Construction World June 2021

Construction JUNE 2021 P U B L I C A T I O N S CROWN COVERING THE WORLD OF CONSTRUCTION

WORLD

KELLER PREVAILS OVER challenging embankment support project

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CONTENTS

04 Pandemic catalyses construction digital renaissance One of the few benefits of COVID-19 was that it has forced construction to rethink things. 11 The new Ekhaya mall opens in Embalenhle This shopping centre will benefit the Secunda area greatly. 14 Nelson Mandela Bay Metro’s latest green building Algoa FM’s new building is saving thousands of kilogrammes of CO 2 emissions. 15 GBCSA urges building owners to know and show their energy performance Some buildings will be required by law to display an Energy Performance Certificate. 18 Piling at Val de Vie Geopile Africa undertook a challenging project at this exclusive estate. 28 On-site demolition assessment service This is a service that Jet Demolition offers its mining and industrial clients. 30 Building an architectural legacy with Corobrik Five architects say how Corobrik realised their visions. 34 Spatial development disrupted: COVID-19 is changing the way we build The way we organise cities has been re-thought post 2020. 38 Construction of mines buoys demand for engineers Mines have an increased need for consulting engineers for a range of construction work.

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ON THE COVER

REGULARS

Leveraging many years of experience in undertaking daunting geotechnical projects, Keller, working in close co-operation with Transnet Freight Rail, has completed a challenging slope stabilisation project in Durban, South Africa. Transnet’s Thornwood Railway Station, located west of Durban, and the steep embankment on which it is situated, forms part of the critical national railways network line that transports goods between Johannesburg and Durban. Excessive geotechnical movements were identified at the embankment of the station, prompting national rail company, Transnet Freight Rail to act accordingly to avert a possible total collapse of the infrastructure. Turn to page 16

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Marketplace

Property

Environment & Sustainability

Civil engineering

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COMMENT

According to the report “Construction in South Africa – Key Trends and Opportunities to 2025 (Q1 2021)” South Africa’s construction industry is expected to grow by 6,1% during the next decade after the 16,5% contraction during 2020 which was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

T his contraction was because of the six-week lockdown that was imposed following the outbreak of COVID-19. Because of the impact on construction activity, the industry’s value-add fell by 21,6% year on year in Q3 of 2020. This was in addition to the massive contraction of 33,3% during Q2 of 2020 (according to Statistics South Africa). The industry was amongst those industries that were hardest hit by job losses, with 259 118 jobs lost in Q3 of 2020 (compared to Q3 of 2019). What goes down, must come up Cognisant of the vital role infrastructure development can play in economic recovery, the South African government, in June 2020, announced a 10 year infrastructure investment plan of some R2,3-trillion. This made provision for investments in agriculture, digital infrastructure, energy, housing, sanitation, transport and water. The investment is expected to create more than

1,8-million jobs over the next decade and is primarily from pledges made by the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB) and Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA). To coincide with this, the government rolled out its R1,1-trillion Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. This ambitious plan has prioritised four things: infrastructure investments; expansion of the energy generation capacity; job creation to support livelihoods and industrial growth. Growth between 2022 and 2025 is expected to average only 0,2% – primarily due to the deterioration of the fiscal situation in the country. According to the report the government “expects the country's public debt to rise from 63,3% of GDP in 2020 to 81,8% by 2021, and further increase to 93,5% by 2026”. When looking at the numbers the severity of the impact of COVID-19 is clear: the total value of plans passed for building construction fell by 36,6% YoY in the first eleven months of 2020.

Best Projects 2021 Despite the contraction of the industry, the 20 th Best Projects Awards will be held in November. It is now awaiting entries. Projects that were completed last year or that are currently at the half way mark, can be entered. Despite trying times, there still is excellence and this must be recognised.

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MARKETPLACE

PANDEMIC CATALYSES

If there is one benefit to be gleaned from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that it has brought the construction industry to the brink of a digital renaissance. CONSTRUCTION DIGITAL RENAISSANCE

“T he emphasis on quality, safety and timely delivery of projects is greater now than ever before, and companies are being forced to accelerate their adoption of technology,” says Databuild CEO Morag Evans. “It’s no longer a question of if companies will digitalise, but when and how they are going to bring their businesses into the 21 st century and adapt their day-to-day operations to streamline the building process.” Evans points to six emerging trends significantly impacting the construction industry and which participants should seriously consider incorporating into their business model if they wish to enhance their offering while improving efficiencies in the value chain. Cloud computing The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for real-time communication and information sharing in the construction industry, not only between the office and the job site, but also between various stakeholders such as architects, developers, suppliers and contractors. Cloud computing not only makes it possible to check on the status of a project without having to physically visit the construction site, but also provides a holistic view of the project data which facilitates decision-making and reduces delays and budget overspends. Internet of things Closely allied to cloud computing is the internet of things (IoT). Internet-connected devices are placed around the construction site and enable the collection of all sorts of data around site conditions, activity and performance. Additionally, biometric sensors can be worn by workers to track their temperature, heart rate and other vital signs. Safety officers are immediately notified if elevated readings are detected. “IoT has become particularly appealing in the pandemic-ridden world as project managers look for effective screening measures to prevent the spread of the virus, and the implications for health and safety, as well as productivity, security and cost reduction are enormous,” says Evans. Building information modelling Building information modelling (BIM) is rapidly becoming a game changer in the construction industry. More than just a three-dimensional representation of a building and its physical and functional characteristics, BIM can be used to generate exact quantities of materials required in the building and show how these will hold up over time. It also detects potential design clashes before construction begins, thus reducing change orders and rework, and simulates construction schedules so that each phase of the building process can be accurately planned. Any updates are

communicated in real time to project participants, which means everyone works from the most up-to-date information. “The primary benefit of BIM is that it enhances communication between professionals and contractors, streamlines time, cost and efficiency during the construction process, and helps all project participants produce a better product,” says Evans. Virtual reality The immersive visualisation qualities of virtual reality (VR) are enabling architects to better showcase their designs to not only clients, but also construction companies, thus enhancing their perception of a proposed building. Additionally, construction business owners are increasingly using VR to train and upskill their construction workers in areas of safety, equipment operation and building systems installation. Robots and drones It won’t be long before drones (or unmanned aerial vehicles) become commonplace on construction sites. Drones provide construction teams with an overhead view of equipment, materials and people and are rapidly becoming integral to improving efficiencies on site. For example, traditional site surveys can take weeks or even months to complete while a drone carries out the survey in minutes. Drones can also be used to deliver building materials, monitor project progress, conduct site inspections and identify potential Simply put, blockchain is a ground-breaking tool used to record and track transactions, agreements or contracts across a network of peer-to-peer computers. “As construction projects become increasingly complex and consequently, difficult to coordinate, failure to agree on project fundamentals can lead to mistrust and disputes among participants,” Evans points out. “By utilising blockchain technology, construction companies can automate the contractual process to better manage supply chains and resources, and accelerate project delivery in a manner that is fair and transparent to all participants. Late payments and disputes are reduced and cash flow is improved, which is particularly beneficial to smaller contractors. The end result is holistically enhanced trust within the industry.” It is clear that the future of a smarter, safer and more efficient construction industry lies in digital technology and it will soon become a necessity in any construction business. Undoubtedly, those who act quickly and decisively to embrace digitalisation are the ones that will emerge as industry leaders, Evans concludes. ▄ safety hazards. Blockchain

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THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION IN THE NATIONAL VACCINE ROLLOUT The comprehensive strategy put in place by t he South African government to vaccinate nearly 70% of citizens in order to achieve population immunity against COVID-19 represents one of the country’s largest and most complex logistical undertakings ever. It is anticipated to be as extensive as the national HIV treatment programme, and even dwarfs the national, provincial and local government elections in terms of the number of people who have to be reached within a short timeframe. “I t will require the active involvement of all spheres of government, all sectors of society and all citizens and residents of our completed two new hospitals within the last year, alongside facility upgrades for the COVID-19 response.

country,” according to President Cyril Ramaphosa. Having already worked with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in terms of programme management support, Zutari is offering its expertise on a national and provincial level, as well as to the Premiers Offices and the five major metropolitan councils. “We have to scale up from about 10-million injections a year at present to upward of 60-million, depending if we opt for a single- or two-dose option,” explains Kate Roper, Client Director for Government, Health and Education at Zutari. Therefore the DOH has opted to bring private logistics service providers onboard to coordinate the importation and distribution of the different vaccines available. “Getting the correct people and number of vaccines to the right place, along with the necessary vaccinators on a particular date and time, is going to require massive coordination between all stakeholders,” highlights Roper. Zutari’s work for the DOH and IEC to date has focused on centralising information from a variety of data sets to create simple dashboards that can quickly and efficiently flag any risks. In terms of the vaccination drive itself, this includes contingencies such as an unexpected number of people arriving at a vaccination site, vaccinators themselves becoming ill and hence being unable to work, or even potential power outages that mean fridges cannot operate. Here a rapid response is critical to ensure that the entire process runs smoothly and engenders trust among the public. Zutari has also assisted the Gauteng Provincial Disaster Management Centre in Midrand with the Emergency Management System it uses to plan patient transport and deploy ambulances when needed. On the healthcare infrastructure front, Zutari has

The first was Cintocare Head and Neck Hospital in Pretoria, the first Green Star South Africa Custom Healthcare Design certified hospital and the first Green Star rated healthcare facility on the continent. The second was the R3-billion Dr. Pixley Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital in KwaMashu north of Durban, which was fast-tracked to manage the COVID-19 pandemic response in KwaZulu-Natal. Zutari has also played a key role in the National Ventilator Project for the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. This voluntary collaboration between experts from diverse backgrounds saw the local design and development of four innovative breathing devices that have proven essential in providing oxygen therapy for COVID-19 patients. Looking to the future, Roper predicts that the experimental mRNA technology used to develop the COVID-19 vaccine in record time is likely to result in new advances in the treatment of cancer, for example. “The other area where we are likely to see major advances is in infection prevention and control, where tried-and- tested materials like copper and silver are likely to become more prominent as surface finishes due to their anti-microbial properties,” she elaborates. In terms of the likely progression of the pandemic, Roper points to recent serological studies highlighting that nearly half of all South Africans have been exposed to COVID-19 and developed antibodies. The issue of population immunity itself is complicated by the fact that the coronavirus is mutating rapidly, which means that a yearly booster shot is likely to be required even once the majority of the population has been vaccinated. “What it means is that we cannot let our guard down, even with the vaccines, and will have to practice social distancing, mask-wearing and sanitising measures for a long time to come,” she concludes. ▄

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MARKETPLACE

R1,35-BILLION CONTRIBUTED TO VACCINE COSTS

Compensation of Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act who qualify for the COVID-19 vaccination. Ndivhuwo Manyonga, FEM CEO (pictured) , said: “Over the past year, we have been confronted with the dire consequences of a global pandemic impacting the world. From loss of income to temporary or permanent disablement caused by COVID-19, we have witnessed the suffering of many workers.” “Thus, as a collective, we have taken up the responsibility to cover the cost of medical treatment and the replacement of lost income, in the event that workers become temporary or permanently disabled or unfortunately die due to COVID-19 acquired in the workplace.” “Through this, we want to demonstrate that we are fully behind our nation during this global crisis. To date we have accepted 12 523 related claims across all three organisations and we continue to compensate workers that suffer disablement and or loss of income due to this pandemic,” added Manyonga. “Through this collective contribution, we hope to assist at least 3-million of the estimated 10-million uninsured workers and contribute to help protect South Africans against the virus and curb the pandemic,”

she explained. “We sincerely believe that if we all work together, we can overcome COVID-19. Let us continue to be vigilant with the sanitisation, hygienic, and protective protocols at workplaces in the public and in our homes. We also take this opportunity to extend the appeal for all businesses to continue to contribute towards the roll-out of vaccines in South Africa and play their part in getting the country and the economy back on track,” added Manyonga. In addition, the organisations have also taken up responsibility for the cost of medical treatment and the replacement of lost income as a result of temporary or permanent disablement caused by COVID-19 acquired in the workplace in terms of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act. FEM is one of only two private sector companies that have been issued a license to provide workmen’s compensation services under this Act. FEM focuses on employers in the building and construction industry. The insurance covers a wide range of types of construction work, from demolition to painting and plastering; tombstone erection to the construction of swimming pools; and electrical contracting to gas fitting and plumbing, amongst numerous other construction sub-categories. ▄ allowances which employees are entitled to, which are part of the conditions of employment applicable to the whole civil engineering sector. In many instances, employers and employees are not aware of these, she notes. She highlights that being registered with the BCCEI facilitates the situation where employers and employees can be assisted in understanding what conditions are applicable to them. An example would be where the BCCEI requires businesses to belong to the Construction Industry Retirement Benefit Fund (CIRBF). Many smaller companies do not make any retirement provisions for their staff, but the BCCEI ensures that they attend to this vital aspect of employee well-being. “Companies must also have a minimum funeral benefit in place for their employees,” she says. “Where business owners don’t have such schemes, there is an industry retirement benefit fund, medical aid and funeral benefits, although these are not administered by the BCCEI.” ▄

T he Compensation Fund, Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA), and The Federated Employers Mutual Assurance Company (RF) Proprietary Limited (FEM) have together contributed R1,35-billion towards funding the vaccination costs for workers who do not have medical aid, heeding the President’s call for organisations to help finance and facilitate the roll-out of vaccines in South Africa and beyond. The three entities will also contribute towards the cost of vaccines for those receiving a pension in terms of the R egistration with a bargaining council is indeed compulsory; but when a company registers, it benefits everyone. This is according to Lindie Fourie (pictured) , operations manager at the Bargaining Council for the Civil Engineering Industry (BCCEI), who emphasises that both the employers and employees are definitely better off when the company registers. “Being part of the BCCEI makes a company an active participant in a more stable and sustainable sector,” says Fourie. “This is mainly because the BCCEI facilitates collective bargaining on wages and general terms of employment, helping employers and labour to arrive at a fair outcome for all.” The result of collective bargaining, she argues, is invariably of benefit to both employers, many of whom do not have the resources to deal with long-term negotiations, and employees, who may not be sufficiently organised at plant or company level to present their demands. A fairer outcome for all also ensures that the general working

Better conditions for civils employees under Bargaining Council

environment is less disrupted, and the necessary energy and resources can be applied where required. There are also certain minimum

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MARKETPLACE

SA CEMENT PRODUCERS ENGAGING FOR SUSTAINABILITY T he cement industry in South Africa continues to engage government to create conditions that will sustain the sector’s local production capacity and grow market demand.

make a significant contribution to the skills needed by the construction industry to take it forward into the future,” highlights Mashau. Commencing her new role in February this year, Nontu Chiluvane is taking over from Regional Manager Trevor Griffiths. A Motheo Director, Board member and shareholder, she will head up Motheo’s presence in the KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape. Chiluvane holds a Master of Science degree in Real Estate, as well as a BSc Honours in Property Development and a BSc in Quantity Surveying. She is registered as a PrQS with the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession and is currently pursuing a PhD in Construction Management. Chiluvane has a decade’s experience as Chief Director of Property Management and Social Housing at the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements. She will work closely with Mashau and Griffiths, whose long tenure has coincided with the steady evolution of Motheo into a fully-fledged general contractor. “What is important is that we are leading the charge to effect meaningful transformation in what has traditionally been a male- dominated industry. Our achievements in this regard have been notable to date, and we have exciting plans to continue building on the work begun by our founder Dr. Thandi Ndlovu,” concludes Chiluvane. ▄ driving down the carbon footprint in the cement and concrete industry. He highlighted that cement imports were on the increase again, having peaked in 2014 at about 1,2-million tonnes. Importers were generally from countries which did not have a carbon tax like that which was recently applied by the South African government to local producers. Neither did the importers contribute in terms of Social and Labour Plan initiatives, as they did not conduct any mining activities locally, as well as other projects related to the upliftment of local communities. “When you have a situation where importers of cement are not subject to these added costs, it poses a threat to the viability of the local industry, and will ultimately have a negative implication on the levels of employment and social transformation,” he said. These imbalances were exacerbating the stresses arising from the country’s longest ever business cycle contraction, which had seen infrastructure spending decline and had driven some large construction companies into business rescue. The COVID-19 pandemic had then accelerated this downward trajectory, leading to dire conditions in the large civils and building industries. “It has become increasingly difficult to maintain profitability in an environment of surplus cement capacity and declining infrastructure spending by government,” he said. “The sector’s total installed capacity is currently about 20-million tonnes, with demand at only around 13-million tonnes.” Despite the poor performance of the economy, Tomes noted that the South African cement sector was continuing to improve its climate mitigation performance in terms of carbon footprint. The local industry was a global leader in developing blended cement technology, making use of waste products such as ground granulated blast furnace slag and pulverised fly ash to extend and enhance its cements. “This has allowed companies like AfriSam, for example, to achieve average emission levels in its cement production of 574 g/kg – which is well below the global average of 890 g/kg,” he said. ▄

Speaking online at the Cemtech International Cement Conference, AfriSam Marketing and Sales Executive Richard Tomes (pictured) noted that the rise in cement imports and the application of the carbon tax were among the key issues under discussion. He said that the local industry was making steady progress in its climate mitigation journey, and that South Africa was among the leading countries in

Motheo spearheads transformation in the construction industry

M otheo Construction Group, the largest black women-managed and lead construction company in South Africa, is finalising its new management structure as it strengthens its footprint in all nine provinces and diversifies into new business segments. This is on the back of 20%-a-year growth for the past five years, against a 50% decline in the construction industry during the past decade. “Despite past difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we hold a positive view of the future. I believe the Motheo story is unique in South Africa, especially in the construction industry,” comments CEO Lettie Mashau. Active in housing, general building and civils engineering, Motheo has specialist teams and companies focusing on electrical reticulation and works, water-on-demand management technology for installations and fibreoptic reticulation. Fully conversant with turnkey design and construct projects, Motheo is a participant of the Public Private Partnership that developed and manages the Department of International Relations Campus in Pretoria. In addition, it also has the flexibility to carry out developments for select clients. All of this is supported by its Academy, which hopes to partner further with the government as it drives skills development as a pillar of economic growth. “This represents a major opportunity for us to

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PPC WANTS MORE ACTION ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

PPC has cautioned against the slow pace of infrastructure development which could result in more losses of jobs and value for companies in the construction and feeder sectors such as cement and concrete.

such as Transnet and Eskom in related service provisions. “It is vital that our policymakers and regulators appreciate the opportunity that is lost to imports. The 1-million tons of cement that is imported to South Africa is the equivalent of a fully integrated cement plant – such as PPC’s De Hoek factory in the Western Cape, which employs about 300 people, running at an estimated value of R900- million in annual operational spend. The bulk of that spend would cover workers’ salaries and much needed revenue to state-owned companies, Eskom and Transnet as well as many SMMEs and local service providers,” said Lekula. “We need a construction industry master plan to grow and protect the local cement industry and other elements of the value chain. We need movement on the infrastructure build and maintenance programme, and swift action in local content designation for all SOE & government infrastructure projects to sustain and create more jobs in the sector,” added Lekula. While calling on policymakers to move with speed, PPC has continued to demonstrate confidence in the country’s growth prospects by investing in SMME development, recommissioning mothballed plants and expanding health care access to communities in which the company operates. ▄

I nfrastructure development has been identified as a key pillar for stimulating economic growth and job creation. However, a pandemic- induced economic depression along with South Africa’s fiscal constraints and a lacklustre approach to resolving the infrastructure backlog threatens to derail the economic recovery promise. “The social and economic difficulties facing South Africa demand exceptional and accountable leadership from all sectors. We need leaders who are motivated by action rather than talk in tackling increasing joblessness and the country’s stagnant economy,” said Njombo Lekula, Managing Director of PPC Southern Africa (pictured) . Lekula was speaking at the DEVAC INFRASFUTURE 2021 conference in Cape Town. The exclusive two-day annual conference brings together public and private sector decision-makers – including multinational executives, international investors, African governments and various other institutions – to address challenges facing the African infrastructure sector. Lekula said the industry noted with great anticipation the government’s commitment to invest in infrastructure development, including the repair and maintenance of existing assets. “Notwithstanding government’s leadership role in this aspect, government cannot do it alone. It is time to forge stronger partnerships to resolve funding challenges and other related issues that are delaying the realisation of our economic goals. It is also urgent that we have more agile and pro-growth policies and regulations that will protect our sector from the harmful effects of imports, whilst enabling accelerated growth of SMMEs,” said Lekula. The cement and concrete industry was already limping along prior to the COVID-19 pandemic due to a torpid economy, weakened construction sector and the unmitigated flood of cheap imports. The industry depends on natural resource inputs – 97% of locally-sourced inputs including limestone and ash. Cement production is capital- intensive and the industry benefits state owned enterprises (SOE)

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MARKETPLACE

The South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) believes that a professional, and accountable, public service will help to eradicate inefficiencies that impact government’s vision as set out in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030. IMPORTANCE OF PROFESSIONALISING THE PUBLIC SERVICE

insights, who said, “I think of civil engineering services in the public sector, on a foundational level, as creating the possibility of a dignified life. Without this, we are not offering a dignified life to our citizens.” This was the lens through which he discussed public service in South Africa, which he said suffers from a poor institutional culture.” He highlighted that working in the public service is difficult, with a higher demand for accountability. “We need a public sector that is continually striving to provide the best service possible. Following this, Dr Molokwane highlighted what it means

“O nly a collective effort within a supportive political, bureaucratic, technical, and leadership context will assist this change,” comments SAICE CEO, Vishaal Lutchman. Emphasising this point, the institution hosted a webinar on the Professionalisation of the Public Service last night, with a focus on how it relates to infrastructure development. Over 1 100 people registered for the webinar, demonstrating the importance of the topic. Chaired by Nthabeleng Lentsoane, SAICE Head of Marketing & PR, panellists gathered to share their thoughts on the road ahead, which is guided by the draft National Implementation Framework towards the Professionalisation of the Public Service. The framework aims to develop capable public service underpinned by a high standard of professional ethics from an adequately skilled and fully equipped workforce. Panellists agreed that this is an ambitious plan indeed. This webinar featured a variety of thoughts and insights from government, corporate and academia, with a highly experienced panel of professionals, including: • Dr Pulane Molokwane: Nuclear Physicist, Water and Environmental Engineering Specialist • Professor Yunus Ballim: Professor, WITS School of Civil and Environmental Engineering • Dr Somadoda Fikeni: Commissioner, Public Service Commission • Marcia Maidi: Civil Structures Asset Manager, Rand Water • Vishaal Lutchman: SAICE Chief Executive Officer Lutchman, who was moderating the dialogue began by saying that professionalisation is crucial for meeting key strategic infrastructure development objectives. “We can’t afford to wait any longer. We are living in crisis mode and when you live in crisis mode, time is a problem. This has a prominent impact on how the civil engineering industry operates, and how infrastructure is planned and executed.” He called on Prof. Ballim to provide his

to be an ethical professional, emphasising the importance of attitude and behaviour. “We need to go back to the basics of our constitution, and serve our people with empathy. This applies to the entire infrastructure sector, because the mistakes that we make impact both the public and private sectors.” She said that an ethical professional is one who knows what they are doing and is fully equipped to do their duties – “the right people, with the right skills, where they need to be”. Dr Fikeni highlighted the role of all infrastructure stakeholders in creating a culture of professionalisation: “Our problems have become so complex that government alone will not do. It will take the public sector, private sector, and civil society – and every other player – to be professional and ethical. We have left the task of nation-building largely to the political and business elite, but we have not invested in the capacitation of citizens who become a pool from which we extract the very people who we want to be ethical.” He recommended a multidisciplinary approach to appointing public services where, for example, it is not sufficient to be technically competent – one must also show capacity for ethics, accountability, and professional conduct. Maidi spoke from the perspective of being in the public service. “Resourcing is a problem for us – for the few civil engineers who are employed in the public sector. The skills and competence required is a great challenge, so how are we able to drive the goals laid out in the NDP? It’s lack of resources which prevent us from properly planning, implementing, and maintaining our infrastructure.” She emphasised the importance of training young engineers and developing talent who can help drive the objectives of the NDP. The webinar discussions followed themes around the importance of values and ethics in caring for our people through public administration. Audience participation spurred continued engagement on this important topic, and various stakeholders took the opportunity to have their say. ▄

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PROPERTY

The Ekhaya Mall opened recently to bring long-awaited shopping convenience to the community of Embalenhle, Secunda, in the coalfields of Mpumalanga. THE NEW EKHAYA MALL OPENS IN EMBALENHLE, MPUMALANGA

T he Ekhaya Mall is a development by S-Identity Holdings and co-owned by S-Identity Holdings, Cashbuild South Africa and Nomatiki Trading Enterprise. It is a significant investment distinguished by excellent retail property fundamentals, from its unmissable visibility to its effortless access for its shoppers, whether using public or private transport. The mall opened amid much excitement. Its first two phases of some 10 700 m 2 were officially launched by dignitaries and co-owners on 28 April 2021, a day before the mall’s public opening on 29 April 2021. Its 16-month development process started in October 2019. Based on shopper and retailer demand, the mall’s third phase of 1 800 m 2 is already on the cards. The Ekhaya Mall comprises 45 shops, including anchors Cashbuild, Shoprite and Roots Butchery, which all offer their very latest concepts to customers. A Sasol filling station is integrated with the development, as is a new 17 taxi bay facility. Both are ideal matches for a mall located at a busy crossroad intersection. Linked to Sasol filling station, the mall features a 24-hour trading area where select tenants can trade around the clock. Besides an excellent line-up of anchors, the Ekhaya Mall has a great range of shopping, with leading names including Ackermans, Pep and Pep Cell, Shoprite Liquor, The Local Choice, general dealer Nizams, King Pie and the financial services of Absa, Capitec, and FNB, with Nedbank ATM to open shortly. Celebrating the warm local climate, there’s also outdoor dining from KFC, Romans Pizza, Roots Grill and Roots Grill Sports. David Lieberman, Director of S-Identity Holdings, says, “We are thrilled to open the Ekhaya Mall. It has been an exciting and rewarding development process, although at times somewhat challenging, especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, we believe we have stayed true to our vision to create a mall that is all about its local community. The Ekhaya Mall is at a natural gathering point right on the doorstep of its community, with a tenant mix that provides quality goods, services, experiences and great customer service. The mall’s fresh, modern design beautifully reflects its place and people. It is a great asset for the social and economic prosperity of this community.” The development meaningfully enhanced the local economy by

creating numerous jobs and prioritising contracting employment and services from the local community wherever possible. During peak times, more than 560 people were working on site on an average day, some of which included the project’s brickwork and formwork subcontractors, electricians, plumbers and steel fixers. The mall’s retail [and operational] function have also generated around 260 permanent jobs at the mall and more than 100 off-site jobs and several temporary employment opportunities. The Ekhaya Mall enjoys a prime position at the bustling intersection of the R580 and the R546, right at the entrance to the Embalenhle township. It is located ideally to serve the community of Embalenhle and consumers from nearby Evander, Secunda and Trichardspruit. Positioned for superb visibility and easy access from both busy crossroads, the mall’s development has also brought substantial improvements to the surrounding roads for everyone who uses them. The Ekhaya Mall’s entrances, defined by bright splashes of colour, are stand-out architectural features that make it easy to navigate. Inside, shoppers will enjoy natural light beaming through high-level windows. Plants and greenery are integrated into the retail experience, with a promotional court that is a focal point for activities within the mall. The mall’s thoughtful design also considers the environment in many ways, specifically using renewable energy from the sun. It will soon be installing a 650 kVA solar power solution. Indigenous low- maintenance trees, bushes and shrubbery have been planted as part of the mall’s landscaping to conserve water resources. Another highlight is the greening of the mall’s site, with 180 trees planted to commemorate lost loved ones. The first tree was planted in memory of Lieberman’s late partner, Vusi Tshabalala. Lieberman says, “The Ekhaya Mall brings to fruition the vision and hard work of many wonderful people. We are thrilled to open the Ekhaya Mall finally and excited to welcome the people of Embalenhle and its surrounds. The mall will make it easier to fulfil daily retail, banking, medical and social needs in an enjoyable, quality environment. We are incredibly proud of this quality shopping and meeting place that genuinely serves the retail needs of the entire family and community, all under one roof.” ▄

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PROPERTY

Incorporating conscious design principles that strike a balance between work and play – as well as the built space and the environment – Blok has launched its latest development ONE26 ON M, which the developer considers to be its most human-centred project to date. WHERE SANCTUARY MEETS SOCIAL CONNECTION AND SUSTAINABILITY

L ocated in the buzzing heart of the ever-popular investment destination Sea Point – and within a stone’s throw of the Promenade and MyCiti bus routes – ONE26 ON M delivers on location and lifestyle. Says Jacques van Embden, Managing Director at Blok, “Off the back of 2020, the needs and priorities of consumers have shifted, and we’ve put the city-based modernist firmly at the heart of ONE26 ON M; our response to the rising need for wellness and balance in every sphere of our lives.” He explains that with this development, Blok aimed to create a space of sanctuary, with a focus on greening the living environment. “We’re seeing a growing environmental consciousness, igniting a desire to reduce our carbon footprint and make more responsible, sustainable choices.” Over and above those features that are a standard fixture in all of Blok’s developments (such as energy efficient and water-wise fittings), the developer has added a solar PV power for common areas, as well

as a generator to ONE26 ON M. “We’ve also looked to the natural resources within our immediate environment as inspiration, and paid homage to these through the addition of green living spaces. Our aim was to create a space of calm and stillness that complements the hum of a vibrant city.” As with Blok’s previous successful development SIX ON N, ONE26 ON M again incorporates mixed typologies – offering a choice of micro, studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments – catering to a more fluid model of property ownership and usage. “We recognise that off the back of a stressful year, more of us are seeking balance, and some people are finding this through spending some time in the city, and some of their time elsewhere. Thus there is a demand for more fluid, agile offering, and this development also answers this need. “In addition, with a resurgence of tourism expected over the next few months as the vaccine roll-out gains momentum, ONE26 ON M was designed to accommodate various ownership models, such as short-stay letting.” ONE26 ON M also shows a significant amount of thoughtfulness in the features it offers. “We felt that it was important that we focus our value proposition. As we continue to see a trend of ‘living outside the home’, residents are looking to their neighbourhood to answer their needs, with location and affordability prioritised over a plethora of amenities. “Thus the amenities that we’ve included are those that either offer a sense of sanctuary; deliver on sustainability; accommodate the shift to work from home (WFH); or create a sense of community and connection within the development. This past period of lockdown has catalysed a deeper need for social interaction, as people seek to reconnect with others.” ONE26 ON M responds in kind, with amenities that include shared spaces such as a roof deck with pool, boardrooms and co-working spaces, as well as high-speed fibre connectivity. ONE26 ON M also offers on-site security and retail, and is pet-friendly. Featuring the developer’s signature Blok Raw finish, which is defined by principles of contemporary minimalism, the apartments are designed to keep costs low, while making the most of the available space. The result is that these homes feel significantly larger than their actual footprint. And with apartments starting from as little as R1,1-m inclusive of VAT, ONE26 ON M is anticipated to be attractive to both investors as well as first-time buyers – which Blok is encouraging through its proprietary financing models, giving access to buyers who may not have had the opportunity previously. “With ONE26 ON M we wanted not only to incorporate principles of sustainability and offer a sense of sanctuary, but also to encourage the experience of community both inside as well as outside the home – allowing you to tap into all the benefits the Atlantic Seaboard lifestyle offers,” concludes Van Embden. ▄

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Building on a successful 18-YEAR TRACK RECORD OF THE TUHF GROUP

The TUHF Group of companies is excited to announce the launch of TUHF21 as a 'separate but connected' operation from the Group. The objective is to enable TUHF21 to more rapidly explore other markets, particularly in townships, while growing its existing product portfolio and developing innovative new ones.

I t will remain connected to the overarching TUHF ethos of ensuring that access to finance for property entrepreneurs is optimised, urban regeneration, densification and management is scaled, and that training and mentorship of clients continues. TUHF21 will also manage all the Corporate Social Investments (CSI) activities which are an important focus of the Group. Essentially, TUHF21 will focus on three pillars to harness fresh opportunities: • Managing and growing its Intuthuko, uMaStandi, and other products. • Developing new solutions based on relevant and practical research. • Providing impact tracking and reporting services for the Group to ensure the development impact activities continue in a financially sound and highly governed manner. “As a non-profit organisation, TUHF21 remains proudly not for loss. Financial sustainability will be at the core of our future operations. It will receive an injection of capital through the sale of a portion of our shares in TUHF Holdings and will continue to accrue dividend income from its remaining shareholding. As a founding shareholder and incubator of the well- known TUHF Limited brand which operates in inner-cities and has a successful 18-year track record, TUHF21 now wants TUHF Limited to go into the world on its own and to free up TUHF21 to focus on its newer products. To this end, TUHF21 can now attract new stakeholders and grow its recently developed uMaStandi sub- brand in township markets, among other exciting products and programmes in its stable,” says Lusanda Netshitenzhe (pictured) , CEO at TUHF21. This will see the uMaStandi core lending programme driving aggressive targets to reach profitability, and all other programmes will be managed on, at minimum, a cost-plus-margin basis. The research, development and innovation work will be performed in a focused manner with clear lines of funding to each result area to ensure that applied research becomes the driver of

any new products that will be brought to market. Changing lives It comes down to making an inclusive impact and affecting real change to people’s lives. The inner-cities and townships are not easy markets. But it is in this challenging environment where TUHF21 wants to make the most impactful contributions. “We want to be able to scale uMaStandi in markets where we see opportunity, and really focus on the development work needed in the country. TUHF Limited will still be assisting us with some of the infrastructure, technology, and policies we built up over the years to ensure that TUHF21 is able to leverage on this long track record,” adds Netshitenzhe. With a philosophy of creating impact through collaboration and innovation, TUHF21 will build, develop, and incubate financial services solutions that serve urban development needs. And, while each TUHF company will have its own focus areas, they will be collaborating with TUHF21 to drive a more sustainable and resilient urban development agenda that goes beyond the traditional inner-city focus of the Group to include South Africa’s townships. Urban renewal and management In many respects, TUHF21 will be the ‘insider/outsider’ to TUHF Limited. It will optimise the urban renewal efforts of TUHF Limited and assist it better manage “It is about providing honest input on the regeneration efforts and identify ways to improve on our past efforts. The benefit is now that we are on the outside looking in, we can better see the gaps that exist and look to enhance and advance the work being done,” says Netshitenzhe. Expanding market The planned main product line of TUHF21, uMaStandi, will continue to target entrepreneurs and resident landlords who contributions to urban management, regeneration, and collaboration with communities and local government.

provide backyard accommodation in the townships. It uses the property as equity to fund a rental enterprise where the owner or entrepreneur gets the peace of mind that construction on the property to increase its revenue potential will be professionally designed and built according to the required planning permissions.TUHF21 will seek to further grow and commercialise this innovative initiative that builds on the pillars of all TUHF funding initiatives; such as ensuring that the product is scalable and able to grow rapidly, and that the product is replicable so it can be launched in all major townships across the country, sustainably. Another product TUHF21 will drive is the Intuthuko Equity Fund (IEF). Established in 2004, this is a unique inner-city property finance initiative supporting previously disadvantaged individuals who want to enter the property investment market but face equity and/or deposit constraints in accessing the finance required to do so. Netshitenzhe states that the IEF uses individual TUHF Portfolio Managers to provide extensive handholding with the entrepreneurs it funds. “They are training them in the areas where they might lack sufficient knowledge. And if more specialised skills are required, Portfolio Managers match those needs with the relevant external training and mentorship stakeholders. It is all about giving the hands-on training necessary to empower IEF clients with the means to get the most value from their property investments.” “The central mandate driving TUHF21 will be to incubate businesses through its subsidiary companies like uMaStandi and IEF, rather than having direct contact with entrepreneurs. Its main objective is to ensure that the financial solutions developed have business continuity and are sustainable while always looking for new and innovative ways to provide real development impact,” concludes Netshitenzhe. ▄

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ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

Nelson Mandela Bay’s newest green building has saved an estimated 40 000 kg of CO 2 emissions in the past 12 months, according to Algoa FMmanaging director Alfie Jay. NELSONMANDELABAYMETRO’S latest green building

T his saving in fossil fuel emissions is thanks to the iconic Algoa FM headquarters in the Baakens Valley being designed with sustainability in mind, by incorporating solar panels to minimise power use. It is the first building in Nelson Mandela Bay to have 'shade-type' solar panels, screening the windows on the north face of the building. These 41 solar panels together with the 188 solar panels on the roof have been supplemented with the first solar carport structure in the metro to be built using an aluminium cantilever frame, according to Jay. “We now generate up to 115 kW of clean power, which supplies between 35% and 45% of our needs in the five-storey media house. With the addition of 97 panels on the carport we will reduce our carbon footprint even further,” he says. The clean power also feeds one of the first electric vehicle chargers in the metro. Excess electricity is fed into the Nelson Mandela Bay grid over weekends. Technology being used to reduce power consumption in the building include the fitting of LED lights throughout, which are controlled by 40 motion sensors in low-traffic areas. Intelligent variable speed air conditioners adapt to the conditions and can be set independently for different offices, which impact positively on power consumption. Special insulation in the roof helps to keep the temperature constant. In addition, there are no hot water geysers in the kitchens or

bathrooms – they are fitted with units which heat up water when it is required. Water consumption has been reduced by using captured rainwater and condensation from the air conditioning units to flush all of the toilets in the building. The outside of the building is lit by solar street lights and the landscaping utilises spekboom, which acts as a carbon sponge. “As a leading corporate citizen, we take our responsibility very seriously and to this end, ensured that around 90 per cent of all costs related to the building were spent with local companies – with special emphasis on our small business neighbours in the Baakens River Valley, says Jay. “We are clearly pleased that this multi-million-rand investment has had a positive impact on the

local economy,” says Jay. There are also ongoing benefits – one of the reasons for selecting the site was to contribute positively towards the revitalisation of the Baakens River Valley, with a view to transforming it into a unique tourism attraction, which will further benefit the economy. “There are few cities in the world bisected by a valley with the rich biodiversity of the Baakens River, with its more than 100 bird species; 24 reptile and seven frog species; as well as 24 mammal species. “It is a true privilege to look out of these windows and see the start of the 23 kilometres of trails up the river and continuing deep into Algoa country. “It is a natural heritage that all of us as a metro need to conserve,” says Jay. ▄

Intelligent wash-and-clean solutions I ndustries in South Africa today need more than just a robust and powerful washing and cleaning solution; they need one which will support companies’ efforts to conserve energy and water while protecting the environment.

a conventional pump, the pump itself would be about 1,2 m in height. In Grundfos’s design, the pump height can be reduced to less than 40 cm. “In addition to delivering high pressure reliably and efficiently, our solutions are also intelligent so they can be easily integrated into an existing SCADA system,” he says. “The system is closely monitored, intelligently adapting to changing production demands and reducing excessive energy use.” This monitoring and optimising of performance saves energy, water and chemicals, while also generating the required operational data for the customer’s purposes. The pump solutions are fully assembled and tested before delivery, so no on-site wiring or programming is required. All that is needed is for the water and electricity supply to be connected, and the system is ready for action. “The result is a compact and robust system that is customised to the application, saving the customer considerable installation and engineering time,” he says. ▄

This is where Grundfos iSOLUTIONS can help ensure reliable, efficient and safe operations, according to Grant Cannon, sales engineer in industry water treatment at Grundfos South Africa. The conditions in which washing and cleaning pumps operate are often harsh, and can include humidity and high ambient temperatures. Many facilities also demand a compact physical design so that the pump and motor can be fitted into a cabinet or be mounted onto a cart to be moved around the site to where it is needed. “This means that the pump design must be small enough to fit into a confined space or allow easy mobility,” says Cannon. “We achieve this by using an oversize motor which runs at 6 000 rpm, allowing use of a smaller pump size.” He highlights that if a similar pressure had to be required from

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