| R700m development for CT – 04/06/2008 |
A mega R700m mixed-use development is being developed on a prime canal fronting site at Century City by the Rabie Property Group. According to a report on the News24 site, the development, to be built on a landmark site on the Grand Canal across the water from Canal Walk shopping centre, also enjoys frontage onto Century Boulevard, the main thoroughfare of Century City. Construction of the development has started with the hotel scheduled for completion in November 2009 in time for the 2010 World Cup. He said the apartment tower and office block were scheduled for completion in phases from February/March 2010.
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Full report on the News24 site
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| Hospital Bend upgrade in full swing - 03/06/2008 |
In-coming lanes on Hospital Bend on the N2 and M3 are to be closed overnight on the weekend for the first time since work began on the multimillion-rand upgrade. ’This will be the first time that lanes will be closed completely since the extensive upgrade commenced,’ said Henry du Plessis, the city’s director for roads and stormwater. The project is to be completed by March 2010. The Cape Times reports that the Hospital Bend upgrade is to ease traffic flow onto the N2 and southern suburbs routes. It includes the rehabilitation of the road, the widening of carriageways, the construction of bridges, and improvements to stormwater drainage and street lighting.
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Full Cape Times report
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| Building activity set to stay above R1bn mark - 02/06/2008 |
Building activity within the Buffalo City Municipality (BCM) remained above the R1bn mark last year despite an eroding economic environment forcing property price growth into negative territory. The value of approved plans last year was marginally up from the R1.003bn in 2006 to R1.01 bn – suggesting that the city’s property market may have reached its upper limit . BCM municipal manager Gaster Sharpley also predicted a ’spike’ in new developments during the 2008/09 financial year. The Daily Dispatch reports that he pointed at two deals recently concluded by the Buffalo City Development Agency ’which will revitalise the central beachfront and put the city firmly in place for the 2010 World Cup’.
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Full Daily Dispatch report
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| Stadium upgrade ahead of schedule – 29/05/2008 |
The R69m facelift of the Dobsonville stadium, in Soweto, is ahead of schedule and should be completed before the end of next month. Engineering News reports that the synthetic athletics track is com- plete, while new suites, media facilities, change rooms, a gymnasium and lighting have been installed. The stadium already meets FIFA’s requirements in terms of the number of spectators it can accommodate, safety standards, medical facilities, flood lighting and media needs, and will be used as a training ground for the 2010 World Cup.
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Full Engineering News report
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| Moses Mabhida stadium on track – 29/05/2008 |
Durban’s new R2.6bn Moses Mabhida stadium, which has been earmarked as one of the venues for the 2010 World Cup, is now 55% to 60% complete and should be ready before FIFA’s October 31, 2009. Engineering News report, the construction site is currently a hive of activity, with 28 cranes, 105 construction vehicles and about 2 000 workers on site, with progress occurring at a rapid pace. eThekwini’s head of strategic projects and the 2010 programme, Julie-May Ellingson stresses that the Moses Mabhida stadium was designed with the latest safety and security requirements and in accordance with the latest international sporting codes. It has been designed to accommodate rugby and athletics, in addition to soccer.
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Full Engineering News report
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| Clean Cement campaign kicks off – 29/05/2008 |
With the country embarking on massive infrastructure investment projects for the 2010 World Cup and beyond, the Green Scorpions are investigating compliance in cement manufacturing. According to a report on the allAfrica.com site, the Clean Cement campaign will focus on the compliance of companies to all environmental legislation, authorisations and permits. According to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, the Green Scorpions embarked on a series of compliance inspections at various cement manufacturing facilities across the country. The planned inspections will also take place at PPC cement plants in Limpopo, Gauteng, the Eastern and Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal
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Full report on the allAfrica.com site
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| Boom expected beyond 2010 - 26/05/2008 |
South Africa’s construction boom is expected to continue for at least the next 10 years thanks to government investment and private-sector spend, creating a catalyst for further earnings growth. Given the positive growth and earnings outlook and recent fall in prices, say analysts, construction stocks could be ripe for the picking, despite them trading at a premium to the overall market. FIN24 reports that Lance Krowitz, an analyst at Stanlib Asset Management, said that projects such as the Gauteng freeway project and construction of power stations, would keep the industry alive beyond the 2010 World Cup. ’Some people tend to think that after 2010, everything stops, but actually, we are seeing additional projects coming online,’ said Krowitz.
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Full FIN24 report
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| Durban’s 2010 dynamo - 23/05/2008 |
The saying that dynamite comes in small packages is true of Julie-May Ellingson, the woman behind the Moses Mabhida stadium. The petite Ellingson heads Durban’s strategic projects unit and is at the forefront of construction at the R2.6bn stadium. ’For me, working on the stadium is a great privilege. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I’m glad to be involved in the project,’ said the former town planner. Her love for her job is evident as she explains why every day is so exciting as she helps get Durban ready for the 2010 World Cup. The Witness reports that she said that even though she works in a male-dominated industry, she has never been intimidated or disrespected by the men in her team. Ellingson said that one of the things that excites her about the stadium is the fact that it was designed to be financially feasible and to be used after the World Cup is over.
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Full report in The Witness
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| EC’s development boom - 23/05/2008 |
Riding on the back of major economic growth, the Eastern Cape is reaping the rewards of investor confidence, with billions of rands being pumped into sprawling retail and commercial developments, residential establishments and golfing estates. Almost anywhere you go, especially in the larger centres, land is being cleared for development, roads are being widened and huge retail and commercial centres are springing up. SA Info reports that Investec Bank regional head Andy Vogel said investor confidence in the province had been supported by four years of excellent equity returns and GDP growth in excess of 5%, a massive property boom, low interest rates and a strong stable currency. ’Capital investment in the region by the automotive industry, as well as growth in automotive sales has also supported local growth. We forecast satisfactory GDP growth in excess of 4% per annum to 2010,’ said Vogel.
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Full SA Info report
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| Stadium costs soar to R1.5bn - 23/05/2008 |
The projected cost of Nelson Mandela Bay‘s state-of-the-art new World Cup 2010 stadium has rocketed to a massive R1.5bn – more than double the initial estimate of R711m. A steadily weakening rand and import tariffs on materials – such as the 24000m² of aluminium being imported for the stadium‘s designer roof – are said to have been the main contributors to the budget blowout. The Weekend Post reports that Municipal manager Graham Richards said the revised budget for the stadium stood at R1.5bn because of ’escalation in construction costs’. However, an engineer working on the stadium said not only had costs spiraled, but the weaker rand meant importing vital materials. Richards said any shortfall in funds would be covered by the national treasury. ’We are working with the national treasury to deal with the escalations,’ he said. ’The stadium was always going to be funded by national and provincial government.’
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Full weekend Post report
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| Wage increase for construction workers - 22/05/2008 |
The Zimbabwe Construction and Allied Trades Workers’ Union (ZCATWU) said that it had secured agreement of employers to increase minimum wages for workers in the industry to $9bn per month with effect from June 1. ZCATWU deputy general secretary Muchapiwa Mazarura said the two parties had concluded a collective bargaining agreement to increase wages of all categories of workers in the construction industry by 260%. The Herald reports that Mazarura urged employers to follow stipulated wages and those applying for an interim exemption of the new wages to bring the application with the consensus of workers. The construction industry continues to face operational problems as a result of mass exodus by its workers to neighbouring countries like Botswana and particularly South Africa, whose hosting of the 2010 World Cup has led to a boom in the construction industry.
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Full report in The Herald
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| Bay station upgrade on track - 22/05/2008 |
The North End station, part of the programme to upgrade key rail stations for the Confederations Cup next year and for the 2010 World Cup, would be completed by April next year, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe told the national assembly. The Herald reports that in addition, he said, the South African Rail Commuter Corporation had allocated R300m over the next three years to cover basic improvement of facilities such as ablutions, lighting and subways at more than 130 stations this year – with more than 75 stations either completed or nearing completion. Radebe said government had increased funding for passenger rail transport services to the tune of R18bn over the medium-term expenditure framework, adding this was ’vital for the turnaround strategy being implemented by the SARCC, aimed at immediate and significant improvements through the upgrading of the current rolling-stock fleet and signalling infrastructure’.
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| Hotel industry is booming - 21/05/2008 |
Higher interest rates, electricity supply problems and global credit lending fears have clearly not put a hand break on South Africa’s hotel development industry, with a number of multi-million rand projects announced in recent weeks. Sol Kerzner’s long-awaited One & Only luxury hotel project in Cape Town was officially launched this week. According to a Travelwires report, the R1bn project being built at the V&A Waterfront is expected to set a new benchmark for SA’s top-end hospitality industry. Stockholm-listed Rezidor Hotel Group announced last month that it would open a second hotel in Sandton in April 2010, a three-star Park Inn. Construction has already started on Rezidor’s five-star Radisson near the Gautrain station in Sandton. Joop Demes, MD of Pam Golding Hospitality, confirms that interest in SA’s hotel and tourism industry has surged in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup. Demes says since January 2007 Golding Hotel Investment Consultants has facilitated new hotel developments valued at around R1.6 bn.
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Full Travelwires report
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| Sanyati earnings surge ahead of 2010 - 21/05/2008 |
AltX-listed civil engineering and construction group Sanyati Holdings realised an almost threefold increase in turnover, to R1bn for the year ended February 2008, and headline earnings a share increased 89.4% to 22.31c a share, up from 11.78c a share in 2007. ’The group is on track to set a new benchmark with budgeted turnover of about R1.8bn in the coming year,’ declared Sanyati CE Rick Jackson. This was within the broader target of reaching R3.7bn in turnover by 2012. Engineering News reports that Sanyati is involved in a number of major infrastructure projects including the King Shaka International Airport, the Bloemfontein stadium for the 2010 World Cup, as well as projects for Eskom, Gautrain and the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral), as well as working for a number of large corporates such as Tongaat Hulett Properties, Vodacom and Richards Bay Minerals.
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Full Engineering News report
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| Upgrade contractors announced - 20/05/2008 |
The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) announced details of the contractors awarded the seven contracts for the first phase (125,5 km) of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP), amounting to a total of R11.5bn. According to a report on the News24 site, upgrading of the freeway sections will take place over the next 36 months, with the works having been prioritised to be substantially completed for the 2010 World Cup. The project will involve provision of additional lanes; interchange improvements and intelligent transport management systems, including cameras, ramp metering and electronic signage.
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Full report on the News24 site
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| PE confident it will meet FIFA deadline - 19/05/2008 |
The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will be completed by the March 2009 deadline set by FIFA and SAFA. This comes after the municipality’s readiness for the 2009 Confederation Cup was brought into question earlier this year. BuaNews reports that this is according to Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Executive Director for the 2010 World Cup Errol Heynes, who was addressing fellow host city representatives, the French Trade Commission and members from the French Embassy. ’We see the stadium as a catalyst for the building of a new economic node in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality,’ he said, adding the World Cup will significantly benefit Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises in terms of job creation, economic and skills development and legacy building.
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Full BuaNews report
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| Airport upgrade behind schedule - 16/05/2008 |
The commissioning of the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Airport is lagging behind due to the slow delivery of equipment. The upgrading of the airport building was completed late last year and what remains is the installation of equipment that would bring the new airport into operation. Civil Aviation Authority’s GM, David Chawota said while deliveries of the equipment had been slow, they had recorded some progress. The expansion entailed the enlargement of the existing terminal building and infrastructure refurbishment. The Herald reports that the upgrade is part of the CAAZ’s efforts to ensure that the aviation industry gears itself for the expected influx of tourists into the country ahead of the staging of the 2010 World Cup.
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Full report in The Herald
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| Major upgrades for Durban roads – 16/05/2008 |
Motorists in Durban should brace themselves for major road closures on Monday. Construction work is expected to pick up on the multi-million rand Warwick Triangle inbound flyover project on May 19. The Sowetan reports that the eThekwini municipality says the project is expected to sort out one of Durban’s biggest traffic nightmares. Though the flyover will be completed just in time for the 2010 World Cup, the benefits to motorists and pedestrians will extend well beyond 2010.
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Full report in The Sowetan
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| Skills shortage a challenge - 13/05/2008 |
Skills and contractor shortages are major obstacles to the upgrading of road infrastructure in Johannesburg, the SA National Roads Agency said. According to a report on the IoL site, spokesperson Ismail Essa said as the upgrading projects advanced, challenges would be greater. ’We hope as the project advances, the skills in the actual construction will be addressed and that they won’t have an impact in meeting deadlines,’ Essa said. He spoke on the sidelines of a media tour of all the 2010 projects in the city.
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Full report on the IoL site
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| Bhambatha Lodge development on track - 13/05/2008 |
Phase one of the development of Bhambatha Lodge at the Ngome Game Reserve near Greytown is progressing well, with the land rehabilitation process set to begin in a matter of weeks. The Witness reports that the development could ultimately represent an investment of well over R83m. Phase one is expected to be completed by the end of this year and it is anticipated that the entire development will be up and running before the 2010 World Cup. The project is aimed at creating sustainable tourism-related development, centred on the area’s rich cultural, historic and wildlife heritage. It is understood that the R7.6m first phase of the development is funded mainly by the government.
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Full report in The Witness
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| Time running out for Rufaro stadium - 12/05/2008 |
As time runs out for the completion of Rufaro stadium, the city of Harare and the main contractors ACTGlobal sports are moving to complete the work at the venue, which is eight months behind schedule. ACTGlobal Sports Projects Manager, Dirkin Ditzel said his team has already begun putting the silica sand on the surface. They will afterwards lay the rubber granules, which is the final stage of the installation of the artificial turf. According to ZBC News report, failure to complete the installation of the turf will force Zimbabwe to play its 2010 World Cup qualifying matches away from home.
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Full ZBC News report
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| R1bn George complex on track - 12/05/2008 |
Building of a five-star luxury hotel worth nearly R1bn at the Oubaai golf resort in Herold’s Bay near George – to be completed for the 2010 World Cup – is on track. The Herald reports that the 100-room luxury hotel and resort, to be called the Hyatt Regency Oubaai, will be Hyatt’s second hotel in South Africa following the Hyatt Regency Johannesburg, which opened in 1995. Building started last August and should be finished in time for the 2010 World Cup, according to project manager Mohamed Shetata. The hotel will form part of the Oubaai Golf and Lifestyle Centre, an upmarket residential and golf development which includes Ernie Els’s first 18-hole championship golf course in South Africa, a golf academy and a lifestyle centre.
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| R11.5bn for road upgrades – 10/05/2008 |
The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has awarded seven contracts worth R11.5bn for the upgrade of 125,5 km of road in the first phase of its Gauteng freeway improvement project. Engineering News reports that the upgrade, which Sanral said had been prioritised for completion in time for the 2010 World Cup, would be taking place over the next 36 months. The agency said it would do a final assessment of the progress of works on these stretches of road, in February 2010.
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Full Engineering News report
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| Interchange construction kicks off – 09/05/2008 |
Construction work on the Koeberg Interchange near Cape Town in preparation for the 2010 World Cup has started, the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works said. According to a report on the IoL site, the head of the department, Thami Manyathi, said construction work would be done on weekends and every evening after the rush hour, ending before the morning rush. The project was expected to take two years and was meant to ease traffic congestion ’into 2010 and beyond’, department spokesperson Al-Ameen Kafaar said.
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Full report on the IoL site
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| Profit increase for PPC – 08/05/2008 |
Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) saw its profit increase due to SA’s cement demand for its infrastructural projects. In its interim results for the half-year ended 31 March 2008, PPC reported a 16% improvement in headline earnings per share, an increase in revenue by 13 % to R2.9bn, and an increase in cement production volumes of three percent. According to a report on the iafrica.com site, looking ahead, PPC said that infrastructure investment was continuing, with increased demand from government and public enterprises projects and the 2010 World Cup stadiums and related projects.
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Full report on the iafrica.com site
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| Mbombela stadium on track - 23/04/2008 |
Construction of the Mbombela stadium for the 2010 World Cup in the Mpumalanga city of Nelspruit is well on track and nearly 40% complete. FIN24 reports that this emerged on a site tour of the 46 000-seater stadium given by the Mpumalanga provincial government, which was also hosting a trade delegation from the Maputo province of Mozambique. According to Leon Botha, the stadium’s senior engineering technician and project leader, the construction is progressing as originally planned and on budget. ’Except for a few minor Eskom and labour problems we had, everything is progressing well,’ says Botha.
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Full FIN24 report
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| Local venue scramble looms - 23/04/2008 |
Local clubs Golden Arrows and AmaZulu will have to scramble for stadiums next season, after news that their home grounds are about to undergo renovations related to the 2010 World Cup. The Daily News reports that King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi and Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu have both been earmarked as practice venues for 2010 and when the workmen move in to the council-owned grounds, Arrows and AmaZulu will have to move out. ’This is a serious issue,’ said Arrows chairperson Mato Madlala. ’Nothing has been confirmed with us.’ She said a meeting would be sought with municipal manager Mike Sutcliffe because local clubs as well as PSL officials based in Johannesburg, were anxious to find out exactly where they stood in relation to the planned renovations.
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Full Daily News report
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| R120m upgrade for Nasrec - 22/04/2008 |
More than R120 million has been set aside to upgrade the Nasrec precinct south of Johannesburg’s city centre to support the hosting of the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) during the 2010 World Cup. BuaNews reports that the upgrading of the precinct is scheduled to start in May, which will see the area be transformed into a world class centre over the next two years. ’The IBC will be the pulse and the nerve centre for all TV operations during the 2010 World Cup. Though a sophisticated network it will be linking the venues in South Africa to the rest of our football family all over the globe,’ said FIFA President Sepp Blatter. Johannesburg was among the country’s three cities that bid for the right to be the nerve centre for all TV and radio operations during the tournament. Cape Town and Durban were the other two bidding cities.
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Full BuaNews report
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| Skills centre to support building sector - 21/04/2008 |
The newly launched construction skills training centre in Midrand is to address the skills shortage in the construction industry ahead of the 2010 World Cup. In light of increased infrastructure developments ahead of the world cup, the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has partnered with construction giant Group Five opened the centre last week. ’The objectives of this project are in line with government’s policy around the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition, the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa and the 2014 goal to halve unemployment,’ according to the bank. BuaNews reports that DBSA and Group Five, in a move to bridge the gap between the required skills and the shortage, last year agreed to fund and establish construction skills training centres in Midrand, Gauteng and Grabouw, Western Cape.
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Full BuaNews report
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| Cement shortages hampers construction - 14/05/2008 |
A shortage of cement is hampering the rehabilitation of a stadium earmarked for Zambia’s World Cup qualifiers. With the Independence stadium in Lusaka banned by FIFA, Konkola stadium in northern Zambia is the only other option. The venue is due to host Chipolopolo’s upcoming 2010 African Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers. Following the death of 12 fans in a stampede last year, Konkola stadium is currently undergoing renovations. But work has come to a virtual standstill due to the crippling shortage of cement across Zambia. The Zambian reports that the stadium needs at least 1 000 bags of cement for all the work to be done, which includes the construction of new toilets and dressing rooms.
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Full report in The Zambian
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