Construction World February 2020

COMMENT

Being able to claim the tallest building in your country is symbolic – a psychological boost for the country and its construction industry. Building tall buildings illustrates a country’s ability for complex engineering and construction innovation while it implies that it has the right skills and enough money for what is an expensive exercise.

A frica, unlike Asian and Middle Eastern countries that have nine of the world’s top 10 highest skyscrapers, was a late starter in terms of constructing tall buildings. The skyscrapers in these countries were all built in the last decade and the highest, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai is a staggering 830 m high (to its tip). The current tallest building in Africa is in South Africa – The Leonardo in Sandton. ,W LV P KLJK OHVV WKDQ D WKLUG RI WKH Burj Khalifa), has won a slew of awards IRU GHVLJQ DQG FRQVWUXFWLRQ H[FHOOHQFH and now dominates the Sandton skyline. Despite the fact that its developer, Legacy Group recently cancelled the contract with construction group Aveng in a dispute over delays, the building has surpassed The Carlton Centre in the Johannesburg CBD to claim the number one spot in the tall buildings stakes. The Carlton Centre had been the tallest building in Africa from 1973 WR P 2YHU WKH QH[W IHZ \HDUV WKH WRS positions in Africa will look quite different. &RQVWUXFWLRQ RI WKH P KLJK 0RKDPPHG

VI Tower in the Moroccan capital Rabat started last year and will be Africa’s tallest skyscraper when it is completed by May 7KH EXLOGLQJ ZLOO KDYH ͥRRUV KRVWLQJ D OX[XU\ KRWHO RͦFHV OX[XU\ apartments as well as an observatory at the top of the tower. The Mohammed VI Tower’s reign may be short lived though. The F Tower, to be built in the Ivory Coast city of Abidjan, will peak at P 7KH WRZHU DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH DUFKLWHFW ‘will be an architectural feat resembling an African mask’. It will, however, still only be a third of the height of the Burj Khalifa. The Carlton Centre was the tallest EXLOGLQJ LQ $IULFD IRU \HDUV +RZHYHU the recent and future changes in the tallest building in Africa stakes is indicative of increased activity in Africa. Weathering a tough trough The construction of a building such as The Leonardo creates a false sense that all is well and that there is renewed activity in the South Africa construction industry. Sadly it is not the case. The status quo of the last

few years is continuing – and will for some time. The South African construction sector LV DOO EXW RQ LWV NQHHV H[DFHUEDWHG E\ ORZ infrastructure spending by government. There are pockets of growth but also pockets of decline, a stagnant scenario overall. Collectively the industry is awaiting an upturn which cannot come soon enough. While it does, Construction World is still the ideal vehicle for reaching the construction industry to advertise products and services. Apart from its solid reputation (having been published for the last 38 years), it offers a print issue with a circulation of 6 685, a weekly targeted newsletter that is PDLOHG WR LQER[HV ZKLOH RXU ZHEVLWH carries daily news. Apart from these we have YDULRXV EUDQG H[WHQVLRQV ZLWK ZKLFK ZH serve the construction industry

Wilhem du Plessis Editor

@ConstWorldSA

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EDITOR & DEPUTY PUBLISHER Wilhelm du Plessis constr@crown.co.za ADVERTISING MANAGER Erna Oosthuizen ernao@crown.co.za LAYOUT & GRAPHIC ARTIST Katlego Montsho CIRCULATION Karen Smith

PUBLISHER Karen Grant

TOTAL CIRCULATION: (Third Quarter '19) 6 685

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The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor or the publisher. PRINTED BY Tandym Cape

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD FEBRUARY 2020