Construction World November 2016

COMMENT

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

Wilhelm du Plessis Editor

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

CONSTRUCTION WORLD NOVEMBER 2016