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Municipal Infrastructure & Services

Science and tech key to sector’s survival

By: Halima Frost 21st August 2020 The impact of Covid-19 on infrastructure projects demands that the construction sector use its scientific and engineering expertise better, says engineering consultant SRK Consulting partner and principal engineering technologist Steve Bartels. “The Covid-19 pandemic has reminded us that... →

Investing in infrastructure now will boost economy

By: Halima Frost 21st August 2020 Now is the time to invest in infrastructure projects to ensure that the industry does not hit a lull when the economy fully reopens after the lockdown regulations are lifted, urges multinational engineering firm Aecom client and government sector Africa director Fadzai Nyamasve. “The industry... →

FADZAI NYAMASVE The industry cannot afford to wait for the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic to subside

Sustainable solutions needed to build economy

By: Halima Frost 21st August 2020 “A sustainable infrastructure solution is required to reignite South Africa’s economy after Covid-19,” says Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa) CEO Chris Campbell. Many municipalities are incapable of handling the infrastructure procurement process from inception to completion, owing to the... →

CHRIS CAMPBELL Explains that it makes sense to use private-sector capacity on a good governance model basis

Water infrastructure project on course

By: Halima Frost 21st August 2020 Multidisciplinary engineering, procurement and construction management house COENG is offering its occupational health and safety, as well as environmental management, expertise to the second phase of the Klipdrift Water Treatment Works project in the Hammanskraal area, in northern Gauteng and... →

Reliable infrastructure needed to meet fibre demand

By: Halima Frost 21st August 2020 With physical distancing encouraged amid Covid-19, the need for reliable fibre connectivity and infrastructure has increased, says open access network provider Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) strategy, mergers and acquisitions and innovation executive Vino Govender. “We have seen a significant increase... →

Dark Fibre Africa strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and innovation executive Vino Govender discusses the increased demand for bandwidth and data during Covid-19. Camerawork: Kutlwano Matala. Editing: Nicholas Boyd. Recorded: 23.07.2020

Industry body welcomes infrastructure spend decision

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 16th August 2019 Industry body Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa) welcomes the decision by government to allocate about R100-billon as seed funding for infrastructure development. “The organisation would like to appeal to government to use competent capacity at municipal level, by leveraging the... →

New buildings to provide accommodation closer to institutions

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 16th August 2019 To address the issue of the lack of student accommodation in close proximity to campus, ADA Consulting Engineers has been involved in a greenfield construction project for a Southpoint building on Jorissen street in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. “Owing to Braamfontein being a densely built-up area,... →

Africa’s first high-speed train line fully operational

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 16th August 2019 The Al Boraq high-speed train line, which links the cities of Tangier and Casablanca, in Morocco, is fully operational. Railway infrastructure constructor Colas Rail, a subsidiary of construction company the Colas Group, built a 182 km/s electrified double track between Tangier and Kenitra.... →

FROM POINT A TO B The new railway infrastructure allows for a maximum operational speed of 320 km/h and leads to a two-and-a-half-hour gain between Tangiers and Casablanca

Experts collaborate to deliver project in Kenya

17th August 2018 Integrated infrastructure delivery company Aecom’s Nairobi team, consisting of experts from South Africa, Kenya, Germany and the US, is working on a civil-structure assessment project for a transmission line in Kenya. “A major advantage for Aecom in the region is its ability to leverage its... →

BONI CHILESHE A major advantage for Aecom in the region is its ability to leverage its international expertise and experience on the continent

Microsurfacing system cost effective, environment friendly

By: Donald Makhafola 17th August 2018 Bituminous binders and slurries for road-surfacing specialist manufacturer and applicator Colas South Africa completed 700 000 m² of road reseal for Mogale City local municipality, including several roads in the Krugersdorp Nature Reserve, over the past three years. For the project, which... →

ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY The Colas South Africa team applying Colmat L microsurfacing in the Krugersdorp Nature Reserve

Wave of innovation for infrastructure development

By: Donald Makhafola 17th August 2018 With business spend in Africa predicted to grow from $2.6-trillion in 2015 to $3.5-trillion by 2025, wholly black-owned construction group Concor Construction believes that this trend will redefine urban areas and cities, triggering the need for rapid infrastructure development and services.... →

COLLABORATION Concor Construction wants to work with governments and municipalities to meet their mandates for infrastructure delivery

Expediting infrastructure development to address rapid urbanisation

By: Donald Makhafola 17th August 2018 With increasing urbanisation and technological advancement in African countries, the need for more robust and sophisticated infrastructure to support and sustain this growth is essential, says global engineering consultancy firm SRK Consulting partner and principal civil engineer James Morris.... →

Photo by Bloomberg
URBANISATION There is a need for robust and sophisticated infrastructure to support and sustain increasing urbanisation in Africa

55 Mℓ/d treatment plant completed

17th August 2018 Global optimised resource management company Veolia Water Technologies South Africa recently handed over the 55 Mℓ/d potable water treatment plant to State-owned water utility Umgeni Water in the iLembe district municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. The project was part of the Lower Thukela Bulk Water... →

RELIABLE SUPPLY The 55 Mℓ/d potable water treatment plant in the iLembe District has been handed over to Umgeni Water

Investors looking for viable infrastructure projects in Africa

By: Donald Makhafola 17th August 2018 There is investor appetite for well-structured infrastructure projects on the continent, but investors need clarity from governments on regulations and the various projects earmarked for development, says specialist banking company Investec Bank head of power and infrastructure finance... →

INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE Investec Bank is considering investment in renewable energy, water desalination and treatment projects, transportation infrastructure and speciality buildings

Need for engineers amid infrastructure delivery challenges

By: Donald Makhafola 17th August 2018 Amid basic service delivery challenges, such as housing, water, transport infrastructure and energy, there is a desperate need for engineers in the country, says association for consulting engineering firms Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa) president Neresh Pather. He says efforts should... →

NERESH PATHER AND CHRIS CAMPBELL Consulting Engineers South Africa is encouraging partnerships among its member companies, in the form of joint ventures, to benefit in respect of growth and skills transfer

SADC in need of localised development

18th August 2017 Localisation in infrastructure development in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region is critical to industrialisation, says the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). →

NIGEL GWYNNE-EVANS State-owned entities have a critical role to play in attractive private sector investment for infrastructure projects

Company offers complete solution for water treatment works

By: Marleny Arnoldi 18th August 2017 Chemical dosing and pump solutions supplier Packaged Metering and Pumping Solutions (PMPS) says its Polisol automatic polymer preparation plant unit, from Italy-based metering pumps manufacturer OBL, can cater for companies that need small-scale dosing equipment. →

POLISOL POLYMER PLANT There’s a gap in the market for small-scale dosing equipment that can be custom-made for a client’s applications

Company supplies piping for water treatment expansion project

By: Marleny Arnoldi 18th August 2017 Thermoplastic piping company Plasti-Tech supplied a range of piping, custom fittings and flanges to Zululand district municipality’s Usuthu purification plant expansion infrastructure project to increase output by 20 M a day. →

MEGA SUPPLY Plasti-Tech supplied R1.8-million worth of piping and fabricated fittings for the Usuthu water purification plant expansion project

Diverse assets for infrastructure in demand

By: Marleny Arnoldi 18th August 2017 In the commercial and industrial property development space, as well as its supporting infrastructure, there is demand for high-quality, diverse assets with strategic locations and offering optimal planning and design, says consultancy firm WSP. →

WSP property team and structures regional director William Johnston discusses the demand for diverse assets in the infrastructure industry.

New code to benefit smaller companies

By: Marleny Arnoldi 18th August 2017 With the Amended Construction Sector Code (CSC) in its final stages, business strategy consultancy Gestalt says that the CSC will provide revised specifications in terms of the black economic empowerment (BEE) requirements in the sector. The sector codes continue to advance the transformation... →

Photo by Duane Daws
DEON OBERHOLZER Some companies prefer noncompliance with BEE requirements, but subsequently lose lucrative opportunities to supply government or public-sector-related projects

Procurement standard set to stop use of ‘cheap’ professional services

By: Marleny Arnoldi 18th August 2017 The National Treasury’s (NT’s) standard for infrastructure procurement and delivery management aimed at addressing government’s use of “cheap” professional service providers in public infrastructure projects officially became applicable to municipalities last month. →

Photo by Duane Daws
INCLUSIVE DECISION-MAKING Government bodies in their respective procurement departments, should make more of a crossfunctional team effort regarding procurement

Project aids community development

By: Marleny Arnoldi 18th August 2017 With 70% of the R370-million Cornubia Interchange project complete, construction design and engineering services provider Royal HaskoningDHV and the eThekwini roads provision department say the project is likely to be completed in January next year. →

PILING UP Royal HaskoningDHV construction project manager Drew Wilson says the biggest challenge has been piling and the foundation of the structure

Upscaled infrastructure and regional integration needed in Africa

10th June 2016 Africa is urbanising at a rapid pace, which means infrastructure such as bypasses, bridges, new highways and new technologies needs to be deployed in congested areas where traditional methods cannot work, notes Africa-focused consultancy Africa House director Duncan Bonnett. →

Improved project implementation will drive infrastructure growth

By: Robyn Wilkinson 10th June 2016 Infrastructure construction specialist Inyatsi Construction Group Holdings chairperson Frans Pienaar says a willingness from government to transfer the responsibility for the implementation of infrastructure projects to the private sector will help to drive growth in the industry. →

Wireless connectivity fundamental to infrastructure development

By: Nadine James 10th June 2016 Multinational networking equipment manufacturer Ruckus Wireless sub-Saharan Africa sales director Riaan Graham says Wi-Fi and connectivity will play an integral role in infrastructure and socioeconomic development. Connectivity broadly refers to the ability to access what is required – whether it... →

Collaboration on infrastructure projects can yield economic growth

By: Zandile Mavuso 10th June 2016 South Africa is facing demand for economic growth; it is therefore critical that government considers collaborating with the private sector in primary infrastructure megaprojects that will yield almost immediate gross domestic product growth, says professional services firm WSP∣Parsons... →

B2B programme geared to empower municipalities

By: Donna Slater 12th June 2015 The Ministry for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) voiced its proposal last month that the government-initiated Back to Basics (B2B) programme be geared to assist local municipalities in various ways. →

MITIGATING MUNICIPAL BACKLOGS Under the ambit of the Back-to-Basics programme, government aims to improve municipal procurement and infrastructure delivery, among other competency requirements

Open-access fibre-optic network key to smart city success

By: Donna Slater 12th June 2015 Implementing open-access fibre-optic networks is integral to helping municipal services transfer data quicker in a smart city, says fibre network provider Dark Fibre Africa (DFA). →

DARK FIBRE NETWORK Dark Fibre Africa’s network has the capacity to handle bandwidths far larger than South Africa’s expected broadband traffic requirements over the next 20 years

Municipality’s smart water meters reduce leaks, improve readings

By: Donna Slater 12th June 2015 The installation of smart water meters in Jansenville, in the Eastern Cape, has contributed significantly to a reduction in water leaks and to the municipality’s accurate capturing of water-meter readings, says Johannesburg-based metering solutions company Elster Kent Metering. →

DETERRING THEFT The smart water meters have no metal components, thereby mitigating theft for metal recycling

Stable municipalities require long-term foresight

By: Donna Slater 12th June 2015 The ability to plan the development of a municipality several years in advance is key to ensure long-term success, says auditing and advisory firm KPMG. →

DEVELOPING INFRASTRUCTURE Strategic long-term planning is essential to ensure the completion of long-term infrastructure developments

Second project wins housing award

By: Mia Breytenbach 13th June 2014 Multidisciplinary engineering consultancy Bigen Africa reports that the Second Creek integrated development project in the Buffalo City metropolitan municipality, in East London, which it is involved in, has won the Govan Mbeki Housing Award. The project is the company’s second integrated... →

LUFHERENG INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT Bigen Africa will service the housing stands with municipal infrastructure and construct the housing units

Business plan to improve services at multipurpose centre

By: Mia Breytenbach 13th June 2014 Multi-disciplinary engineering consulting firm GIBB has compiled a business plan, aimed at identifying challenges that exist at the multi-purpose Thusong Centres, in the Eastern Cape, to support the effective functioning of the centres. GIBB has been tasked by the Eastern Cape Transport... →

BUSINESS PLAN Service level agreements will ensure services at the Tombo Thusong Centre

Engineers need to lead municipal departments

By: Mia Breytenbach 13th June 2014 To enhance and monitor the quality of municipal infrastructure and services, engineers should head the various departments of South Africa’s municipalities as they have the necessary skills and expertise to understand the engineering aspects of the services in question, voluntary association... →

Photo by Duane Daws
MUNICIPAL PROFICIENCY Cesa suggests that engineers head municipal infrastructure departments

Roads, infrastructure restoration key focus

By: Mia Breytenbach 13th June 2014 Roads infrastructure management agency Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) plans to complete the repairs of nine rain-damaged bridges in Johannesburg as soon as possible to continue with its key focus of restoring the asset value of roads infrastructure in the City of Johannesburg, in line with its... →

Johannesburg Roads Agency MD Skhumbuzo Macozoma discusses the core programmes comprising the agency’s response plan.

Durban pipeline project still on track for completion in 2017

By: Mia Breytenbach 13th June 2014 Municipal water and sanitation services eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS) says construction of the Northern Aqueduct Augmentation, which forms part of the eThekwini strategic master plan to deal with the increasing demand for water in the northern regions of Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, is still... →

WATER WAY The R150-million first phase of the Northern Aqueduct project is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2015

Substation upgrade on track

By: Mia Breytenbach 13th June 2014 The estimated R140-million upgrades to Mogale City local municipality’s Condale substation, in Gauteng, are on track and due for completion in early 2015, consulting engineering firm Royal HaskoningDHV says. The Condale substation, which is the only main infeed substation for the entire Mogale... →

NECCESARY UPGRADE Upgrades to the Mogale City Condale substation will ensure stable electricity supply capacity for the community

Social housing valuable tool in creating an integrated society

By: Idéle Esterhuizen 29th July 2011 Social housing serves as a valuable tool in restructuring urban areas and creating a socially and economically integrated society, says Centre for Municipal Research and Advice (CMRA) human settlements project manager and advisor to South African Local Government Association (Salga) Michelle Essink. →

Lack of skills remains obstacle to effective service delivery

By: Idéle Esterhuizen 29th July 2011 The lack of skills and expertise remain an obstacle to improving service delivery, says United Democratic Movement (UDM) secretary-general Bongani Msomi. →

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