18 Sep 2012

Building & Construction

 


Telkom in the firing line

There are some people who might be forgiven for having a sense of schadenfreude at the news that while Telkom is appealing against the fine it got for uncompetitive behaviour, the Competition Commission is also appealing - for a heftier fine. For years South Africans from all walks of life have bemoaned Telkom's high charges. Organisations need to know that when people reckon they are being ripped off, there can be consequences.

Good news for Denel is that a new agreement strengthens Denel Aerostructures' role in A400M manufacturing. It's hoped that the development will contribute significantly to the financial turnaround of the South African company and confirm its position as a top-tier supplier on the world's most advanced military airlifter.

There's more to climate change than just higher food prices... Robbie Louw writes that recent research, conducted in Cambridge, Massachusetts, links the social unrest that plagued the world during 2008/9 and 2011 to high world food prices. The research linked 28 events of social unrest in 22 countries, in which more than 12,000 people died, to the food price index exceeding a critical level.

In the wake of the Woolies saga, the government has plans to strengthen the employment equity law.

Finally, from a man who himself epitomises French flair and panache, our tame motoring editor, Henrie Geyser reckons that the new Renault Fluence literally oozes French flair.

Rod Baker, content director

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Building & Construction


GBCSA to host multi-unit residential training course
As the world's population steadily grows, people are moving to cities more than ever and thereby increasing the need for suitable accommodation in urban centres. Multi-unit residential homes are an ever-more attractive option for city dwellers, and greening these developments are important to ensure sustainable cities going forward. Read more >>

SA green materials for construction market to reach $1.5b in 2017
African Brains website reports that the global drive towards sustainable development is expected to strongly influence the South African market for green manufacturing materials in construction. Read more >>

MBSA Congress: Growing opportunities for the building industry
No less than 17 major strategic integrated projects have been proposed to drive infrastructure, skills development and economic growth. These include the development of the mineral resources in Limpopo and related activities, transport and industry development in the Eastern Cape, revitalisation of public health facilities and the refurbishment of schools, amongst others. Read more >>

Engineering


200 new engineers, technicians and artisans to alleviate Gauteng backlog
Allafrica.com reports that it emerged on Sunday that the Gauteng provincial government is employing more than 200 new people with the necessary technical skills to deal with infrastructure backlogs in the province. Infrastructure Development MEC Qedani Mahlangu said the new recruits include engineers, technicians and artisans, who were hired following intense advertising in newspapers and social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Read more >>

Employers cause 'perceptions' of engineer shortages, Umgeni CE says
According to BDlive, Cyril Gamede, the new CE of Umgeni Water, says there are enough engineers in South Africa and perceptions of shortages have arisen because employers do not want to train up newly qualified engineers. Read more >>

KZN's largest township joins the 49M campaign
According to The new Age, Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba and Eskom have taken the 49M campaign to uMlazi Township in Durban. Accompanied by Eskom Board chair Zola Tsotsi, company CEO Brian Dames and local leaders, Gigaba urged residents to embrace the drive to save electricity, and reap its benefits. The 49M Champaign is aimed at encouraging South Africans to use energy efficiently in order to prevent load shedding and blackouts. Read more >>

CAR Magazine's challenge an opportunity of a lifetime
CAR Magazine's Engineering Challenge 2012, sponsored by Isuzu, is offering engineering students the opportunity of a lifetime - a career as an automotive engineer. The successful candidate will receive on-the-job experience as part of General Motors' graduate-in-training programme, with the possibility of full-time employment on completion. Read more >>

Aveng: 350 SA headcount cut, but 'net staffing gain' overseas
According to Independent Online, listed construction and engineering group Aveng reduced its headcount by 350 people in the past year through a restructuring of its South African construction and manufacturing businesses. Roger Jardine, Aveng's chief executive, said the group had a net reduction in staffing levels in South Africa and a net gain outside the country. The SA Federation of Consulting Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC) estimates that 109 000 jobs were lost in the civil construction industry in the past year or two, Jardine said, noting that "we are not immune to that". Read more >>

Architecture and Planning


Three schools make top 10 in green architectural awards
Three South African schools - two of them in rural areas - have made the top 10 entries for the biennial AfriSam-SAIA Award for Sustainable Architecture aimed at recognising outstanding achievement in sustainable architecture as well as creating public awareness and debate about architectural issues. Read more >>

Jo Noero invited to exhibit at architecture exhibition in Italy
Jo Noero of Noero Architects was the only African invited to exhibit at the 13th International Architecture Exhibition la Biennale di Venezia, which runs until 25 November 2012 in Venice, Italy. Renowned architect Sir David Chipperfield, the director of the exhibition, personally invited Noero to exhibit alongside some of the world's top architects, including Zaha Hadid, Norman Foster, and Herzog & de Meuron. Read more >>

REIT tax proposals restricts foreign property investment
[Peter Dachs and Bernard du Plessis*] The long-awaited Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) tax proposals have been introduced as part of the recent Draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill. While the effective date will only be an undetermined future date to be announced by the Minister of Finance, the proposals seek to standardise the tax treatment of Property Unit Trusts (PUT) and Property Loan Stock (PLS) companies. Read more >>


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