Construction World September 2020

A concrete contribution I n a partnership that started in 2014, AfriSam has donated construction materials for the construction of the new LEAP Maths and Science School in Diepsloot, Gauteng. AfriSam was approached by one of the main sponsors of the school, Aveng Infraset, to support this initiative through the donation of cement and readymix products. Established in 2011, the LEAP School is attended by over 200 children from the impoverished Diepsloot community, and until now they have had to attend their classes in rented space in a converted warehouse. On 14 July 2020, the school celebrated the opening of its new campus during a virtual launch event. The new purpose-built school campus now boasts 11 classrooms, a learning centre, library, computer centre, administration block and a community hall. “We are extremely grateful to AfriSam for the invaluable role they have played in making our dream a reality. They have made a positive contribution to the education of our youth and future leaders of South Africa”, says John Gilmour, LEAP Executive Director & Founder. During the construction phase of the project, AfriSam donated 150 tons of its Dry Mortar mix for bricklaying and plastering, 840 bags of its All Purpose Cement used in the rammed earth construction method as well as 119 m³ of readymix concrete for foundations and other structural elements. AfriSam prides itself on making a positive contribution to local communities in areas within which it operates. “AfriSam operates a number of quarries in the area, and we were excited to get involved in this worthy initiative. The focus in this area is to understand the needs of communities and make meaningful and sustainable

contributions to their upliftment”, says Amit Dawneerangen, AfriSam Readymix General Manager. The product donation for the construction of the LEAP school in Diepsloot is in line with the company’s corporate social investment focus of education and youth development. The company is involved in various educational projects, with the aim of empowering and equipping communities with the necessary knowledge and skills, as well as providing them with the tools and facilities to become self-reliant and sustainable. “On behalf of AfriSam, we would like to congratulate the LEAP School on the completion of their new school campus. We are proud to be associated with such a beacon of hope in the community. We wish the teachers and learning at the LEAP School all the best," Dawneerangen concludes. ƒ

DEMOLITIONWITHADIFFERENCE In a country expecting increased urban and peri-urban development, it is sometimes the case that previously existing run-down or condemned buildings need to be removed to make way for safer structures better suited to the needs of the surrounding community. This can be very disruptive, and possibly dangerous, so it is vital it be done with as much consideration as possible to ensure that demolitions are undertaken in a safe, considerate, and sustainable manner. By Wayne Neary, MD, ICON Group

W hen you say ‘demolition’, people often picture explosive collapses of high-rise buildings, followed by clouds of dust and chaotic piles of rubble. The reality in Africa is quite different, especially where ICON is involved. Firstly, our country does not have that many high-rise buildings, and the ones we do have don’t need to be removed. Most often, our demolitions involve removing very old UHVLGHQFHV RͦFHV KRWHOV DQG LQGXVWULDO EXLOGLQJV D IHZ VWRUH\V KLJK at the most. These projects are common in areas which have faced high levels of development in recent years, and a few surrounding properties are playing catch up. A prime example is the demolition we recently completed on Corlette Drive, Johannesburg, to make way for the extension of the Melrose Arch precinct. Surrounded by car dealerships and world-class retail outlets, the existing structures were outdated and out of place. We often undertake demolitions in densely populated areas and have become well-experienced in how best to undertake these projects with minimal disruption and zero harm to the surrounding communities. Building removal processes should comprise a comprehensive demolition preparation procedure which includes performing asbestos abatement to prevent dangerous contamination, removing hazardous or regulated materials,

undertaking rodent baiting, and safely disconnecting all utilities. In addition to obtaining the necessary permits, it is good practice to ensure that all parties who may be affected by the demolition are QRWLͤHG ZHOO LQ DGYDQFH DQG DQ\ TXHULHV DUH DGGUHVVHG $W ,&21 we take great care in our process and ensure that safety is kept top RI PLQG :H GHYHORS FXVWRPLVHG DQG VLWH VSHFLͤF VDIHW\ DQG ZRUN plans for all our projects. When it comes to the heart of the action, we make use of modern construction equipment to tear down structures, and then crushes the rubble on-site using their state-of-the-art hydraulic crushers. These crushers reduce rock, concrete, and other debris to the size of gravel, which the company then reuses on other building sites as aggregate. This greatly improved the sustainability of our projects. Not only do we reduce our carbon footprint by avoiding the need to transport material to a centrally located crusher, we also recycle this building material on other sites. With years of experience on a range of site preparation project, EDFNHG E\ D ͥHHW RI ZRUOG FODVV HTXLSPHQW ZH DUH ZHOO SRVLWLRQHG to tackle any challenge on a building site. We pride ourselves RQ ZRUNLQJ HͦFLHQWO\ DQG VXVWDLQDEO\ EULQJLQJ IRUWK PDVVLYH advantages to our clients who are often working to tight deadline. ƒ

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD SEPTEMBER 2020