InfrAstructure & Development - Trademax Publications

August 2013 // Issue: 40
Infrastructure & Development
SA R36 each incl. // R360 per annum incl.

Your complete
building solution
under one roof
We offer the
following services
Building B
cost estimation
tion
On site delivery
Glass cutting
On site assistance
Paint mixing & tinting
Precision timber, board cutting,
edging & potting
Quotations, special orders &
credit facilities
Truss design & manufacturing
like follow share check
FOR YOUR NEAREST STORE CALL OUR CALL CENTRE
0860 BUILDERS/0860 284 533
Visit us at www.builders.co.za
BTNA83

AUGUST 2013 Issue: 40
8
Trademax Publications
SA Affordable Housing
Infrastructure & Development
Tel: 0861 727 663
Cell: 082 266 6976
Fax: 0866 991 346
www.trademax.co.za
P.O. Box 37053
Chempet
7442
Publisher:
Billy Perrin
billy@trademax.co.za
0861 727 663
4
6
12
16
CONTENTS
2 EDITOR’S COMMENT
4 SAISC
6 Finance
8 cover story
12 Bricks & Paving
16 Women in construction
20 Bricks & Paving
22 Steel
24 Infrastructure
26 Bricks & Paving
28 Infrastructure development
29 sahf
32 cement & CONCRETE
34 Sewage & Reticulation
36 cement & CONCRETE
37 Events
38 Sewage & Reticulation
40 news
Editor:
Jennifer Rees
editor@trademax.co.za
0861 727 663
EDITORIAL INTERN:
Tanya Paulse
tanya@trademax.co.za
0861 727 663
Advertising:
Gail Cupido
gail@trademax.co.za
0861 727 663
Layout & design:
Craig Patterson
craig@trademax.co.za
SUBSCRIPTIONS & DATA:
Luke Perrin
luke@trademax.co.za
0861 727 663
DISCLAIMER
The views expressed herein are not
necessarily those of Trademax
Publications. Although we have done our
best to ensure the accuracy of our content,
neither Trademax Publications nor SA
Affordable Housing magazine will be held
liable for any views expressed or
information disseminated in this issue.
26
Like us!
Follow us!
august 2013 1

ed’s note
Saluting the fairer sex
August is Women’s month and so in this issue we turn our
attention to women in construction.
The emergence of expanded and diversified roles for
women in this industry is an increasingly important
indicator of economic development in our country
and the world.
Nowadays, there are many more professional women
making their mark as engineers, architects, quantity
surveyors and project managers and it is heartening to see
more and more women demonstrating tenacity, hard work
and prowess to beat the odds and success in a traditionally
male-dominated world of construction.
At this time, one particular woman in the industry stands
out for us. This is Elizabeth O’Leary, Executive Director of
Khuthaza, a not-for-profit company that offers services
and programmes, mostly for those women involved in the
construction and housing industries, with the aim of career
and enterprise development.
We share with our readers just one of Khuthaza’s many
success stories – that of Nomasonto Tshehla, who was
selected for the Tiber Bonvec Construction bursary
programme. Needless to say, Tshehla is now a Green Star
Accredited Professional and a great asset to the South
African construction industry. Read more about her story
on page 16.
The empowerment of women stimulates socio-economic
development, something that is particularly relevant in
Africa, where developing countries could augment this
development through improved education, employment
and earnings for women.
We salute women in construction and applaud their drive
to occupy their own space in a traditionally maledominated
industry.
However, it is our hope that in years to come, we will not
require a month, or a day to observe the woman’s role in
any sphere, economic, political, or social, or to lament the
obvious absence of women in so many important sectors
and roles. Rather, we hope that women will be, to all of us,
integral, highly important contributors to a more fair,
equal and accepting workforce, and acknowledged, for
their contributions, on all fronts, to a developing South
Africa.
Jen
Please forward your comments, suggestions and questions
to editor@trademax.co.za.
2 august 2013

Lafarge
Plasterboard for
More Durable
Cities
The Lafarge Gypsum 9mm/12mm Flush Plastered Ceiling System is ideal for high-end residential
and commercial ceiling applications, where style and quality is of importance, enabling you to
Build Beautiful, Durable Cities from the Inside.
• Our 9mm/12mm Lafarge Gypsum Flush Plastered Ceiling consists of a galvanised Lafarge Plaster
Screw Up Grid, where main tees are spaced at 1 200mm centres and cross tees spaced at
400mm centres, forming a galvanised grid.
• The 9mm/12mm taper-edge Lafarge Plasterboard is fixed onto the grid using 25mm drywall
screws, spaced at 150mm centres.
• Once installed, joints are taped and jointed with Lafarge Jointing Compound and the surface is
plastered with Skim Lite or Skim Stone compound for a perfect finish.
• Painting becomes more efficient due to less paint having to be applied to the face of the ivory
coloured board.
• The 9mm/12mm plasterboard can be curved to offer the desired unique bulkhead shape.
Lafarge... Building Better Cities
Contact Lafarge Industries SA (PTY) LTD Lafarge Gypsum Division on
0861 GYPSUM, 011 389 4500, www.lafarge.co.za

SAISC
Light steel frame project
enters Steel Awards 2013
St Helena Airport workforce housing village uses light steel frame building
St Helena, in the south Atlantic Ocean, is one of the most isolated islands in the
world, and its new international airport project represents a historic milestone for
the island, as well as for South African construction company, Basil Read, which was
awarded the contract to design, build, operate and then transfer the airport, which is
estimated to be operational by 2016.
Basil Read appointed George-based SA Steelframe
Systems to construct a village on the island for a
workforce of 200 to 300 people, who will build the
airport. The village includes accommodation, ablution and
recreational units, laundries, a gymnasium, security offices, as
well as kitchen and dining room units.
SA Steelframe Systems explained that light steel frame
construction offered the best solution for creating this village
on the remote, environmentally sensitive island. “When you
consider the combination of reduced time of construction, the
lower logistical costs of the modular system and the relative
ease of assembly, and, of course, the substantially smaller
carbon footprint when compared to more traditional building
methods, it made a lot of sense,” said Johan Marais, Owner of SA
Steelframe Systems.
The isolated nature of the island presented the team with its
own challenges. Since very little building material is available
on the island, all materials had to be shipped via 20 foot
containers from either Cape Town or Walvis Bay harbours.
All the building materials – with the exception of the Rockcote
render and paint system – were sourced in South Africa and
delivered to Cape Town or Walvis Bay harbours, and from there
shipped to St Helena, which drew praise from SAISC’s Erling.
“An aspect of this year’s theme is ‘proudly South African’ and
the St Helena airport project shows the power of local ingenuity
on a truly international stage,” he said. He added that the work
on this groundbreaking project is evidence of the ongoing
quality and innovation in local structural steel design and
construction.
4
august 2013

SAISC
The Steel Awards 2013 will be held simultaneously in
Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban on 19th September
2013. The main sponsors of the awards are Aveng Trident Steel.
Other sponsors are: Macsteel (Table Décor); Cadex SA (Photo
Competition); The Association of Steel Tube and Pipe
Manufacturers of South Africa (Tubular Award); Stewarts &
Lloyds (Light Steel Frame Award) and partner sponsors:
ArcelorMittal SA; B&T Steel; Eazi Sales & Service; Genrec
Engineering; NJR Steel; Peddinghaus; Tubular Holdings; Vital
Engineering.
Project team:
As the team’s submission explained, the scope had an
innovative developmental element in the sense that the
accommodation units had to be converted into two- and threebedroomed
houses after completion of the airport project. This
‘house conversion’ will be made possible with minimal internal
changes and the adjustment of a few windows and doors. These
houses will then be sold to local residents.
Developer/Owner: Basil Read
Architect: Munnik Visser
Structural Engineer: DMS Structures
Project Manager: SA Steelframe Systems
Main Contractor: Basil Read
Steelwork Contractor: SA Steelframe Systems
Detailers/Detailing Company: SA Steelframe Systems
The local authorities have been so impressed by the workers'
village, that they have approached SA Steelframe Systems to
supply costing of the construction of a child-care centre, an
extension to a hospital and other housing needs on the island.
“The cost savings and speed of erection, coupled with the drive
to create ‘thermally efficient’ and ‘environmentally friendly’
buildings, have alerted the islanders to the availability of
alternative building technologies like light steel frame
building,” the submission explained.
For more information on the SAISC
Steel Awards 2013 please go to
www.saisc.co.za.
august 2013 5

Finance
A roof overhead - building a
secure future for Africa
Innovation and collaboration are needed to provide more cheap, sustainable
housing and stop the crippling backlog in Africa from getting worse.
Runaway housing prices and unsophisticated
mortgage systems are hampering efforts across
Africa to house its people: a situation that experts
say is preventing many countries from reaping the social
and economic benefits that housing security provides.
Going beyond a roof overhead, housing creates
employment during the development phases, and
improves quality of life, social standing, health, financial
position, security, social cohesion and access to education.
The ABSA housing index shows that in South Africa the
average price of small houses has risen from R660 953 in
the first quarter of 2011 to R777 343 in the fourth quarter
of 2012. In the affordable segment, the price rose from
R292 790 in 2009 to R345 388 in 2012. In both cases,
there has been a 17% increase. In Kenya, prices increased
by roughly 76% between 2008 and 2012.
According to Allan Kundu at the University of
Witwatersrand, such numbers are common across the
continent. He says that the concern is two-fold: the fact
that housing is central to economies as capital assets
contributing to “production, savings, consumption,
household income, employment, growth of other markets,
social welfare, diversification and investment, and
meeting a basic need” and that “the high prices are likely
to condemn many people to perpetual squalid living
conditions because of the lack of affordability for the
majority of citizens.”
In trying to address this concern, economies are working to
provide housing, but in Africa a massive backlog exists,
which Marja Hoek-Smit, director of the Housing Finance
programme for Sub-Saharan Africa at the UCT Graduate
School of Business and researcher in urban mass-housing
at St. Catherine College, Oxford, says has to be prevented
from growing.
6
august 2013

Finance
“The first step must be to prevent further backlogs and the
spread of informal and squatter areas,” she says. “This is
far from where we are now. We have to think of measures
we have to instate to get massive housing going for at
least 70% of the population.”
To do this, Hoek-Smit says innovative housing products
that take the local social, economic and institutional
contexts into account and that are also sound from a
business funding, operational and risk management
perspective must be developed.
“The focus is on getting the private and public sectors to
create as much new housing as possible to house new
household formation,” she says. “And this cannot be done
by only building in the upper, upper-middle income levels
in the hopes that housing will filter down to low income
levels.”
For this to happen, Hoek-Smit says, there is a need for
finance at many different levels. Her main focus in her
work at St. Catherine’s College is to understand the work
and need of equity investors and how they may be enticed
to come into investing in African housing; to look at those
institutions that provide construction debt loans to
developers and what they require to go to scale and
minimise risk; to consider rental housing – an area nonexistent
in Africa presently, looking at who is going to
provide rental investors with rental debt, longer term
debt, and not just construction debt; and then
understanding how mortgage lending can be expanded
rapidly to ensure that developers have the clients that
have the mortgage to buy the developed stock.
According to Kecia Rust, coordinator of FinMark Trust’s
Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa, the
mortgage market in Africa is tiny but that means there is a
lot of space for growth. The African Development Bank
also estimates that 20% of the African population earns
more than $20 a day, which is promising if mortgage
systems become sufficiently sophisticated to make it more
affordable for Africans to own their own home.
Rust says that one very interesting option emerging in
Africa is housing microfinance.
“We work closely with micro-lenders to see how we can
expand their scope so that we can have finance for low
income folk,” she says. “There is a need for noncollateralised
loans from a variety of schemes to give
people that do not have the steady income, employment
security, and tenure security needed to secure a loan in
the mortgage market to access finance for incremental
building and home-improvement.”
She says that micro-lenders are increasingly coming to
market, but there needs to be regulatory support to take
their investments to scale.
“The really important thing here is that we need cheaper
houses, and we need government, lenders and developers
to start having the necessary conversations across the
continent to find a way to build cheaper houses in a
sustainable way.”
Rust says that there is a major need for people in private
housing finance institutions, government finance and
housing agencies, academic and international
development institutions from both emerging markets and
established economies to understand all the key issues
and concepts in housing finance with respect to different
contexts, the design of different housing products
available and the business models needed to provide such
products effectively and sustainably.
“We need to help people in this sector understand the full
implications of the innovation taking place in housing
finance, and provide them with the insight needed to
ensure that creative and sustainable solutions are
implemented perfectly in the Sub-Saharan African
context,” says Hoek-Smit. “If the system is to be
sophisticated enough to eradicate housing problems, then
everyone involved, from lenders to developers and even
sales, need to be on the same page.”
Affordable housing is more than just providing a basic
need to the poor, it is about creating a sustainable society
that nurtures the growth and development of its people,
where the quality of life and access to those things that
improve lives is improved, where the population, rather
than getting by, actually flourishes.
august 2013 7

Bricks & Paving
Fast-tracked school in Daveyton
proves worth of facebrick
Almost in the centre of Daveyton, a new school has been constructed in
record time, proving that clay facebrick is economical as built and still has
a large role to play in the construction of government-funded buildings.
The Chief Albert Luthuli Primary School, overseen by
Peter Manana, the capable and passionate principal,
will provide an education and a solid grounding to
1 587 students a year, from Grade R to Grade 7. Daveyton
is one of the largest townships in South Africa with a
population of over 130 000 in its 14km² radius.
Named after the famed teacher and politician,
construction on the Chief Albert Luthuli Primary School
began on November 14, 2012, and was completed less
than five months later on April 12, 2013. “This is the
quickest school that I have ever seen going up,” states
Manana, saying that, “Typically a school of this size will
take two years to complete.”
The Department of Education designs prototype schools
and architects help with the working drawings and the
specification of materials. Designed by Selby Shiba
Architects, the school makes extensive use of facebrick,
which was specified by the Gauteng Department of
Education. Contractor, Joe Manonga from Clear Choice
Construction was awarded the contract for the project, and
the fact that he was constantly on site supervising the
project has been cited as the main reason for the quick,
though meticulous construction. The contractor was so
involved in the build that he even purchased furniture and
mowers to cut the grass of the playing fields as part of his
turnkey service. As a result of the success of the
completed project, Clear Choice has been awarded a
further contract to build a school in Hammanskraal.
12
august 2013

Bricks & Paving
Corobrik Village Antique Travertine bricks have been used to
one metre high to protect the walls from scuffing. The warm
tones of the brickwork are offset by brightly painted
classrooms to encourage learning in a pleasant environment.
Four other schools following the same plan and style are
being constructed in Palm Ridge, Slovoville, Midrand and
Randburg. All were started last year, but the Daveyton
school is the first one to be completed.
For all the publicity afforded to newer lightweight building
techniques, this project has proved that facebrick can
more than hold its own in the face of the competition.
Moreover, the longevity of facebrick and its minimal
maintenance needs were what convinced the Gauteng
Department of Education to go with the material. Half a
million of Corobrik’s Village Antique Travertine facebricks
were used along with over 200 000 clay pavers. The
school is built from facebrick to the top of window height
on the exterior and to 1.2m inside.
Dharmesh Desai from Bricks for Africa, who supplied the
bricks as a distributor of Corobrik products, has a good
relationship with both the company and the building
contractor, and as a result he was instrumental in
specifying Corobrik Cedarberg, Tuscan and Burgundy
pavers.
Clay facebrick is in many ways synonymous with
institutions of learning, and one cannot escape the
integrity that brick brings to school construction, be it
inside or outside. Large paved courtyards give the pupils a
safe and secure place to enjoy their breaks, where single
bullnosed bricks are used to create areas for the children
to sit in comfort.
august 2013 13

Bricks & Paving
The Chief Albert Luthuli Primary School in Daveyton, Gauteng, has been constructed from Corobrik’s Village Antique Travertine
facebricks. The paved parking area has made use of Corobrik Cedarberg pavers.
A notable aspect of the school is that the Grade R facility is
separate, providing newcomers to schooling life a
protected environment in which to develop. “This wasn’t
the case previously in many other schools, and it led to
bullying of the younger children,” notes Manana. Apart
from the large Grade R subdivision, the single-storey
school has been divided into class areas, each with their
own walled-in play area, and includes 27 brightly coloured
and inviting classrooms, three courtyards, an admin
building, which houses the principal and vice principal’s
office, a library, computer centre, sick bays, two
storerooms, an HOD office and a reception area, as well as
a multi-use sports field, which is watered by a borehole on
the premises.
Covered walkways join the classroom wings with the main
building, and throughout the school, top-quality finishes
have been used, such as granite tops in the bathrooms,
solar geysers to allow learners to enjoy hot showers after
playing sport and automatic taps that turn themselves off
to save water. The school’s tuck shop has its own kitchen,
ensuring that the learners have the benefit of a feeding
scheme so that they each receive a nutritious meal at
school.
“We wanted something for the teachers, the pupils and
their parents to be proud of,” says Manana. “With the
facilities now in place, we can ensure that effective
teaching will take place.
Through education we are empowering the community
with knowledge and skills, keeping the children off the
streets and away from the lure of drugs and crime. At Chief
Albert Luthuli Primary School we want to give the pupils
the kind of education that will allow them to overcome
their future challenges without hindrances,” he states.
The school has been constructed in a relatively new area
of Daveyton where previously no schools were available
to cater for the community’s educational needs. In fact,
950 of the learners were accommodated in portable
classrooms at the nearby secondary school prior to taking
occupation of the new facility. By involving the residents
in this growing community, and giving them a sense of
ownership of the school, this highly successful project
could be a catalyst for positive growth in the area, and the
humble facebrick is at the heart of it all.
14
august 2013

There are times when
piercing is a really smart
choice….When it’s
pierced fix roofing
from GRS
Ultra-durable Pierced Fix roofing from GRS
When you’re looking for smart roof cover on any large project, take a good look at
GRS pierced-fi x solutions. All of the GRS pierced-fi x roofi ng and cladding options, in
various substrates, offer really smart designs that maximise their primary attributes.
Choose according to looks, strength, durability, economy, drainage, weight, or ease
and economy of installation. GRS has really smart machinery, to provide accurate
bullnosing, cranking and curving of sheeting. The smart GRS team of experts is also
available to assist with product choice, design details, estimating and technical advice.
So get smart and speak to GRS when it come to GRS IBR, Supa-Clad, GRS
Corrugated, Nu-Rib and BR7 .
Talk to us, The Smart Roof People on 011 898 2900 or visit
www.globalroofs.co.za or info@globalroofs.co.za
GRS IBR
GRS Supa-Clad
GRS Corrugated
GRS Nu-Rib
GRS BR7
GRS
GLOBAL ROOFING SOLUTIONS
BrownBuilt | HH Robertson

7980/E
Women in construction

Women in construction
Realising the potential of women
in the construction industry
The potential impact of women’s development on the global economy
is becoming clear. Research by companies such as Goldman Sachs,
Booz and Company and Catalyst point to both current impact and the
significant potential of women’s increasing impact on the economy.
Research by Catalyst shows that companies with more
women board directors outperform companies with
the smallest number by 66 per cent in return on
invested capital, 53 per cent in return on equity, and 42
per cent in return on sales. La Pietra Coalition, which
includes companies such as Ernst & Young, Coca Cola,
Accenture and Harvard University, identifies women as the
emerging market with the greatest potential for growth
over the next decade.
It is also generally acknowledged that investment in
women has positive, long-term, socio-economic ripple
effects, as women tend to invest their income in the health
and education of their families, enabling their children to
start off on a stronger footing and higher socio-economic
level.
Non-profit company, Khuthaza sees incredible potential
for women in the construction industry and facilitates
career and enterprise development for women, as well as
capacity-building in the industry.
POSSIBILITIES THAT CONNECT A CITY
AT AFRISAM WE DON’T JUST BUILD BRIDGES, WE DEVELOP SOLUTIONS THAT CREATE POSSIBILITIES.
Take our involvement in the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Newtown where we pumped our Flowcrete into
the 47m pylons from the bottom upwards - a process never before attempted. The bridge spanning over
8 railway tracks now connects an entire city.
www.afrisam.co.za
With the planet as one of our core values, we measure the carbon footprint of each and every one
of our operations and products while actively striving to drive down our impact on the environment.

Women in construction
In late 2010, Khuthaza assisted Tiber Bonvec Construction
to identify young women for their bursary programme,
one of whom was Nomasonto Tshehla. At the time, she was
finishing her BSc in Construction Management at Wits
University. Subsequently employed by Tiber as a Junior
Engineer, Nomasonto soon began to make her mark and
her potential was brought to the attention of Tiber’s MD,
Fernando Cardoso. She was offered the exciting
opportunity to specialise in Green Building and assist the
company to gain expertise in the field. It was a significant
responsibility, as she had to gain the knowledge, develop
the systems and set up the department within Tiber.
The company invested in her training through the Green
Building Council of South Africa and she was also
fortunate to find an excellent mentor. Tiber was involved
in a Joint Venture with WBHO and a Green Star Accredited
Professional from WBHO, Gideon Van den Berg, took her
under his wing and “taught her everything.” But it is all
credit to Nomasonto that she seized these opportunities
and made the most of them. Always keen to learn, her
confidence, a go-getter attitude, and strong emotional
intelligence have enabled her to navigate this maledominated
industry.
At the age of 26, Nomasonto is now a Green Star
Accredited Professional and proud of what both she and
Tiber are delivering. Although young, she is already
looking to give back and share her experiences with
younger women entering the industry. Nomasonto
attributes much of her successful progress to the solid
backing from the company and to learning the importance
of ‘people skills’ on a construction site.
“We’re very proud of Nomasonto,” says Tiber’s Cardoso.
“By supporting her education and providing opportunities
to develop her career, we recognise that she adds
significant value to our company and the capacity of the
industry as a whole.”
Nomasonto enjoys being hands-on and having the
exposure to various construction sites. Through Tiber
Bonvec’s excellent standing in the industry, Nomasonto
has had the opportunity to work on various Green Star
rated projects such as, Sandton’s 115 West Street and 15
Alice Lane, Superpark (Isando) where they are focusing on
waste management, and working with Aurecon, who were
the Sustainability Consultants on 8 Melville Road (Illovo).
Her ambition is to play a more senior role in Project
Management with responsibility for all aspects of a
project.
“We are proud to be associated with Tiber: they are a great
company to work with and we are so pleased that they are
supporting the development of women in the industry,”
comments Elizabeth O’Leary, Executive Director of
Khuthaza. “Nomasonto is already an excellent role-model
and demonstrates the character and potential of so many
women looking to develop careers in the construction
industry.”
As South Africa looks for opportunities for both economic
growth and socio-economic transformation, investing in
women and harnessing their potential is an excellent
investment in the future.
About Khuthaza
Khuthaza facilitates Career and Enterprise Development,
primarily for women, in the housing and construction
industries.
We are a non-profit company with over 10 years of
experience in this market. Khuthaza offers a range of
programmes and services that support both the emerging
and established sectors, with the same goals in mind –
transformation, women’s development and capacity
building within the industry.
Khuthaza has a solid reputation in terms of our ability to
delivery, our culture, the quality of our programmes and
our relationships in the industry.
Please visit www.khuthaza.org.za for further information.
18
august 2013

ADDING VALUE
THROUGH THE
CREATION OF SPACE
Caliber is a Property Development Group which was founded in January 2003.
Its main goal is the definitive development of property in the residential and commercial real estate markets.
The expertise of its directors facilitate speedy and cost effective delivery of turnkey construction projects in a
highly competitive market-place.
The strength of the group lies in the extent to which it can provide its client with Value Added Services – from the
conceptualisation phase right up to the delivery of the final product.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
T: 012 809 2044 | F: 086 513 5093 | E: info@caliber.co.za | W: www.caliber.co.za

Bricks & Paving
CBP used in Shovagakula
paving project
Precast concrete block pavers (CBP) and kerbing have been used to
construct safe, attractive and durable pavements in Olievenhoutbosch Ext
36 for both pedestrians and cyclists.
Known as the City of Tshwane’s
Shovagakula (Easy) Paving Project, it is
being run over three years in several
phases and aims to encourage the use of
bicycles in the place of cars for travel within
Olievenhoutbosch.
Phase 1, which commenced in April and
completed by the middle of June, involved the
construction of pavements 2.2m wide and
1 600m long using 50mm bevelled pavers, as
well as Figure 10 and 12 concrete kerbing
supplied by Concrete Manufacturers
Association (CMA) member, MVA Bricks.
Construction involved compacting in-situ
material to 90-93%, adding and compacting a
150mm layer of G5 mixed with four percent of
cement, and topping that with 20mm of river
sand. Once the pavers were laid, they were
covered with plaster sand to fill the joints
between the pavers. The surface was then
swept and compacted to form a very attractive
and hard-wearing surface.
The terracotta coloured pavements were edged
with a header course of charcoal pavers, which
were also used for decoration strips at every
five metres.
The main contractor on Phase 1 was MK Brick
and Earthworks, owned and run by Nathaniel
Kgobe.
Newly laid pavers at The City of Tshwane’s Shovagakula (Easy) Paving Project in
Olievenhoutbosch Ext 36.
MVA Brick’s Figure 12 kerbing is installed prior to the construction of CBP
pavements.
Kgobe says that 35 people were deployed for
the execution of Phase 1, 28 of whom were
unskilled members of the local community.
“We trained them in all aspects of CBP surfacing
including the preparation of the sub-base, the
actual laying of pavers and the installation of
kerbing, and they have acquired skills which
they can use on other projects of this nature,”
said Kgobe.
A header course of charcoal pavers being laid in Olievenhoutbosch Ext 36.
20
august 2013

The Cost-Effective Soak Away System
Simplify your life and manage your on-site waste water
treatment system with reliable, hassle-free soak away
installations. Say goodbye to clogged soak pits by providing
a greater storage capacity with less hassle. Install the
Infiltrator Chamber System for a very effective waste and
storm water soakaway.
• Approved by Metro Councils
• Proven success internationally
• Easy to transport; easy to install
• Highly cost-effective
• Technical assistance from Kaytech
bidim
R
Johannesburg 011 922 3300
East London 043 727 1057
Cape Town 021 531 8110
Durban 031 717 2300
www.kaytech.co.za
octarine 3775
Filtration and Drainage • Separation • Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation • Water and Waste Containment • Erosion Control

Steel
Steel lintels
Innovative, high strength and lightweight
Steelform SA, supplier of construction products to the
domestic, residential and construction markets, has recently
launched an innovative addition to its range: the steel lintel.
Steel lintels offer a combination of high strength and
light weight, resulting in efficient load-bearing
performance and increased productivity on site. The
company is currently manufacturing two types of steel
lintel, designed for 110mm and 220mm wall thicknesses,
and plans to launch more types in the near future.
The 220mm wall thickness lintels weigh a mere
2.48 kg/m², while the 110mm wall thickness lintel weighs
1.97 kg/ m². Their light weight makes them very easy to
handle, saves money on transport costs, and reduces
labour installation costs as well.
Imagine a 6m lintel carried and lifted into position by one
person. The products have been structurally analysed and
the structural integrity verified by independent structural
engineers. The lintels are manufactured to ISO 9002 and
have been accepted by the National Home Builders
Registration Council (NHBRC). The products should be
used in accordance with good building practice and the
National Building Regulations.
A distinct advantage of the steel lintels is that they extend
creativity and freedom in building design through use of
curves and clean finishes. Steelform’s production capacity
of the steel lintels is in excess of 300 000 linear metres of
each lintel per month.
22
august 2013

Steel
NEW LIGHT WEIGHT
STEEL LINTELS
Takes place of 2
concrete lintels
U-6 Lintel
Advantages of steel lintels:
• Lightweight
• Easy to transport
• Easy to handle on site
• Accurate shapes
• No delays in bricklaying
• No cracks
• No warps
• No site or yard wastage
Other products manufactured by Steelform in addition to the newly
launched steel lintels are permanent steel shuttering made to
specification, as well as stair cages, arches, bays, roses, corners,
bulkheads, hangers and custom-made goods.
Steelform distributes via a nationwide network and welcomes trade
enquiries.
T-5 Lintel
Light weight steel lintels,
staircases, shutters, arches
and beam caging
For more information, contact:
(t) 0861 STFORM (783676)
(e) sales@steelform.co.za
(w) www.steelform.co.za
august 2013 23
Steelform South Africa
Tel: (0)861 STFORM (783 676)
Email: sales@steelform.co.za
www.steelform.co.za

Infrastructure
Construction of SA’s largest
hydropower station 'on track'
The Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme project in the Little Drakensberg has
made significant progress since its inception in 2004, steadily surging towards
its 2015 completion goal. When up and running, this hydropower station will
serve South Africa’s increasing demand for peak energy to meet the demand of
a growing industrial sector and a successful rural electrification programme.
The Braamhoek Joint Venture led by GIBB was
appointed for the design and construction
supervision of the project. The project, which
includes the 40m high RCC Braamhoek Dam and 50m high
CFRD Bedford Dam (both completed in 2011), two caverns,
four surge tanks, four drainage and ventilation shafts and
over 14km of tunnels, is set to be the largest hydropower
and tunneling project in Southern Africa.
Located in the Drakensberg mountain range between
Harrismith and Ladysmith, the Ingula Pumped Storage
Scheme aims to generate a capacity of 1 332MW with an
energy storage capacity of 21 000MWh (15.8 generating
hours).
According to Colin Logan, Technical Executive of Dams,
Hydropower and Underground Works at GIBB, the project
is on track with the last stages of excavation currently
taking place.
“We reached some important milestones in 2012,” says
Logan. “In January, we completed the excavation of the
Machine Hall. Concrete encasement of the first Draft Tube
was completed in August and the first Spiral Case was
installed shortly after. In December 2012, the second
Spiral Case was transported to the Erection Bay. This is
currently being prepared for installation.”
24
august 2013

Infrastructure
The first of the four 333MW pump turbine units is
expected to be commissioned in the second quarter of
2014, with the remaining units to start commercial
operation in 2014 and 2015.
“To date, excavation of the Surge Chambers is 76%
complete and the Surge Shaft’s concrete lining
commenced in January. With regards to progress on other
underground structures, work on the installation of the
steel linings for the High Pressure Inclined Shafts is 40%
complete.
We will use approximately two kilometres of steel lining
for the two underground waterways,” says Logan.
In total, there are four pumped storage stations in South
Africa, which includes Ingula. “We are proud to be an
integral part of the largest hydropower and tunneling
project in South Africa,” says Logan.
Make your own blocks
Build for as little as R98/m 2
For more information call
+27 (0) 83 228 8036
or visit www.stumlebloc.com

Bricks & Paving
PMSA launches mobile solutions
for its African customer base
In order to overcome the logistical challenges associated with rough terrain and
remote locations in Africa, mobile brick making machines have been launched
in the regional market by Pan Mixers South Africa (PMSA), the largest supplier
of concrete, brick, block and paving making machinery and technology in Africa.
PMSA marketing and sales manager, Quintin Booysen
points out that the company delivered several
mobile plants, including a mobile VB1X concrete
block making machine in May 2013 to a construction client
based in the Democratic Republic of Congo. "As Africa
develops and infrastructure is rolled out, the demand for
mobile machines in various forms is increasing, and PMSA
has identified this trend early."
The VB1X is capable of producing up to 60 000 stock
bricks per day, and Booysen highlights the fact that the
mobile version of the machine does not force the owner to
invest in a large capital outlay into fixed infrastructure
that is typically left behind when a project is complete.
"The mobile machine can simply be moved on to the next
site, thereby enabling customers to produce high volumes
of bricks without constantly investing additional capital,
even in the most remote locations," he explains.
26
august 2013

Bricks & Paving
wt4367 pmsa sa affordable housing adver 1-3 ne
The mobile VB1X block making machine features remote electrohydraulic
controls to ensure a trouble-free operation, in addition to a
high energy double-shaft directional vibrator with maintenance-free
dynamic braking. Booysen notes that the electro-hydraulic operation
of the tamper, mould box and feed drawer ensures automatic filling of
the mould from the overhead concrete holding bin. "What's more, an
automatic hydraulic pallet feeder feeds pallets from the magazine to
the moulding head and ejects them onto the take-off conveyor," he
continues.
Booysen notes that the mobile VB1X block making machine is
purpose built for the challenging African terrain and weather
conditions. "PMSA is the leading and largest supplier of brick and
block making machinery in Africa, and all our equipment is capable of
producing high quality end products that meet the SANS standards.
Furthermore, PMSA also offers both fixed and mobile machinery with
topping feed attachments for paving manufacture that requires SANS
1058 for concrete paving blocks."
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
In addition to the VB1X, Booysen adds that PMSA also supplies the
RE600, VB1 and UNI Plant block making machines in mobile models.
"Development in Africa is taking place at a rapid rate, and as
industrialisation continues, I believe that mining, housing and
government projects in particular will benefit from the PMSA mobile
plant range where high capacity bricks and blocks are required in the
most remote of locations."
CMY
K
Booysen stresses that the company is able to deliver the highest
standards of customer service and quick turnaround time on spares,
due to the fact that it has a comprehensive stockholding on-site to
eliminate the associated risks of downtime for its clients.
“PMSA prides itself on assisting its customers in being successful in
every aspect of their business, by consistently delivering on its
promises. We always endeavour to ensure that we can source a part
that is a non-stock item in the shortest time possible, in order to
ensure that customers remain successful, competitive and
productive,” he says.
What’s more, Booysen points out that PMSA produces all the principal
components and assemblies in-house for the range of equipment
manufactured by the company. “PMSA reduces its reliance on outside
suppliers, as their level of service does not always meet with the
company’s high expectations of quality, delivery and turnaround
time. By manufacturing our own components, in-house specialists are
able to source and address any problems swiftly and effectively,” he
concludes.
august 2013 27

Infrastructure development
PPC CEO calls for
infrastructure CODESA
Ketso Gordhan, CEO of the leading supplier of cement in southern Africa, PPC Ltd.,
has called for the creation of an infrastructure negotiation body similar to that of
the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) as a critical step to kickstart
implementation of much needed infrastructure development in South Africa.
“It is clear that infrastructure bottlenecks by both the
public and private sectors need to be addressed, not
through agreeing to generic accords but rather through
implementable plans with clear roles, responsibilities and
deadlines. The methodology is simple. Before 1994
people wanted a democratic South Africa. The National
Party and the ANC both raised issues that were preventing
them from moving forward in this regard. So, they put
together a working group on each of those issues and
came back with solutions. All the things that we see today
were compromises that emerged from discussions and
negotiations,” said Gordhan.
Speaking at an International Project Finance Association
(IPFA) event in Sandton, Mr Gordhan was adamant that
negotiations between the national government and the
private sector would substantially increase the number of
infrastructure developments completed.
“Moves like this are where we can make the most
significant impact on our global competitiveness as a
country. We continue to score poorly in the World
Economic Forum’s Global Competitive Index and we have
to come to terms with the fact that we cannot boost the
competitiveness of our economy, boost sustainable
infrastructure growth and boost job creation by doing
more than agreeing to the ideals of a plan,” he said.
By getting the national government and private sector
together in one room, Gordhan said that many problems
currently facing the industry would be solved. One of the
biggest issues government has is that they believed they
overpaid on previous public–private partnerships (PPP).
“Let’s use the prison example. Government had a
description of the sort of prison it wanted to have; if you
had a look at the description it looked like a 5-star hotel.
Instead of the private sector coming back and saying that
it is not very functional, now we have something that is
way too expensive. It costs us around R75,000 a year for
one prisoner per year; a pensioner gets R1,200 a month.
If you weigh up those two things; here is a guy who has
done something wrong so we lock him up.
Ketso Gordhan, CEO of PPC Ltd.
The reality is it is costing us that much money each year, it
just doesn’t sound right,” he said.
Regarding previous sectors in the PPP arena, Gordhan
believes there are three reasons why success has been
experienced in the last 15 years. Firstly, it was due to a
strong political will to get the job done.
“If there is a strong political will to get something done,
the chances of success are much higher. We saw that with
the Gautrain project; it was because the MEC, Premier and
the national government really wanted the project to get
done,” he explained.
Secondly, the existence of strong officials on projects was
crucial. “They knew how to get the decisions through the
various mechanisms in government, how to interact with
the private sector, and how to get the best advice to make
things to happen. A strong official makes a huge
difference.”
Gordhan believes that the third reason was the
combination of all of these and the existence of a very
simple transparent process with a clear allocation of risk.
“If all these things are present there will be no debates
about who should be doing what. Once you have a clearcut
mechanism for dealing with the project, the chances of
success improve immensely.”
28
august 2013

sahf
Conference
Public Private Partnerships
International Conference, Exhibition &
Housing Awards 15 - 19 September 2013
Southern Sun, Cape Sun, Strand Street, Cape Town
Zou Kota-Fredericks
Deputy Minister:
National Department of
Human Settlements, SA
Mr Xolile George
CEO:
South African Local
Government Association
(SALGA)
Mr Olebogeng Mojaki
Strategic Housing Planner:
Mangaung Metropolitan
Municipality
Mr Preston Prince
Senior Vice President:
National Association of
Housing & Redevelopment
Officials (NAHRO), USA
Now is the time for the public service to act
decisively and implement Public Private
Partnerships to a much greater degree in support of
the sustainable development of human settlements. With
urban areas straining under greater pressure from the
rapid growth of informal settlements, local authorities
need to implement a range of housing options which can
only succeed with joint ventures.
“With distressing statistics about rising cost burdens,
increasing foreclosure rates, rising unemployment, falling
wages, and widespread homelessness, building affordable
housing is one of our most pressing social policy
problems.” – Nestor M. Davidson and Robin Paul Malloy
This four-day accredited, peer reviewed conference will
expose delegates to the latest housing information, will
focus on ‘Public Private Partnerships’ and will be attended
by 400 delegates, including government ministers,
provincial and local authority officials, as well as private
organisations involved in building a more prosperous
South Africa.
The conference will highlight the development of housing
associations, public services, innovation and green
policies, social and rental housing, the built environment,
education and training and the Cape Town for World
Design Capital 2014 initiative.
PROGRAMME
Sun, 15 Sept 2013 • Welcome Cocktail Function and opening of Exhibition 18h00
Mon, 16 Sept 2013
Tue, 17 Sept 2013
Wed, 18 Sept 2013
• Official opening of Conference - Speaker Sessions
• Wine Tasting of premier South African Wines
• Conference - Speaker Sessions
• African Evening Experience Gala Dinner & Housing Awards - moyo, Spier Wine Estate
• Conference - Speaker Sessions
• Official visit to the Houses of Parliament
09h15 - 17h00
17h00
09h00 - 16h00
19h00
09h00 - 13h00
14h00 - 16h00
Thurs, 19 Sept 2013 • Technical Housing Tour of Public and Private Developments 09h00 - 15h00
Contact: events@sahf.org.za; Tel: +27 (0) 21 987 7950; Fax: 086 528 1398
august 2013 29

sahf
SAHF Education & Training
4-day introductory human settlements workshop/course
Overview
SAHF Education & Training offers the opportunity to enrol
for an SAHF-accredited four-day Human
Settlements Certificate Course for housing professionals,
local authority officials and town planning staff. The
course is designed to introduce people to the philosophy
and benefits of implementing sustainable human
settlements and to draw delegates’ attention to two main
subjects, namely Land and Housing Development, in
particular the development of virgin land and the methods
of its continuous upgrading, including the latest designs in
green urban layout and mixed land use.
The four day workshop/course will include presentations
by professionals in the field of Human Settlements. Up-todate
information will be presented by the SHRA (Social
Housing Regulatory Authority), the NHBRC (National Home
Builders Registration Council), a senior project manager
from a Metro Council, as well as an emerging contractor.
The course lectures are co-ordinated and presented by Dr.
Toni Lamont, a qualified Town and Regional Planner and
Sociologist with vast experience on the dynamics of
Human Settlements Development, with over four decades
of tertiary education and housing experience, social
consultancy and research.
The four-day course consists of the
following modules:
• The Housing Act No.107 of 1997
• Millennium Development Goals
• Land Reform
• Social and Community Rental Policies
• Municipal Infrastructure Grant
• Programmes
• Housing Finance
• Consumerism
• National Environmental Management Act
• Social Impact Assessment
• Property Associations Act
And more
The course fee covers:
• Lecture Notes
• Technical Housing Tour
• Refreshments
• Lunch
• Wine Tasting
Venue: Cape Sun, Strand Street, Cape Town
Date: 16 - 19 September 2013
For further information or to register please email
education@sahf.org.za or call 021 987 7950.
SAHF Class of 2012.
30
august 2013

sahf
SAHF Education & Training
3-day collaborative housing development workshop/course
Overview
Government everywhere finds it very difficult to achieve
real and lasting success in low-income housing without
involving communities and other stakeholders in the
process. Community-based organisations have also found
it difficult to become successful developers without a
strong association with government and other sectors.
However, the greatest challenge for either party has been
to reach out and create the collaborations across sectors
that are so essential. Development professionals have
been trained to serve their paymasters, not to enable
collaborations. Although collaboration is so important it is
invariably a last resort, by which time much goodwill and
resources have been dissipated.
This three-day course explores the nature of successful
collaborations, the necessary ingredients, the required
processes, the pitfalls to be anticipated and the skills that
must be acquired. The course will be interactive and
designed to help delegates apply the subject matter to
their own circumstances.
Day 1: will focus on the principles, possibilities and
processes of collaborative development and require
delegates to formulate a collaborative process and
programme to apply to a project of their choice.
Day 2: will concentrate upon the structures, agreements
and linkages necessary to accommodate such a
collaborative process and will enable delegates to add
form and structure to their proposed process.
Day 3: will address how process and structure can be
integrated, managed and enabled to achieve sustained
success.
Delegates will receive a pack of documents on registration
– mainly strategic design diagrams and tables rather than
lengthy texts. The course will be directed at anyone who is
responsible for managing, implementing or facilitating
constructive responses to low-cost housing issues, or who
would like to play such a role. Delegates may therefore
come from the public sector (municipalities, provincial
departments, housing agencies), civil society (NGOs,
community-based organisations or welfare groups) or the
private sector (e.g. consultants, project coordinators &
facilitators) – the more diverse the better.
Applicants will be required in advance to complete the
preliminary section of the Course Evaluation Form by
providing reasons for their interest in collaboration and a
brief outline of the projects and challenges that they wish
to address.
This information will be used in three ways: to help inform
the nature of the course input; it will be summarised in a
directory of all delegates to promote intercommunication;
and it will provide each delegate with a
baseline from which to complete the Course Evaluation
Form at the end of the programme.
Course Presenter
Gerry Adlard is a Development Consultant who has
facilitated a variety of collaborative responses to the
housing needs of the poor since 1984, most notably by
coordinating the ‘iSLP’ the state's R1.2 billion flagship
integrated development project from 1992 to 2005. He
has consulted to provincial and local government,
organised business, the United Nations Development
Programme in Southern Sudan and the World Bank
Institute. In recent years he has focused on the
incremental and participative improvement of informal
settlements, the creation of partnerships for that purpose
and on researching the application of large-scale crosssector
collaboration, on which he is compiling a book for
publication. He is now devoted to fostering a new
generation of development enablers and to the
application of collaborative techniques to other spheres of
development.
Venue: University of Stellenbosch, Bellville Campus,
Carl Cronje Drive, Bellville, Cape Town
Date: 9-11 October 2013
The course fee covers lecture notes, refreshments and
lunch.
For further information or to register please email
education@sahf.org.za or call 021 987 7950.
august 2013 31

Cement & Concrete
100 years of Slurry
PPC Ltd., South Africa’s largest producer of cement, celebrates 100
years since the founding of its iconic Slurry cement factory near
Mafikeng in the North West Province.
From its early beginnings, in 1913, the Slurry factory
quickly turned the South African cement industry into
a competitive and flourishing market, growing annual
cement production from 60 000 tons to 128 000 tons
annually.
Situated on the borders of old Transvaal, in 1916, the
factory produced its first lot of cement and from then on,
has been operating at full capacity, breaking production
records in quick succession.
It is unclear who dubbed the factory ‘Slurry,’ which is the
name of the mixed raw materials of the cement industry
when the wet manufacturing process is used. But at the
time, the name was apt, as the factory utilised a wet
process. It was only in the 1950s that PPC changed the
cement manufacturing process from a wet to a dry process
for which Slurry was altered accordingly – but the name
still stuck.
General Manager at PPC Slurry, Frikkie Van Zyl said,
“Leaders have come and gone, markets have risen and
fallen, our products and processes have evolved over time,
innovation and cost-saving opportunities have been
exploited. Throughout all this, the one constant thing has
been the reliability of our incredible team. Day after day
(and many a night), the people of Slurry have worked
tirelessly to keep the business running. They have
cultivated a ‘can-do’ culture that is sustained by teamwork,
a sense of ownership and accountability, and taking pride
in what they do. We do it together, properly, or we don’t do
it at all.”
“We move with confidence and excitement into the second
century and we are mindful of our responsibility and
privilege, to build a new link in the Slurry chain – a link
that unites our past with future generations of the Slurry
family,” he said.
PPC Chief Executive Officer, Ketso Gordhan said the
company wants to optimise its current operations, and in
particular the Slurry, Dwaalboom and De Hoek plants.
“Slurry’s expansion process is currently under way and its
manufacturing resources and capable team will play a
leading role in ensuring we achieve our objectives,” said
Gordhan.
“By continuously investing in our people and plants, the
company has built a strong foundation on which much of
our country and region rests. PPC has a truly remarkable
history and a proud heritage. For over 120 years this
company has used the vision, courage and sheer
determination of its leaders and their teams to navigate a
course through the nation’s rich, invigorating and, at times,
challenging history. Long may our journey continue,” said
Gordhan.
Follow PPC on Twitter @PPCisCement, like us on
www.facebook.com/PPC.Cement and visit us at www.ppc.co.za.
32
august 2013

Connect with global property
sustainability experts who have chosen
to design and build green.
The Green Building Council South Africa and the World Green Building Council
are collectively powering The Global Green Building Convention 2013 in Cape Town.
This premier event gathers the largest network of influencers and key decision
makers in the global green building industry.
Reserve your place now.
Contact us on 0861 042 272 or visit www.gbcsa-convention.org.za
OE/57526/SA
Principal Sponsor

Sewage & Reticulation
New extrusion line enables DPI
Plastics to produce 630mm PVC pipes
DPI Plastics, a leading manufacturer of water reticulation, drainage and
pipe-fitting systems in South Africa, is due to begin production of its new
630mm bore PVC pipes in July 2013, following the final installation of its
new Krauss Maffei extrusion line.
DPI Plastics' technical and product manager, Renier
Snyman notes that the company identified the need
to increase the maximum bore of its PVC pipe range
from 500mm to 630mm, following numerous queries from
the local market. "After completing a thorough market
study in late 2012, we identified significant potential for
630mm PVC pipes in bulk water and sewerage
applications, and made the decision to install the new
extrusion lineat our Johannesburg factory in early 2013."
Snyman highlights the fact that the German-engineered
Krauss Maffei extrusion line is capable of producing
approximately 22 tons of PVC pipe per day.
"The extrusion line is expected to be fully installed by
mid-July 2013, and this high production volume will
provide a cost-effective solution and competitive
turnaround times for large scale projects."
In the past, DPI Plastics' only solution for large scale
projects was to lay two parallel 500mm pipelines. Due to
the fact that a 630mm pipeline offers higher outputs,
Snyman points out that only one single pipeline is now
required. "This ensures substantial savings with regards to
materials purchase and transportation costs, and also
significantly reduces installation times and associated
costs, as a direct result of less material being required," he
continues.
34
august 2013

Sewage & Reticulation
According to Snyman, the new extrusion
line will also open up new avenues of
growth for PVC as a competitor in the bulk
water, stormwater and sewerage
industries - which are currently dominated
by materials such as steel and concrete.
"PVC is more cost-effective and boasts a
longer life expectancy when compared to
industry standard steel and concrete."
Snyman explains that steel and concrete
are often prone to significant corrosion
damage over extended periods. "In
addition to having superior corrosion
resistance properties, PVC is also highly
durable, with low frictional resistance and
low wave celerity, thereby ensuring
resistance to surges," he adds.
DPI Plastics will be manufacturing a total
of three 630mm PVC piping products
using the new Krauss Maffei extrusion
line, namely a SANS 966 approved uPVC
pipe with pressure ratings up to 9 Bar, a
SANS 966 approved mPVC pipe with
pressure ratings up to 12 Bar and a SANS
791-approved underground sewerage and
drainage pipe, which is available in both
standard duty and heavy duty options.
In addition to being readily available in
South Africa, Snyman indicates that the
entire new 630mm PVC piping range will
be exported into Africa too. "Our clients in
Africa have shown a considerable amount
of interest in the 630mm PVC piping
range. With continued infrastructural
development taking place across the
continent, I am confident that the new
range can obtain measurable market share
within a relatively short period of time."
Looking further ahead, Snyman believes
that the introduction of the 630mm PVC
pipe is essential to the long term
sustainability of DPI Plastics. "In a
constantly evolving market, it is important
to proactively adapt to changes, and by
installing the new Krauss Maffei extrusion
line, DPI Plastics is not only increasing its
output capability, but also exposing itself
to new markets. This falls in line with the
company's focus to remain recognised as a
top quality PVC pipe manufacturer," he
concludes.
august 2013 35

cement & concrete
First Sephaku Cement artisans
trained prove their mettle
Any of those from our first group of qualified artisans, born and bred
in the commnities surrounding our plants will be an asset to their
employer, says Sephaku Cement Chief Executive Officer, Pieter Fourie.
Chris Van Aswegen, Reliability Engineer at Sephaku Cement together with three of the successful artisans, Ernest Pule,
Reginald Thafe and Kealeboga Solomon Mosiane.
Sephaku Cement recently celebrated its first grouping
of new artisans, trained through an Artisan
Development Programme that is facilitated and fully
sponsored by the company. The learners passed rigorous
Trade Tests to conclude the two year course, which
includes theoretical and workplace experience, making
them either specialist fitter and turners or electricians.
“We have walked closely with the learners these past
years, providing them with funding, mentorship and
guidance,” explains Fourie. Despite not having existing
cement production operations, Sephaku Cement found an
appropriate solution through which to invest in skills
development within Lichtenburg and Delmas-based
communities. Lafarge agreed to host the learners for
theoretical training and during the period the learners
spent 14 months working at Exxaro’s Delmas facility,
where they completed their experiential training.
One of the spinoffs for the artisan learner group was the
teamwork that it built up over the qualification period.
Now a qualified fitter and turner, Reginald Thafe (25) from
Mahikeng in the North West Province had applied for
three consecutive years prior to finding the Sephaku
Cement programme.
He says, “We had to work as a team, supporting each
other, especially in the on site training that challenged us
with real life work experience.”
To be an electrician was a dream for Solomon Mosiane
(33) from Matile Village. “Sephaku Cement has helped me.
If it was not for them I don't know where I would have
been,” he says. Ernest Pule from the Bodibe Village was
previously a bricklayer who had done his N1 and N2 in
Civil Engineering. Now a qualified fitter and turner he
notes, “I am something because of Sephaku. They have
given us support all the time. It was not easy for us and
they have made life easier for me.”
These guys, concludes Fourie, have more than just ticked
the boxes required in their Trade Tests. "They have
mastered a complex set of scarce skills that we need in
our developmental economy. To us, they have proved
beyond a doubt that training partnerships with people
from the communities in which we operate can be very
successful.”
36
august 2013

Events
Master Builders South
Africa Congress 2013
Boost the building industry
From 29 September to 1 October 2013, Master Builders South Africa
(MBSA) - the leading representative body in the building industry and
the national body of the provincial Master Builders Associations and
its affiliated members - will be hosting its annual Congress at the
Indaba Hotel and Conference Centre in Fourways, Johannesburg.
The theme for this year’s Congress is ‘Building South
Africa: Bridging the gap,’ which aims to address the
subjects of transformation, skills, standards and
sustainability within the building and construction
industry. As SA’s leading construction body, the MBSA
Congress brings together role players from different
aspects of the industry including industry leaders, built
environment professionals, academia, youth and member
associations, as well as the public sector. This is an
opportunity to exchange information, participate in
discussions and gain insight from the speakers and has the
aim of facilitating collaboration that will contribute to the
development of the industry and the country.
“The industry has noted a slight but gradual recovery in
2013, which has contributed to industry confidence and
growth, albeit slow. This makes the 2013 Congress an ideal
opportunity to address challenges our members’
businesses face, look at ways to enhance skills capacity
and review important infrastructure projects and
opportunities in South Africa and the rest of the
continent,” says MBSA Executive Director, Tumi Dlamini.
Minister of Public Enterprises, Malusi Gigaba – whose
department and its state-owned entities are responsible
for the vast majority of public infrastructure spend – has
confirmed that he will be this year’s key note speaker.
“Over and above gaining insight from the Minister’s
address, the Congress provides a great opportunity to
understand local and global best practices, keep up to date
with leading and innovative trends, to network with
industry members and to see who the top performers are
in the Health and Safety Awards,” adds Dlamini.
MBSA Executive Director, Tumi Dlamini.
All members of the building and construction industry are
invited to attend the MBSA Congress. For engineers,
architects, construction managers, regulators or
contractors both large and small the Congress is an
important event on the industry calendar to address issues
effecting businesses. Construction managers, engineers
and architects attending the Congress will gain Continuous
Professional Development (CPD) points.
Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities are available to
companies wishing to support the event and ensure
visibility of their brand, products and services to industry
players.
For more information, please visit
www.mbsacongress.co.za.
august 2013 37

Sewage & Reticulation
Minister officially opens emergency
pipeline supplied by Incledon
Leading fluid conveyance and pumping solutions provider, Incledon has
assisted the Msukaligwa Municipality in successfully completing an
emergency bulk water supply line, after providing over R7-million worth of
pipes to the project, which was officially opened on June 15 by the Minister
of Water and Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa.
The 12km-long above-ground temporary pipeline will
connect residents and businesses in the Wesselton,
Ermelo and Phumula regions directly to a water
purification plant, following months of irregular and
insufficient water supply.
The emergency bulk water pipeline consists of a 350mm
diameter bulk gravity feeder main that will provide raw
water to the northern water treatment works and southern
water treatment works, in order to address the current
shortages at Douglas Dam and Willem Brummer Dam.
Incledon was contracted in February 2013 to supply the
project with 355mm bore high-density polyethylene
(HDPE) pipes, manufactured by Aquaflow – a South African
market brand leader in the manufacture and supply of a
wide range of extruded piping products.
According to Incledon Civils sales representative, Mac
McLaren, HDPE was selected as the material of choice, due
to its high impact strength, low friction characteristics and
resistance to ultra-violet (UV) radiation. "UV resistance is
an especially important benefit for an above ground
pipeline that is exposed to the damaging effects of
sunshine throughout the course of the day."
38
august 2013

Sewage & Reticulation
McLaren adds that the lightweight properties of HDPE also
offer environmental advantages, as more products can be
loaded onto a truck, thereby reducing carbon emissions
caused by additional journeys. "Due to its light weight,
HDPE is also quicker and easier to install than steel, which
ensures further savings. The SANS 4427-approved pipes
were delivered to the project by Incledon in 9m lengths,
and have pressure ratings varying between 10 bar and 16
bar."
Molewa notes that the Department of Water and
Environmental Affairs is committed to assisting the
Msukaligwa Municipality, which falls under the greater Gert
Sibande District Municipality, in providing water to the
local communities, with a number of interventions
implemented in direct response to the water crises in the
region.
Part of the long-term solution under consideration is a
parallel process for the provision of a permanent technical
solution to provide water to the Ermelo and Wesselton
service area through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure
Grant, which is worth approximately R32-million and
should be completed by October this year, according to
Molewa. “A further R335-million is earmarked for the
Msukaligwa Water Supply Scheme for Ermelo, Wesselton
and Breyton,” she adds.
Having successfully supplied large volumes of piping
products to numerous municipalities across South Africa,
McLaren is confident of the future outlook for Incledon.
“For more than a century, Incledon has been recognised as
a preferred supplier to municipalities nationwide, due to
the company’s excellent reputation for providing top
quality products that are backed-up by unrivalled aftersales
support,” he concludes.
august 2013 39

news
MBA North and Khuthaza to
expand areas of joint co-operation
Master Builders Association North and Khuthaza have agreed to
continue and expand its current programme of mutually beneficial
co-operation, aimed at fostering the interests of both organisations.
Elizabeth O’Leary, executive director of Khuthaza (centre), pictured at this year’s MBA North AGM with two graduates of Khuthaza
training, Rose Tsenase (left), and Maria Sono (right), who now own successful contracting companies.
Led by executive director, Elizabeth O’Leary, Khuthaza
is a non-profit organisation which seeks to encourage
and contribute to the development of a transformed
and thriving construction industry in which women play a
respected and integral role.
O’Leary recently briefed the MBA North executive
committee on Khuthaza’s operations and areas of mutual
co-operation between the two organisations were
discussed. She told the committee that Khuthaza aims to
prepare women for entrance into the housing and other
construction-related professions, to encourage
entrepreneurship and support women throughout their
career and business life cycles. “Through advocacy,
training and support Khuthaza aims to empower women to
play a leading role in the housing and construction
sectors. Our vision is to create an environment in which
women have equal access to opportunities in housing and
construction,” she told the meeting.
Aspects such as sharing information regarding tenders and
database registration, intern opportunities for new
contractors at larger companies, and generally working
together to facilitate access to experience and work,
access to finance, as well as contractual issues were among
areas of joint co-operation conceptually raised at the
meeting for further discussion and future implementation.
O’Leary said through this partnership with MBA North,
Khuthaza aims to:
• Create a mutually beneficial relationship based on
regular engagement and communication;
• Promote collaborative engagement to create a more
enabling environment for contractor development and
transformation;
• Work together to leverage resources, facilitate
industry interaction and promote and deliver
Enterprise Development services and support;
• Promote best practice and communicate success
stories relating to BBBEE and contractor development,
including the successes of MBA North members;
• Provide a forum for the exchange of knowledge,
experience, skills and opportunities; and
• Provide the industry with a wider range of
opportunities to contribute to transformation and
capacity development within the industry.
Deon Landmann, MBA North Education, Training and
Transformation Manager, says MBA North admires and
respects Khuthaza’s efforts in uplifting the role of women
in construction, particularly transforming the lives of
women from the previously disadvantaged sector. “MBA
North – which is also fully committed to transformation
– has already co-operated with and assisted Khuthaza in
several aspects such as Small Builder Training and Health
and Safety. We intend joining forces wherever possible in
future to assist Khuthaza which, in turn, will encourage its
members to join MBA North,” Landmann stated.
40
august 2013

(Pty) Ltd
(Pty) Ltd
TM
TM