Lack of skills worries builder trade
Several challenges and concerns regarding training and skills developments in the building industry emerged from speakers' presentations at this year's annual Building Industries Federation South Africa (Bifsa) congress, recently held in KwaZulu-Natal.
(©www.iol.co.za)

Jo'burg cleans out inner-city slums
Johannesburg has launched a massive clampdown on inner-city slums.The city has obtained court orders stripping the property rights from landlords who allow their buildings to deteriorate into slums.
(©www.iol.co.za)

R150m facelift for Jhb shopping mall
The Bedford Centre is to receive a R150-million face-lift, which will reinstate it to its former premier shopping mall status
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Nothing but demolition will do
THE chance of an out-ofcourt settlement in the dispute over the extended entrance of The Mall in Rosebank looks slim. The London-based investor who applied for the court order to demolish the extension, Stephen le Roith, says he will not consider a settlement that does not have demolition as a precondition.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Parking garage to be converted into flats
THE owner of a redundant Germiston parking garage is converting it into a block of flats. Property market commentators say investors are beginning to realise the value in the flat-letting business, compared with other property sectors especially the office market, which has proved to be volatile in recent years.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Cement firm bullish about SA market growth
South African cement firm, Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC), said it was expecting continued growth in cement sales in the year ahead, mainly as a result of increasing trends in gross fixed capital formation, which is evident in all sectors of the economy.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Two clay-brick factories reopen
Suggesting a positive shift in the industry, the reopening of two clay-brick factories is providing employment for about 300 new and old employees.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Sasol invests in new plastics plant in SA
PETROCHEMICALS and synthetic fuels group Sasol yesterday announced expansion plans in SA, with the building of a R2bn plastics plant in Sasolburg, which will use natural gas from Mozambique as a feedstock.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Sasol expands further in China
Petrochemicals and synthetic fuels group Sasol has boosted its foothold in China by acquiring the remaining 30% of a surfactants chemicals plant for an undisclosed sum.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Saldanha set to breach 1,25m t/y capacity
Steel producer Iscor has confirmed that capital expenditure at its state-of-the-art Saldanha Steel mill was forecast at R155-million for the 2002/03 financial year.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Mondi swopping air pollution for ground pollution
Mondi Paper has chosen to build a device which uses burning to get rid of waste, causing heavy metal emissions. This device, which communities are calling an incinerator, substitutes air pollution for ground pollution. Mondi has been blocked by communities in Chatsworth and South Durban from establishing any more landfill (ground pollution) sites.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

Blaze causes R6m damage to cosmetics factory
A raging fire that tore through a cosmetics factory in Mayville, Durban, on Monday night is estimated to have caused more than R6-million in damage, television newscasters reported on Tuesday.
(©www.iol.co.za)

Still no end to discussions on coal terminal
DISCUSSIONS about the R700m phase five expansion at Richard's Bay Coal Terminal are continuing with a new target for a provisional agreement the end of the year.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Cape Town port plans R750m expansion and development
The port of Cape Town is planning to spend R750m on developing world-class ship repair facilities and to expand the container terminal. A 14ha industrial park and a new cruise liner terminal are also in the pipeline.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Toll roads aren't panacea to country's ills, says agency
Cape Town - Toll roads were not a panacea to all the ills facing the country and were only given the go-ahead if certain socioeconomic aims were met, Nazir Alli, the chief executive of the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral), said this week.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

R15 000 to install one school toilet
It costs the government R15 000 to install a single toilet at a school in the Western Cape, it has emerged at a stormy meeting of parliament's water affairs portfolio committee.
(©www.iol.co.za)

Conveyancing co-ordinator
When you buy or sell a home, in the background, dealing with the transfer duty and deposits, is a conveyancing co-ordinator. I spoke to Carrie Sloan, a conveyancing co-ordinator, about the work she does and the qualifications needed to do it.
(©www.iol.co.za)

Erosion of property rights sets SA on slippery slope
GOVERNMENT, together with business and the unions, is "selling" the new Minerals and Petroleum Resources Act (and the Mining Charter it includes) to overseas investors. It is difficult to see how this can be done; indeed government itself appears not to understand the profound and lasting damage it has perpetrated.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Gordon tightens grip on UK property firm
LIBERTY International chairman and founder, Donald Gordon, yesterday tightened his grip on the UK-based property group following a £159m share issue.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Cenprop unitholders support Hyprop deal
PROPERTY loan stock company Hyprop Investments said yesterday it had secured an undertaking from more than 50% of Cenprop unitholders to support its R320m offer for Cenprop's prime assets. This was despite the existence of two other offers for the same assets, a Rosebank shopping centre, The Mall, and an adjoining office building, JHI House.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Forest products firm optimistic about 2003
South African pulp and paper giant, Sappi reported a 13% drop in full-year earnings yesterday, due to the global economic slowdown, but said it was positioned for profit growth in the year ahead.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

'Only a techno revolution can save the Earth'
Diplomacy has failed - meaning that only a revolutionary advanced technology will save the Earth from relentless global warming driven by greenhouse gas emissions, scientists have warned this week.
(©www.iol.co.za)

Sunter's new game plan for corporate survival
The business world is today the most influential sector of the global society. But many of the rules of the past no longer seem to work, and the once familiar environment keeps changing into unrecognisable landscapes.
(©www.iol.co.za)

A gateway to government
Single interface will allow access to all services, writes Jennigay Coetzer. SA has the advantage of a buy-in at top level in government regarding the need to harness technology to interact with the public, says Jonas Bogoshi, government executive at Cisco. However, there is a need to ensure that government employees at all levels are committed to embracing technology and are equipped with the competencies needed to do so.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Collaboration made easy
E-BUSINESS is providing real benefits, especially when it comes to collaboration, which is a need that is being driven by globalisation, says Simon Carpenter, GM for crossindustry solutions for the MySAP division of SAP.
(©www.bday.co.za)

SAFCEC NEWS

CIVIL ENGINEERING RPL PROJECT
The Civil Engineering Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pilot project is progressing well. A Memorandum of Understanding between CETA and CIETS was signed during the International RPL Conference held in Cape Town on 23 and 24 October 2002.
(©www.safcec.org.za)

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Liberty's acquisitions hit £500m
PROPERTY group Liberty International has, through its subsidiary Capital Shopping Centres, increased its interest to 100% in Victoria Centre, a shopping centre in Nottingham in the UK. The £204m transaction continues an acquisition trail of the London-based property group with a secondary listing on the JSE Securities Exchange SA.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Platform can make or break a merger
ACQUISITIONS like Edcon's successful bid to acquire CNA introduce opportunities that could save the merged entity tens of millions of rands a year via logistics, infrastructure and information and communication technology.
(©www.bday.co.za)

As the customers splurge Foschini's earnings surge
CAPE TOWN Consumers continued to splurge out on clothing and cosmetics at fashion retail chain Foschini in the six months to September, enabling the group to raise its headline earnings and interim dividend payment more than 50%. On a 20,6% increase in turnover to R1,8bn in the six month period compared with the same period last year, headline earnings were 69,2c (43,8c). An interim dividend of 24c (15,5c) was declared, with dividend cover maintained at 2,7 times.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Morphing Mega Malls
In August, the Mall of America turned 10 years old. A decade ago, its massive size — 4.6 million sq. ft. — and fun-house format shocked the mall industry. Now, entertainment features such as in-mall amusement parks are no longer novelties, and giant, super-regional malls of 1 million sq. ft. or more have been developed in major markets across the country.
(©www.shoppingcenterworld.com)

Food court — the next generation
The way to a shopper's purse may be through the stomach. Decades after mall developers created food courts to keep hungry shoppers from leaving, they are now counting on popular mid-priced chains to bring traffic to the mall. “They're a destination,” says Howard Davidowitz, chairman of Davidowitz & Co., a New York-based retail consultancy. “They significantly drive traffic.”
(©www.shoppingcenterworld.com)

McDonald's to close 175 restaurants
New York - McDonald's Corp said on Friday that it will close 175 restaurants in 10 countries in the fourth quarter and will slash 400 to 600 jobs as its sales have proven disappointing and it faces stiff competition.
(www.news24.com)

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'State does not support land invasion'
Farmer, state in court over squatters. Government does not support land invasions and any comparison with Zimbabwe-style land acquisition was "unfounded". This was said by Adv Denzil Potgieter, leading the state's legal team in a case in the Pretoria High Court, in which Benoni farmer Abraham Duvenage contests the sheriff of the court failed to evict 40000 squatters on his land.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Land claimants offered cash to speed process
The Commission on Restitution of Land Rights has resorted to offering claimants cash settlements as a quick fix because of the huge number of claims and the time it takes to validate them.
(©www.iol.co.za)

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101m in development aid to SADC
MAPUTO European Union (EU) ministers and top officials from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) began a two-day meeting yesterday with a pledge of à 101m in EU aid to the region.
(©www.bday.co.za)

SA energy firm may enter $500m Uganda power venture
South Africa’s State-owned Eskom Enterprises has been asked to participate in the controversial $550-million Bujagali hydropower project in Uganda.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Nepad's peer review still work in progress'
AFRO-PESSIMISTS are treating President Thabo Mbeki's comments that political governance would not be a priority of the African peer review mechanism as a deathblow to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad).
(©www.bday.co.za)

Chissano's son fingered in murder trial
A Mozambican judge has ordered that President Joachim Chissano's son be questioned in connection with the killing of a prominent journalist after a witness in the murder trial claimed that Nyimpine Chissano had attended a meeting to discuss the reporter's assassination.
(©www.iol.co.za)

Moroccan firm to build $114m cement plant
A private Moroccan firm plans to build a cement plant at a total cost of 1,2-billion dirhams ($114-million) and with an annual production capacity of 825 000 t, an Industry Ministry official said on Tuesday.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

A real Zimbabwean war veteran speaks
A former senior commander under Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe's liberation struggle, Wilfred Mhanda has united with thousands of other war vets to campaign for the restoration of the rule of law. Mhanda, now the spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Liberators Platform, was in Cape Town recently.
(©www.iol.co.za)

EU says Zim denies food aid to opponents
The European Union accused Zimbabwe's government yesterday of using foreign food aid as a political weapon against opponents of President Robert Mugabe.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

$77m set aside for Benguela railway repair
The Angolan local government's central coastal Benguela province has put aside $77-million for repairs of the Lobito-Kuito branchline on Benguela Railways (CFB) with work starting next year.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

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Production increases at Western Areas
Gold mining company Western Areas attributed the rise in gold produced for the third quarter to improved efficiency at its South Deep joint venture.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Competition body’s steel probe heats up
Competition Commission officials this week visited Durban Roodepoort Deep’s (DRD) Blyvoor mine, as the probe into allegations made by gold miners Harmony and DRD of excessive pricing by steel giant Iscor intensifies.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Decision soon on R500m Argonaut gold-mine study
The board of South African gold miner Durban Roodepoort Deep (DRD) is expected to make a decision soon on whether to proceed with a R300-million to R500-million, three-year study of a brand new deep-level gold-mine below the city of Johannesburg.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

SA’s gold No 2 reports lower earnings
Gold Fields reported a drop in first-quarter earnings yesterday, dented by rising costs, but South Africa's second largest gold producer said its outlook for the the company and the gold price remained positive.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Decision on PGM project deferred
An assessment by the Arctic Platinum Partnership (APP), of the Suhanko Project, has been broadened to include alternative downstream treatment options, leading to a delay in the completion of the study, which had been slated for September this year.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Enviro study launched for chrome project
The final scoping report and issues report of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) to develop an environmental management programme report (EMPR), for the Samancor Chrome Lwala Project, have been finalised.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Mining giant will struggle to meet costs target
The world's largest diversified miner, BHP Billiton, said yesterday it would be a challenge to deliver a promised $500-million in cost savings over the next three years.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Saldanha and Qingdao sign sister agreement to promote iron-ore exports
South African Mining group, Kumba Resources, reached another milestone when a delegation from Qingdao Port, in China, signed a cooperative agreement with the Port of Saldanha.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

The Kimberley process: will diamonds' brightness defeat the darkness?
Remember the hysteria about 'blood diamonds'? Back in the year 2000 the propaganda against the diamond trade by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and activists, aroused by the human cost of the wars raging in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sierra Leone, had reached such a pitch that genuine alarm developed in the legitimate diamond industry that the market in the US – at the time estimated to absorb 50% of global diamond jewellery production – could be seriously reduced.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Strike threat at diamond mine
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has, on Wednesday, sent a 48-hour strike notice to the management of the Free State diamond mine, Star Diamond near the town of Theunissen, says Moferefere Lekorotsoane, the union’s head of publicity and information.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Messina shaft deepening capex cut
Canadian miner, SouthernEra Resources, has announced the results of a two-month optimisation study undertaken at the company’s 70,4% controlled subsidiary, Messina Platinum.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

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Amendment aims to ensure stability for landowners
CAPE TOWN The Democratic Alliance (DA) has introduced a private member's bill to Parliament which aims to stop defaulting tenants and bondholders from using the protection of an appeal court ruling from staying on a property, while refusing to pay their rent or bonds.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Housing on Joburg's outskirts performs best
Value of homes in Limpopo up the most, with Gauteng next. Prices for houses on the outskirts of Johannesburg, especially on the east and west Rand, are outperforming all other regions in SA.
(©www.bday.co.za)

SA's land reform progress ‘encouraging'
Investors should take a closer look at the government's achievements in the field of land reform before giving in to fears that South Africa could be 'infected' by Zimbawe-style land invasions and the ensuing economic chaos.
(©www.property24.co.za)

Eastern Cape coast springs to life
Within the next few years, St Francis Bay could become as well known for its smorgasbord as it is now for yellowtail, and fresh-caught chokka bought straight off a local boat.
(©www.property24.co.za)

Spotlight on: The Point
The start of the long-delayed redevelopment of Durban's Point district has given a welcome boost to property demand in the area.
(©www.property24.co.za)

Residents resist displacement by the Gautrain
Muckleneuk property owners association contests proposed route for rapid rail link from Pretoria to Hatfield. The thought that her Muckleneuk, Pretoria, home might be expropriated if the proposed Gautrain rapid rail link passes through her house leaves Martie Pretorius with a feeling of anguish.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Gautrain route in dispute
THE announcement of the preferred route for the proposed R7-billion Gautrain high-speed railway by consultants Bohlweki Environmental is not yet the last word on the matter, at least as far as the section Pretoria Station/Hatfield Station is concerned
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

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The Global Alliance for Building Sustainability (GABS)
The inaugural meeting of the Global Alliance for Building Sustainability (GABS), held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 29 and 30 August 2002, was one of the first "Type 2" partnerships to emerge from the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). These partnerships are UN-endorsed action-oriented coalitions, focused on deliverables that would contribute in translating political commitments into action partnerships and initiatives to implement Agenda 21.
(©www.csir.co.za)

10 Trends to consider in your strategic planning
This feature contains ten trends you should consider in your strategic planning. It lists global, local and technological trends that may soon effect business.
South African Trends:
Increased exports.
Increased investments.
The SA governments new 'strategic road map.'
Increased leisure and conference based tourism.
(©www.changedesigns.co.za)

The Small Projects series:
A look at small projects and the complexities of doing them well.
The Small Project Process
...yes, small projects in the Construction Industry have detailed tasks to get them done too...in fact they may have just as many as large projects. Understanding and properly handling the small project process may bring success...failure may mean the downfall of an entire company.
(©www.construction.about.com)

CPM Central
More than just scheduling, CPM's are the way to go to schedules:
What to Do When the Schedule Just Does Not Seem to Come Together
Have you ever been frustrated with a CPM schedule that will just not come together? -- here are some tips.
(©www.construction.about.com)

On the up
While bricks and mortar can trace their roots back to the early days of history, the site cast tilt-up construction method is the relative infant in the construction industry. Kimberly Izenson reports.
(©www.intlconstruction.com)

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Rand strong, outlook positive
The rand ended Friday on a strong note after gaining 2.6% on the week and analysts said it looked set for further gains against the dollar as investors dump US assets for greener pastures.
(www.news24.com)

Gold Fields hit by bid rumour
South Africa's second-largest gold producer Gold Fields has denied market talk that it is about to make a bid for Canadian peer Placer Dome Inc, but its share price fell on investor concerns.
(www.news24.com)

Tax laws amendments okayed
Cape Town - Parliament's finance portfolio committee approved the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill, which seeks to amend a wide array of local tax laws, on Friday. The measure is seen as the culmination of two years of fundamental tax reform, and includes sweeping changes to rules governing company re-organisations and foreign currency transactions.
(www.news24.com)

Registration as a Project Manager
Persons who wish to register as Project- or Construction Managers with the newly formed South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions in terms of Act 48 of 2000 should download the registration form and submit it to the Council. The form is available from QSNet.

Water use in commercial buildings under scrutiny
Water is undoubtedly one of South Africa's most valuable resources. Without significant improvement in the efficiency of use of this resource, we may experience wide-ranging shortages throughout the country within the not too distant future. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry are currently striving to raise national awareness levels, amongst all groups of water users, from heavy industry to residential.
(©www.csir.co.za)

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 Marketing Committee
Date : December 10, 2002
Time : 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

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

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

Upcoming training opportunities:
Event : Project Management Demystified
Date : November 14&15, 2002
Time : 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Information : This course will be held at the Centurion Lake Hotel, Centurion on the 14-15 November 2002. For more info contact Terry Deacon at 082 557 3119

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

Amendments to the Tariff of Professional Fees
The August 2002 amendments to our fees have been received and published within the CUG this week. Members can select to either download the revised pages or the complete tariff-document. The new PWD reimbursables are also available in the New Documents section.

Seen on Classifieds:
Quantity Surveyor
Project managers require a junior QS , pref BSc Quantity Surveying for their JHB office
QS with international experience for Cape Town
Senior Qs - International Experience
I am a Quantity Surveyor with 11 years experience in the Construction Industry of which I spent the first 2 years working an Architect and then 6 years with a building-contracting firm in Southern Africa and then left for international experience of which I spent 2.5 years in the U.A.E (Dubai and Abu Dhabi) and am now working in Ireland (Dublin). Moving back to Cape Town in Jan 03
Graduate QS seeks employment
I am final year BScQS(Hons)student at the University of the Witwatersrand. I am a hard-working, dedicated individual (I will be finishing my degree in record time this year). I am young and dynamic and willing to learn.

Remember: Visit the ASAQS website for new updates!

New members to the CUG

New members announced next week

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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