Absa completes Auckland park client centre
RAND Afrikaans University's land release programme has delivered a R100m high-tech customer contact facility for Absa Bank. The university has been unlocking the value in its vacant land in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, as part of a broader fundraising campaign, conducted mainly through long-term land leases.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Gauteng is rocking the Cradle
THE Cradle of Humankind site north of Johannesburg could eventually rank as a major international tourist drawcard, if managed properly.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Osner buys Knysna golf course
The East London-based Osner hotel group has bought an R11.25 million Jack Niclaus-designed golf course and housing estate on the Knysna lagoon, outbidding four other would-be buyers to secure the Simola estate.
(©www.news24.com)

Call for bids for Cape Town film studio
A Call has been made for expressions of interest in establishing an estimated R180-million to R300-million, international standard film studio in Cape Town.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

First African PPP hospital opens its doors
In what he refers to as a world-class hospital offering world-class health services, CEO of the first public–private partnership (PPP) Hospital in Africa, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital, Bryan Carpenter says he is optimistic that South Africa is becoming a world leader in PPPs.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Stainless-steel price hike to influence components sector – Naacam
The price of South African stainless steel is set to increase. The price increase has been confirmed by major producer Columbus Stainless. A spokesperson for the stainless-steel producer indicates that the prices applicable to the automotive industry until now have been below the true cost of production.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Columbus expansion contracts are to be awarded soon
Steelmaker Columbus Stainless says contracts for the new cold-rolling mill it is to build at its Middelburg complex, in Mpumalanga, will be awarded before the end of the year.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

R3m for low-nickel stainless study
Mineral and metallurgical technology organisation Mintek has embarked on a R3-million project aimed at developing a special 200-series-type stainless steel with a low nickel content, which could eventually replace carbon steel in selected structural applications.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

SA's synthetic-fuels group casts its net wider
SYNTHETIC fuels and chemicals group Sasol plans new exploratory drilling for gas next year off both the east and west coasts of southern Africa, says executive director Pat Davies.
(©www.bday.co.za)

World's biggest air-separation unit to be completed in Feb 2004
The world's largest air-separation unit (ASU), being established by Sasol, is scheduled to be in operation by February 2004. The plant will be located in Secunda, in Mpumalanga, and will work in association with the 14 other ASU plants already established and operational at the company's facilities.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

R330m lignosulphonate project nearly finished
Norwegian company Borregaard Industries and Sappi Saicor's 50:50 joint Lignotech plant expansion in Umkomaas south of Durban, Kwazulu-Natal is 73% complete and well on target to reach its commissioning deadline in March next year, project leader Mark Andrews reports.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Atlas is set for earnings growth
PROPERTY investment holding group Atlas Properties is set for a ninth consecutive increase in earnings, says the group's MD, Ian Raubenheimer. This makes the group one of the best-performing property investment holding companies on the JSE Securities Exchange SA in terms of earnings growth.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Proceeds from unbundling of iProp used to pay debt
A LARGE portion of the proceeds from the unbundling of land developer iProp went into debt settlement, the group said yesterday. The group's financial results for the year ended September show that iProp's debt was reduced from R194m to R35,7m.
(©www.bday.co.za)

A-Prop adds new portfolio
PROPERTY loan stock company Arnold Property Fund (A-Prop) has added a property portfolio valued at R69,2m to its asset base. The group forked out R27,6m to acquire the entire share capital of companies representing the portfolio together with their liabilities. The portfolio was acquired from K-H Properties, which had kept it in five share-block companies.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Investment drive needed to meet rising power demand
MORE than R50bn will need to be invested in new power stations in SA over the next decade to meet rising demand for electricity, says public enterprises department director-general Sivi Gounden.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Group leads aid effort to small enterprises in SA
SA LEADS in the number of small and medium-sized enterprises being assisted by the Africa Project Development Facility, the organisation says in a report. The organisation is a division of the World Bank Group, focusing on small and medium-sized enterprise development in the continent.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Strong exports performance from high-voltage firm
Black economic empowerment (BEE) company, ALSTOM High Voltage Equipment has been successful in maintaining good export business over the past four years into Africa and further afield, including Australia and New Zealand.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Core Dorbyl divisions show 39% turnover growth
South African manufacturing and trading company, the Dorbyl Group, reported a 21% decline in turnover for the six-month period to September 2002 yesterday, when it released its financial results – mainly due to the disposal of several divisions.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

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Southgate hopes to capture affluent shoppers
SOUTHGATE Shopping Centre, a regional retail development in the south of Johannesburg, has emerged from a R79m expansion and refurbishment programme with a look designed to capture the attention of more affluent shoppers.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Bedford Centre set for a facelift
BEDFORD Centre, a regional shopping centre in the east of Johannesburg, is set for a R150m refurbishment.
(©www.bday.co.za)

New Century City chief settles into post
THOSE who were hoping to cash in on the woes of Century City, which has not yet delivered the returns it promised, can think again.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Retailers snap up space in new mall
LEASES have been signed for 80% of the space at Liberty Midlands Mall, a R260m retail development under construction in Maritzburg.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Score sells Tanzanian stores to Shoprite
Score Supermarkets, a subsidiary of Pick 'n Pay Stores, has sold its three supermarkets and distribution centre in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, to the Shoprite group
(©www.bday.co.za)

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NEWSLETTER & CLOSING OF SAFCEC OFFICES
The final edition of the SAFCEC Newsletter for 2002 will be published on Wednesday, 11 December 2002. The final hard copy of the Tender Bulletin will be published at the same time. Electronic copies of the Tender Bulletin will be published via email and on the SAFCEC Website up to 13 December 2002. All SAFCEC offices will be closed from mid-day on 13 December 2002 until 6 January 2003.
(©www.safcec.org.za)

LAUNCH OF INDUSTRY HIV/AIDS PROGRAMME
The industry HIV/AIDS programme will officially be launched on 22 January 2003. The framework agreement between SAFCEC and the trade unions as well as the service agreement with Life Line Southern Africa will be signed at the launch – copies of the draft agreements are available from head office.
(©www.safcec.org.za)

TRAINING FEEDBACK
NORTHERN PROVINCES REGIONAL TRAINING COMMITTEE
It was agreed during the meeting held on 29 November 2002 that the Northern Provinces Regional Training Committee will cease to have regular scheduled meetings until further notice.
(©www.safcec.org.za)

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New centre will help attract investors
Botswana's President Festus Mogae opened the R150m state-of-the-art Gaborone International Convention Centre yesterday, saying it would become part of the country's plans to aggressively market itself to investors
(©www.bday.co.za)

African expansion exceeds expectations
Demand in Nigeria is far higher than originally forecast. The low teledensity in Africa offers telecommunications operators enormous opportunities. In most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, fewer than one person in 100 have access to a phone.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Zimbabwean dollar on slippery slope as black market trade erupts
Harare - Zimbabwe's dollar had reversed recent gains posted on the back of stricter government foreign exchange controls and a chronic shortage of hard currency was spurring black market trade, traders said yesterday
(©www.busrep.co.za)

Malawi runs dry of foreign currency
Blantyre - Malawi's commercial banks said Tuesday they had run out of foreign exchange, causing the local currency, the kwacha, to lose value against the US dollar.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

US, Luanda deny plug is pulled on gas plant
Luanda - Angolan and US officials behind a project to construct a flagship liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant said the fact that a starting date had not been fixed for production did not mean the project was in doubt.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

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Anglo Platinum goes ahead with UG2 project
Anglo Platinum is proceeding with the second phase of the Rustenburg UG2 project -- which is expected to produce 306,000 ounces of refined platinum and 167,000 ounces of palladium annually
(©www.bday.co.za)

Decision on Premier’s C-cut project by end 2003
The life of De Beers’ Premier mine, based in the town of Cullinan, north-east of Pretoria, could be extended by another 23 years and its output trebled if the Centenary-cut (C-cut) project, valued at some R7-billion, is approved by the diamond giant’s board in November next year.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Mining moguls up for fraud
Johannesburg Consolidated Investments CEO Brett Kebble says there is a determined effort to elevate a possible technical breach of JSE regulations to a criminal fraud charge against him and his mining magnate father.
(©www.news24.com)

Minority buy-out at AngloPlat not imminent – analyst
The world's biggest platinum producer Anglo American Platinum said on Friday its parent Anglo American had increased its stake by another 2,95% to 66,75%.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Argyle a catalyst for India's thriving industry
India may well find its domestic diamond market transformed into the world's third largest diamond consumption market. The global market for another commodity, the country's domestic gold jewellery market dominates with a value of $6,3-billion and diamond consumption this year could achieve $1-billion. India was in fact the largest user of gold in the world.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

UN extends ban on illicit Sierra Leone gem trade
The UN Security Council on Wednesday extended for another six months a global ban on black-market diamond exports from Sierra Leone, where a gems-for-arms trade fueled a decade of brutal civil war.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Platinum giant announces Rustenburg plant expansion
Platinum market leader, Anglo Platinum announced yesterday that it would proceed with Phase 2 of the Rustenburg UG2 Project, to produce 306 000 oz of refined platinum and 167 000 oz of palladium a year.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Implats studies refinery expansion
South African platinum producer, Impala Platinum Limited Refineries facility in Springs, Gauteng, comprises two refinery operations namely, the Base Metals Refinery (BMR) and the Enhanced Platinum Metals Refinery (EPMR).
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

R1,1bn still to be spent on Moab Khotsong project
South Africa’s largest gold producer, AngloGold, announced on a media, analyst and fund manager visit to Moab Khotsong in November that project work at its Vaal-river-based mine, in the Free State, is on schedule and within budget.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

TauTona projects will yield 55 t of gold
Leading gold producer AngloGold has already spent R130-million of the R460-million set aside for projects to prolong the operating life of its TauTona underground mine – originally scheduled to close shop in 2007 – by at least another six years to 2013.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Billion-rand coal plan in the spotlight
One of the big coal-mine expectations for the New Year is the proposed new billion-rand Klipspruit coal-mine, planned in Mpumalanga, South Africa’s coal province.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

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Don't wallpaper over the cracks
There's a big temptation for homeowners to hide any defects or drawbacks in their properties when they decide to sell. But that's a dangerous course.
(©www.property24.co.za)

National pride buoys property market
Renewed patriotism - and a healthy dose of pragmatism - is boosting South Africa's residential property market.
(©www.property24.co.za)

No property worries in rand recovery
Amid the jubilation at the rand's recent recovery, there has been concern that it could have a negative effect on exporters - and on foreign purchasing of local residential property.
(©www.property24.co.za)

Now it's location, location and schools
Families moving home usually have two priorities - finding the right property and finding the right schools. And these days, those two objectives have virtually merged into one: that is, finding the right home close to a good school.
(©www.property24.co.za)

Builder pumping millions into Tuscan-styled villa in Waterkloof
GAUTENG-based builder Rudan Maritz is pumping millions of rands into the development of a home he hopes to sell for about R20m in Waterkloof Ridge, an upmarket Pretoria suburb.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Surge in demand for KwaZulu game farms
THERE has been a surge in demand from investors locally and internationally for game and trout farms in KwaZulu-Natal, says Pam Golding Properties KwaZulu-Natal farm franchisee Clive Greene.
(©www.bday.co.za)

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The Construction Contract Series
From lump sum contracts to cost plus, these articles covers them all.
Design/Build Contracts
A look at design-build contracts and some of the unique issues that they raise.
(©www.construction.about.com)

Debt defence
Bad debts are the scourge of the construction industry. Brian O’Sullivan investigates protection against non-payment in the form of credit insurance.
(©www.intlconstruction.com)

Concrete evidence
Could it be misconstrued that the day of the concrete road is over? Or worse, that it never even began? Kate Price reports.
(©www.intlconstruction.com)

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Rand dives on MTN, US news
The volatile rand lurched abruptly in offshore trade on Friday after news that top US economic officials had resigned, amid fears that bad news from the global powerhouse would also affect South Africa.
(©www.news24.com)

JSE to focus on golds next week
Investors in South African gold companies will keep a close eye on developments in Iraq over the weekend, which could impact the price of bullion and volatile gold shares next week.
(©www.news24.com)

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Wall Street's woes weigh on JSE
The JSE was looking a little anaemic in noon trade on Friday as a fifth straight day of weakness on Wall Street weighed on the local bourse
(©www.bday.co.za)

Speculation grows over Sanlam CEO
The sudden departure of Sanlam chief executive Leon Vermaak, announced today, prompts speculation in the market about the reasons behind the move
(©www.bday.co.za)

November confidence edges levels upward
The South African Chamber of Business’s (SACOB) Business Confidence Index (BCI) for November increased by one index point to 105,5 from 104,5 in October.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Small business plays key role in economy
ECONOMIC growth in SA will not reach the 5%-6% level needed to alleviate poverty and unemployment if the widening gap between the first world, formal economy and the peripheral informal economy is not reduced.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Building Costs Review August 2002
Building costs race ahead…
Consumer prices (excluding interest paid on mortgage loans), broke through the 10% barrier and entered double digit inflation territory when they rose 10,8%, year on year, in August 2002. This is bad news for consumers, already tightening their belts after four consecutive increases in the interest rate, currently at 17%. There are no visible signs of inflation moderating, as yet, it is likely to increase further during the course of the
next few months.
Note : this report is in PDF format.
(©www.industryinsight.co.za)

BEP MEDS: OUR OWN MEDICAL SCHEME
As you might have heard by now, Vincent Knox of PBC (Profhealth Benefits Consulting (Pty) Ltd) has been successful in registering a restricted Medical Scheme for the Built Environment Professional Associations. The Scheme was approved by the Registrar of Medical Schemes on the 9th November 2002 and will come into effect on the 1st January 2003. By their own admission, it was one of the best researched and prepared applications they have ever received – congratulations Vincent!

The Regulations require that the Scheme should have a minimum of 6 000 members within 3 months. As the members of SAACE, SAIA and ASAQS stand to benefit from participation, we are confident that this target will be reached.

Information and application forms are available on line at http://www.sovhealth.co.za/web/bepmeds/index.htm

Further queries about the scheme should be addressed to Vincent Knox at (012) 460 0430 (mobile 083 676 0124).

Important dates from the ASAQS Calendar
Event : SA Council for the QS Profession Executive Meeting
Date : November 26, 2002
Time : 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Event : ASAQS Executive Committee
Date : December 11, 2002
Time : 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Please note the Marketing meeting has been postponed.

For more information on the above events contact Len Harris director@mweb.co.za or phone 011 315 4140.

Click here to view the ASAQS Calendar or add events to it

Seen on Classifieds:
QUANTITY SURVEYORS - CAPE TOWN
We are looking for Professional qualified Quantity Surveyors with a minimum of 2 yrs post qualification experience. Proven ability to manage projects independently. Highly developed interpersonal skills & ability to work within a team structure. The Package: A competitive salary, medical aid, generous annual bonus & pension scheme. Please email detailed CV, covering letter & current salary.

Remember: Visit the ASAQS website for new updates!

New members to the CUG

Schalk Coetzee
Teddy Lai from Hong Kong
Pieter Steyn

Please note : Only paid-up members of the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors are allowed entrance to the CUG. We still receive a number of applications every month from non-members. If you have any questions regarding membership contact Mrs Barbara Morgan on 011-3154140

Also note that your registration to the CUG will remain in force as long as you remain a member of ASAQS and there is no need to register every year. If you have not received an e-mail confirming your registration contact ASAQS.

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