Construction World November 2016

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD NOVEMBER 2016
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COMMENT
EDITOR & DEPUTY PUBLISHER
Wilhelm du Plessis
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Erna Oosthuizen
LAYOUT & DESIGN
Lesley Testa
CIRCULATION
Karen Smith
TOTAL CIRCULATION:
(Second Quarter ’16)
4 766
PUBLISHER
Karen Grant
PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY
Crown Publications cc
P O Box 140
BEDFORDVIEW, 2008
Tel: 27 11-622-4770 • Fax: 27 11-615-6108
The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor or the publisher.
PRINTED BY
Tandym Cape
@ConstWorldSA
In the past, the civil and building categories
attracted many entries while the specialist
contractors or suppliers category attracted a
healthy number of entries – ranging from admix-
ture suppliers to suppliers of specialist products.
It was never a major category.
This year, however, this category attracted a
large number of entries – 24 (of the 58 entries
in this competition) that ranged from innovative
scaffolding design, geotechnical contractors,
impressive roofing, restoration of historical
buildings to precast products. One of the judges,
Nico Maas – who is a former MBA president
and currently on the cidb board – explained this
phenomenon. He says that major construction
companies are now outsourcing contracting skills
and have become more like project managers
than contractors.
The Best Projects 2016 entries reveal that
it is no longer a case of ‘business as usual’
in the construction industry. There are
seven categories in these awards: civil
engineering, building contractors, civil
and building contractors outside South
Africa, specialist contractors or suppliers,
professional services, PPPs and our AfriSam
sponsored category for excellence in
sustainable construction.
This year’s Best Projects Awards received 58 entries. Here Trueman
Goba, one of the three judges, assesses one of these entries. Judging
took place on 5 October.
Another positive note
The FNB/BER Civil Confidence Index gained
11 points to register a level of 52 in 3Q2016.
Civil confidence has gained 24 points in
total since 1Q2016. The current level of the
index indicates that slightly more than half
of respondents are satisfied with prevailing
business conditions.
“The less keen tendering competition
lifted profitability somewhat. However, it is
important to note that tendering compe-
tition can ease due to an increase in the
number of tenders or a fall in the number
of firms tendering or a combination of the
two”, remarked Jason Muscat, senior industry
analyst at FNB. Read the full article on page 5.
This year’s competition also revealed another
aspect: the days of multi-billon rand projects
that seemed to win every award are, for now
at least, something of the past. The merit list of
this year’s competition – which will be revealed
at an awards function in Johannesburg on
9 November – is not only the longest in the eight
years I have managed Best Projects, but it shows
the entire range of projects: from small projects
that required artisan-like skills to impressive larger
projects that took years to complete and required
a multitude of skills.
Our December issue is dedicated to the
entrants and winners of these awards and will
illustrate just how innovative, diverse and vibrant
the construction industry in South Africa is.
Wilhelm du Plessis
Editor