Construction sector looks to elections boom
GOVERNMENT's rally for support in the run-up to next year's elections could go some way to a long way to loosening the grip of the strong rand on the construction sector.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Sigcau to work with construction sector to push change
THE public works department is compiling a transformation charter to boost black economic empowerment in the construction sector , Minister Stella Sigcau has revealed.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Property sector needs policing, says analyst
Johannesburg - Concern has been expressed about the consistency of property valuations used by listed property companies. Len van Niekerk, an analyst at Andisa Securities, said yesterday there was a need for more vigorous valuations.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

Rents cool in hot spots
The phones have stopped ringing in residential letting agents' offices. Tenants are deserting rental properties in droves and stampeding to buy. Plunging interest rates make owning property much more affordable.
(©www.fm.co.za)

Tenants converting to owners
The lowest interest rates in nearly 20 years are a godsend for thousands of South Africa's tenants who can now afford to buy their own property for the first time, says Neville Schaefer, CEO of national residential property company Trafalgar.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

Recent interest rate cuts boost sales of office blocks
The recent cuts in interest rates have boosted the sales at Rabie Property Projects/Absa's Greenford Office Estate.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

Draft law to upgrade inner cities confuses the plot
Planners and developers, eager to kick-start inner city renewal, say new draft legislation is sowing confusion. It may apply only to traditional central business districts, leaving other decaying areas out in the cold.
(©www.fm.co.za)

Register suggested to fast-track approvals
Developers, town planners favour move, but land affairs ministry yet to respond
(©www.bday.co.za)

Rand strength puts Aveng results in a fix
Pretoria - Aveng, the listed construction, engineering and cement group, has warned that its financial results for the the six months to December were expected to be adversely affected by the strength of the rand.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

Tshwane proposes tunnel for Gautrain
OBJECTIONS to the route of the proposed Gautrain rapid rail link in Pretoria received a boost yesterday when the Tshwane metro council passed a proposal recommending that the route be by tunnel from Pretoria station to Hatfield station.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Sandton residential speculators at risk
SPECULATORS interested in upmarket residential developments in Sandton run a major risk of getting their fingers burnt. The signs are that the bubble will burst in the next 12 to 18 months
(©www.bday.co.za)

Home decor hub being built in Gauteng
About R190-million has been spent on the Northlands Deco and Business Park development, north-west of Johannesburg, and a similar amount is expected to have been spent when the project is completed in about four years, Engineering News has been told.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Russia shows interest in Mafikeng airport
Russia has expressed interest in establishing an aircraft repair and maintenance centre at the Mafikeng Airport, in the North West.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Action taken to preserve historic Joburg post office
The Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) is facilitating a R2-million project to ensure the protection and preservation of one of Joburg’s oldest inner-city landmarks, the Rissik Street Post Office.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Westville starved of new developments
(Residential) Residential property prices in Durban’s upmarket suburb of Westville have paid scant attention to the national year-on-year average increase of around 20 percent and has instead recorded an impressive 30 percent growth over the same period. And the trend shows no sign of softening.
(©www.rodneyhater.com)

Durban’s uShaka’s launch date to be announced next year
A final launch date on Durban’s world-class entertainment and tourist destination, uShaka Marine World, will be announced early next year. The destination, which is Africa’s first marine theme park is about halfway through construction at Durban’s Point
(©www.rodneyhater.com)

Boom time in Durban South
A number of factors are facilitating a property revival in Durban South. Council's clean-up, declining interest rates and some of the lowest industrial rentals in Durban are making the area south of Edwin Swales Drive a hit.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

Lodge planned for historic 'Valley of the Kings'
Preparations are under way for the development of the first-ever tourist lodge to be built on the the historic 'Valley of the Kings' or Emakhosini Valley site in KwazuluNatal.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Cape properties up for auction
FOUR properties on Cape Town's Atlantic seaboard will be sold by auction at one single sitting, says auction house Auction Alliance. Its director, Christian Stewart, says the locations include Granger Bay, Bantry Bay, Clifton and Bakoven.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Projects worth R5,8bn for Cape Town inner city
The value of projects completed, planned or under way in the centre of Cape Town has reached R5,8-billion since the formation of the Cape Town Partnership four years ago.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Growthpoint buys Investec buildings for R975m
Pretoria - Growthpoint has acquired Investec's Sandton head office and Cape Town foreshore buildings, plus the use of 580 parking bays at Merchant Place Parkade, for R975 million. The listed property company is managed by Investec Property Group so the acquisition was considered and approved at arm's length by Growthpoint's non-executive directors.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

Award-winning town is 'bankrupt'
Giving Beaufort West an award as the best municipality in the Western Cape was equivalent to giving Jack the Ripper an award for being kind to sex workers
(©www.iol.co.za)

SA shifts focus to ‘social’ roads
The South African government is to shift its road construction focus to providing more community-based ‘social’ roads following success in upgrading national ‘economic’ networks.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

IFC approves investments in Caspian oil projects
The International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, yesterday approved investments in the Azeri-Chirag-Deepwater Gunashli (ACG) Phase 1 oilfield and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Petro-chemical industry
Complex balancing act needed if deregulation is to be successful.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Back to Index

RETAIL ROUNDUP

Waterfront facelift at halfway mark
About 50% of the refurbishment of the Brightwater Commons, formerly know as Randburg Waterfront, has been completed.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Truworths chalks up a 14% sales rise as spending booms
Cape Town - Augmenting the current spate of good news on the retail front, Truworths International has reported a 14 percent sales rise in the four months to November compared with a year ago, buoyed by robust consumer spending. The fashion retailer also put paid to speculation that it might be eyeing Pick 'n Pay's homewares business, Boardmans. Chief executive Michael Mark gave a firm no.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

Homeware unit helps Foschini deliver strong interims
Cape Town - Helped by sassy performances from homeware, sports and jewellery, clothing retailer Foschini yesterday delivered finely stitched half-year results. This was in the context of healthy earnings growth in the previous two financial years.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

Mr Sandton City reflects on a life of achievement
WOLF Cesman, also known as Mr Sandton City and the father of the Eastgate mall, was honoured recently with a South African Council of Shopping Centres Pioneer Award
(©www.bday.co.za)

Back to Index

CSIR's Llewellyn van Wyk to head Commonwealth Association of Architects

CSIR Building and Construction Technology's Llewellyn van Wyk has been appointed President of the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA), the first time a South African has been appointed to this position. His appointment also marks the first time a South African has held such an office in an international architectural organisation.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 sovereign states, which work together to achieve international goals. The Commonwealth's 1.7 billion people make up 30% of the world's population. The Commonwealth Association of Architects - an association of associations - represents 68 000 architects from 36 Commonwealth countries, ranging from Jamaica in the west; the UK and several countries in Africa to Bangladesh; India, Malaysia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea in the east.
(©www.csir.co.za/akani/)

CSIR's Chrisna du Plessis included in Who's Who

Ms Chrisna du Plessis, research architect and project leader on sustainable development with the CSIR's Building and Construction Technology unit (Boutek) has been elected for inclusion in the 2003 Who's Who in the World edition. Chrisna's inclusion in the publication stems from her wide and extensive role in publishing and public speaking experience on sustainable development.
Since she joined the CSIR's Boutek in November 1997, Chrisna has established herself as a highly regarded expert in the field of sustainable development. She is a popular keynote speaker at major international conferences on sustainable building and construction (with 11 keynotes under her belt and counting) and has been a guest lecturer at a number of overseas universities, including Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
(©www.csir.co.za/akani/)

47 days to go before Christmas - and if you are not sure what to buy for someone special, perhaps local architect, Pieter Mathews's book called ARCHITEXTURE is just the thing. The PIA have stock of this dynamic book for sale at R 228.00 (incl. Vat @ 14%) (currently retailing in the bookshops at R 245.00). Our stocks are limited so please don't delay .. buy the book today!.

A reminder to members that the PIA office will be closed between the 15 December 2003 and 6 January 2004. Should you require documents please order and collect them before the 15th December 2003.

Greetings to our members : bosses and secretaries We trust that the bosses will allow the secretaries time off and also possibly pay for their breakfast (only R 40.00 - once a year ?) Seats are limited and you are requested to book before 25th November. Looking forward to receiving your booking on 012 341-3204 / 5.

ETHICS - Moral concerns are unavoidable in life The SAACE have sent through an invitation for members to attend a seminar on Tuesday 11 November 2003 @ 12:30 at the Constantia Hotel in Midrand. This practical seminar will inform professionals and others, in the way they think and conduct business when it comes to :
* Doing work across our borders; * Applying the 'code of conduct' in practice, * the internet and e-mail (unlawful use, risk and liability). For further information please contact Johan van Schalkwyk 011 463 7383 or johanv@saace.co.za

Thanks to the PIA for the information - drop them a note at admin.pia@saia.org.za
A REMINDER OF THE PIA’S OWN WEBSITE FOR INTER-MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS, FORUMS, DISCUSSIONS, ETC. www.pia.org.za

Back to Index

From the Safcec newsletter:

LETTER TO ALL LOCAL AUTHORITIES
It has been brought to SAFCEC’s attention that many local municipalities, in their tender documents and subsequent contract documents, are not requiring contractors to adhere to many of the legislative requirements of the many laws governing the industry.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMME IN CONSTRUCTION HEALTH & SAFETY – UPE
The University of Port Elizabeth is presenting a four-day certificate programme on construction health and safety from 17 to 20 November 2003

SAFCEC 2004 CALENDARS
Orders for the 2004 SAFCEC calendars, featuring all the Photographic Competition winners, should be submitted on the attached order form to reach SAFCEC Head Office by absolutely no later than 3 November 2003. Click here to view the order form.

CONTRACTS CLAIMS COURSE, DURBAN
SAFCEC KZN will present a one-day course on Contract Claims on Thursday, 6th November 2003, in the MBA Building, 40 Essex Terrace, Westville, commencing at 09:00. The course is targeted at Site Agents and Contract Managers and is designed to sensitise this level of management to the possibility of claims and how to deal with them.

NORTH BRANCH NEWS
Some time this week has been allocated to re-constituting the North Branch Client Liaison Sub-Committee and the focus for the remainder of this year will be on meeting with local metro bodies.
(©www.safcec.org.za)

Back to Index

DRC hails US support after Kabila visit
US tries to consolidate peace, set up a new army and resume co-operation with the World Bank and IMF.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Guinea-Bissau needs $35m in aid
President Henrique Rosa holds talks with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Egypt reports biggest gas find
The gas field recently discovered by US company Apache Corporation has been appraised as the biggest in the country's western desert.
(©www.bday.co.za)

RWE makes gas find off Egyptian coast
RWE Dea and partner BP have made another significant gas find in the Mediterranean Sea off Egypt.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Brazil president, business leaders visit Mozambique
MAPUTO Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in Mozambique yesterday during his five-nation African tour aimed partly at rallying support for his campaign against wealthy nations' farm subsidies.
(©www.bday.co.za)

$2-million reward for Charles Taylor
The United States has included a generous reward for former Liberian president Charles Taylor in its $87,5-billion special budget for Iraq and Afghanistan.
(©www.iol.co.za)

Back to Index

MINING NEWS

Trans Hex prepared to start second Angolan mine
South African diamond miner Trans Hex is preparing for the start-up of its second alluvial diamond project in Angola, with first production expected towards the end of the year.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Harmony sells Kalgold to Aflease
South African miner Harmony Gold, the world's fifth largest gold producer, said at the weekend it had sold its Kalgold operations to Afrikander Lease (Aflease) for R275-million.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Metorex to extract more value from Barberton buy
South African mid-tier mining company Metorex announced yesterday that the group was pushing ahead with two expansion projects and that it still believed significant value could be extracted from it Barberton Mines acquisition.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Mvela poised to become major platinum producer
In line with its strategy to become a major producer of platinum-group elements (PGEs), Mvela Resources has announced that it is in negotiations for the acquisition of a 50% joint venture interest in a significant PGE resource on the eastern limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Junior in talks with Anglo on Asian copper-gold target
Australian junior miner Red 5 is moving to expedite a drill programme targeting two outstanding copper-gold and one major copper target delineated at its Siana Gold Project in the Philippines.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Copper revival hinges on US demand
The CEO of WMC says that copper prices are unlikely to rise much until sentiment among US consumers for the metal improves.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Vedanta plans LSE listing
The planned initial public offering of shares could raise as much as $700m.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Gold Fields raises $195m for offshore growth
South African gold miner Gold Fields said today it has issued 15-million new shares to institutional investors at $13 a share, raising $195-million for capital spending and offshore growth.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Zarara opts for Northridge offer
Zarara Energy's board has decided to accept the outstanding 13 cent per share cash offer to buy out the company from Northridge Field Operations.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Gold Fields set to issue shares to fund projects
Johannesburg - Gold Fields hoped to make up to R1.36 billion selling new shares internationally, South Africa's second-largest gold producer said yesterday. The company may offer between 12 million and 15 million new shares, or between 2.5 percent and 3 percent of its issued share capital, to international institutional investors to fund expansion outside South Africa.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

Angloplat, Mvela in talks over Booysendal
Johannesburg - Anglo American Platinum (Angloplat), the world's biggest platinum producer, is in talks with Mvelaphanda Holdings to form a joint venture to develop the Booysendal platinum deposit in South Africa.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

Back to Index

NEWS FOR ESTATE AGENTS AND HOME OWNERS

Dealing with noise in ST schemes
Probably the most frequently asked question about sectional title living is who decides what is reasonable and what is not, when it comes to noise?
(©www.property24.co.za)

Spotlight on: Pinetown
The demand for homes in the Pinetown area just west of Durban continues to
outstrip the supply, and the turnaround time on realistically priced homes is now only about 12 days from date of listing to actual sale.
(©www.property24.co.za)

Corporate transferees now more picky
Corporate relocations to Johannesburg are on the increase – but investors should note that the profile of transferees has changed, as has the type of rental property now most in demand for this purpose.
(©www.property24.co.za)

There's financial security in a home loan
Even if you have cash in hand to buy a property, it is a good idea to register a mortgage bond as a “financial safety net” for the future.
(©www.property24.co.za)

Check the small print before you sign on the dotted line
IT PAYS to do some upfront homework before you buy any property, and investing in a golfing estate is no exception. However, shopping for a home or a stand at a golfing estate is a little different to buying a home in the suburbs.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Pam Golding lands management deal for Art Deco gem
The management contract for Mutual Heights, the Art Deco building in Darling Street being converted to apartments, has been awarded to Pam Golding Sectional Title Administrators, a member of Golding Commercial Properties
(©www.busrep.co.za)

Tip of the week
First home? Can't afford the deposit and up-front costs? JumpStart could include the deposit and transfer fees.
(©www.property24.co.za)

Back to Index

Impact of current trends on construction industry participants internationally
Llewellyn van Wyk was the guest speaker at a breakfast meeting of the Pretoria Institute of Architects held earlier this year. His talk, entitled 'Current trends impacting on construction industry participants internationally', examined how emerging international trends were likely to impact on the role of the built environment professions. The presentation was based on research work he is currently undertaking on the role of the built environment professions in enhancing construction industry performance in South Africa.
Download the talk in pdf format:
Current trends impacting on construction industry participants internationally [File size 143KB]

Maintanance: Keeping Your Web Presence Up to Date (Part 5 of 8)
Your finally got your company web site is finished and online. It looked great and you got compliments from almost everyone who drop by. After a few months the compliments stopped coming. What happened?
(©www.contractorresource.com)

Legal issues in project management
As a project manager you are probably finding that your role is increasingly taken up by dealing with legal issues. But are you confident you have the necessary knowledge or training to cover these areas? The RICS Project Management Faculty commissioned the College of Estate Management, together with Dechert, to research into the extent these issues impact on your job.
(© www.rics.org.uk)

An Introduction To Project Extranets
This report provides an introduction to extranets, which are being increasingly promoted as the panacea to the industry’s communications problems.
(© www.rics.org.uk)

Back to Index

Rand takes dip against major units
Johannesburg - The rand lost against major currencies yesterday as the Bank of England raised interest rates and further signs of a strong US economic recovery emerged. The Bank of England became the first of the world's top four central banks to hike rates to curb consumer debt and cool house-price inflation.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

Back to Index

Strong SA currency threatens BEE
South African mining companies warned yesterday that a buoyant local currency was not only putting jobs and earnings at risk, but threatening government plans to put more of the economy in black hands.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Local spending helps PPC build headline profit 38%
Pretoria - Stronger-than-anticipated growth in local retail and infrastructure spending assisted PPC, the cement and lime manufacturing company, to report a 38 percent improvement in headline earnings a share to R11.54. PPC, the listed subsidiary of Barloworld, yesterday declared a total dividend of R13.75 for the year to end September.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

JSE still looking sunny at noon
The bright tone on the JSE was maintained during the morning session, with the market moving even higher by midday.
(©www.bday.co.za)

CPD Bonus Points

The SA Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession has granted special bonus points for professionals participating in the ICEC 2004 Congress in Cape Town in April 2004

o Attendance at the Congress 50 + 10 bonus points = 60 points
o Attendance at a half-day Workshop 10 + 5 bonus points = 15 points
o Attendance at a full-day Workshop 20 + 10 bonus points = 30 points
o With an additional BONUS for attendance at the Congress + a workshop 10 points

Register on-line
www.be-events.co.za

Special "early bird" rates are available

For Further Details:

Menu of speakers www.be-events.co.za/Speakers.html
Registration www.be-events.co.za/Registration.html
Things to do www.be-events.co.za/Things_To_Do.html

Click here to download the Bonus Points document in PDF format

World Bank Procurement Methods and Procedures: The Role of the Quantity Surveyor
The profession of Quantity Surveying has developed over the years from its origins of being technical measurers and assessors to the Building Industry to the present multi-faceted field of expertise serving cost and procurement management services to an ever increasing array of projects. In a world becoming a 'Global village', driven by spectacular advances in internet, telecommunications, computers and other technologies, the World Bank with 184 member countries, increasingly plays dominant role in procurement methods, by developing standards that are applicable to its funded projects in all member countries. The challenge before the Quantity Surveying profession and indeed all other participating professions is to optimize their opportunities within the set rules and procedures of the procurement process. Click here to read the full paper presented at the ICEC Region 3 Meeting and Ghana Institution of Surveyors (QS Division) Annual Seminar and Workshop, Accra, Ghana, July 2003
(©www.icoste.org)

Seen on Classifieds

Hotel Project in Mauritius
Construction firm based in Mauritius has various posts available for a minimum 1 year contract on a major hotel project in Mauritius
required:
6x Site supervisors
2x Quanitity Surveyors
2x Planning Engineers
3x Site Engineers
Great salaries on offer with return air tickets company car
and medical insurance

Project Manager
Experienced Project Manager required for a professional firm in Qatar

Browse to Classifieds for full details

Seen on the Calendar

Dates :
11 November – Gauteng
14 November – Durban
17 November – Cape Town

Event: Lightweight Roof Structures Seminars
Time: 7:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Information: The Southern Institute of Steel Construction, in conjunction with the International Zinc Association (South Africa) brings you this opportunity to hear more about the use of lightweight roof steelwork from international and local specialists.
Meet the leaders in the lightweight roof structures industry over breakfast and discover the abundant opportunities and options available. These seminars will deal specifically with lightweight cold-formed steel roof trusses, purlins, battens and brandering.
• Structural engineer
• Architect
• Quantity Surveyor
• Town engineer
• Developer
• Builder
• Truss manufacturer
You will miss out if you are not there.
Please click to see the details at: http://www.saisc.co.za/roof_03.htm
Contact: 011 838 1665 info@saisc.co.za

Date : 17- 18 November 2003
Event: Project Management Demystified- Introductory
Time: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Information: This course will be held on the 17 to 18 November 2003 at the Centurion Lake Hotel, Centurion. For more info contact Terry Deacon at 082 557 3119
Contact: Antoinette Monama training@projectpro.co.za

Date : 17 - 20 November 2003
Event: D.E.C. COST ENGINEERING
Time: 8:30 AM - 4:00 AM
Information: Focus on Detailed Estimating, Cost Control and Escalation.
Contact: Marié Voogt 011 766 2805 or secretary@ceasa.org.za

Remember: Visit the ASAQS website for new updates!

We wish to welcome the following new members to the ASAQS Closed User Group:

Brian Alcock - Bennett Fendt and Assoc.
Brendan Benson - FGM Construction
Gerhard van der Linde - Van Der Linde & Venter Konstruksie
Pieter Briers - Student

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.

Back to Index