8 Oct 2013

Building & Construction

Billboards vs ANC: billboards win

Transport minister Dipuo Peters says the billboards with the message "E-tolls. Proudly brought to you by the ANC." is the work of cowards.

The DA has admitted to being the naughty ones who erected them, and its Gauteng premier candidate Mmusi Maimane points out that, "E-tolls were conceived under the watch of an ANC minister, supported by an ANC executive in Gauteng, passed into law by an ANC majority Parliament and signed, sealed and delivered by an ANC president."

Quite so, and none of which the ANC denies - so what's the problem?

What happens when the "bluff" is no longer a bluff? Chris Moerdyk looks at why Numsa is calling BMW's bluff, and wonders what might happen when car makers finally decide: enough! Also see Government to talk to car makers: Gordhan. Some might reasonably ask: why? What can he say to them that is likely to achieve anything right now. Let's face it, with an election looming the government is not going to do anything to upset the workers and Cosatu - and that might tend to set the tone of any "talks".

Nonkululeko Gobodo says there is more to transformation than ticking boxes, and suggests the private sector is lagging, and on a happy note, there's good news for mobile users - and that means pretty much all of us - ICASA has released its draft 'call termination' regulations which aim to see the costs we mobile users have suffered for ages being somewhat reduced.

Rod Baker, Content Director

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Weekly top stories

Pod may be a housing game changer
[Ray Maota] A Johannesburg architecture firm would like to dispel the connotations surrounding corrugated iron, and instead would like people to see it as more than just a material used to build cold, damp shacks in informal settlements. Read more >>

Building & Construction
Kwikspace provides temporary classrooms in Eastern Cape
To address the widely known problem of sub-standard education infrastructure in the Eastern Cape, the Department of Public Works has partnered Kwikspace Modular Buildings, to provide temporary schooling facilities until permanent schools are provided. Read more >>

Bridge City on the move with Durban's public transport upgrade
Bridge City, the mixed use commercial/residential Town Centre and Business Estate to the north of Durban which is set to attract R10 billion in public and private sector investment. Read more >>

Get a mobile presence
[Issued by Bizcommunity.com] Bizcommunity Press Offices have been compatible with mobile since day one and are continually upgraded for even greater engagement and accessibility. Read more >>  visit press office >>


Architecture & Design
Entries open for architectural competition
An important component of the 25th International Union of Architects World Congress, UIA 2014 Durban, is the international student competition to submit their solutions for interventions around the dynamic and complex Warwick Junction, one of Durban's most exciting urban hubs. Read more >>


Building Materials & Equipment
Alert Steel's loss of 132.9c a share
Steel distributor Alert Steel Holdings on Monday (30 September) reported a diluted headline loss per share (HLPS) of 132.9c for the year to June compared with the previous year's loss of 432c a share. Read more >>


Construction & Engineering
Wits engineers receive international recognition
Professor emeritus Hu Hanrahan from the School of Electrical and Information Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand, has been reappointed as chairman of the Washington Accord for the term June 2013 to June 2015. He has served as chairman since 2011. Read more >>

Property listings on the move
[Joan Muller] The sell-off in property stocks over the past four months has made it less attractive for unlisted real estate companies and developers to bring their shopping centres, offices and warehouses to the JSE. Since May prices have dropped around 13% and yields have risen from an average 6,2% to 7%. Read more >>

Joint development of new precinct at Century City
A new joint venture of R423 million has been entered into to develop the new precinct at Century City in Cape Town. Read more >>

Siemens to cut 15 000 jobs next year
BERLIN, GERMANY: German engineering and technology company Siemens said it plans to cut 15,000 jobs worldwide by late next year as part of a cost-cutting drive. At least 5,000 jobs will be lost in Germany itself. Read more >>


Sustainable Development
Dulux sponsors GBCSA's new head office
Dulux South Africa was one of the main sponsors of the 'greening' of the new head office of the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) at the Blackriver Park complex in Cape Town. Read more >>


Government

Untarred roads a concern says Peters
The transport department was concerned that many South Africans were still having to use untarred roads, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters said on Tuesday, 1 October. Read more >>


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