+IMPACT MAGAZINE ISSUE 18

IMPACT 

Official publication of the Green 

Building Council of South Africa 

15 18 

THE X-FACTOR 

women and youth

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CONTENTS 

8 

9 

11 

14 

16 

26 

32 

36 

42 

46 

49 

54 

+IMPACT EDITORIAL BOARD 

EDITOR’S NOTE 

By Alexis Knipe 

THE X-FACTOR 

What women bring to the built sector 

MAKING A +IMPACT 

News and notes 

GREEN DREAM TEAM 

The Rewardsco Block B building in 

Umhlanga is an example of how the 

integrated design process results in 

a balanced design 

DIGS FOR AFRICA 

A report on sustainable student 

accommodation in South Africa 

TRANSFORM TOMORROW 

The new GBCSA green star category 

PAVING THE WAY TO NET ZERO 

Existing buildings and EPCs 

LEARNING IN NATURE 

The new UCT School of Education 

YOUNG INNOVATION 

Celebrating SA’s up-and-coming talent 

WOMEN MAKING WAVES IN THE 

BUILDING SECTOR 

50 FORCE FOR NATURE 

Driving the female agenda in property 

52 WOMEN TRENDSETTERS 

IN PROPERTY 

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4 POSITIVE IMPACT ISSUE 18 

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IMPACT 

The official publication of GBCSA 

Editor 

Alexis Knipe 

alexis@greeneconomy.media 

Director 

Danielle Solomons 

dani@positive-impact.africa 

Editorial Contributors 

Jutta Berns 

Adrie Fourie 

Kim Maxwell 

Melinda Hardisty 

Nicole Cameron 

GBCSA Editorial Advisory 

Georgina Smit 

Jenni Lombard 

Jo Anderson 

Design and Layout 

Carla Lawrence, CDC Design 

Joint Publishers 

Gordon Brown 

gordon@greeneconomy.media 

Danielle Solomons 

danielle@greeneconomy.media 

Co-Publisher: GEM 

Alexis Knipe 

FUTURE PLANS. 

CONSTANT 

CONSIDERATIONS. 

SUSTAINABLE 

CHOICES. 

WHAT GOES INTO IT MATTERS. 

Professional Membership Partners 

Media Sales 

Glenda Kulp 

Tanya Duthie 

Vania Reyneke 

Gerard Jeffcote 

Cover photograph 

Rewardsco Building 

Production Administrator 

Melanie Taylor 

Web Digital and Social Media 

Steven Mokopane 

MPeople Resourcing (Pty) Ltd 

t/a GreenEconomy.Media 

Reg no. 2005/003854/07 

Chief Executive Officer 

Lisa Reynolds 

Finance & Operations 

Manager 

Levinia Palmer 

Marketing Manager 

Christy Borman 

Consulting Engineers South Africa 

CALLING ALL THOUGHT LEADERS 

+Impact Magazine, the official publication of the GBCSA, presents thought leadership from local and international green building commentators and 

practitioners, and showcases the excellent work of GBCSA members. 

Are you a thought leader in your relevant field? GBCSA members are invited to submit stories about projects, design concepts, materials, research and 

anything else that promotes a healthy sustainable built environment. Submit a 100-word description of your content idea to: alexis@greeneconomy.media 

ADVERTISE WITH US 

For advertising and sponsored content contact Danielle Solomons 081 7800 233 

Advertising rates are discounted for GBCSA members and further discounts are available for booking multiple editions in 2022. 

TALK TO US Subcribe to newsletter | www.greeneconomy.media 

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any way or in any form without the prior written permission of the Publisher. The opinions expressed herein are not 

necessarily those of the GBCSA or the Publisher. All editorial and advertising contributions are accepted on the understanding that the contributor either owns or has obtained all necessary copyrights and 

permissions. GBCSA and the Publisher do not endorse any claims made in the publication by or on behalf of any organisations or products. Please address any concerns in this regard to the Publisher. 

ASKFORAFRISAMAFRISAM 

Our responsible attitude towards the environment informs everything we do, because building 

today only matters if we have a tomorrow to look forward to. As leaders in sustainability, we’ve 

undertaken significant initiatives in the areas of energy optimisation and emission reduction 

including rehabilitating mines, optimally using resources, and holistically reducing our carbon 

footprint. Our future depends on the choices we make now in order to sustain life for future 

generations. Ask for AfriSam. 


www.afrisam.com 

Creating Concrete Possibilities

IMPACT 

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD 

EDITOR’S NOTE 

BOB VAN BEBBER 

Bob van Bebber, a senior director at Boogertman + Partners spearheads the conceptualisation 

and delivery of many of the practices’ large complex projects. From Soccer City, the main 

stadium for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, to large mixed-use precincts as well as the largest 

single tenanted corporate head office in the southern hemisphere for Discovery Health. 

He was recently recognised by the South African Professional Awards as the winner of the 

Professional of the Year: Architecture Class Award as well as the Overall Professional of the 

Year for 2019. Van Bebber’s passion extends into urban design, interior design and education. 

www.boogertmanandpartners.com 

GRAHAME CRUICKSHANKS 

Grahame Cruickshanks has worked as a professional architect, sustainability consultant and 

management consultant with 20 years of experience in the design, construction and property 

industry. Focusing much of his career on green buildings and an expert in his field, he has worked 

on a variety of Green Star and BREEAM certified projects and other building projects in South 

Africa, Singapore and the UK. Prior to joining Growthpoint Properties as the head of sustainability 

and utilities, Cruickshank’s previous roles included managing executive for market engagement 

at the GBCSA and manager at EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services. 

www.growthpoint.co.za 

JUTTA BERNS 

Jutta Berns is an industry leader and one of South Africa’s first internationally accredited 

green building professionals, establishing her company Ecocentric in 2007. She has degrees 

from the Universities of Bonn (Germany) and Cambridge (UK), and a diverse blue-chip client 

base. Berns specialises in sustainable and net-zero solutions for large property portfolios. 

She has several LEED Platinum and 6-Star Green Star projects in her portfolio, is a GBCSA 

faculty member, a Green Star Assessor and GBCSA TAG member, and winner of the Gauteng 

Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 Award by the Women’s Property Network and 2019 winner of 

the Established Green Star Awards by the GBCSA. 

www.ecocentric.co.za 

MANFRED BRAUNE 

Braune currently holds the position of Director: Environmental Sustainability at the 

University of Cape Town (UCT), where he leads the strategy and implementation of 

environmental sustainability across all spheres of the university since early 2019. He has 

also served as a non-executive director of GBCSA in a voluntary role since August 2020. 

Braune’s background is as a professional engineer, having worked at WSP Group for over 

10 years as a consulting engineer, where he then started and led WSP’s green building 

business for three years and then worked for the GBCSA for 10 years. 

MARLOES REININK 

Marloes Reinink is owner of Solid Green Consulting. With an academic background in 

innovation and architecture, she has been working as a sustainable building consultant for 

more than 15 years in South Africa and Africa. She founded Solid Green in 2010, which is one 

of the leading sustainability consultancies in Africa and achieved its 100th green building 

certification in October 2020. Reinink’s passion is advocating for a greener built environment 

and she recently started GreenED, an online education platform for sustainability in the 

sector. Reinink is an ambassador for the International Living Future Institute; a Living Future 

accredited professional; and a facilitator of the SA Collaborative Network for a Living Future. 

www.solidgreen.co.za 

https://www.uct.ac.za/main/explore-uct/sustainability 

Lisa Reynolds, CEO of the GBCSA, says that when it comes to driving 

sustainability in business, women must stand up and own this space. 

The African Development Bank and UN Women held a webinar on 

“Green Jobs for Women in Africa” as a side-event of the 8th Africa 

Forum for Sustainable Development in February 2022. The key objective was 

to discuss challenges and opportunities for women’s participation in the green 

economy in the next decades in sub-Saharan Africa. The webinar also served 

to present the findings for the report “Green Jobs for Women in Africa”. 

The main conclusion was that women are well positioned in some of the 

sectors where green jobs will be created. A range of sectors will create green 

jobs in sub-Saharan Africa, with energy, construction, and agriculture creating 

the largest number. However, women are underrepresented in the sectors most 

likely to create higher-end green jobs, like energy, transportation, construction 

and overrepresented in agriculture, waste management and certain areas of 

renewable energy, which are likely to create mostly lower-end jobs. 

“As governments have recognised in multiple fora, action on climate change 

must be closely connected with action to address gender inequality. This applies 

to cities and towns, which are undergoing many transformations: They need 

to strengthen their resilience to increased extreme weather events, cope with 

increased migration influx due to natural and man-made crises, and dramatically 

reduce their emissions and resource use. These transformations can be shaped 

in a more just, sustainable way with the rights of women and girls at the centre,” 

Annabel Short, senior advisor, built environment, IHRB, and Dr Ying-Chih 

Deng-Sommer, sustainable built environment officer, ICLEI write in City Talk, 

a blog by ICLEI. 

They go on to say that the built environment plays a defining role in the lives 

we live today and the future we create. “From land use to re-development, all 

stages of the built environment lifecycle still present deep gender disparities. 

Yet, there are also significant opportunities to harness, as well as work already 

underway to realise the rights of women and gender minorities.” 

As the UN Working Group on discrimination against women and girls has 

highlighted, “Women are more harshly affected by land tenure insecurity due to 

direct and indirect discriminatory laws and practices at the national, community 

and family level.” In a joint report, UN Women and OHCHR emphasise that 

“realising women’s land rights is an integral part of the gender-responsive 

implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. 

On page 11, women in power speak about the x-factor that females bring to 

the green building industry and on page 49 we celebrate women making waves 

in the sector. 

Advancing women’s priorities can shape the built sector in ways that benefit 

everyone. This begins with built environment education. And while we are on 

education, we look at the various sustainable and building awards that recognise 

talent in our youth (page 46). They are an inspiration to all. Do not miss the 

report on student accommodation on page 26 and we showcase the new School 

of Education at UCT on page 42. 

On page 36, we unpack Energy Performance Certificates for all to understand 

the why, the how and the when. 

Enjoy this issue! 

Alexis Knipe 

Editor 

The X-FACTOR 


POSITIVE IMPACT ISSUE 18 

9

WOMEN 

THE X-FACTOR 

The Urban Dictionary states that the x-factor is a quality that makes people in 

possession of it the epitome of cool. Women are the x-factor in most factors and 

in the green building sector they are taking the lead. 

Be part of the 

most powerful 

green building 

gathering in 

Africa. 

Join the RE-Generation Movement at the 

15th Green Building Convention and be part 

of driving the regeneration we need in the 

built environment in this decade of 

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Registration from just ZAR 2000. 

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Exhibition space from just ZAR 12500. 

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gbcsaconvention.org.za 

2-4 Nov 2022 

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exhibitors 

LISA REYNOLDS 

CEO, Green Building Council South Africa 

“When it comes to driving sustainability in business, women must stand up 

and own this space. Women must demonstrate leadership in driving corporate 

sustainability and responsibility. Women must work together to develop 

strategies that will make businesses adopt a sustainability mindset. We need to 

move to a place where companies embrace creative, meaningful sustainability 

projects, based on the economic and social advantages of these.” 

We asked other leaders in the green space what, in their opinion, is the x-factor that 

women bring to the green built sector. 

JUTTA BERNS 

Founder and CEO, Ecocentric 

“We bring a genuinely unique perspective to the built environment: we tend to be 

formidable systems thinkers who know how to develop partnerships across disciplines 

and outside our professional communities. We understand that getting beyond silos and 

into meaningful and rapid collaboration is vital on the journey to preventing climate 

collapse and catastrophic biodiversity loss. This is where we, as women, truly come 

into play and this gives me immense hope.” 

MARLOES REININK 

Director, Solid Green Consulting 

“In an industry where change and embracing the unknown are givens, interpersonal 

skills are essential to leading a dynamic organisation. Women are intuitive thinkers and 

are instinctively equipped with social skills that focus on inclusive and communicative 

behaviours. This allows us to listen, support and build trust with our colleagues, 

and to bring together diverse stakeholders to work towards a common vision. And, 

according to a recent Caliper study, female leaders are also more willing to take 

risks than male leaders – which is an essential quality when navigating the complex 

challenges of our constantly evolving built environment.” 

DR RETHABILE MELAMU 

CEO, South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) 

“Undoubtedly, women bring a different and fresh perspective to an industry that 

has been dominated by men. With diversity of thought that women bring to this 

space, organisations in the built environment benefit from increased creativity 

and innovation, that creates immense value and growth to these organisations. 

By nature, women encourage cooperation and collaboration and that brings the 

necessary vibrancy to teams in what can sometimes be a rigid environment.” 


11

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NEWS 

NEWS 

MAKING A +IMPACT 

MSCI SA GREEN ANNUAL PROPERTY INDEX 

Growthpoint owned 

Green Star certified 

Prime A-grade offices, 

Draper on Main, 

Claremont, Cape Town. 

The latest MSCI South Africa Green Annual Property 

Index continues to support the investment case for 

green buildings in the commercial property sector. 

The index showed that the investment performance of 

certified green, Prime, and A-grade offices improved 

in 2021 and outperformed non-certified assets of a 

similar quality by 170bps during the year. 

Now in its sixth year, the MSCI SA Green Annual 

Property Index provides an independent and consistent 

comparative return on investment for green-certified and 

non-certified offices. Released annually in conjunction with 

the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) and 

sponsored by Growthpoint Properties, the index provides 

an independent, globally consistent view on the investment 

performance of green-certified and non-certified offices. 

At the end of 2021, the index sample comprised 303 

prime and A-grade office properties valued at R59.1-billion 

of which 153 were green-certified buildings. These were 

compared to 150 non-certified offices of a similar quality. 

“Once again, the MSCI index results reflect the business 

case for green-rated buildings. Not only are these buildings 

more efficient, reducing the cost of occupancy for tenants, 

but they also provide a healthier environment for occupants, 

which is particularly relevant as staff return to their offices. 

The fact that green buildings achieve better returns shows 

that tenants are recognising these benefits. Growthpoint 

is committed to retaining its status as one of the largest 

owners of sustainable properties and will continue to 

pursue appropriate certifications,” says Paul Kollenberg, 

Growthpoint’s Head of Asset Management: Office. 

Green offices outperformed by 19.1% since 2016 

For the year ended December 2021, the green-certified 

office sample delivered a total return of 2.2%, 170bps 

above the non-certified sample’s return of 0.5%. This was a 

similar outperformance to that measured in 2020 and takes 

the cumulative total return of green-certified offices to 

45.2% since the inception of the index six years ago. Over 

this period, green certified offices outperformed the noncertified 

sample by 19.1% - an annualised outperformance 

of 260bps. 

A key reason behind the strong performance of green 

certified offices is its comparatively high income return 

despite a 29% higher capital value per square metre. This 

was achieved courtesy of a 30% higher net operating income 

(NOI) per square meter compared to non-certified office 

buildings again reinforcing the importance blue chip 

occupiers are placing on green office accommodation. 

“Since the first green star certified building in 2009, 

the Green Building Council SA and those certifying their 

buildings, knew – almost instinctively – that it made 

business sense to certify green. We spoke then of the 

“Rands and Sense” of green buildings, with a lot of the 

business savvy couched within the lower utility bills, 

healthier buildings and highly productive occupants. The 

last six years’ worth of the MSCI SA Green Property Index 

results has moved the conversation to that of NOI and 

Capital Value. The conversation is not only about bottomline 

savings, but about investment – “Rands and Sense” to 

Value of Green,” says GBCSA CEO, Lisa Reynolds. 

Cashflows deemed lower risk 

Green certified offices boasted significantly lower per 

square meter usage of electricity (-11.6%) and water (-20.7%) 

when compared to non-certified offices. With administered 

costs rising at rates in excess of inflation, these costs can 

have a significant impact on performance over the lifecycle 

of a property. As a result, the green-certified office sample 

had a 50bp lower discount rate when compared to the 

non-certified sample, implying that its future cashflows 

were deemed lower risk. 

Better across all measures 

Released in April 2022, the MSCI South Africa Green 

Annual Property Index demonstrated the link between 

green-certified buildings and investment performance but 

also of its lower vacancy rate, lower operating cost, higher 

net operating income and lower discount rate. 

“In an extremely tough office market, it is encouraging to 

see that green certified buildings continue to outperform 

non-certified buildings. Not just because the perceived 

risk in the income stream is lower but is also underpinned 

by better property fundamentals – vacancies are lower 

and margins are higher. Certification provides a proven 

tool for asset managers to leverage off giving investors an 

enhanced return,” says Eileen Andrew, Vice President: 

Client Coverage at MSCI South Africa. 

Comparison of Green Star Certified Buildings vs 

Non-Certified Buildings in 2021 

Certified 

Total Return (%) 2.2 0.5 

Vacancy Rate (%) 15.6 16.3 

Net Operating Income 

144 111 

(per square meter) 

Capital Value (per square meter) 20,998 16,226 

Total Operating Cost % 

35.6 39.8 

of Gross Income 

Water Usage 

0.5 0.7 

(m3 per annum) 

Electricity Usage 

(kWh per annum) 

138 156 

Non-certified 

GBCSA RELOCATES 

ZUTARI OFFERS ITS EXPERTISE FOR EPCs 

To assist its clients to comply with the new EPC requirements, 

leading consulting engineering and infrastructure advisory firm 

Zutari is offering its experience in this regard, says Yovka Raytcheva- 

Schaap, Associate, Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) 

Consulting & Project Management. Zutari offers both upstream 

and downstream assistance with the EPC process. 

The winner of the 2021 Corobrik Student Architecture 

Awards was announced on 8 June at a special event at 

the Radisson RED in Rosebank, Johannesburg. The 

35th national awards ceremony was unique in that 

all seven regional winners and the heads of school 

from their respective universities, together with 

leaders from the architectural fraternity, were in 

attendance in person for the first time since the 

Covid-19 pandemic. 

The 2021 national winner, announced live, was Mpho 

Sephelane from the School of Architecture at the University 

of Cape Town, who received a R70 000 cash prize. A 

special prize for the best use of clay face brick in a project 

was awarded to Wian Jordaan from the Department of 

Architecture at the University of Pretoria. An overwhelming 

GBCSA has moved to new green offices in Cape Town at 

Growthpoint Properties’ River Park, Mowbray. The GBCSA 

has taken a three-year lease over some 330sqm of space 

at the recently refurbished multitenant office building. 

River Park recently improved its green rating to a GBCSA 

5-Star Green Star SA – Existing Building Performance v1 

certification. The building has high scores for its land use and 

ecology, green transport access, and energy and water savings. 

Lisa Reynolds, CEO of GBCSA, says a green building 

rating was a prerequisite for the council’s choice of offices, 

but it also had several other rigorous requirements. On 

top of walking the talk by working from a certified green 

building, cost-effectiveness was key. The GBCSA also sought 

an inspiring workspace in a good location with excellent 

accessibility for visitors. The office is near GBCSA’s former 

offices so staff travel would not be affected by the move and, 

thus, did not increase their carbon footprint. 

WINNER OF 35TH COROBRIK STUDENT ARCHITECTURE AWARDS 

Yovka Raytcheva-Schaap, 

Associate, ESD Consulting and 

Project Management, Zutari. 

four of the seven regional winners used face brick in their 

projects, including Sephelane. 

The seven regional winners presented their theses to an 

esteemed panel of judges in a Johannesburg studio during 

May, from where the final winner was selected. The judges 

were Ludwig Hansen from Ludwig Hansen Architects + 

Urban Designers, Rahdia Parker from Archi Cape Town, 

and Adwoa Agyei, Director: Physical Development Services 

at the City of Tshwane. 

“I can only agree with the sentiment that we as judges 

were impressed by the quality of the submissions. There are 

actually seven winners here. It has been an honour from our 

side to be part of the awards,” said Hansen. 

TO VIEW WINNING PROJECTS 

The seven finalists at the 35th Corobrik Student Architecture Awards with 

Corobrik CEO Nick Booth and Chairman Peter du Trevou. 



15

PROJECT 

Green 

The Rewardsco Block B building in Umhlanga was yet another 

building in its A-grade commercial precinct to achieve a 5-Star 

Green Star certification late in 2021. Women played a key role 

in shaping its sustainability directions. 

WORDS Kim Maxwell IMAGES Karl Beath Photography 

DREAM TEAM 

Project nutshell 

Project floor area: 4 973m² 

Carpark area: 4 937m² 

Project certification date: November 2021 

Green Star rating: 5-Star Green Star Office Design v1.1 

Location: 

Ridgeside Drive, Umhlanga Ridge 

Type of building: High-performance office block 

16 


POSITIVE IMPACT ISSUE 18 17

PROJECT 

South African Council 

for the Architectural Profession 

Makhosazana Mthethwa has been an architect 

and sustainable design consultant at Solid 

Green Consulting in Johannesburg since 

2018. Under her guidance and expertise, 

the company’s sustainable building design input in the 

Rewardsco Block B office building in Umhlanga Ridge, 

eThekwini, helped achieve the precinct’s five-star Green 

Star Office Design v1.1 certification, in November 2021. 

Block B is the Umhlanga commercial precinct’s second 

Rewardsco building with a Green Star Office Design 

certification from the Green Building Council South 

Africa (GBCSA). The first Rewardsco office, Block C, was 

completed in 2014. 

The precinct has five office buildings and a hotel. The 

newest Rewardsco Block B has four levels of office space 

and three parking levels. Rewardsco is a leading provider 

of outsourced sales services, with its consultants working 

on behalf of blue-chip clients. The site is within walking 

distance of Umhlanga Arch and numerous amenities. 

Mthethwa is in her thirties and has straddled a career that 

has morphed between pure architecture and sustainable 

design practices. “This means I help develop solutions 

to reduce the development’s environmental impact and 

carbon footprint. In that way, I guide the project design 

team to create comfortable, healthy buildings that are 

highly efficient in their energy, water and resource usage. 

Whatever the project requires, we work towards that,” she 

says. “I also coordinate the green design certifications for 

these buildings.” 

CLEAN VISION 

“Sustainable design is impacted by every discipline – 

whether it’s architecture, mechanical or electrical 

engineering – we coordinate those designs and provide 

supporting green technical advice so we can achieve 

the project’s overall sustainability goals.” How might 

this be implemented? “With the architecture side, we 

look at how to help the project architect to optimise 

the building’s form, making sure that designs are well 

orientated. Or if there is a lot of glass, we’ll advise on 

climate-appropriate glazing selections, particularly for 

buildings with higher glazing ratios that would require 

high performance glass and perhaps shading solutions.” 

Mthethwa says to predict a building’s performance, they 

carry out iterative computer base-model simulations for 

solar control, daylight availability, thermal comfort and 

energy analysis. “Using this simulated modelling allows us 

to give the design team an idea of the impact of different 

design variations – for instance, the impact of solar control 

on daylight availability and thermal comfort.” Where 

required, they also assist with post-occupancy surveys 

that offer user feedback on how occupants experience the 

buildings once completed. 

“It’s important for sustainable developments to have all 

members of the design team collaborating quite early in 

the design process, starting from concept to close-out, and 

even through to operations. In the sustainable design world, 

we call it the integrated design process,” she says. This 

results in balanced designs and reduced resource waste. 

BUILDING A SAFE HOUSE 

No person can erect a building/house without approved building plans prepared by a registered 

architectural professional. 

Any member of the public who erects a building/house without approved building plan prepared by 

registered architectural professional is considered guilt of an offence. 

A member of the public will also suffer losses because the building will be demolished. 

Furthermore, a person who is not registered with the South African Council for the architectural 

profession (SACAP) will not be able to advise a member of the public not to build a house on a site 

which is subject to flooding or does not drain properly. 

Rewardsco B Building 

in Umhlanga Ridge 

has a 5-Star Green 

Star certification. 

A building plan prepared by a person who is not registered will be dangerous to 

To check if your architectural profession 

is registered contact SACAP on: 

Tel: 011 479 5000 

Email: info@sacapsa.com 

51 Wessel Road, Rivonia Sandton,2128 

Makhosazana Mthethwa has been a green building consultant at Solid Green 

since 2018. Her role is to facilitate green building design certifications as well as 

technically assist project teams to deliver sustainable buildings. Mthethwa is also an 

assistant lecturer at UCT for the Simulated Office School of Architecture, Planning 

and Geomatics faculty. Before joining Solid Green, she was a design architect at 

dhk where she used her experience to incorporate sustainability initiatives into the 

architectural designs from concept level. From 2009 to 2015, Mthethwa worked 

at PJCarew Consulting. She joined as an academic intern and a year later began 

working as a green building design consultant. Thereafter she moved to part-time 

work to pursue a master’s degree from 2012. 


19

RENEWABLES 

OFF-GRID WATER STORAGE SOLUTIONS 

ESSENTIAL FOR FUTURE 

In the last 15 years we have seen and felt the impact of 

load-shedding on business operations and domestic 

life. The effects of drought and water restrictions 

have also been felt by all South Africans for many 

years. Add to these the challenges of ageing municipal 

infrastructure, nationwide riots and climate change causing 

floods that devastate infrastructure. There is little doubt 

that architects, building designers, property developers and 

planners need to prioritise going off-grid – or at the very 

least having a backup plan for energy and water in place. 

“Tackling this at design level makes for easier 

implementation and improves the marketability of a 

property exponentially,” says Chester Foster, GM: The 

SBS Group, which includes SBS Tanks and SBS Energy. 

“Planning for water and energy is essential for continued 

business operations and to ensure that lifestyle standards 

are maintained. Although it is ideal to start at design 

stage, our SBS solutions can be added at any stage, in an 

aesthetically pleasing and practical way.” 

The SBS Group works with architects, consulting 

engineers, urban planners, contractors, and industry 

specialists to deliver advanced off-grid water solutions 

which are modular, can be designed to maximise capacity on 

a limited footprint, and are colour-coated to either blend in 

or make a statement. The company offers a comprehensive 

range of rainwater harvesting, recycled or process water 

storage, and back-up water and energy solutions including 

usage monitoring for any size operation. 

IMPACT MAG HALF PAGE AD_JUNE 2022.pdf 1 2022/06/09 3:49 PM 

“With demand for water in South Africa expected to 

outstrip supply by 2030 and load-shedding set to be a part 

of our future, installing backup water and energy supply 

solutions must be prioritised,” Foster says. “Working with 

turnkey partners we work to maximise the client’s return 

on energy and water storage infrastructure and limit risk 

exposure. The addition of SBS Energy to our business 

portfolio earlier this year has meant we can now offer a 

complete off-grid solution.” 

Do you want to make your property more valuable? 

Looking for a trusted partner to deliver water 

and energy solutions? Talk to our team today. 

Call: 086 048 2657 Email: info@sbstanks.co.za 

Visit our website: www.sbstanks.com 

The Rewardsco 

buildings are all 

connected by bridges. 

Building occupants benefit from 

ample quality fresh air. 

IT ADDS UP 

Green certification for Rewardsco Block B was based 

on improving the facility’s energy performance, 

water savings and waste management. Mthethwa’s 

team focused on the following aspects: 

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

The building has a modelled energy consumption 

of only 168kWh per square metre for each year, far 

lower than industry requirements. Sub-meters and 

an automated monitoring mechanism manage energy 

consumption. Carbon emissions were also reduced 

to much lower than a building constructed to South 

African national standards. This reduction in energy 

consumption and greenhouse gas emissions is due to: 

- An optimised building façade, including highperformance 

glazing where required. 

- Energy-efficient LED light fixtures. 

- Occupancy sensors for all enclosed spaces, and 

open-plan office areas no bigger than 100m² (so 

lights burn only when needed). 

- Energy-efficient HVAC system equipment. 

- An efficient heat pump for hot water production. 

- Office harvesting of natural daylight to offset 

electrical lighting. 

WATER EFFICIENCY 

The building uses non-potable rainwater – collected 

through the site’s stormwater attenuation and 

retention ponds – and is pumped to several of Block 

B’s water storage tanks. That means only non-potable 

water is used for landscaping, toilet/urinal flushing 

and heat rejection. Water-efficient sanitary fittings 

were also installed. The building’s sewerage outflow 

from occupant usage was reduced by 50% compared 

to the average practice benchmark. 

PROJECT 

With Block B, one of its most special 

features is the water system linked to 

the attenuation and retention ponds. 

WASTE REDUCTION 

To reduce operational waste, recycling waste sorting 

bins are provided in the basement waste area. This 

allows for the collection and eventual recycling of 

cardboard, paper, glass, plastics and metals. 

Restorative spaces such as pause areas, outdoor seating and break places 

contribute to building occupant wellbeing. 

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 

Building occupants benefit from ample quality fresh 

air. The fresh air system improves on industry rates 

per person requirements by 66% with 12.5 litres per 

second per person. This impacts occupants’ abilities 

to keep alert, minimises building of indoor pollutants 

and mitigates sick building syndrome. Low-level VOC 

adhesives, sealants and carpets are installed in at least 

95% of the fit-out. 

The building offers access to good levels of daylight 

and external views, to mitigate eye strain and provide 

general stress relief. More than 80% of ground floor 

and office floor plates have direct access to external 

views. Recreational and restorative spaces such as 

pause areas, prayer rooms, outdoor seating and break 

places also contribute to building occupant wellbeing. 


21

PROJECT 

DYNAMIC DUO 

• Tel: + 27 11 822 2320 

• Fax: + 27 11 822 2354 

• e-mail: cindy@ashak.co.za 

The building offers access to 

good levels of daylight and 

external views, to mitigate 

eye strain and provide 

general stress relief. 

Aside from design input in Rewardsco Block B last year, 

Mthethwa is currently involved in the Rewardsco Block 

A building too (the latter still under construction). “The 

buildings are all connected by bridges, as they have the 

same main tenant Rewardsco, so A and B are quite similar,” 

she says. “We are targeting a Green Star Office Design v1.1 

rating for Rewardsco Block A too.” 

WATERWISE 

What did she find memorable about working on the 

completed Rewardsco Block B? Mthethwa’s focus was on 

the building’s sustainability elements. “Sometimes with 

large developments, what looks like a water feature is used 

as a water retention pond to hold storm water,” she explains. 

“With Block B, one of its most special features is the 

water system linked to the attenuation and retention ponds. 

As part of the Umhlanga Ridge precinct design, the ponds 

have additional capacity to store water. They are used for 

toilet and urinal flushing, as well as landscape irrigation 

and heat rejection.” All five office buildings draw from the 

ponds, thanks to some early design decisions. 

This project is a perfect example of how all members of 

the design team have collaborated from concept to closeout. 

Rewardsco is proof that an integrated design process 

results in balanced designs and reduced resource waste. 

Thinking smart for a sustainable building future. 

Karl Beath Photography 

REWARDSCO BLOCK B 

Main contractor: Trencon 

Client: Zenprop Properties 

Value: R92-million 

Project: Construction of an 8 000m2 new office block 

including a podium, an external link bridge connecting 

an existing office (Block C) to the new office (Block B), 

and three basements of 6 000m2. 

A five-star Green Star Office Design v1.1 rating 

was achieved for Rewardsco Block B. A four-star 

Green Star As-Built submission on this project is 

being reviewed by GBCSA currently. 

“Trencon prides itself on its ability to deliver 

projects of high complexity on time and within 

budget, while contributing to the social environment 

that it operates in,” says CEO Yavani Singh-Ninan. 

The company has been involved in numerous 

projects that have achieved four- and five-star Green 

Star ratings. Trencon was the main contractor on 

Rewardsco Block B, and is also involved on Rewardsco 

Block A, under construction. 

Yavani Singh-Ninan 

(left) and Aradhna 

Singh-Sewdial (right). 

When founding member Dino Singh passed away 

in 2021, his daughters joined the management team, 

with Yavani Singh-Ninan as CEO and Aradhna Singh- 

Sewdial as human capital and transformation director. 

“Our passion for women empowerment brings new 

energy and vision to a traditionally male-dominated 

environment,” says Singh-Sewdial. The sisters hope 

to build on their father’s legacy with “innovative and 

environmentally sustainable solutions”. 

Accredited professionals on the Trencon team 

include their Green Star and environmental coordinators, 

Thembo Miya and Hendi Janse van 

Rensburg. Construction team members also attend 

an online Green Star course conducted by GBCSA. 

The project team is involved from the start until 

certification is achieved, ensuring compliance to 

targeted points. 

All Green Star requirements are issued to Trencon’s 

sub-contractors and monitored, then distributed to 

buying teams to ensure compliance of materials. For 

instance, locally sourced, low-embodied energy materials 

used for building construction includes steel sourced 

from suppliers who have a high percentage of postconsumer 

recycled content, reducing resource depletion. 

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6589 Ashak Constrctn 1/2pg IMPACT ad GBCSA JUNE’22 IMPACT mag 



23

Investment. Development. Management. 

Adowa specialises in the investment, development and management of high-quality, affordable 

student housing communities in South Africa. Backed by our deep understanding of the market, 

a commitment to quality and combined experience of over 50 years in property development 

and finance, Adowa aims to be the leading choice for students looking for a living environment 

complimentary to their university years. 

We create spaces where students feel secure and comfortable, enabling them to focus on their 

academic objectives in stable environments. 

Community: 

For Students – we provide a “home-away-fromhome” 

and a supportive living environment 

For Higher Learning Institutions – we offer a 

supplementary solution and service offering to 

the accommodation needs of institutions 

Our Values 

Customer (student) focus: We focus on our 

students in everything we do 

Sustainability: We take genuine social, economic 

and ecological responsibility for our people and 

our communities. 

Excellence: We consistently strive to excel in 

all our offerings 

Innovation: We continuously challenge and 

improve how we operate 

Our People: We work together honestly in 

a professional manner to achieve exceptional 

results 

Collaborations: We strive to achieve 

mutual benefits with all our stakeholders 

210 Amarand Avenue, Pegasus 1 Building, Menlyn Maine, Waterkloof Glen ext2 Pretoria, South Africa 7405 

Email: info@adowa.co.za | Tel: +27 12 111 1630 | www.adowa.co.za 

Adowa Student Accommodation 

– the new name in 

sustainable student living 

The shortage of student beds in South Africa is 

well known. Various institutions have placed 

the supply gap at 500 000 . That’s half a million 

students who need suitable accommodation to 

enable them to complete their tertiary education in safe 

and secure living spaces. The impact of not having a safe, 

purpose-fit home to live in –sleeping in libraries or backyard 

makeshift rooms, for example – needs no explanation. It’s 

dire. And it contributes negatively to the upskilling and 

future of the country’s youth. Solving this challenge is a 

mantle that the Adowa Student Accommodation team 

has taken head on. 

In partnership with the Government Employees Pension 

Fund, together with the Unemployment Insurance Fund, 

Adowa has set out on a task to contribute approximately 

7 000 brand new student beds to the market, adding to 

the contributions of institutions such as the International 

Financing Corporation and other private student 

accommodation providers. Adowa aligns not only with the 

minimum norms and standards for student accommodation 

set out by the Department of Higher Education and 

Training (DHET), but also with international guidelines 

of the Association for College and University Housing 

Officers-International’s (ACUHO-I) 21st Century Project 

design guidelines, and the Green Building Council of South 

Africa’s green building Edge certification. Sustainability 

and innovation are imperative ingredients to the Adowa 

designs, which makes Adowa’s projects world class. 

The idea with the Adowa developments is to ensure 

students are housed in environments that are conducive to 

success in their studies. It’s called Purpose-Built Student 

Accommodation. Research shows that accommodation 

that aligns itself well with the campus environment and 

which is integrated into the academic and social lives of 


students at universities contribute to students achieving 

better results in their academic careers. 

Key features of the Adowa developments is proximity 

to the targeted institutions and a design arrangement that 

fosters communities. All Adowa developments are located 

within a walking distance from targeted universities, to 

allow students to feel part of the on-campus community. 

Units are arranged in both apartment and dormitory-style 

set-ups that have communal kitchens and bathrooms. 

Also part of Adowa’s offering are greater communal areas 

such as study rooms equipped with libraries to combine 

with curated student life programs that assist in career 

development and tutoring, as well as mentoring during 

exam time. Laundry facilities, unlimited WIFI and spaces 

for leisure ensure rounded young adults can be selfsufficient 

but also confident knowing there is a house 

supervisor to lend a hand when things get tough. 

Adowa recently launched its eye catching 1 047 

beds facility named the Ellis Park Student Village in 

Johannesburg’s Doornfontein region – 50 meters from 

the University of Johannesburg’s Doornfontein campus. 

The vibrant and colourful building located on Beit Street 

is indicative of the renewed energy that Adowa is bringing, 

not only to the cityscapes of major South African cities and 

towns, but to student life as well. Another 6 000 student 

beds are due to come online in the next three years in 

Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Kwa Zulu-Natal and the Western 

Cape. The target market is the more than 70% of learners 

funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme 

(NSFAS). Adowa aims to make quality purpose-built 

student accommodation accessible to all, but especially 

the indigent. The multiplier effect when these individuals 

are able to gain skills that empower them to feed and take 

care of their families is tremendous. And Adowa is proud 

to contribute to that empowerment. 

CONSTRUCTION 

25

REPORT 

DIGS FOR 

AFRICA 

South Africa is facing massive 

shortages of affordable and secure 

student accommodation. +Impact 

Magazine explores how developers 

are solving accessibility and cost 

challenges creatively and sustainably. 

WORDS Kim Maxwell 



REPORT 

REPORT 

STAG African founder John Schooling says the 

crisis of student accommodation not only in South 

Africa, but Africa, is affordability. “It’s a crisis for 

students, parents, universities and governments, 

who just can’t afford it.” The question is: how can we 

address the problem? 

Schooling believes that student accommodation is 

intrinsically linked to tertiary education success. “If students 

are in campus accommodation or living close to campus, 

their pass rate chances improve by 80%. ‘Through put’ is a 

term used for the total number of graduates vs total student 

numbers. In South Africa, the through put percentage at 

university is below 18% vs the 25% global average. 

“Our goal as a property development company is 

to pioneer the provision of a sustainable, affordable 

alternative to world-class student accommodation.” 

TICKING BOXES 

But achieving world-class student accommodation is 

not only about beds. “If you design accommodation that 

ticks these boxes – providing a sense of community, 

sustainability, innovation, flexibility and technology – you’re 

well on your way towards world-class accommodation,” 

he says. “Then add these last four principles, specific to 

Africa: job creation, operational ability, transformation 

and affordability.” STAG applies all nine principles in 

their student builds. 

“We have built the greenest student accommodation 

at Stellenbosch University’s Tygerberg campus,” adds 

Schooling. Nkosi Johnson House was named the 

“greenest residence in Africa” after being awarded EDGE 

certification, earned through considerable energy (30%) 

and water (22%) savings, achieved in day-to-day residence 

operation, and in its sustainable construction methods. 

STAG’s sustainability wins at Nkosi Johnson House 

include the reduction of embedded energy in building 

material, grey water recycling for irrigation and toilet 

flushing, and solar photovoltaics (PV) for electricity 

generation. Heat pumps and LED lighting assist in 

additional electricity reduction. 

Developer STAG African’s Nkosi 

Johnson House is the “greenest 

residence” at Stellenbosch 

University’s Tygerberg campus. 

FULL MARKS 

What considerations does STAG factor in for builds? “Built 

into our student accommodation costing is anchoring. If 

the Department of Higher Education and Training puts our 

cost at R350 000 per bed, our anchor is that it costs nothing 

per bed. We build it up instead,” Schooling explains. 

“The first step is that it must tick all those nine boxes. 

We also apply ‘first principles’, like Elon Musk did by 

designing a car that brought the cost down yet is worldclass 

and sustainable. We break down the product into 

its most basic form. 

“We are building the Tesla of student accommodation. 

We reduce the total amount of material used in building 

by 50%. We also reduce our waste from 25% to 1% of 

construction volume. And so on.” 

“The latest ‘cost of greening’ research has shown that a 

green-rated building only costs between 2% and 5% more 

on average,” says GBCSA CEO Lisa Reynolds. “Running 

costs of sustainable buildings are much lower – more 

cost-effective to run during the building’s lifetime and 

more affordable for students. Building (or renovating) 

student accommodation close to campus is not only 

beneficial to their studies and time management but 

minimises their carbon footprint with sustainability 

beyond the buildings.” 

FIRST PLACE 

Back in 2020, the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) 500-bed 

Avenue Road Residence in Mowbray was the first South 

African student housing development to be awarded a 

Green Star rating from the GBCSA. A four-star Green 

Star rating was achieved for water and energy savings as 

well as a disability suite on the R222-million development. 

“Since 2012, UCT has decided that all new buildings must 

be green buildings of at least a four-star Green Star rating, 

which includes any student housing projects,” explains 

Manfred Braune, director of environmental sustainability 

at UCT. “This is really important to us because it allows 

our design and construction to follow a best practice 

standard for green buildings and allows for independent 

verification by the GBCSA, who appoint independent 

auditors, anonymous to the project, to verify this.” 

UCT’s Avenue Road 

Residence was the first 

South African student 

housing development to 

be awarded a Green Star 

rating from the GBCSA. 

INTERNATIONALLY ON PAR 

Says Braune: “The reason we use the Green Star standard, 

as opposed to EDGE, is that Green Star is a holistic green 

building standard that covers all the most relevant issues 

a green building standard must incorporate, on par with 

other international green building standards such as LEED 

certification from the US, or BREEAM from the UK. These 

include not just aspects related to carbon emissions and 

water (what the EDGE tool covers), but also critical issues 

such as human health and ecological health impacts of a 

development. In the context of accommodation for students, 

human health must be a priority, which is why we place 

special emphasis on this.” 

But is this sort of sustainable investment workable? 

“Many will say the cost of using the Green Star standard is 

too high, but in our experience, it has not cost us more than 

approximately 1.3% additional to the project’s construction 

value to achieve a four-star rating, including for the Avenue 

Road Residence project,” says Braune. “This is very quickly 

recovered in terms of energy and water savings once the 

building is operational though – two years, in the case of 

the Avenue Road Residence building.” 

CAPE STATION HUB 

Eris Property Group, one of South Africa’s biggest 

developers, is backing education in an existing transport 

hub by developing South Africa’s largest single-phase 

student accommodation in Cape Town CBD. The R1.5-billion 

investment consists of student accommodation plus a 

ground floor retail component. It is in the vicinity of the 

existing Cape Town station rail network, with its bus 

hub nearby. 

Phase 1 of Units on Cape Station student accommodation 

will create more than 3 000 beds in the new Cape Station 

precinct development. The purpose-built student facility 

has supporting amenities including sports courts, study 

rooms, a cinema and gym. The ground floor will have 

6 700m² of retail space. 

Above: Units on 

Cape Station student 

accommodation at the 

Cape Station precinct 

development in Cape Town 

CBD will target a minimum 

GBCSA IFC EDGE rating. 

Below: Phase 1 of Units 

on Cape Station student 

accommodation will create 

more than 3 000 beds 

in the new Cape Station 

precinct development. 

“Too expensive” is often the retort, in economically 

challenged South Africa. Developers are entitled to make 

profits. So, is a sustainable building with green features 

affordable and achievable for new student accommodation 

builds? Eris says it is. “Sustainable building increases cost 

savings, which in turn reduces the required rentals from 

students, making these buildings more affordable to stay in, 

increases the longevity of the building and does not have 

a negative impact on the environment,” says Johan Janse 

van Vuuren, executive head of student accommodation at 

Eris Property Group. 

ECONOMIES OF SCALE 

“Substantially sized projects create economies of scale, 

where the development cost per bed can be reduced 

and the operating cost per bed can reduce too.” He says 

designs maximising natural ventilation and optimal thermal 

positioning of windows and shading systems can reduce 

mechanical installation and save on utilities. Each student 

unit having individual metering of electricity, hot and cold 

water means that excessive usage and leaks are detected 

timeously and proactively, saving on operational costs. 

Students save too. Janse van Vuuren says all shared 

amenities are included in the student accommodation, 

reducing the cost of each student having to purchase, rent 

or travel to amenities such as computer labs, study areas, 

high-speed Wi-Fi, gyms and recreational space. From 

a sustainability perspective, an urban location closer to 

campuses and amenities ensures carbon footprint is reduced. 

It also increases student personal safety and affordability. 

TARGET: ADVANCED RATING 

The Units on Cape Station student accommodation 

building at Cape Station precinct development will achieve 

a minimum GBCSA IFC EDGE rating. Janse van Vuuren 

says at present, the project is targeting an EDGE Advanced 

rating that will require a 40% reduction in energy, 20% 

reduction in water and 20% reduction in embodied carbon. 



29

REPORT 

The IID is the only registered 

professional body representing 

the South African interior 

design industry. 

Initiatives to meet these requirements include a PV 

electricity generation system, non-resistive water heating 

through heat pumps for all hot water generation, lowflow 

bathroom fittings and energy-efficient LED lighting 

throughout the building as well as individual monitoring 

on all apartments. Low-carbon building materials such as 

cement bricks will be used. 

Eris’s Johannesburg student project is due for completion 

at roughly the same time. Following similar green design 

principles is Units on Jorissen Street in Braamfontein, 

offering 998 student beds. The development is conveniently 

located near Wits University. Both Units on Cape Station 

student accommodation at Cape Station precinct and 

Units on Jorissen Street in Braamfontein should be ready 

for student intake in 2023. 

MEGA BEDS 

Adowa is the specialist student accommodation 

property developer behind a 7 000-bed pipeline, with 

6 000 student beds due to come online in Cape Town, 

Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in the next 

three years. Its target market is the more than 70% of 

learners funded by the National Student Financial Aid 

Scheme (NSFAS). 

Adowa Property Developer CEO Sisa Rafuza says 

their residences are designed to offer students security, 

proximity to institutions and a design arrangement that 

fosters community. “The impact of not having a safe, 

purpose-fitting home to live in – of sleeping in libraries 

or backyard makeshift rooms – needs no explanation,” he 

says of the alternative. 

Reynolds makes a similar point about short-term 

solutions. “I believe students in South Africa have unique 

needs when compared to other places. We need to establish 

how student housing can provide a solution to these 

unique needs and build accordingly. An example is that 

some students need a quiet place, with access to Wi-Fi and 

meals, only around exam time. How can we provide this?” 

Phase 1 of Adowa’s 

Ellis Park Student 

Village in Doornfontein, 

Johannesburg, was 

completed in January 2022. 

“The revenue from NSFAS is fixed, so costs need to be 

managed. The only way to do that well is to ensure that you 

build sustainably in terms of the running of the building, 

so you can yield a decent return on your investment as a 

developer,” says Rafuza. Centralised water heating instead 

of individual unit geysers, glazed windows and water flow 

management are just some of the features implemented. 

Adowa says that being focused on developing new 

builds, not refurbishing old spaces, means they are able 

to introduce green features with relative ease. At the 

completed Ellis Park Student Village (Phase 1), 50m from 

the University of Johannesburg’s Doornfontein campus, 

Adowa’s holistic approach includes EDGE certification 

of the building design plus green materials. 

“For example, we’ve used autoclaved concrete that makes 

it more sustainable – the brick itself uses less water, with 

less waste,” says Rafuza. “It’s also lighter for transportation, 

so uses less trucks and fuel overall. That is one sustainable 

aspect of the build.” 

Adowa’s Ellis Park Student Village provided 1 047 new 

beds on completion in January 2022. Another 600 beds will 

come online in Phase 2, during the 2023 academic year. 

Braune says more beds are in the pipeline for Cape 

Town too. “UCT is planning to roll out additional student 

accommodation for about 4 000 students, to hopefully come 

online by 2023/2024. Various development proposals were 

received recently through an open tender process, which 

is now in negotiation stage on the preferred proposals 

received. These projects will also be targeting a minimum 

four-star Green Star standard.” 

Reynolds reminds that renovating and/or repurposing 

buildings into student housing is another option. Aside 

from providing opportunities for creative solutions and 

jobs, they are “sustainably better than building new”. 

“Currently, there are some very creative solutions for 

student housing in the retrofitted building space – reusing 

of office buildings, railway station buildings, etcetera. The 

financing of these projects is dependent on them attaining 

a Green Star or EDGE rating.” 

Following green design 

principles is Eris Property 

Group’s Units on Jorissen 

Street in Braamfontein, 

Johannesburg, offering 

998 student beds. 


Membership of the IID indicates your 

status as a qualified, experienced & 

ethical practicing professional. There 

are many benefits to being a member 

including: 

• Belonging to a professional 

body gives you credibility in the 

marketplace 

• Personal webpage on the IID website. 

We encourage you to use this facility 

to promote your business 

• Skills development and business 

training workshops, both in-person 

and online 

• Professional signature to use on your 

emails and correspondence 

• The opportunity to be featured and/ 

or to write for an upcoming issue of 

Designing Ways magazine 

• The ability to tender for certain large, 

public projects 

• Cutting edge design research via 

partnerships with international 

research firms 

• Networking platforms and speaking 

opportunities, both local and 

international, such as Design Joburg 

and Art Meets Design Dialogue 

• Knowledge sharing with like-minded 

designers, at all stages of their career 

• VIP invitations to showroom events 

A forum for posing business related 

questions as well as offering sound 

business practice. 

• Legal guidance at a reduced rate 

If you are seeking specific resources or 

services, or would like to find out more 

about becoming a member please don’t 

hesitate to let us know by emailing Maria 

Day at maria@iidprofession.org.za 

Iidprofessions.org.za 

Thuli 

Mahlangu 

from Zing 

Design ( 

Chairperson 

of the IID 

marketing 

committee) 

and Nthabi 

Ditau from 

Ditau Interiors 

Chairperson 

of the IID 

BID-Forum) 

Left to right: Thuli 

Mahlangu from 

Zing Design ( 

Chair person of 

the IID marketing 

committee) Juliet 

Kavishe Director 

of the IID and 

Nthabi Ditau from 

Ditau Interiors 

Chairperson of 

the IID BID-Forum) 

Penny Moon CEO of Top carpets and Corporate member of the IID, Trevor Sibanda Chairperson 

of the IID Student Advisory Committee, Maria Day COO of the IID, Thuli Mahlangu from Zing 

Design and chairperson of the IID Marketing Committee, Phil Darby from PDI interiors and IID 

Finance Committee and Nthabi Ditau from Ditau Interiors and Chairperson of the IID BID-Forum 

Committee 

Ilse Prinsloo HOD of 

UJ Interior Design and 

IID Chairperson of the 

education Committee, 

Thuli Student member 

of the IID, Trevor 

Sibanda Chairperson of 

the Student Advisory 

committee and Thuli 

Mahlangu from Zing 

Design and Chairperson 

of the IID marketing 

Committee

GREEN STAR 

GREEN STAR 

TRANSFORM TOMORROW 

THE PLACES CATEGORY 

The PLACES category is an exciting addition to the Green Star rating system with 

its inclusion in the Green Star New Building version 2 tool that is currently under 

development. It ensures that people are placed at the forefront of design by facilitating 

a focus on how buildings are integrated into the existing urban fabric to create spaces 

that increase social cohesion. 

WORDS Adrie Fourie 

The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 

2022 identified social cohesion corrosion as one 

of the top short- and medium-term global risks in 

31 countries, including South Africa. According 

to the report (2022:16), economic, political, technological 

and intergenerational inequality “was already challenging 

societies even before income disparities increased through 

the pandemic”, and it is anticipated that these disparities 

will now widen even further. 

The report goes on to describe the erosion of social 

cohesion as the “loss of social capital and a fracture of 

social networks negatively impacting social stability, 

individual wellbeing, and economic productivity as a 

result of persistent public anger, distrust, divisiveness, 

lack of empathy, marginalisation of minorities, political 

polarisation etc”. (2022:94) 

Perhaps the most subjective and difficult to refine 

categories of the new tool, the PLACES category also 

creates a very direct link to the decision-making processes 

behind asset development and real estate risk assessment. 

The adage, “location, location, location,” is the driving 

force and we view this category of an extension of the 

extensive investigative work the developer and their assets 

investigations teams would have undertaken to identify 

the project location. It should build on the work already 

done, and present information to the full design team in 

a manner that will ensure that all the opportunities and 

challenges are taken into consideration to ensure that 

appropriate responsive design interventions are identified. 

As head of the sustainable cities and research department 

at Solid Green and the PLACES category director, I was 

supported by a fantastic and knowledgeable team that has 

worked tirelessly for the past six months to identify the 

local contextualisation prospective design teams would 

consider as part of the tool localisation process. I believe 

that we can facilitate meaningful change in how our cities 

and neighbourhoods are created, what these spaces would 

look like, and how these places will function. By including 

location and context sensitive design directives, which 

will require the full design team to review and respond 

with integrated design solutions, buildings will no longer 

operate in isolation from their surroundings. It will be 

possible to create systems that organically interconnect, 

for the betterment of the end user experience and longevity 

of the asset, while the risk associated with location is 

fully understood and appropriately addressed – through 

this category along with others contained within the tool. 

Peter Stokes, architect, and partner at dhk Architects 

provided insight into place making best practice, urban 

design guidelines that drive good design and site context 

analysis, which teams will usually undertake at the start of 

the project. He also noted that, if some of this information 

is not shared with the integrated design team at the outset, 

it can result in limiting design responses. 

The PLACES category highlights the 

imperative that building design is no 

longer regarded in isolation. 

Marc Sherratt, founder, and sustainability architect at 

MSSA, provided insight into the culture, heritage and 

identity elements linked to the category. Of the process 

and the category details he commented, “As a nation 

we have a leadership role to play in the green building 

movement and how it applies to this transitional stage 

between the industrial and ecological ages of human 

civilisation. Questioning how we can create better, safer 

and more equitable spaces in a country notorious for its 

inequality gives great weight to the words we have carefully 

proposed for this new green building rating tool.” 

Zendré Compion, professional architect, sustainability 

consultant, and owner of Common Space focused on the 

importance of movement and connectivity. “Sustainable 

buildings cannot be islands. Every site is unique and will 

therefore have to respond differently through designing in 

sustainable mobility or responding to infrastructure and 

services that already exist beyond the site – which we tried 

to capture with the transport-focused credit.” 

The PLACES category highlights the imperative that 

building design is no longer regarded in isolation. It is 

essential to unpack, assess and manage the potential 

impacts that a project can have. For the real estate sector, 

this means that impacts are measured over more than 

one re-sale cycle to really understand the risk associated 

with a specific investment. For design teams, this means 

using the contextual understanding of a site to define 

design responses that are aimed at maximising the positive 

impacts while limiting the negatives that a building can 

have on the wider surroundings. 

There are three credits in the PLACES category that 

the team have been investigating: 

- Contribution to Place. This credit is aimed at placemaking 

and city scape formation with consideration 

to inclusivity and diversity in design. The focus will 

fall on ensuring an integrated design team response is 

developed to respond to the contextual opportunities 

and challenges of a site, while ensuring projects create 

accessible spaces that can contribute to community 

building and interactive engagement. For those spaces, 

design teams will also have the opportunity to create 

activation strategies that will remain with the building, 

as a guide to future end on how to use those spaces 

effectively, to ensure those spaces are always places for 

lively interaction with a positive contribution not only 

to the site, but also its surroundings. 

- Movement and Connectivity. Encourages mobile 

diversity that builds on the opportunities of a building’s 

design and location to encourage occupants and visitors 

use active, low carbon and public transport options 

instead of private vehicles. Depending on the specific 

project context analysis, specific emphasis could then 

be placed on interventions that encourage walkability 

through improving amenity access, pedestrianisation 

of the environment or the provision of showers and 

lockers. There will also be an opportunity for projects 

to consider how public transport can be given a more 

prominent role. 

- Culture, Heritage and Identity. This is perhaps the 

most reflective credit of the category. Teams are urged to 

find appropriate ways to reflect the local culture, heritage 

and identity by publicly demonstrable design interventions. 

These could include community art or placemaking 

projects; the selection of local labour/suppliers/designers 

for complete artwork or cultural element manufacture; 

significant publicly visible building elements that tell 

stories of local social and/or environmental past and 

heritage; and/or significant public spaces and uses that 

reflect local identities. 

Where credits within other categories of these tools 

are aimed at creating climate responsive buildings, the 

intent of the PLACES category and its respective credits 

is to identify people-centric design solutions that invite 

and accommodate occupants and visitors on site in ways 

that are memorable and rewarding. 

The goal is to create an asset that is unique to its location, 

is responsive to the external opportunities and challenges 

that the site offers, and that takes advantage of the 

opportunity the building and its immediate surroundings 

will have to converse with passers-by every day. The goal is 

to create a dialogue that will build stronger communities, 

create networks and support wider neighbourhood 

resilience for any future shocks and stresses that we might 

face in the cities of the future. 



33

DID YOU KNOW: 

It is now law that certain 

buildings need to display 

this guy 

Let’s help you by helping 

your client to comply! 

Skills Programme 

Young electricians enter 

a career path in the green economy 

A skills programme to open new career prospects for young unemployed electricians into 

the green skills economy, whilst assisting government to reach its Sustainable Development 

Goals (SDGs), was completed this month. A cohort of fifty electricians and two colleges 

that graduate electricians took part in a skills development programme which was aligned 

with the Regulation for the Mandatory Display and Submission of Energy Performance 

Certificates (EPCs) which was Gazetted for implementation by 7 December 2022. 

IEPA 

WHAT IS AN EPC? 

An Energy Performance 

C e r t i c a t e ( E P C ) i s a 

certicate that indicates the 

energy performance of a 

building. 

It also shows: 

• w h a t p o t e n t i a l t h e 

b u i l d i n g h a s o f 

becoming more energy 

efcient 

• how energy efciently 

the building is used 

Building categories that must 

comply : 

• ofces, 

• entertainment facilities, 

• educational institution 

buildings, and 

• p l a c e s o f p u b l i c 

a s s e m b l y s u c h a s 

sporting facilities and 

community centres. 

WHAT HAPPENS IF 

I DON’T COMPLY 

It is law now - as published in 

t h e r e g u l a t i o n f o r t h e 

mandatory display and 

submission of EPCs for 

b u i l d i n g s - a s p e r 

G o v e r n m e n t G a z e t t e , 

Notice 700 of 2020. 

According to the National 

Energy Act (No. 34 2008) 

penalties for contravening 

the Act - in which the EPC 

regulations are derived from 

- may incur a penalty of up 

t o R 5 m i l l i o n a n d / o r 

imprisonment for a period 

not exceeding 5 years, if 

convicted. 

EPC deadline is 7 

December 2022 

NEED HELP? 

WE GOT A SOLUTION 

We have EPC Practitioners 

who completed a QCTO 

Skills Programme that can 

assist you. 

How can they help you? 

• Check if your building 

needs an EPC 

• Collect your building 

data 

What happens thereafter? 

You get a SANAS accredited 

Inspection Body in to: 

• Verify the information 

collected by the EPC 

Practitioner 

• Issue your building EPC 

DOES YOUR CLIENT’S BUILDING HAVE AN ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE (EPC) YET? 

www.sanedi.org.za | 011 038 4320 

One of the most recent regulations towards a 

sustainable future passed by the Department 

of Minerals Resources and Energy (DMRE) for 

implementation by 7 December 2022 affects 

building owners in the categories of offices, entertainment 

and public assembly, places of instruction, and theatrical 

and indoor sports facilities. The sizes of buildings in the 

categories that must comply include privately-owned 

buildings of 2,000m 2 net floor area or larger, and for 

buildings operated, owned, or occupied by an organ of 

state of 1,000m 2 net floor area or larger. 

South Africa’s Sustainable Development 

Goals (SDGs) are as much about 

development and transformation as 

they are about the restoration of the 

dignity of people around the world, 

more so in South Africa with its history 

of deprivation and exclusion of the 

majority of its people.” – in the Minister 

Mthembu, 2019 SDG Report 

Keeping in pace with the words of Minister Mtembu in 

the 2019 SDG Report, this skills programme opened an 

entry-level opportunity in the energy auditing and energy 

management industry for young unemployed electricians, 

who have basic requirements to start their journey towards 

contributing to the green economy in South Africa. 

The fifty students, together with eleven lecturers from 

colleges in Gauteng and Ekurhuleni, as well as in partnership 

with the College of Cape Town Pinelands Campus, and 

Ekurhuleni East TVET College in Springs, took part in the 

training and practical sessions, and continued to put their 

knowledge into practice by collecting and measuring data 

from over 45 buildings to complete their work experience. 

The programme was developed by the Institute of Energy 

Professionals Africa (IEPA) and the South African National 

Energy Development Institute (SANEDI). The programme 

was co-funded by SANEDI and GIZ Skills Development 

College of Cape 

Town students 

celebrating writing 

their final Energy 

Performance 

Certificate exam 

earlier this month. 

for a Green Economy ll (SD4GE II) programme, a German 

Technical Cooperation Programme implemented on behalf 

of the Department of Higher Education and Training 

(DHET) and the Department of Mineral Resources and 

Energy (DMRE). 

Working to shape a future worth living around the 

world is the aim of the Deutsche Gesellschaft Deutsche 

Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeig GmbH 

(GIZ), an organisation that implements world-wide 

programmes on behalf of the German Federal Ministry 

for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). 

The EPC Practitioner Skills Programme is a partnership between SANEDI and IEPA; and supported by DMRE, EWSETA, GIZ, BMZ and DHET. 


35

ENERGY 

PAVING THE WAY 

TO NET ZERO 

Existing buildings and Energy 

Performance Certificates 

Energy efficiency improvements in 

existing building stock cannot be 

effectively implemented if there 

is no data on current building 

performance. This is where Energy 

Performance Certificates come 

in, and why they are becoming 

mandatory for many buildings in 

South Africa. Now three quarters of 

the way into the first implementation 

period, we look at the current status 

and what the future might hold in 

this area. 

WORDS Melinda Hardisty 

The iconic Portside building in Cape 

Town is the largest and tallest 

building to receive an EPC to date. 

The building achieved a 5-Star Green 

Star As-Built rating in 2015 and has 

now achieved a D grading on its EPC. 

Blue Dust EPC 



ENERGY 

ENERGY 

In December 2020, the Department of Mineral 

Resources and Energy (DMRE) gazetted regulations 

that make it mandatory for certain typologies and sizes 

of buildings to get and display an Energy Performance 

Certificate (EPC). The EPC is also submitted to the South 

African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) 

who stores, manages and tracks the data. The deadline for 

compliance is currently 7 December 2022. 

EPCs UNPACKED 

The aim of the EPC programme is to assess the energy 

efficiency of existing buildings to get a realistic picture of 

the data as it stands to be able to formulate plans on how it 

can be improved. There is currently no baseline for South 

Africa’s existing building stock’s energy usage or carbon 

emissions, so the requirements to meet Net Zero Carbon 

commitments in accordance with the Paris Agreement 

Targets for 2050 are somewhat unknown. 

Realising that this was a rather ambitious task, the 

GBCSA partnered with the Carbon Trust to put together 

a plan for a more robust process of implementing the 

EPC programme successfully. They took that plan to UK 

Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (PACT), 

a UK government-funded programme for financing 

global climate initiatives and won funding for the EPC 

programme. UK PACT partners with various countries to 

assist them with their carbon reduction initiatives. 

Currently the regulations apply to only a select group 

of building occupancy classes; A1 (Entertainment and 

Public Assembly), A2 (Theatrical and Indoor Sport), A3 

(Places of Instruction), and G1 (Offices). Buildings should 

be over 2 000m² for private buildings and 1 000m² if they 

are government owned, occupied or operated. 

ROADMAP FOR BUILDING OWNERS 

The main stakeholders in the EPC process are the building 

owner, the South African National Accreditation System 

(SANAS), Accredited Inspection Body (AIB) for EPCs, and 

SANEDI, one of the implementing agencies for DMRE. 

The first steps towards obtaining an EPC are the 

responsibility of the building owner. They need to ascertain 

whether their building is required to obtain an EPC (or 

whether they would like to obtain one voluntarily), then they 

need to familiarise themselves with the requirements and 

the roles of the AIBs, and finally gather all the necessary 

data for the EPC assessment. From there an AIB is 

appointed and provided with the gathered documentation 

and allowed building access for inspections. The AIB 

will follow the necessary assessment processes, submit 

the data to SANEDI, and issue the EPC to the owner of 

the building. The building owner then submits a copy of 

the EPC to SANEDI digitally, and displays a hard copy 

at their building entrance. The building owner may then 

make interventions to improve their grade and then begin 

the cycle again for the five-year renewal of the EPC (or 

earlier should they wish to improve their grade before the 

first EPC expires). 

two years old and has not undergone major renovations 

within 24 months. This will allow a one-year “settling 

period” after construction or renovations, and then a year of 

normal operations to be measured. The certification rates 

the building’s energy performance on a scale of A (high 

performance) to G, with D being the midpoint benchmark. 

All types of energy (electricity, diesel, LPG, renewables, 

etc) are considered. The total energy use intensity per 

square metre per year is then calculated and compared to 

a benchmark established in the SANS 10400-XA standards 

applicable to new buildings. 

EPC certificates show the key building specifications and indicate the grade 

achieved on a colour coded graph. 

Marloes Reinink, founder of Solid Green Consulting, 

highlights that the grading considers energy use only and not 

the source of the energy, although the types of energy used 

are listed on the certificate. If two identical buildings were 

assessed, but one utilised renewable power sources while 

the other didn’t, the buildings’ EPC ratings would still be 

identical. This is because the rating is only considering how 

efficient or wasteful a building’s systems are, and not where 

the power is sourced, which is a different consideration. 

EPC B 

EPC B 

Identical buildings would receive the same performance grading, regardless of the 

source of the energy used. 

Marloes Reinink 

SANEDI 

THE PROCESS SO FAR 

A sample of 30 buildings (half private and half public) is 

being assessed as part of the UK PACT partnership. The 

“lessons learned” from the process will be collated and used 

for future regulation and guideline updates. As of 17 May 

2022, only 29 other buildings had received EPC certificates. 

At the time of writing, there are only eight AIBs. It is not 

known exactly how many buildings fall into the current 

requirements but estimates are that between 150 000 and 

160 000 buildings require EPCs by the December deadline. 

With only six months left, this is increasingly unlikely to 

be achieved. While the media has reported penalties of 

significant fines or jail time for non-compliance, nothing 

has been confirmed and it is unclear exactly what will 

happen after 7 December. 

The iconic Portside Building in Cape Town is the largest 

and tallest building to receive an EPC to date. The building 

achieved a 5-Star Green Star As-Built rating in 2015 and 

has now achieved a D grading on its EPC, this grade 

matches the baseline requirements by the current building 

regulations. Dr Frank Duvenhage, of Bluedust Engineering 

Solutions, was the consultant involved with preparing the 

building information for accreditation. He highlights the 

complexity of the building due to the many uses (including 

Above: Sarel van der Merwe 

roof terrace at the Kyalami 

Grand Prix Circuit. 

Below: Jody Scheckter Paddock 

Area and Viewing Deck. 

retail, which is not currently required to be assessed), and 

its area and height which requires water to be pumped to 

the upper floors and extensive HVAC installations. 

EPCS AND JOB CREATION 

The sheer number of buildings requiring inspection, as well 

as the amount of data that needs to be collected and collated 

for the EPC inspections, requires a lot of manpower. Dr 

Duvenhage points out that this is where facilitators can 

help to build momentum towards EPC compliance while 

creating more jobs regarding the collection of data prior 

to the AIB being involved. Coupled with the fact that 

EPCs are required to be renewed every five years, the EPC 

programme will provide a significant number of permanent 

job opportunities. The Institute of Energy Professionals 

Africa (IEPA) is a non-profit company in South Africa that 

provides training, exams, certification and curriculum 

development for the energy sector across sub-Saharan 

Africa. IEPA, in conjunction with SANEDI, has developed 

the EPC practitioner training to equip electricians, and 

other engineering disciplines, with the skills to be able to 

collect and collate the information for inspections. 

Yolanda de Lange, IEPA’s EPC practitioner skills 

programme project coordinator, explains that the new 

programme had nearly 200 applications from unemployed 

electricians. Just 50 were selected to complete training, 

practical modules and work experience under the guidance 

of mentors over a three-month period. “Close to 60% of the 

candidates are female as the EPC practitioner job profile 

is ideal for women in the energy sector,” says De Lange. 

There are currently three Skills Development Providers 

(SDPs) going through the process of getting accredited 

to provide the training course. De Lange highlights that 

there is no shortage of interest in the training but there 

are limited skills available for the mentorship and support 

roles, which is a focus area for future development. 

There will need to be many more trained inspectors 

in circulation to even begin to meet the requirements 

and timelines for all the inspections. This is an ideal 

opportunity for women and youth in particular. There 

is also likely to be an increased demand for consultants 

www.kyalamigrandprixcircuit.com 

WHAT GETS ASSESSED? 

The inspections will consider all energy used in a building 

over a 12-month period, through gathered data and site 

inspections. A building qualifies as “existing” if it is over 

The first steps towards obtaining 

an EPC are the responsibility of the 

building owner. 

The Kyalami Grand Prix 

Circuit and International 

Convention Centre has 

been rated B on its EPC. 



39

ENERGY 

IT’S TIME TO GET BACK TO BUSINESS… FACE-TO-FACE 

Stefan Els 

GBCSA 

Stellenbosch University’s Admin 

B Block was the first building 

to receive an EPC rating and 

achieved an A Grade. 

to upgrade and modernise building services to achieve 

upgraded EPCs and associated cost reductions. 

TOWARDS NET ZERO 

Goals for Net Zero Carbon by 2050 (or any other date, 

for that matter) are difficult challenges, and targets are 

irrelevant without clear plans of action of how to achieve 

them. This is where ambitious programmes like the EPC 

rollout in South Africa are essential. While it may currently 

seem like a maze of acronyms and slow-moving processes, 

it is a huge step in the right direction in terms of South 

Africa’s part in the global fight to slow global warming. 

At this stage, there are no required actions for underperforming 

buildings as the exercise is currently a data 

gathering process. Once the actual impact of South Africa’s 

existing building stock on our carbon targets is established, 

then plans can be introduced to improve energy efficiency. 

There are other benefits for building owners to 

Solid Green Consulting 

Karl Bremer in Belville, which 

is owned by the Western Cape 

Provincial Government and is 

one of the 30 buildings being 

supported by the UK Pact project. 

knowing, and improving on, their efficiency. Jonathan 

Booth, project lead at the Carbon Trust explains that 

“while climate change is the fundamental driver, there are 

strong commercial arguments for embarking on a net zero 

journey; for instance, rising energy costs and advancing 

technologies continuously strengthen the economic case 

for many of the most effective interventions such as 

upgrading HVAC systems and managing plug loads”. 

In the same way that a consumer might consider the EPC 

on an appliance, or the fuel efficiency of a car, before 

making a large purchase, prospective property buyers 

or tenants will now have a clear indication of what their 

energy usage and costs might be. This will likely create a 

higher demand for buildings with an above average 

performance rating. 

MESSAGE FROM SANEDI 

Although the initial uptake for EPCs for certain classes 

of buildings in South Africa was relatively slow, we 

have experienced a sudden increase in activity, as the 

current deadline for compliance of 7 December 2022 

is fast approaching! 

This has come with a corresponding positive 

impact for job creation prospects (targeting, but not 

exclusively for women and youth), as can be seen 

by the numbers of delegates registering for EPCtraining 

with the various institutions offering this 

training and the number of jobs advertised by not 

only SANAS-accredited inspection bodies, but also 

for facility managers with an understanding of the 

EPC Regulations. These numbers still need to be 

quantified, but it is definitely on an upward trajectory. 

On the potential impacts for a net-zero carbon 

future, it is common cause globally that buildings have 

a major role to play in this effort to reduce the negative 

impacts of climate change. EPCs themselves, will not 

reduce energy consumption or carbon emissions, but 

will make a significant impact on visualising how far 

individual buildings are in achieving this aim and 

also quantifying the quantum of energy efficiency 

savings required to reach an A-rating, with reduced 

carbon emissions. 

CONNECT WITH SOUTHERN AFRICA’S 

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY 

The Big 5 Construct Southern Africa, previously African Construction Expo, is a significant 

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construction industry with a special focus on facilitating buyer/seller face-to-face connections 

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7 - 9 JUNE 2022 

GALLAGHER CONVENTION CENTRE, 

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LEARN about the latest trends, 

best practice and upcoming 

construction projects 

Upper Grayston Office Park 

blocks achieved 5- and 6-Star 

Green Star ratings when they 

were completed. Block E has 

now scored a B rating on 

its EPC. 

Co-located with: 


www.thebig5constructsouthernafrica.com

PROJECT 

Nestled in amongst a small indigenous forest, the new 

University of Cape Town School of Education building has 

been uniquely designed around local ecology to minimise 

impact with its footprint, making for an incredible learning 

space with connection to nature. It becomes the fourth UCT 

building to be awarded 4-Star Green Stars by the GBCSA. 

LEARNING IN 

NATURE 

WORDS Nicole Cameron IMAGES Waheed Parker 

Project nutshell 

Project date: Construction completed 

April 2022 

Green Star rating: 4-Star Green Star PEB v1 Design 

Location: University of Cape Town (UCT), 

Cape Town 

Type of building: Public & Education Building 

42 



PROJECT 

PROJECT 

identified site was an established ‘mini 

forest’, with several trees of significance,” 

says Waheed Parker, of Jacobs Parker 

“The 

Architecture. “A study was undertaken 

to determine the type, location and condition of each 

tree on site, and trees which could be relocated on campus 

were identified to create a space where a building could 

be inserted in between the remaining trees.” Parker 

says that by situating the building between mature 

trees, the building feels connected to the surrounding 

natural context. 

The spaces on the ground floor provide visual access to 

the established trees on site, and the inhabitants of the 

upper floors are situated between the canopies of these 

trees. The upper floors also have sweeping views of the 

cricket oval, Upper Campus and the mountains to the 

west, and Lower Campus and the Cape Flats to the east. 

“The intention was for the building to recede into the 

background by respecting the unique grain and scale of 

the Middle Campus environment, as well as the location, 

geometry and vegetation of the specific site,” Jacobs 

Parker’s Faizel Jacobs explains. “The distillation of this 

idea manifests itself in the form of a building which is 

‘quiet’, sensitive, and respectful of its context, feeling ‘as 

if it has always been there.’ That said, it is by no means 

timid, and holds its own in terms of its form and its 

urban contribution.” 

A HIGHLY ACTIVATED ENVIRONMENT 

The resulting design offers a user experience which 

engages the site holistically and integrates the building 

with the landscape. As tenants can view the existing forest 

from communal areas, many of which are designed as 

group-working or informal gathering spaces, a highly 

activated environment is created, in which it is easy to 

orientate oneself. The staff room feels private and discreet, 

without feeling “tucked away” or losing its connection with 

nature, while the programmes on the upper levels feel as if 

they’re suspended in the canopies of trees, a feeling which 

is largely created by the careful articulation of glazing in 

the façades, to admit, frame or obscure views from outside. 

This connection to nature and external views is a 

very important green building feature that improves 

the wellbeing of individuals in the building, both from 

a positive psychological perspective connecting with 

nature, as well as reducing eye-strain and headaches by 

allowing individuals to change their focus from internal 

objects and screens to external objects. “Another benefit 

The spaces on 

the ground floor 

provide visual 

access to the 

established trees 

on site. 

which occupants will experience includes the building’s 

excellent natural light penetration, owing to its narrow 

footprint,” says Francois Retief of Sow and Reap, the green 

building consultant for the project. “Blinds, shading and 

performance glazing have been used to mitigate glare and 

unwanted heat gain, so there is a good balance of daylight 

and warmth in the space. Openable windows allow for 

natural ventilation, while additional fresh air is also added 

and ‘tempered’ during hot or cold conditions to achieve a 

comfortable yet energy-efficient environment.” 

Manfred Braune, director: environmental sustainability, 

UCT, says that occupants also benefit from the fact that 

most of the floors in the circulation space are a polished 

concrete, which is a finish that does not emit any Volatile 

Organic Compounds (VOCs). It is also a very lowmaintenance 

finish that will last for many years. “Then 

there’s the fact that the building has a UCT Food & Connect 

store in it, which is really convenient and means that 

occupants don’t need to drive away from the building for 

a coffee or lunchtime snack. Surrounding buildings can 

also enjoy this benefit and will see many staff and students 

walking to this building for a coffee or snack. This is an 

important green building feature, because short vehicle 

trips have higher emissions where the petrol/diesel engine 

can burn cleaner on longer trips.” 

The location of the building is very central in itself in 

that it is within walking distance to both the main road, 

and the surrounding campus. Public transport options 

such as the UCT Shuttle Bus offer further connectivity. 

The fact that the main circulation staircase is located in 

a very central and visible location with the elevator less 

visible, is also a positive health benefit to occupants, as 

it encourages more use of the staircase. It also consumes 

less energy. 

A benefit which occupants 

will experience is the 

excellent light penetration. 

In addition to the cafeteria, staff facilities, office 

accommodation, meeting rooms and spaces for hot desking, 

the building comprises of a 250-seat raked lecture hall, 

seminar spaces, a computer laboratory, social learning 

spaces, a graduate research commons and a wet laboratory. 

In terms of energy consumption, the base building is 

targeting 100 kWh/m²/year, which is an improvement 

of almost 40% compared to the national standard for 

this building type, which will equate to approximately 

R315 000 saving per annum compared to standard design. 

This is mostly achieved through the harnessing of daylight 

and natural ventilation. One of the essential design 

elements for the office spaces has been converting one of 

the four windows into a solid insulated panel that can also 

be opened. Although lecture theatres will still be equipped 

with heating and cooling systems, occupancy sensors will 

ensure they are deactivated once the rooms are empty. 

The School of Education’s (SoE) targeted water 

consumption is 550kl per year. This is an improvement 

of more than 70% on typical sites of this type. This is 

largely due to the fact that the landscaping has been 

specifically designed to avoid irrigation with potable 

Although lecture theatres will still be 

equipped with heating and cooling 

systems, occupancy sensors will 

ensure they are deactivated once 

the rooms are empty. 

water. “We’ve taken a very conscious approach of retaining 

the existing landscape where possible and planting to 

match that landscape,” says Retief. “While some watering 

may be necessary during the first few months, once fully 

established, the locally appropriate plants used on site 

should no longer require regular irrigation.” In addition, 

instead of directing all rainfall into the storm-water system, 

the building’s gutters and downpipes have been designed 

to transport it back into the surrounding landscape 

to replenish the cut-off supply of groundwater which 

previously fed the trees on the lower end of the site. 

This water-wise approach continues inside the building 

where the most efficient and practical fixtures have been 

chosen for toilets and taps. “Water submeters are also in 

place so you can get data if you need it on where water is 

being used as well as to detect leaks,” says Braune. 

Reducing potable water consumption and energy 

consumption are two critical areas that UCT is currently 

focusing on in terms of its environmental sustainability 

strategy. Braune says that balancing land use and ecology, 

such as in the case of the SoE, is also a priority, as is the 

mandate to create healthy environments for staff and 

students through maximising fresh air, removing indoor 

pollutants and pathogens, and optimising daylight and 

external views. 

“The university is aiming to become a net zero energy/ 

carbon, water and waste-to-landfill campus by 2050 or 

sooner and is in the process of developing detailed plans 

and feasibility studies of how it will achieve this and by 

when this is possible, at what capital cost. This exercise 

of developing the feasibility and plans for this will take a 

few years, bearing in mind the complexity of the university 

across five different campuses with a transient community 

of about 28 000 students annually. This will require small 

incremental shifts every year to transform such a large 

institution – but in some rare instances we might see 

big shifts where leap frogging and major technological 

advances are possible at low cost,” says Braune. 

While there are sometimes misconceptions around 

the costs of green buildings, the SoE project has cost 

only marginally more than a regular building would have. 

He adds: “On this project, it ended up being only about 

1.5% more expensive than a non-green building, which 

Education buildings are 

extremely important in the 

green building movement. 

shows how achievable a Green Star rated green building 

actually is.” 

While attaining a Green Star certification is a major feat, 

the real challenge lies in sustaining it. Once the building is 

in use, UCT will monitor energy and water consumption, 

with these statistics being displayed on a big screen in the 

foyer in order to create awareness. 

“Education buildings are extremely important in the 

green building movement. They offer not only a conducive 

learning environment, but in themselves become a learning 

resource and example on how to address the major 

environmental concerns we face,” Retief concludes. 



45

YOUTH 

YOUTH 

YOUNG INNOVATION 

In this issue of +Impact, we look at the awards that inspire the youth to learn about 

green building and sustainability and we celebrate the up-and-coming talent of the 

winners of these awards. 

YIPA SUSTAINABLE YOUNG CHANGEMAKER AWARD 

At the GBCSA Green Building Convention 

Awards 2021, GBCSA partnered with the 

Youth in Property Association (YIPA) to 

introduce the inaugural YIPA Sustainable 

Young Changemaker Award, which recognises 

the exceptional contribution of young people to 

sustainability in the built environment sector. 

Thamsanqa Hoza, CEO of Cape Town start-up Hot 

Nozzle Innovate, is the first recipient of the award. He is 

a young leader who is passionate about the intersection 

of infrastructure development, technology and improving 

the livelihoods of Africans. Hoza and his business partner 

Bokamoso Molale invented the Hot Nozzle, a batterypowered 

portable showerhead attachment that heats up 

cold water. No electricity is needed. 

Hoza received a Queen’s Young Leaders Award from the 

Queen of England in 2018 for his work to support young 

entrepreneurs. +Impact spoke to the inspiring 19-year-old 

from Welkom. 

+Impact: You were only in high school when you 

conceptualised the Hot Nozzle. What is your backstory 

and how did you come up with the idea? 

Hoza: A friend and I had just moved to a boarding school 

in Cape Town that focused on maritime education, so 

everything was set the way it would be on a ship. There was 

a hierarchy system where seniors were like captains and 

juniors were like cadets – and this meant we did everything 

last. We left events last because we had to clean, got our 

food last and even showered last, meaning that we always 

showered with cold water! Our boarding school bought 

additional electric (tank) water heaters as well as other 

methods like geyser blankets, but this did not solve our 

problem – it just meant that the seniors could enjoy longer 

showers. We thought it would be cool to personalise the 

shower experience and that’s where the idea was born. 

How did you get your idea to product? What motivated 

you to see it though? 

Even though we researched further into how we could 

make such a product and made some initial prototypes, 

for several years, the idea remained just that – an idea. 

While in university, we zoomed out from the context in 

which the idea came and further explored the problems 

around conventional water heaters and just why they have 

not been working for Africans and came out with three 

important insights: 

1. Almost 81% of Africans do not have stable access 

to water heating technologies and must rely on methods 

such as boiling water in a kettle, pouring it into a “vaskom” 

and that being their lived reality of a shower because they 

cannot afford or don’t have infrastructure needed to use 

the current technology. 

2. The water heating industry makes revenues in excess 

of $28.4-billion (with the exchange rate of almost R16 to the 

dollar at time of publication, this equates to R442.4-billion 

in rands) each year growing at a 4% compound annual 

growth rate (CAGR), but Africa as a whole is estimated to 

only contribute less than R10-billion. 

3. Bringing things closer to home, even though a South 

African water heater industry has been established for over 

100 years and contributes close to 50% of all water heater 

usage on the continent, it is estimated that only 29-33% 

of our population has a geyser. 

It then became obvious to us that current technologies 

are not affordable and accessible to most of the population, 

and that we needed a solution that is specifically designed 

with the African use-case in mind. We also wanted to 

add sustainability into our solution. We assembled a 

team, managed to raise Angel Investment, took time to 

understand the problem more and developed a working 

prototype that eventually evolved into a product. 

What was your biggest obstacle? 

Making a new product is not easy and came with its 

own set of challenges, but I feel the biggest was getting 

access to enough early-stage funding to speed up R&D 

and product development as well as support to navigate 

regulatory hurdles. 

What has been your biggest lesson? 

Building a solid team and strong partnerships where you 

can leverage experience is the most important thing for an 

early-stage start-up. I would also add in obsessing over the 

customer: a great product does not mean a great business; 

we constantly had to innovate to get the right business 

THE GREENOVATE AWARDS 

A 

joint initiative by Growthpoint Properties 

and the GBCSA, the competition challenges 

senior students to create innovative 

green solutions to environmental issues 

facing the property industry. Active since 2015, the 

Awards have the goal of seeding an early passion for 

sustainable development in university students. The 

programme also showcases the future leaders of the 

built industry. 

Making a name for themselves as innovators, changemakers 

and plant-shapers, the winners of the 2021 

Greenovate Student Awards in the property category were: 

First: Tristan Fernandes – University of Cape Town: “A Life 

Cycle Cost Analysis of Developing High-rise Sustainable, 

Innovative, Affordable Housing in South Africa”. 

Second: Aasif Mohamed, Asemahle Mngxuma and Sacha 

model, as well as channels to acquire and serve customers. 

Things worth building also take longer than expected. 

What surprised you? 

The support that people are willing to give as well as the 

openness to give young people like myself a shot. I was 

also surprised that we managed to develop a whole new 

product and business that has the potential to become a 

market leader on the continent. 

What’s the most important thing you’re working on 

right now, and how are you making it happen? 

We are working to fully commercialise our product to the 

open market and finish off our closed pilot. We’re also 

looking to start building a local facility that will ensure 

we build a strong, customer-centric brand. 

What advice can you give to other young green stars? 

Do not be afraid to put yourself out there. You can 

learn as well as provide value to your more experienced 

peers. Also just take your time and have fun throughout 

the process. 

Harper – University of the Witwatersrand: “Experimental 

process of introducing chicken manure as an additive 

in cement to decrease pollution and increase thermal 

insulation as well as other properties of a concrete mix”. 

Third: Barret de Willers – University of Cape Town: 

“Investigating the adoption of green building features, 

initiatives, and technology in commercial buildings”. 

“The genuine passion for a higher cause shared by all 

the students participating in the awards, and nurtured 

by their universities, was clearly demonstrated in the 

cutting-edge thinking about building and operating our 

cities, towns, neighbourhoods and buildings in more 

environmentally sustainable ways. The GBCSA is proud 

to spark ‘greenovation’ at South African universities and 

shape a better future,” says Georgina Smit, head of technical 

at the GBCSA. 

Left: Thamsanqa Hoza, 

winner of the Yipa 

Sustainable Changemaker 

Award 2021. 

Right: The Hot Nozzle, a 

battery-powered portable 

showerhead attachment 

that heats up cold water. 

From left to right: Mario 

Schehle, Remote Metering 

Solutions; first prize winner in 

Property, Tristan Fernandes, 

University of Cape Town; Lisa 

Reynolds, CEO of GBCSA; 

Grahame Cruickshanks, 

Growthpoint’s head of 

sustainability and utilities. 



47

YOUTH 

THE COROBRIK STUDENT ARCHITECTURE AWARDS 

The Corobrik Student Architecture Awards 

jump-starts careers, builds the industry and 

designs tomorrow. Regional winners are 

selected from eight major universities, based 

on the students’ final theses. These regional winners 

then go through to the national round, where the top 

title is awarded, plus a R70 000 grand prize. 

The 2021 national winner is Mpho Sephelane from 

the School of Architecture at the University of Cape 

Town, who received a R70 000 cash prize. The thesis by 

Sephelane was entitled “Re[covering] Place: African ways 

of seeing, thinking and making as a call to rethink and 

remake places in cities”. The judges’ citation stated that 

Sephelane “shifted our mindsets to trust our heritage to 

guide us and to be truly authentic. She narrated the use of 

the Basotho blanket as a transformative and imaginative 

symbol of identity and relevance”. 

“I am extremely delighted and honoured to receive this 

prestigious award. I am even more excited to represent 

UCT at a national level,” says Sephelane. She adds that 

the Corobrik Student Architecture Awards is a great 

The 2021 national winner is Mpho 

Sephelane from UCT for her thesis 

“Re[covering] Place”. 

platform to share ideas on integrating African narratives 

into students’ work. “In sponsoring such awards, companies 

like Corobrik, open new avenues of work and collaboration 

that propel students into the professional world, where they 

can take their ideas further. Apart from the exposure, it 

also inspires other students to perform at their level best 

and offers a chance for them to engage with student work 

from different institutions.” 

WOMEN 

MAKING 

WAVES IN 

THE BUILDING 

SECTOR: 

The 2022 edition 

Entitled “Re[covering] Place: African ways of seeing, thinking and making as a call to rethink and remake places in cities”, Sephelane’s thesis investigates issues of recovery and 

preservation of traditional African knowledge systems, and how these can be translated into making contemporary spaces. 



49

WOMEN 

WOMEN 

FORCE FOR NATURE 

Driving the female agenda in property 

Founded in 2001, the Women’s Property Network has a simple but powerful vision: 

substantially increase the participation of women in the commercial property sector 

across the value chain and in the driving seat. 

WORDS Jutta Berns 

We are a membership-based organisation 

that thrives on engagement and interaction 

with our members from across the property 

sector. We count many listed properties 

companies as well as small businesses and individuals 

among our members and our engagements are through 

our regional Chapters in Gauteng, the Western Cape 

and KwaZulu-Natal and of course through our various 

activities nationally. 

As a women-led advocacy and knowledge organisation 

our mandate has always been to promote the participation 

and integration of women within the commercial property 

space. We do this through various platforms and activities: 

• We lend a strong and leading voice in the advocacy 

and advancement of the gender equality conversation. 

• We create platforms through which women can 

engage for the purpose of sharing knowledge, skills 

and resources that can be ploughed back into the 

environments in which we operate. 

• We foster partnerships where we are a network of 

networks across various industry bodies. 

• We grow talent through the Women Property 

Network (WPN) Educational Trust and by supporting 

the advancement of the Student Chapter agenda at 

our key tertiary institutions. 

• We have been recognising outstanding women in 

the property industry at our Annual SA Women in 

Property Awards (SAWIPA), where we celebrate 

women – both regionally and nationally – who have 

stepped up and shaped women’s roles within South 

Africa’ s commercial property sector. 

• And importantly, we advance the climate agenda 

for a resilient property industry. 

More than two decades since the WPN officially 

launched and a proud history of achievements later, we 

can see that we have made inroads. While we, no doubt, 

continue to have our work cut out, we can see an increase 

in women representation on boards and in decision-making 

Jutta Berns, 

Chair, Gauteng 

Chapter of 

the WPN. 

positions across the commercial property sector, some of 

which is evidenced in the WPN’s 2021 inaugural report 

on the “State of Gender Diversity in the Listed Real 

Estate Sector”, where we see a 5% increase in female 

representation on boards between 2013 and 2020. By 2020, 

20% of executive director positions in the SA REIT sector 

were occupied by women. So, it’s onwards and upwards 

and it represents golden opportunities for companies and 

organisations to lead by pushing gender diversity forward, 

purposefully and meaningfully. 

“We need more qualified women on corporate boards – and we 

need boards to value the sustainable thinking that women bring 

to the table. We need rising stars to show how the construction 

industry can provide challenging and rewarding career options 

that also make a positive social and environmental impact.” 

– Romilly Madew, former CEO: Green Building Council, Australia 

THE WPN EDUCATIONAL TRUST 

A considerable part of our mandate focuses on the WPN 

Educational Trust, which was specifically set up to ensure 

that women in the commercial property sector have 

opportunities for further education. The Trust particularly 

supports young women from previously disadvantaged 

backgrounds to grow in the industry and further their 

career objectives. 

Through our members’ contacts and networks, we can 

secure female participation in the industry’s educational 

activities, we support development and growth through 

skills development workshops/programmes and importantly 

every year we make available several bursaries at tertiary 

institutions for approved property courses. Applications 

for the 2023 WPN bursaries will open in November 2022 

follow this link. 

THE STUDENT CHAPTER 

The WPN maintains Student Chapters at our key tertiary 

institutions, with the University of Pretoria Chapter having 

just been launched. Student membership is available – 

and free – to all female students in second year and above, 

studying towards a property-related degree or diploma. 

The Chapters run regular networking events and are a 

hive of activity and engagement. To join, follow this link. 

WHERE TO NEXT? 

The challenges of the past couple of years have not left 

us unscathed and delivering on our mandate has not been 

easy. But now that we find ourselves in a manageable 

(post-) Covid world, we are again rolling up our sleeves: 

to re-energise our mandate, to re-start our conversations 

and to re-connect with our members. 

And the timing couldn’t be better: in the climate space, 

the property sector is clearly at the nexus of mitigation 

and resilience. In my role as the new Chair of the Gauteng 

Chapter of the WPN and as the founder and director 

of Ecocentric, a green building consultancy which I 

established in 2007, I understand the critical role of women 

in the green property industry. 

As women we bring a truly unique perspective to the 

built environment; we tend to be great systems thinkers 

and we know how to build relationships across disciplines 

and outside our professional communities. We know that 

moving beyond silos and into meaningful and accelerated 

collaboration is critical on a path to what I still hope will be 

reversing a climate breakdown and preventing catastrophic 

biodiversity loss. This is where we as women are needed. 

And when I look around, so many of my colleagues in 

the green building industry are female – from those of 

us running small green building consultancies to the 

formidable CEO of the GBCSA, Lisa Reynolds, from my 

incredible all-women team at Ecocentric to the exceptional 

women in the sustainability driving seat at property funds. 

Where education has always been a central tenet of 

our mandate, we are now actively extending this into 

bringing everyone along on the sustainability journey. We 

recently introduced our monthly Women in Green Series, 

an online – and offline – platform for topical conversations, 

education and information sharing in the green property 

space. We are opening this up to everyone – members 

and non-members alike and even the guys are welcome! 

As women we bring a truly unique 

perspective to the built environment; 

we seem to be great system thinkers 

and we know how to build relationships. 

Over the next few months, we will cover topics ranging 

from setting science-based net-zero targets across 

property portfolios, we will unpack embodied carbon 

concepts, explore the pivotal role of small businesses in 

tackling climate change and run through the immense 

business opportunities that present themselves in the 

green property sector. 

Together we can leverage our network of impactful women 

in the property industry to accelerate the sustainability and 

female agenda. Talk to us, follow us, join us. We are always 

open to conversations, ideas and partnerships. 

WEBSITE 

LINKEDIN 

NATIONAL CHAIR 

Thuli Mpuntshe, Senior Manager: Indirect Investments 

REGIONAL CHAIRS 

Gauteng: Jutta Berns, Founder and Director: 

Ecocentric, jutta@ecocentric.co.za 

Western Cape: Lara Schenk, Asset and Leasing 

Manager: Ingenuity Property Investments 

WPN EDUCATIONAL TRUST: TRUSTEES 

Ipeleng Mkhari, CEO: Motseng Investment Holdings 

Jackie van Niekerk, CEO: Attacq 

Refqah Ho-Yee, Director: Smith Tabata Buchanan Boyes 

WPN NATIONAL COORDINATOR 

Tel: 031 764 4645 Email: info@wpn.co.za 



51

WOMEN 

WOMEN 

KEDIBONE TSILOANE 

Founder, Ramtsilo Manufacturing 

and Construction 

THULI ZULU 

INC SOLUTIONS 

AFRICA LEAD 

BSC Property Studies (Hons) 

MELINDA ISAACS 

Development Executive 

BSc (Hons) (QS) 

PrQS (SACQS) 

MRICS (RICS) 

Green Star SA AP (GBCSA) 

MIHLAYENKOSI MATHIBE 

Candidate Quantity Surveyor (CanQS) 

BSc. Hons Quantity Surveying (Wits), 

BTech Quantity Surveying (UJ) 

Making South Africa sustainable – 

one brick at a time 

Thirty-two-year-old Kedibone Tsiloane is the founder of Ramtsilo 

Manufacturing and Construction – a proudly South African, 100% 

black female owned sustainable manufacturing and construction 

company. Ramtsilo’s mission is to do everything possible to 

provide innovative and sustainable solutions to the global plastic 

pollution pandemic. 

The company has created a circular green economy in the plastic 

recycling and building material industry. They provide waste 

management and recycling services for plastic waste pollution, 

which is used in the manufacturing of strong, durable and fireretardant 

bricks. 

Tsiloane shares that she was inspired to begin Ramtsilo 

due to her growing up in a construction household, where her 

dad frequently took her on site. Ramtsilo started in 2013 as a 

construction business, however, because they had been spending 

so much money on building materials, specifically bricks, they 

made the decision to manually manufacture their own bricks at 

home. “We are from the township and upon discussion with one 

of the waste collectors we learnt that plastic waste collection in 

conjunction with the recycling of plastic has created a source of 

revenue for the unemployed. We began prototyping the use of 

plastic in brick making since 2016 and in 2017 we had a product 

that we were comfortable with, which we took for testing. The 

results were much better than we expected, and we formally went 

into the market in 2019.” 

When asked what motivates her as an innovator and drives her 

innovations, Tsiloane says, “Wanting to make a lasting difference, 

creating lasting solutions to everyday problems.” Being a firm 

believer in good old persistence, Tsiloane says what separates her 

from other innovators is that she always sees things through, no 

matter how difficult things get. “It should be a subject at school, 

without us thinking in a sustainable manner there will be no 

‘future’ for us or the next generation,” she adds. 

Looking to her future, Tsiloane shares that she aspires to create 

more innovative solutions that change how we live our lives 

on a daily basis. She further goes on to share her hopes for the 

manufacturing and construction industry, “I hope the industry will 

be more receptive to change and innovation. While the traditional 

ways have worked, we need to get to a point where the industry 

is open to new ways of doing things.” 

As a woman working in a largely male-dominated industry, she 

credits her parents for instilling values in her that have allowed her 

to navigate this somewhat intimidating environment, “One thing 

my parents made sure we knew growing up is that there isn’t a 

man’s role and a woman’s role. So, when we encounter challenges 

based on gender, we face them head on and we remind ourselves 

that we are not here by chance. We put in the work thus we have 

created a space for ourselves in this industry through hard work 

and persistence.” 

Meet Thuli Zulu, industry leader in the 

Interior Design sector 

Thuli Zulu is the African Lead of an International Interior 

Company, INC Group. Launched in 2008 in the UAE, INC Group 

has been delivering excellence for over 12 years, with Africa being 

the newest arm of the business. With foundations grounded firmly 

in the ethos of structure, transparency and confidence, INC Group 

is able to deliver full turnkey interior solutions. Being driven by 

the aspiration to deliver tailor-made projects, INC’s inspiring and 

creative female-led workforce proudly specialises in premium 

services such as design, interior construction, furniture supply 

and IT solutions. 

Thuli holds a BSC in Property Studies (Hons) degree, which she 

obtained at the Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, South 

Africa. She has since completed several courses and industryrelated 

qualifications through UCT Graduate School and Gibs 

Business School. Throughout her career, Thuli has served on 

various committees, including the Women’s Property Network 

Gauteng Chapter as well as the Alumni for The Graça Machel 

Women Creating Wealth Programme. 

With over 13 years’ experience in commercial property, Thuli’s 

background spans across various sectors in the industry, from 

commercial property broking, leasing consultancy and trading and 

acquisitions, to commercial property development and interior 

design and build. Her fundamental strengths include deal making 

and account management as well as coordinating, managing and 

leading design and build teams. Thuli has been instrumental in the 

successful delivery of various projects from her blue-chip client 

base and in successfully forming and managing relationships 

with diverse clients. 

4 Sandown Valley Crescent, Sandton. 

africainfo@inc-solutions.com 

“Being a leader is about serving the people 

you lead” – Melinda Isaacs, development 

executive, Liberty Two Degrees 

Passionate about real estate and influencing project execution, 

Melinda Isaacs is a seasoned Development Manager and a Member 

of the Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors, a registered member of 

the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession and 

an accredited professional with the Green Building Council of South 

Africa. With extensive experience in retail and hospitality projects, 

and as a Development Executive at Liberty Two Degrees (L2D), a 

leading precinct-focused, retail-centered REIT, Melinda has a proven 

track record spanning 15 years in development initiatives, in some 

of South Africa’s leading shopping centres, including Sandton City. 

With environmental risks remaining at the forefront of global risks, 

Melinda leads the implementation of L2D’s various development 

initiatives in the company’s journey to deliver its Net Zero 

commitments. Some notable initiatives include the installation of 1 

MW solar photovoltaic (PV) roof panels at Eastgate Shopping Centre 

and Liberty Midlands Mall, as well as the solar trees at Eastgate, which 

have been nominated for the Steel Awards. She is also leading the 

team on the installation of an additional 4MW solar PV roof panel at 

Liberty Midlands Mall, which is due to be commissioned in April 2023. 

Melinda believes in the role that real estate plays in creating 

future environments for communities to thrive in, and she enjoys 

providing strategic direction that drives projects and processes 

more effectively, with a focus on delivering excellence. 

Melinda has also spearheaded and made significant contributions 

to various projects in property development, including the 

repositioning of Sandton City with the addition of the Southeast 

Extension and refurbishment of the mall, the reconfiguration of the 

Stuttafords space within the L2D portfolio, the mall reconfiguration 

and introduction of the Diamond Walk, the refurbishment of Mount 

Grace Hotel and Spa, and Rosebank Hotel among others. 

As a registered professional, Melinda is passionate about contributing 

to the industry as a mentor and has trained numerous other women, 

some of whom have also grown to various senior management roles 

in the industry. Seeing women grow and having contributed to their 

development is inspiring for her and she believes being a leader is 

about serving the people you lead, and giving back to the industry and 

the people you work with, which also allows you to grow. 

011 358 9145 

info@liberty2degrees.co.za 

www.liberty2degrees.co.za 

‘Every project is a new adventure’ – 

Mihlayenkosi Mathibe describes her 

quantity surveying journey 

I completed my undergraduate studies in 2015, the same year I 

started working as a graduate at MMQSMace. Currently I am an 

intermediate candidate quantity surveyor on a journey to become 

a registered professional quantity surveyor. 

As an intermediate quantity surveyor, I am responsible for 

all cost consulting and managing duties throughout the various 

construction stages from project inception to completion. 

The lessons I have learnt so far in the industry is that although 

the construction process may seem monotonous in its operation, 

no project is the same as another, which prompts professionals, 

particularly quantity surveyors, to be more adaptable to changes 

in operation while still maintaining standards and not deviating 

in construction principles. 

Construction also needs a creative/open mind - most of the 

time you deal will paper/drawings and plans which you should be 

able to visualise, measure and bring to life. Furthermore, because 

construction is mostly collaborative work, there are attributes 

required to excel, which include interpersonal skills (ability to 

learn from your peers), leadership skills, communication skills and 

an ability to work in a team. Personal attributes may also include 

being an analytic thinker, being detail-oriented and pro-active. 

My experience over the past five years as a young professional, 

particularly a black woman in an industry previously dominated 

by men, is that there have been reasonable strides towards making 

the industry more inclusive of women. The government’s initiative 

to have local participation in every project procurement has been 

a step in the right direction in uplifting communities, as business 

owners - particularly female-owned businesses - are given an 

opportunity to provide services. It also gives local labourers an 

opportunity to develop skills, and students a chance to be involved 

in construction projects, which is beneficial to their curriculum. 

However, there is still a long way to go in the industry in terms 

of unconscious gender bias and the gender pay gap. 

What I enjoy most about construction is that every new project 

is a new adventure, and an opportunity to contribute to the 

development of a community. It is also a chance to build new 

relationships and grow with new professionals and clients. 

15 Forest Road, 2nd Floor - Building 1 Waverley Office Park, 

Waverley, Johannesburg, 2199 | 011 430 2880 

noxolo.msibi@mmqsmace.com / mandla.mlangeni@mmqsmace.com 



53

GREEN GLOBE 

AFRISAM DRIVES ENVIRONMENTAL 

STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY 

MATERIALS 

+IMPACTFUL IMMERSION 

Infusing sustainability and the project’s three keywords – connective, comfortable 

and versatile – into its design, a new office for an international software company in 

Russia transforms into a modern campus environment. 

The JetBrains Office Campus in Saint Petersburg 

is a regeneration of the firm’s specific approach 

to work culture. Global architects, UNStudio, 

designed bespoke healthy workstations for all 

1 000 newly housed employees. 

Central to the design is a vertically stepped, indoor 

atrium. This generous open space connects to an outdoor 

courtyard and terraces with expansive views of the Gulf of 

Finland. Meeting rooms, breakout spaces, auditoriums and 

a restaurant are organised along the atrium. Bridges span 

the large spaces, while carefully designed and intertwined 

biophilia form the natural backdrop for activities. 

Acting as a vestibule, the imposing lobby creates the 

first views towards the atrium. The courtyard on the fully 

landscaped podium level is enclosed by an active gallery 

and provides an intimate outdoor overflow space. 

The courtyard terraces 

overlooking the Gulf of Finland. 

The atrium forms the core of 

the JetBrains community. 

AfriSam signalled its seriousness about 

environmental stewardship over 15 years ago 

with the introduction of its first environmental 

policy in 1994. AfriSam operates this drive 

towards greening the industry at several different levels 

simultaneously, making it a leader in environmentallyresponsible 

cement and concrete manufacturing in 

southern Africa. 

Significantly, AfriSam was the first cement, aggregate 

and readymix producer in southern Africa to publish an 

environmental policy in 1994. Today, the organisation has 

a comprehensive sustainability roadmap which covers a 

broad range of focus areas, including waste management, 

water conservation, biodiversity conservation, emissions 

reduction and energy management. The company has 

established performance indicators that continuously 

monitor and track compliance to the company’s 

sustainability roadmap targets. 

REHABILITATION AND BIODIVERSITY 

CONSERVATION 

Mine rehabilitation is an area where AfriSam has led 

the industry, with mine rehabilitation plans for all the 

company’s quarries completed in 1984. This was followed 

by the establishment of a dedicated Nature Conservation 

Trust in 1986 to provide funding for the closure of these 

mines. 

Rehabilitation of land impacted by AfriSam’s mining 

activities is not just a legal requirement but a moral 

obligation, and this level of long-term planning by AfriSam 

demonstrates a commitment that will ensure that land can 

be returned to a self-sustainable landform to be enjoyed by 

future generations. AfriSam actively practices concurrent 

rehabilitation at its sites where possible, which is in line 

with its policy to restore mined–out land to as close to its 

original state as possible. In many instances, alternative 

use is found for the land, such as turning it into reservoirs, 

dams or recreational facilities. 

Environmental stewardship also requires that a 

company is proactive when considering its impact on 

the environment, and this has been the case in Saldanha 

Bay. AfriSam has received approval from the Department 

of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning for 

the construction of an integrated cement manufacturing 

facility on the Saldanha Peninsula in the Western Cape. 

This piece of land, owned by AfriSam, contains pristine 

vegetation of exceptional conservation value and therefore 

needs to be adequately protected to prevent extinction 

of these rare species of flora. 

AfriSam’s focus on biodiversity involves detailed and 

ongoing research to measure the environmental impact 

of operations on species of flora and fauna, and steps to 

protect and foster biodiversity where necessary, especially 

where species are protected by law or endangered. 

To ensure the sustainability of the relevant flora, AfriSam 

has set aside over 500 ha of the land it owns in Saldanha 

for conservation purposes. This land has received contract 

nature reserve status, the highest level of stewardship, and 

underscores AfriSam’s commitment to conserving natural 

resources, including flora, for future generations. 

Perhaps one of the least known, and most exceptional 

examples of AfriSam’s commitment to environmental 

stewardship is that of the significant archaeological and 

paleontological finds at its Sterkfontein quarry near 

the Cradle of Mankind. This was five years before the 

Sterkfontein Caves were declared a World Heritage Site. 

Realising that the company had stumbled upon something 

which could have important repercussions for the scientific 

knowledge of the area, AfriSam immediately suspended all 

quarrying activities and commissioned a number of surveys 

including archaeological, vegetation, palaeontological and 

geological studies. Subsequently, AfriSam has rehabilitated 

the area and donated it to the University of Witwatersrand 

for further promotion of education. 

Concept diagram (left) and architectural 

axonometric section (right). 

Images: ZOA Studio 

AfriSam actively practices 

concurrent rehabilitation to 

restore mined–out land to 

as close to its original state 

as possible. 

54 POSITIVE IMPACT ISSUE 18 POSITIVE IMPACT ISSUE 18 

55

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