21 May 2013

Building & Construction

Cloaks without daggers?

Minister of State Security Siyabonga Cwele says that a solid case is being built against South Africans suspected of having links with terrorist groups such as Al-Shabaab; arrests can be expected soon. In passing, however, he also mentioned that the government wants to recruit more spies. That begs the question for some: what for? It also makes some people wonder... given the fact that we have an air force that cannot fly many of its aircraft, and an army that ... well ... hasn't fared too well recently, and a navy that has its subs up on blocks, will our budding 007s be properly trained and equipped to do the job? Or will it be a case of cloaks without daggers.

Durban says, "Yes, we iCANN!" and the city's exclusive internet namespace .durban is on its way after passing its first ICANN hurdle.

One wedding and a whitewash? Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Jeff Radebe has said that the probe into the Waterkloof incident is to continue. However, a number of commentators believe that the so-called "probe" is little more than a whitewash to protect Jacob Zuma and an assortment of cabinet ministers, with officials taking the heat in their stead.

There's nothing like trying to get the message across... the WWF and TRAFFIC are targeting rhino horn consumers, particularly in Vietnam, as part of their global campaign against illegal wildlife trade. The bodies have developed a series of advertisements to discourage Vietnamese citizens from buying or consuming rhino horn.

Well, good luck and we hope it works, but in the meantime, efforts to stop the poaching must be stepped up, the kingpins be arrested and sentenced to rot in jail, and perhaps local communities around our game reserves be involved in some sort of system that rewards them for reporting suspect activities and people in their areas.

Rod Baker, Content Director

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Weekly top stories

KZN Institute for Architecture inducts new president
The KwaZulu-Natal Institute for Architecture (KZNIA) has inducted Kevin Bingham of FGG Architects in Durban as its new president. The ceremony took place on 16 May 2013 at the KZNSA Gallery in Glenwood. Read more >>

Editorial news

Building & Construction
Cape Town wants toll road report
The City of Cape Town wants access to the complete feasibility report for the South African Road Agency Limited's (Sanral) proposed winelands tolling project, the Western Cape High Court heard on Thursday (16 May). Read more >>


Engineering
Solar Capital signs R11.5 billion contract with DoE
Solar Capital has recently signed its second Independent Power Purchase Agreement with the Department of Energy. This second Solar Capital project, which will be built at De Aar in the Northern Cape, will mean an additional investment of R2.5 billion and will employ more than 700 people during construction and 200 thereafter. Read more >>

BMW donates educational display cars
Five science centres in different provinces have each been donated a BMW 3 Series educational display car by BMW South Africa. Each centre is supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The donation is aimed at stimulating learning in maths, science, engineering and technology. Read more >>


Architecture & Planning
KZN Institute for Architecture inducts new president
The KwaZulu-Natal Institute for Architecture (KZNIA) has inducted Kevin Bingham of FGG Architects in Durban as its new president. The ceremony took place on 16 May 2013 at the KZNSA Gallery in Glenwood. Read more >>


Construction
Netcare moans about competition probe
[Tamar Kahn] Private hospital group Netcare's chief executive Richard Friedland says he is disappointed that the Competition Commission's planned enquiry into the private healthcare sector will exclude the pharmaceutical sector. Read more >>

Get off the roads, use trains
South Africa needs to increase its use of rail freight to boost economic growth and preserve the country's roads, deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe said in Phalaborwa, Limpopo, on Monday (20 May). Read more >>

Lesotho Highlands scheme gets the nod
[Linda Ensor] The R12bn phase two of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), which will secure a continued supply of water for SA and hydroelectric power for Lesotho, was approved in principle by the two countries this week. Read more >>

Bricks and mortar for PIC's boss
The Public Invesment Corporation's (PIC) R62bn real estate portfolio, may be one of the most commanding jobs in the SA property sector. Read more >>

Coface report highlights strain on SA's growth
The Coface Group, a worldwide leader in credit insurance, has released its latest report on South African growth prospects, taking into account the mining and export slumps. Overall, economic activity remains generally sluggish while upside risks to inflation have increased due to a weaker rand. Coface believes that this will persuade the Monetary Policy Committee to keep policy neutral over an extended period, with interest rates remaining unchanged for most of 2013. A reversal in policy easing is likely only late in the year or even in 2014. Read more >>

Hilton plans to boost African presence
Hilton Worldwide has expanded its product offering in SA over the past six months and the US-based group intends to increase its presence in Africa‚ according to vice-president of operations for Africa and the Indian Ocean‚ Jan van der Putten. Read more >>

Fines, payments choke Stefanutti Stocks
[Alistair Anderson] Construction company Stefanutti Stocks said on Tuesday (14 May) that late payments by debtors and a provision for a hefty fine for anti-competitive behaviour were to blame for the company reporting a record R162m loss for the year to February. Read more >>


Equipment
Barloworld's share earnings up 31%
[Mark Allix] Barloworld‚ a diversified industrial group‚ saw revenue rise 11%‚ operating profit increase 14% and headline earnings per share shoot up 31% for the interim period that ended in March. Read more >>


Project Management
Omwieco to redevelop Onverwacht Estate as secure environment
Omwieco has been approached by Investec Private Bank to take over the development of a liquidated estate and has agreed to embark on this venture as the project developer for the Onverwacht Estate. Its vision for the estate is for it to become the catalyst in integrating the Eastern Growth Region of the Helderberg Basin. Read more >>


Government
SOEs exploring set-asides for small firms, black industrialists
Minister of Public Enterprises Malusi Gigaba is considering putting in place set-asides from the growing procurement spend of state-owned enterprises for small businesses and black industrialists to help transform the economy. Read more >>

Public Enterprises wins Treasury battle
[Nicky Smith] A six-month battle between the Treasury and the Department of Public Enterprises over the empowerment and local content weighting in Transnet's R35bn acquisition of new locomotives has ended with the Treasury agreeing to let the tender go unchanged. Read more >>

More Government news...


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