV) it is creating with Equites Property Fund, the supermarket chain said on Tuesday. Shoprite has more than 2 800 stores across Africa and has said it wants... →

Amatola Water Board to lead drought intervention in Eastern Cape

By: News24Wire 25th February 2020 Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has commissioned the Amatola Water Board to lead the drought intervention plan in the Eastern Cape, the board said on Monday. In a statement, it added it was assigned to solve water shortage and infrastructure challenges in various municipalities to... →

Sasol confirms making 600 MW own-gen proposal in response to DMRE RFI

By: Terence Creamer 24th February 2020 Sasol CEO Fleetwood Grobler confirmed on Monday that the energy and chemicals group made a submission to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy in line with its request for information (RFI) on possible emergency electricity solutions that could be “grid-connected in the shortest time at... →

Sasol CEO Fleetwood Grobler on the need for a culture change at the company following major cost overruns at its US project. Camera Work: Kutlwano Matlala. Editing: Nicholas Boyd. Recorded: 24.2.2020

EIB commits to continue supporting African investment

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 24th February 2020 Lending institution, the European Investment Bank (EIB) expects to significantly increase engagement in both sub-Saharan and North Africa and to provide €4-billion to support public and private investment across the continent this year. This will include increased support for infrastructure that... →

Quality assets underpin Liberty Two Degrees' solid 2019 performance

By: Simone Liedtke 24th February 2020 Sustainable trading density growth of 3.6% for the year ended December 31 was reported for South Africa-focused retail-centered real estate investment trust (Reit) Liberty Two Degrees’ (L2D’s) retail portfolio, with Sandton leading at 9%, up from 4% in 2018. This, the company said on Monday, was... →

As South Africa prepares to resume renewables procurement, new global report points to rising popularity of auctions

By: Terence Creamer 21st February 2020 As South Africa prepares to restart its electricity procurement programmes, following a five-year hiatus, the global popularity of competitive auctions as the preferred instrument for procuring renewable energy has again been highlighted in a newly released report. Published by the International... →

Jungle Oats opens new Oat Mill in the Western Cape

21st February 2020 JSE-listed Tiger Brands has officially opened its new Oat Mill for its first and oldest product – Jungle Oats – in Maitland, Cape Town. Speaking at the opening event on Friday, unit manager Rees de Villiers outlined some of the advanced features of the new mill. →

Indaba increases prospect of project funding

By: Cameron Mackay 21st February 2020 The Africa Energy Indaba provides an ideal opportunity for State-owned export credit agency (ECA) the Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South Africa (ECIC) to become more involved in the funding of significant energy infrastructure projects. “The Indaba raises the ECIC’s profile as an... →

ATTRACTING THE GLOBE The ECIC’s mandate from government is to make local exports attractive to international buyers to attract foreign income, stimulate local economic growth and create jobs

Chemists develop process to turn rubbish into graphene

By: Schalk Burger 21st February 2020 Rice University laboratory chemists, led by James Tour, have in the science journal Nature introduced a process by which almost any source of carbon can be turned into graphene flakes, the university said. The gram-scale bottom-up flash graphene synthesis process is quick and cheap and can... →

FLASH GRAPHENE Undergraduate intern Christina Crassas, chemist James Tour and graduate students Paul Advincula and Duy Luong turn carbon black into graphene in a flash

Kenyan cement firms want protection from surging imports

By: John Muchira 21st February 2020 Cement manufacturers in Kenya are pushing for tough interventions intervention by government to stem the influx of imports, which are threatening the competitiveness of local producers. National Cement Company chairperson Narendra Raval said this month that Kenya had enough clinker to meet local... →

Cape Town adds more energy to Indaba

By: Cameron Mackay 21st February 2020 The decision to host this year’s Africa Energy Indaba at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on March 3 and 4, rather than in Johannesburg, where it was hosted previously, has resulted in increased interest from African and global delegates to attend the event, says Africa Energy Indaba... →

ENERGISING AFRICA The sub-Saharan and East African regions will feature strongly at the indaba as electricity demand in these regions, and the rest of Africa, is growing

New energy paradigm can drive Africa’s development

By: Schalk Burger 21st February 2020 Africa can meet its major sustainable energy and development goals without becoming more energy intensive, as it has a unique opportunity to use renewable energy, natural gas and energy efficiency to meet its development needs and provide reliable and modern energy services. This is the... →

Energy institute to focus on IRP at Indaba

By: Cameron Mackay 21st February 2020 The publication of the long-awaited Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) in October last year will be a significant focus area for State-owned energy researcher the South African National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi) at this year’s Africa Energy Indaba. “The publication of the IRP provides... →

BARRY BREDENKAMP We certainly don’t have to re-invent the wheel, there are many African countries doing exceptional work in this area, and we can learn from them

Fundi launches student accommodation digital platform

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 20th February 2020 Education funding and solutions provider Fundi on Thursday launched its new digital student accommodation platform, a single-access source for all things student accommodation. Launching the platform at the Rand Club, in Johannesburg, Fundi CEO Tshepo Ditshego said the organisation chose to... →

Inconsistencies between fiscal and other policies resulting in ‘austerity without consolidation’

By: Terence Creamer 20th February 2020 Prevailing inconsistencies between fiscal policy and the rest of government policy lay at the heart of the South African government’s current financial crisis and was resulting in “austerity without fiscal consolidation”, University of the Witwatersrand adjunct professor of public economics... →

University of the Witwatersrand adjunct professor of public economics Michael Sachs

Balwin to buy Umhlanga property from Tongaat for R167m

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 19th February 2020 JSE-listed Balwin Properties has concluded an agreement to buy, from Tongaat Hulett Development, Portion 3 & 4 of Erf 3465 Umhlanga Rocks; Portion 6 of ERF 3465 Umhlanga Rocks; the remainder of Erf 3434 Umhlanga Rocks; and the remainder of Erf 3465 and 3457 Umhlanga Rocks, measuring 64 ha in... →

Emira focused on steady, incremental growth amid tough market conditions

By: Marleny Arnoldi 19th February 2020 JSE-listed real estate investment trust (Reit) Emira Property Fund says the performance of its US-based assets has contributed to the company’s distribution growth of 1.7% year-on-year for the six months ended December 31. The Reit declared an interim dividend of 74.10c for the six months under... →

Emira Property Fund CEO Geoff Jennett

Mantashe says Ministerial Determinations needed to unlock IRP 2019 are finalised and await Nersa’s concurrence

By: Terence Creamer 19th February 2020 Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe announced on Wednesday that the Section 34 Ministerial Determinations required to give effect to the Integrated Resource Plan 2019 had been finalised and were currently serving before the National Energy Regulator of South Africa in order to... →

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe

CIG reports constrained trading conditions

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 19th February 2020 JSE-listed Consolidated Infrastructure Group (CIG) says it continues to trade in extremely difficult macroeconomic conditions, with pressure on all businesses. Reporting on the company’s results for the four months ended December 31, CIG on Wednesday said it had, however, initiated interventions... →

Growthpoint welcomes first tenants to its KZN industrial park

By: Marleny Arnoldi 19th February 2020 Real estate investment trust Growthpoint Properties has completed the first phase of its new Growthpoint Industrial Park, in KwaZulu-Natal. The company says the park has received keen market interest and its first tenants are already operating from the 20 300 m2 initial phase of the... →

Growthpoint Properties' industrial park, in KwaZulu-Natal

New Concor chief sees surge in issuance of large tenders as sign of possible construction turnaround

By: Terence Creamer 19th February 2020 Newly appointed Concor CEO Lucas Tseki believes the strong flow of tenders in the last quarter of 2019 could signal that the domestic construction market is finally bottoming out. He is also cautiously optimistic that infrastructure-focused departments and State-owned enterprises (SOEs) are, at... →

Concor CEO Lucas Tseki

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