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'SA
tax laws a gold mine for developers'
SA's tax laws contain a number of benefits for taxpayers planning
to develop property. However, should taxpayers fail to pay sufficient
attention to detailed requirements they may find themselves in hot
water...
(©www.bday.co.za)
Building
on a Boom
The R25-billion-year construction industry is enjoying a mini-boom
in the wake of the upswing of resources and the start of significant
infrastructure projects.
(©www.suntimes.co.za)
Sasol
signs $1,3bn gas-to-liquids deal
Gas-to-liquids fuel passed a major milestone yesterday with the
formal initiation of the $1,3bn Escravos gas-to-liquids plant through
the signing of the key technology agreements for the plant, synthetic
fuels and chemicals group Sasol said...
(©www.bday.co.za)
Sasol
and Japanese firms form alliance
Johannesburg - Japanese firms Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries
(IHI) and Nissho Iwai stand to earn well in excess of $200 million
from the gas-to-liquids (GTL) reactor alliance they signed with
local energy and petrochemicals group Sasol.
(©www.busrep.co.za)
Sasol
can free SA from dollar-priced barrel rack
"Crude oil prices are about $25 a barrel and will remain in
the $20 to $25 range for the foreseeable future, as Opec manipulates
supply to keep the price where it suits them. The rand will remain
at R11 plus to the dollar and will steadily depreciate into the
future," he says. The time, says Deats, is inordinately ripe
to launch a duplication of Sasol's coal-based synthetic fuel (synfuel)
technology on the Mpumalanga highveld.
(©www.busrep.co.za)
Natural
Gas Project (Gas Project)
The natural gas will supplement coal feedstock at the Secunda plant,
Mpumalanga, for the production of synthetic fuels and various chemical
feedstocks.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)
Airport
expansion, Western Cape, South Africa.
Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) is set to spend more than R500-million
over the next five years at Cape Town International Airport to expand
and improve the infrastructure to meet the growing needs of the
aeronautical industry.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)
Plan
for new R2bn Durban airport gets the go-ahead
The provincial government wants King Shaka to be operational by
2006 Associate Editor THE cabinet has approved a controversial R2bn
plan to move Durban International Airport to the La Mercy site,
north of the city...
(©www.bday.co.za)
Lanseria
airport's expansion off
Cape Town - The first phase of a R100 million upgrade and enlargement
of Lanseria International Airport, the country's busiest in terms
of takeoffs and landings, had been completed and was opened formally
last night by Mbhazima Shilowa, the Gauteng premier.
(©www.busrep.co.za)
Hi-tech
sophistication is the heart of this home
THE new home of Ericsson in SA is a hitech building with some of
the most sophisticated technology on the continent. The company
recently completed its move to its new corporate headquarters in
Johannesburg's IT business hub of Woodmead.
(©www.bday.co.za)
State
doubles its grants to local councils
NATIONAL government has gazetted about R30bn in local government
grants that will be paid to SA's 284 local authorities over the
next three financial years.
(©www.bday.co.za)
Council
closes regulatory gaps
THE Council for the Built Environment, launched by Public Works
Minister Stella Sigcau last week, is another attempt to close regulatory
gaps in the building and related professions.
(©www.bday.co.za)
Easing
poverty in Gauteng calls for a team effort, says Shilowa
EVEN though Gauteng was better off economically than SA's eight
other provinces, poverty was still prominent, premier Mbhazima Shilowa
said yesterday. "We do have people who are unemployed some
qualified."
(©www.bday.co.za)
Taking
building skills to the people
The construction industry expects to lose about 4 000 artisans over
the next 18 to 24 months, which means there will be a huge need
in the industry for trained artisans.
(©www.iol.co.za)
Tourism
workshops give unionists an insight
DURBAN Wage negotiations, restructuring and bargaining councils
are set to be put on the back burner as shop stewards and union
officials focus on promoting the merits of tourism in KwaZulu-Natal.
(©www.bday.co.za)
Soccer
City project gets off the ground
After months of uncertainty, work on Durban's ambitious multi-million
rand Soccer City project kicks off next month.
(©www.iol.co.za)
Construction
may start this year on Gauteng theme park
Construction of Africa’s own Disneyland-type theme park could
start as early as the last quarter of this year.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)
General
property a viable option
INVESTORS with a taste for property face a roller-coaster ride this
year as interest rates climb. However, the drive to see property
become a premier investment asset class, competing with equities
and bonds, continues.
(©www.bday.co.za)
MAKING
THE RUNNING:
Umgeni Water's Eghbal Ma'ani says the company is involved in projects
in Nigeria, Ethiopia and Malawi - and it is looking at the possibility
of projects in Libya and Algeria.
(©www.suntimes.co.za)
ABB's
local chief sings the praises of Eskom
CHEAP reliable electricity is set to power industrial growth, not
just in this country but also in the region.
(©www.bday.co.za)
Pebble
bed reactor runs gauntlet of appraisers
If technology does become part of SA energy mix, it will have done
so the hard way.
(©www.bday.co.za)
Gateway
shopping centre tenants fight for rent review
TENANTS at the R1,4bn Gateway Theatre of Shopping in Umhlanga are
fighting for a rent review. About 30% of the tenants have banded
to get Old Mutual Properties to cut their rents...
(©www.bday.co.za)
M&R
to open R130m castings plant
CONSTRUCTION group Murray & Roberts (M&R) is to open a R130m
aluminium castings foundry in Port Elizabeth tomorrow the latest
investment in Eastern Cape linked to the automotive industry.
(©www.bday.co.za)
Thebe's
deal with Shell might spark turnaround
THEBE Investment Corporation, a group once tipped to rival New Africa
Investments and Real Africa Investments in asset bases, has had
its fair share of misfortune in the past...
(©www.bday.co.za)
Coega
has vast potential for Eastern Cape NNP
CAPE TOWN The Coega industrial development zone could provide a
vitally needed boost for the industrial growth of Port Elizabeth,
New National Party (NNP) leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk said yesterday,
(©www.bday.co.za)
SA's
trade boom with rest of Africa is roaring ahead
SA's trade with the rest of Africa has been booming since the end
of apartheid in 1994, with its wine and food now a common sight
on supermarket shelves in African countries, and businessmen fanning
out.
(©www.bday.co.za)
Bill
spells out employee insolvency rights
Parliament - The final instalment in a clutch of labour law amendments,
that seeks to clarify the rights of employees in the event of insolvencies,
was tabled in Parliament on Friday.
(©www.busrep.co.za)
Strategic
sales help Martprop's outlook
Durban - Martprop, a listed property unit trust, had sold 13 properties
for R49 million over the past six months, Roger Perkin, the fund
manager, said yesterday.
(©www.busrep.co.za)
Manufacturing
growth plan unveiled
Pretoria - Trade and industry minister Alec Erwin yesterday unveiled
his department's integrated manufacturing strategy (IMS). The strategy
will be debated in parliament next week and, after new inputs have
been included, will be presented to the cabinet in June.
(©www.busrep.co.za)
A
leisurely thought on tax havens
LeisureNet chief executives Rod Mitchell and Peter Gardener have
full plates as they battle in court against charges of fraud. But
in their free moments they might be interested to learn that the
Channel Island of Jersey - the domicile of Dalmore Limited, with
which they have had notable dealings - might lose its status as
a tax haven, if UK finance minister Gordon Brown has his way.
(©www.busrep.co.za)
Intrinsic
benefits outweigh investment motive
Phil Armstrong is not your typical reformist; he does not seem to
have too much truck with the notion that virtue should be pursued
for its own sake. Or at least he does not reckon that company executives
should adhere to virtuous corporate governance principles for their
own good.
(©www.busrep.co.za)
Interior
design extends mental boundaries
Interior design is an exciting and creative profession. Well-designed
spaces can contribute substantially to our sense of wellbeing, and
not just serve as shelters.
(©www.iol.co.za)
New-look
industrial policy document released
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) yesterday released
the latest version of its industrial policy, which more or less
overhauls a previous discussion document released last May.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)
Global
steel talks resume today
The South African government will join more than 38 nations in Paris
today when the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD) hosts a meeting designed to continue work on improving the
conditions in world steel markets and to confirm the directions
of their future work.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)
Road
construction costs to soar on rand's weakness
According to Paul Theessen, executive chairperson of the roads and
earthworks division of WBHO, the cost of imported plant, fuels and
bitumen represents some 50% of the overall cost of a road-construction
project.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)
Exports
to US surge past R791-million
The advantages of the US’s African Growth and Opportunities
Act (Agoa), of which the South African textile industry has been
an indirect beneficiary since March last year, are beginning to
become apparent, reports Textile Federation executive director Brian
Brink.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)
Conference
to table projects
More than a hundred projects have been identified for potential
investment under the Nacala Development Corridor, a spatial development
initiative involving Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, reports the
corridor projects manager Wilfred Ali.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)
$6-billion
in defence offset deals by 2004 – Erwin
Government is forecasting that the value of approved civilian offset
projects and exports, arising from the multibillion-rand defence
acquisition programme, will be worth some $6-billion by 2004, more
than $2-billion in advance of the target
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)
Navy
promises local support
THE South African Navy (SAN) is planning to make more extensive
use of South African industry to support its fleet in the coming
years and decades.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)
 Back
to Index
| HOUSING
NEWS AND LAND ISSUES |
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Big
land boost for Greater Addo National Park
Ambitious project aims to rival Kruger Park and help regenerate
Eastern Cape economy, but farmers are concerned THE Addo Elephant
National Park expanded by another 2500ha of newly acquired
farm land this week.
(©www.bday.co.za)
Rust
de Winter project a model for the future
PRETORIA The Agricultural Research Council and Gauteng agriculture
department are embarking on a pilot project with private sector
players...
(©www.bday.co.za)
Alexandra
Renewal Project (ARP), Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.
ARP is a seven-year programme to redevelop Greater Alexandra.
The Project will address all aspects of urban living including
engineering and social services, environment and planning,
housing, economic development, arts, culture and heritage.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)
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ON
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
1-3 May 2002
Sandton, South Africa
The convention is a joint initiative organised by the:
Association of SA Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS),
SA Association of Consulting Engineers (SAACE),
SA Black Technical Allied & Careers Organisation
(SABTACO),
SA Institute of Architects (SAIA) and
SA Institute of Civil Engineering (SAICE).
Click
here to register
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INVITATION
TO ATTEND THE PIA MONTHLY BREAKFAST FORUM
|
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GUEST SPEAKER - JEREMY
GIBBERD, CSIR
TOPIC
- SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS
With the onset of the World Summit
on Sustainable Development (WSSD) there has been an
increasing interest in sustainability in South Africa.
The short presentation will introduce the concept of
sustainability and discuss the implications this has
for the built environment in South Africa. It will also
suggest ways this concept can be addressed and implemented
in the design and management of buildings by drawing
on recent work of the CSIR in this area.
|
Date:
Friday 26 April 2002
Time: 07h30 - 09h15 (±)
Venue: Safari Restaurant Function Centre
Safari Garden Centre, Lynnwood Road, Lynnwood
Cost: R 30.00 members / R 40.00 non-members
RSVP: 012 347-0680 before 23 April 2002
(For catering purposes bookings are essential) |
| Can you help to STEEL
THE SHOW? |
| Hannelie Coetzee, Photographer,
has invited Architects working with re-used steel to contact
her to assist her to take part in a photographic competition.
Her approach is to capture the ingenuity of re-used steel
in architecture with an innovative eye. The competition
"Steel the Show" aims to show that the re-use
of steel is environmentally wise. Steel lends itself to
being used more than once before eventually re-melting.
(Re-use of steel does not refer to the re-melting of steel).
The photographs will be exhibited by the South African
Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) at the time of
the Earth Summit on Sustainable Development later this
year. For more information please contact Hannelie on
082 810 1835 or hannelie@greatstock.co.za |
| National Architectural
Competition Freedom Square, Kliptown, Soweto |
| The Johannesburg Development
Agency (JDA) invited architects, other professionals in
the building environment and any persons who believe they
have ideas to contribute to enter the national competition
for the development of Freedom Square. Freedom Square
was where the Congress of the People met in 1955 to discuss
the terms of the Freedom Charter. The SA constitution
owes much to the concepts expressed in the Charter. The
meeting in 1955, on an open piece of land in Kliptown,
is therefore of profound importance. Registrations take
place between 22 April and 13 May 2002, submission of
entries by 18 June 2002, and the announcement of the winner
takes place on 26 June 2002. First prize = R 300 000.00
second prize = R 200 000.00 third prize = R 100 000.00.
Requests for registration and other details must be faxed
or e-mailed to : the Competition Administrator, (011)
646-9643 e-mail hprins@accessweb.co.za |
| Concrete Manufacturers
Association |
| invites entries
for the 2002 Awards for Excellence competition. The purpose
of the awards is to recognise excellence in the aesthetic
and creative use of masonry, block paving, roof tiles,
retaining blocks and floor slabs and to honour those involved
in the design and construction. Closing date for entries
is 31st May 2002. Further information available on (011)
805-6742 or e-mail cma@cis.co.za |
| Robben Island Training
Programme |
| invites you
to a Seminar "Programme for Museum Development in
Africa – Past, Present and Future" by Mabiana
Luhila on Thursday 25 April 2002 from 15h00 – 16h00
at the Nelson Mandela Gateway Auditorium, Cape Town. PMDA
is a new Institution providing training and development
support to heritage institutions in English speaking Africa.
Further information available from Zulaiga Rossouw, Course
Co-ordinator on 021 409-5191 or fax 021 411-1941 - e-mail
zulaiga@robben-island.org.za |
| International Design
Competition: |
| Get inspired
and design the 1st Art Case Piano of the 21st Century.
The winning creative vision/design will be created in
the workshops of Maximiliaan’s House of Grand Pianos
and unveiled as a signature art piece during a month long
celebration of design and architecture at DCOTA, the world’s
largest design centre campus. Deadlines for submission
is 15 May 2002. See www.dcota.com for entry form. For
inspiration go to www.pianomax/com |
|
Thanks to PIA for the information
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Zimbabwe's
22nd anniversary is not an occasion to celebrate
HARARE An unprecedented economic crisis alongside a political
row over the re-election of President Robert Mugabe will overshadow
celebrations marking the 22nd anniversary of Zimbabwe's independence
from Britain today.
(©www.bday.co.za)
Harare
is set to defy judicial order
HARARE The government warned yesterday that it would defy
a judge's order to allow the country's labour federation to
hold meetings without police interference, state radio reported
(©www.bday.co.za)
Workers
seize assets of Zimbabwean gold mine
Johannesburg - Zimbabwe's land grab had overflowed
to the mining industry, where workers had seized the assets
of a gold mine near Mberengwa, the Associated Mineworkers
Union confirmed yesterday
(©www.busrep.co.za)
4m
Southern Africans face food shortage
More than four-million people in southern Africa face serious
food shortages due to prolonged dry spells, floods and disruption
of farming, the United Nations world food body said.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)
Seven
point development-revival plan from World Bank
The president of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn,
has proposed a seven-point action plan for translating the
revived spirit of international support for development into
results for the world’s poor.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)
Africa's
first gas-emission deal
In the first gas emission deal in Africa, the World Bank and
a Dutch firm have undertaken to buy carbon from two projects
in Uganda.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)
Nigeria,
Namibia to discuss joint oil refinery
Officials from Nigeria and Namibia are scheduled to
meet in London next week for preliminary talks on a planned
joint oil refinery, Nigerian petroleum ministry officials
said.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)
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Empire
of the son
The Oppenheimer name is synonymous with diamonds, gold and
unfathomable wealth. The business empire pieced together by
Sir Ernest nearly a century ago was given structure and social
conscience by the late Harry Oppenheimer.
(©www.suntimes.co.za)
Roodepoort
Rocket rising beyond the R6bn mark
Eighteen months ago the market capitalisation of South African
gold-mining company Durban Roodepoort Deep (DRD) was R620-million;
today its market cap has soared beyond the R6-billion mark.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)
Hong
Kong to trade gold kilobars
Hong Kong’s Chinese Gold and Silver Exchange Society
has begun trading a new kilobar contract in a bid to hold
its own with the up-and-coming Shanghai gold exchange.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)
Ghana
gold miner in margin-free deal on hedges
African gold miner Ashanti Goldfields said it had agreed interim
deals on margin-free hedge trading with all of its active
counterparties as it restructures its debts.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)
Gold
mines warn of supply fall, analysts sceptical
Gold mining companies have warned that supplies of the precious
metal are poised to fall sharply but analysts believe the
world has more than enough gold to prevent major price spikes.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)
'Egypt's
gold as plentiful as dust'
Mining company Centamin Egypt, which aims to become one of
Africa's major mining houses, believes that gold is as plentiful
as dust in Egypt.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)
Bill
to give smaller miners a foot in the door
The liberalisation of South Africa's mining rights through
the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Bill has created
a space for the emergence of such medium-scale mining outfits
as New Diamond Corporation (NDC).
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)
Junior
coal firm in export push
Junior coal-miner Carolina Coal is in the process of growing
its export market by 50% to 70% in the next three years.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)
Aids
to hit gold miner's costs
HIV/Aids among its workers is projected to cost South African
miner Gold Fields between $4 and $10 for each ounce of gold
it mines in added production costs, chairperson and chief
executive Chris Thompson said.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)
New
coal mine shaft
A new coal mine shaft was officially opened in South Africa’s
Mpumalanga Province yesterday.
The 98 m-deep 3E shaft located at Sasol Mining’s Middelbult,
was established at a cost of R45,5-million and ahead of schedule,
at 13 months construction time.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)
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