AAN South Africa
Built Environment News and Information Network for South Africa
AA Hub-001 : Architect Africa Network Hub No.1
Updated: 20 hours 31 min ago
Baragwanath Taxi and Bus Rank opened
By Luyanda Makapela
Johannesburg - The City of Johannesburg has officially opened the Baragwanath Taxi and Bus facility as part of ongoing efforts to upgrade the city's transport network.
The rank, which is situated opposite Baragwanath Hospital, will facilitate smoother taxi and bus services to residents as well as provide them with shelter.
Hawker stands and state-of-the-art toilets have also been built at the new rank.
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Alexandra Renewal Project causes rioting
The Star reports this morning:
Rocks, burning tyres and other debris were scattered in the streets of Marlboro as residents protested against housing delivery.
Old Pretoria Main Road was blockaded early yesterday as were several side streets while metro police officers battled to douse the flames and dozens of angry protesters gathered.
Protest organiser Thabo Modisane, of the Anti-Privatisation Forum, said the protesters were all residents of factory buildings in the Marlboro industrial area bordering on Alexandra.
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Eastern Cape govt to hasten housing delivery
Bhisho- A multi-million rand turn around strategy is to be unveiled by the Eastern Cape Provincial Government on Thursday to hasten the delivery of houses to the province's poor.
In a statement, the Department of Housing, Safety and Liaison in the said that MEC Thobile Mhlahlo would unveil this plan at the Kwa Ntu Game Reserve in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Mr Mhlahlo hopes that through the plan, thousands of homes will be delivered in the remaining six months of the current financial year.
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Transport Month to focus of 2010 infrastructure
By Michael Appel
Johannesburg - The 2010 FIFA World Cup and its associated transport infrastructure requirements will take centre stage during this year's Transport Month.
"I'm honoured by the presence of many who have worked tirelessly to propel the transport system towards its readiness for the 2010 FIFA World Cup," said Transport Minister Jeff Radebe, during the launch of the Transport Month at OR Tambo International Airport, Tuesday.
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Gautrain could save motorists 585 000km per day
By Michael Appel
Johannesburg - The multi-billion rand Gautrain project which will run between Pretoria and Johannesburg and OR Tambo International Airport will save Gauteng motorists up to 585 000 vehicle kilometres per day.
This is according to Transport Minister Jeff Radebe, emphasising the various advantages to utilising the train to commute between Pretoria and Johannesburg and visa versa.
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Joburg poor can now afford accommodation in the City
By Edwin Tshivhidzo, tel: (012) 314-2454
Johannesburg - A neglected nursing college in Hillbrow has been transformed into an affordable rental and communal accommodation to provide decent homes for poor households in the area.
Speaking at the launch of the BG Alexander Project in Hilbrow on Tuesday, Mayor of Johannesburg Amos Masondo said the building which had been "hijacked" by people in the area was now a block of 402 rental units and 227 communal units.
A further 153 units are still under construction.
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Cape Town wins prestigious award for sustainability
Cape Town - South African Tourism (SAT) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Moeketsi Mosola on Monday congratulated Cape Town on being voted one of ten cities in the world that are most likely to become a global sustainability centre by 2020.
"This entrenches Cape Town's credentials as a beautiful, eco-friendly destination committed to solid planning and construction principles in both its lifestyle and business sectors," Mr Mosola said.
Cape Town was acknowledged for its sustainable development programme in 2004 to help deal with growing energy needs of the city.
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Umzimkhulu to get multi-million Rand tourism project
By Siboniso Ntuli
Umzimkhulu - A massive multi-million Rand tourism project, which consists of shops and a restaurant among others, is set to promote the Umzimkhulu area as a tourist destination.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Weziwe Thusi, is expected to visit the area of Umzimkhulu on the border of KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape on Saturday to hand over the tourism project to the community.
Phase one of the three phase project, comprises a tourism information centre, a museum, an internet cafe, a craft outlet, a storage facility, four shops and a restaurant.
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South Africa : Report on hospital performance
The Public Hospitals Performance Report released by Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has succeeded in providing baseline information on the standard of medical facilities in South Africa so that benchmarks can be set and performance improved, writes Gabi Khumalo.
In April, the Minister launched the "Core Standards for Health Facilities in South Africa", setting out the expected performance for hospitals and primary care facilities.
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City of Matlosana markets itself for 2010 FIFA World Cup
By Kagiso Metswamere
Klerksdorp - The City of Matlosana is ready to benefit from South Africa's hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup with sponsorships and football development programmes already in place.
Executive Mayor China Dodovu briefed delegates on the city's 2010 efforts at a three-day Global Investment Conference held in Klerksdorp.
The conference, which started on Monday, was attended by local and international investors, local businessmen, representatives of different municipalities and senior provincial government officials.
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African history transmitted through dance
By Nthambeleni Gabara
Magaliesburg - Through dance Africans transmit history and celebrate their joy and their hopes.
Speaking at the National Heritage Day Celebrations at Maropeng World Heritage Site in Mogale city, Arts and Culture Minister, Pallo Jordan also said indigenous dance is a component of rituals and rites in every part of South Africa.
"Dance is at the heart of our identity and cultural expression. Through dance Africans have mobilised for their struggles, in dance we have transmitted history, we've celebrated our joy and our hopes," he said.
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Workplace safety a joint responsibility - Labour Minister
Workplace safety a joint responsibility - Labour Minister - Workers' unions should play an active role in preventing the high-rate of workplace accidents and fatalities that are plaguing the construction industry, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana urged, at the launch of government's week-long occupational health and safety inspection of the construction sector which kicked off in August. [Engineering News]
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Nu Citi to turn old mine hostel into modern R700m housing development
Nu Citi to turn old mine hostel into modern R700m housing development - With a shortage of about 650 000 houses in the South African gap-housing market, residential housing developer Nu Citi Developments will transform an old mine hostel, in Germiston, into a modern housing development worth R700-million.
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Cape Town approves R1,2bn high-rise building
Cape Town approves R1,2bn high-rise building - Cape Town has given the go-ahead for a new addition to the city's skyline – a R1,2-billion,150-m-tall mixed use development, which, once completed, will hold the accolade of being of the city's tallest building.
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Housing development to benefit 32 000 backyard dwellers
By Bathandwa Mbola
Johannesburg - A housing project which will see the eradication of the Zamimpilo informal settlement in Soweto and provide housing opportunities to the Orlando East backyard dwellers was launched on Thursday.
Speaking at the launch of the Pennyville Housing Project near New Canada Station, Executive Mayor of Johannesburg Amos Masondo said the project would provide about 3 200 housing units of which about 1 200 would be RDP houses, 800 bonded units and 400 would be flats for rent.
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Construction not just a man's job
By Nthambeleni Gabara
The world of construction is being seen more and more as an attractive career choice for women, as it gradually sheds off its image of being a traditionally male dominated industry.
The industry is competitive; the rate of business turnover is high and young women from all over South Africa are vying for learnerships, diplomas and degrees that are construction related to work alongside their male counterparts.
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South Africa attends Venice Architecture Biennale Exhibition
Venice - Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Ntombazana Botha is expected to attend the opening of the 11th Venice Architecture Biennale exhibition in Venice to market South Africa as a tourist destination ahead of 2010.
The South African Violin Tenors will represent the country too and will perform during the exhibition.
Historically, the Biennale provides a platform for countries to show, through architectural practice, the trends, innovations and responses of shapers of the built environment to the context in which they operate.
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Johannesburg to tap landfill energy
By Emily Visser
Johannesburg - Gas from five landfill sites in Johannesburg will be harvested to generate energy and to trade as carbon credits, benefiting the city, its residents and the environment.
Through its first landfill-gas-to-energy projects, the City of Johannesburg will also be the first notable Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) generating substantial carbon credits for the City to use for trading, reports Joburg.org.za.
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