Construction World November 2015

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD NOVEMBER 2015
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COMMENT
EDITOR
Wilhelm du Plessis
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Erna Oosthuizen
LAYOUT & DESIGN
Lesley Testa
CIRCULATION
Karen Smith
TOTAL CIRCULATION:
(Second Quarter ’15)
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Karen Grant
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When I startedmanaging this awards programme
in 2010, a record 74 entries were received – obvi-
ously buoyed by the construction boom leading
up to the World Cup. In the years that followed,
Best Projects received upwards of 60 entries
(many of which still had direct or indirect links
to this boom period). While there was a marked
drop the civil engineering and building contrac-
tors entries, there were dramatic increases in the
specialist supplier or contractor and professional
services categories.
The judging of this year’s entries took place
early in October. The competition still received a
healthy number of entries – 51, but significantly
less than the 74 of six years ago. Construction
activity is directly influenced by political and
economic factors – albeit that it has a lagging
effect. Even though the downward trend in the
amount of entries won’t be arrested in a year or
two, one can only hope that, in the long term,
there will be a lasting solution.
The African National Congress (ANC)
emerged from its fourth National General
Council in October – reportedly re-energised
with a bold commitment to securing a decisive
victory for the party in the 2016 Local Govern-
ment Elections. Various aspects were discussed
Best Projects, Construction
World’s recognition of
excellence in the construction
world, illustrates the breadth of
innovation, diversity, ingenuity
and complexity of South African
civils and building projects. It is
also an indicator of how healthy
(or unhealthy) the South African
construction industry is.
Two of the three judges for Construction World’s Best Projects, Trueman Goba
and Rob Newberry, hard at work during the judging of this year’s competition.
@ConstWorldSA
worldmagazinesa
and prioritised during this forum. Aspects that
directly influence the economy (and indirectly
construction) are:
1. It was decided that Eskom needs
to revamp aging power stations in
partnership with public industry (coming
back to Best Projects: for the second year
running there were no PPP entries), while
the cost implications of building nuclear
power plants should be investigated.
2. The mining industry, particularly the
stand-off over black-empowerment,
must be resolved if there is any chance
of rescuing SA’s ailing mining industry.
3. Manufacturing incentives must
be reviewed to ensure that they
support jobs
4. State backing should be given to the
steel industry.
5. The laws regulating the oil and gas
industries must be finalised so they
provide certainty to investors.
6. SA’s budget should focus on investment
and not consumption expenditure.
7. A way to secure funding for infra-
structure projects that is more favourable
than it has often been in the past, must
be found – probable through pacts with
the financial services industry.
8. A minimum wage will be implemented –
once a proper study has been conducted.
9. An agency will be established that will
vet all strategic workers and officials at
state-owned companies.
One can but hope that these are not merely
empty promises to get maximumpublic support
during the upcoming, and very important, local
government elections.
Wilhelm du Plessis
Editor