MBSA Congress focuses on increasing investment in building sector

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"Under this year's theme of 'Building a Sustainable South Africa', we hope to come together in order to discuss ways of increasing investment in the sector, particularly residential buildings and public sector buildings such as schools and medical facilities," says MBSA executive director, Tumi Dlamini.

"The construction sector, the building industry in particular, is crucial for creating jobs as it is not overly reliant on skilled and/or highly skilled workers, with some 74% of the formal workforce in the sector being classified as either semi-skilled or unskilled. In the total economy, this ratio is only around 40%.

"This means that any increase in activity levels within the sector can fairly quickly translate into higher employment since a lack of skills does not impose a formidable constraint, as may be the case in other sectors in the economy. Moreover, increased activity levels and hence employment in the construction sector, can have substantial multiplier effects throughout the economy," Dlamini says.

The following highly acclaimed speakers will be sharing their insights:

• Professor Roger Flanagan is the Professor of Construction Management at the School of Construction Management and Engineering at the University of Reading in the UK. He will be delivering the Congress' keynote address, The Race to the Future. With his insights on building industries in various developmental states around the globe as well as in the developed world, South Africa will gain much from his expertise as it charts its own way to a sustainable industry.
  
• Professor John Smallwood is the head of the Department of Construction Management at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. He is also the Programme Director of the MSc (Built Environment) Programme and a director of two research, technology and innovation entities. He will be discussing accidents in construction and his insight will be particularly significant since the industry is increasingly grappling with the tragic collapse of various buildings, such as the Tongaat Mall and recently a house under construction in an upmarket estate in Johannesburg.
  
• Dr Azar Jammine, the director and chief economist of Econometrix, will be tackling the topic of challenges facing South Africa's economic prospects in the longer term.

In addition to hearing from these speakers, delegates will get the chance to participate in informative breakaway sessions on topics such as energy efficiency/sustainability in the building industry, building standards and education and training/skills development and students. They will also have the opportunity to go on excursions to the Coega, Crossways Farm Village or a CSI project.