Construction World July 2016

PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS

GROWTH NODES

Concrete footprint in

Background Since September 2015, its new batching plant in Phoenix has been supplying concrete for the construction of the massive Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital, and it will also be the source of material for a large low cost housing project in the area. According to AfriSam’s Marietjie Thompson, the building materials supplier is positioning itself to seize a share of the promised massive spending on infrastructure by eThekwini Municipality in the Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu (INK) areas. The local government has already made known its plans of investing billions of Rands into housing projects to help uplift these areas over the next five years. Clinching the project While the company has bolstered its production and supply capacities in the area its strong Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment credentials places it in a very strategic position when tendering for public sector contracts. This was one of the biggest reasons for AfriSam clinching the concrete supply for Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital. and supply capacities in the northern areas of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. South Africa’s leading concrete solutions provider, AfriSam has strengthened its readymix production

More than providing members of the INK community with important health care services, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Department of Health wants the build to uplift INK communities during the construc- tion programme. For example, one of the key objectives of the construction programme is that 30% of all sub-contracts are let out to 100% black- owned companies. This is over and above its strict require- ments to maximise employment opportuni- ties and skills transfer during the build. By the end of the year, it is anticipated that there will be about 2 000 people from the INK commu- nities employed on the site when fittings and finishing works start. AfriSam is supplying 40 000 m 3 of concrete to Aveng Grinaker-LTA Building and its joint venture partner, Enza Construction, who arrived on site in January 2015 to start tackling the four year contract. Strong supply The Phoenix batching plant is a mere 1,5 km from the site and has a production capacity of 40 m 3 an hour. This plant services what is referred to as the P.I.N.K. area which encom- passes Phoenix, Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu. Six readymix trucks deliver 600 m 3 of concrete to the construction site per day, while three more ferry concrete from AfriSam’s Ottawa operation. This strategy mitigates any risk to customers should there be an unforeseen interruption at one of the plants. In addition to supplementing production and supply capacities at Phoenix for the hospital project the Ottawa plant, located just more than 12 km away from the construction site, is supplying major developments well

AfriSam delivers 600 m 3 of concrete to the site every day.

under way in Cornubia and Umhlanga. Both plants receive a steady supply of quality cement from AfriSam’s grinding station in Roodepoort and aggregates from its Verulam quarry. Mix design Thompson says the company did four mix designs for the Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital. These were for the slabs, suspended pressive strength of 30 MPa, while 35 MPa concrete is being used for the columns and suspended slabs. The materials producer also helped the JV to co-ordinate the use of the different mixes on site, once the batches had been delivered. slabs and columns. About 80% of the concrete for the structure has a com-

24

By the end of the year, it is anticipated that there will be about 2 000 people on the site.

Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital is a positive signal of more to come in the surrounding areas.

CONSTRUCTION WORLD JULY 2016 I W L J 2016