July 2009

Kenya: Lack of Skills Blamed for Site Disasters

July 31, 2009 - 23:01

Kenya: Lack of Skills Blamed for Site Disasters - The increasing number of collapsing buildings in Kenya was on Thursday blamed on councils' lack of capacity to monitor and supervise work. [AA Construction]

Uganda: Masaka Gets Sh100 Million Health Centre

July 31, 2009 - 23:01

Uganda: Masaka Gets Sh100 Million Health Centre - A Euros 40,000 (about sh100m) health centre has opened in Lwanunda village in Buwunga sub-county, Masaka district. [AA Construction]

Nigeria: Six Feared Dead, Over 30 Trapped As Building Collapses in Abuja

July 31, 2009 - 23:00

Nigeria: Six Feared Dead, Over 30 Trapped As Building Collapses in Abuja - TRAGEDY struck in the high brow area of Asokoro District of the nation's Capital City, Abuja when a three storey building under construction collapsed, leaving close to unconfirmed six persons dead and no fewer than 30 persons trapped. [AA Construction]

Uganda: Underweight Cement Seized in Jinja

July 31, 2009 - 23:00

Uganda: Underweight Cement Seized in Jinja - THE Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has impounded 181 bags of under weight cement in Jinja. [AA Construction]

Uganda: UNBS Advises Contractors

July 31, 2009 - 22:59

Uganda: UNBS Advises Contractors - BUILDING contractors should to always supervise their workers to avoid disasters at sites. [AA Construction]

Nigeria: One Killed, Scores Trapped in Abuja Building Collapse

July 31, 2009 - 22:59

Nigeria: One Killed, Scores Trapped in Abuja Building Collapse - Over 30 persons, mostly masons and food vendors were feared trapped inside an uncompleted three-storey building that collapsed yesterday morning at Asokoro, Abuja. [AA Construction]

Angola: Construction Materials Duty-Free

July 30, 2009 - 17:33

Angola: Construction Materials Duty-Free - Import of construction materials for houses will be free from duties and consumer tax, according to a decree approved wednesday by Angolan Government. [AA Construction]

Design South Africa : Gugulethu Square

July 29, 2009 - 20:08

A Community-centred Approach to Shopping Centre Design

Cape Town's newest shopping centre, Gugulethu Square, is scheduled to open in October and promises to redefine the shopping experience for the residents of the greater Gugulethu area.

Construction is taking place on the site of the old strip retail facility known as the Eyona Shopping Centre in Gugulethu, a township 15 km from Cape Town. The N1 main route runs through the area and is close to the N2 bypass intersection. Gugulethu, along with Nyanga, was established in the 1960s due to the overcrowding of Langa, which was the only black residential area in Cape Town at the time. During the apartheid era, black South Africans were not permitted to live in the city of Cape Town and many people were removed to areas with poor infrastructure such as Gugulethu and Nyanga. Over time, there was growth and some infrastructural improvement but retail facilities have always been rather limited, necessitating residents to frequently shop in other areas.

The international commercial architectural firm of Bentel Associates International (BAI) were retained by the developers to design a practical yet upmarket shopping centre for Gugulethu while taking due cognisance of the local community and its culture and needs.

"This will be an exceptionally functional 25 000 m2 retail centre which will offer a diverse range of options to shoppers," says Stephen Roberts, BAI senior director and project architect. "The R350-million Gugulethu Square will be the first fully enclosed township mall in the city."

Zimbabwe: Council Warns Residents of Water Cuts

July 29, 2009 - 18:32

Zimbabwe: Council Warns Residents of Water Cuts - Residents in the western and southern suburbs and industrial sites of Harare have been warned of temporary water cuts beginning this Friday until Monday next week, to allow the repair of major leaks on the Ganges water main line and the feeder line from Warren Control to the Letombo Reservoirs. [AA Urbanisation]

Uganda: Kira Town Council Opposes Take-Over

July 29, 2009 - 18:31

Uganda: Kira Town Council Opposes Take-Over - KIRA councillors have petitioned Parliament over the proposed expansion of Kampala district. The councillors, led by their speaker, Betty Naluyima, argued that including Kira town council in the boundaries of the city would violate the 1995 Constitution. [AA Urbanisation]

Uganda: Museveni Denies Selling Entebbe Airport

July 29, 2009 - 18:31

Uganda: Museveni Denies Selling Entebbe Airport - PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has denied knowledge of the sale of Entebbe International Airport . [AA Urbanisation]

South Africa: Residents Barricade Streets in Service Protest

July 29, 2009 - 18:27

South Africa: Residents Barricade Streets in Service Protest - Thokoza Township in the East Rand on Wednesday morning remained calm following the outbreak of a violent service delivery protest march on Tuesday. [AA Urbanisation]

Kenya: Water Crisis to Persist, Says Kiunjuri

July 29, 2009 - 18:26

Kenya: Water Crisis to Persist, Says Kiunjuri - The water crisis that has hit Nairobi will persist, even as the government sinks 50 boreholes to mitigate the severe water shortage, Parliament has been told. [AA Urbanisation]

Uganda: Storm Destroys School

July 29, 2009 - 18:26

Uganda: Storm Destroys School - SIX pupils of Damatira Primary School in Balla sub-county, Apac district, sustained injuries when a storm blew off the roofs of 11 classrooms recently. [AA Construction]

Joburg to upgrade all 180 informal settlements by 2014

July 29, 2009 - 18:15

By Proffesor Ndawonde

Johannesburg - The City of Johannesburg has pledged to upgrade all informal settlements in the city by 2014, says the city's Mayor Amos Masondo.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, Mayor Masondo said through its innovative Informal Settlement Formalisation and Upgrading Programme, the city will formalise all the 180 informal settlements comprising of more than 200 000 households.

He affirmed the city intends to improve the lives of people living in informal settlements by building quality houses or relocating them to areas with better conditions.

"The objective of the programme is to attend to all informal settlements within the city boundaries and to improve the living conditions of residents, including their health and safety.

"We are also seeking to make significant progress in the upgrading of services and infrastructure," said Mayor Masondo.

The programme would further ensure that all settlements within the municipality boundaries are legally recognised and that where settlements are hazardously or poorly located, alternative provision would be made.

PROJECT MANAGER - Johannesburg

Join very reputable contractor locally based in Johannesburg and support them with their ongoing projects. Our client needs an innovative young man who is very computer and systems orientated to support them as a co-ordinator on a major multi-disciplinary project, which is a major hospital. Your valuable input would lead to a better-built project, if need be suggesting different construction methods, monitor all contractual issues, peruse all drawings to program and plan and so ensure best practice. You would need to liaise with all site managers, consultants - civil, mechanical - MEP, architects and the Client to keep the construction on time, budget and to required spec. B Sc Bldg/Civil/QS and a minimum of three years building constrction exp working for a reputable building contractor would be required. This challenge is not for the faint hearted but if you are up to it, we would love to hear from you! Once this project is complete, you would move to a Contracts Manager post within the company.
Package to suit experience.
All applications to be sent to wallstreet@worldonline.co.za

Solar : The Intelligent Pursuit of Sustainability

July 29, 2009 - 12:22

NASTEP - New Age Solar Technology Environmental Products


Nast Environmental Projects (PTY) Ltd (NASTEP) is a South African importing, marketing, distribution and installation company for Himin thermal and solar products. NASTEP (Pty) Ltd has secured the sole South African distribution rights for Himin Solar Energy products. The company markets the extensive range of Himin solar and thermal products, which include a range of thermal geysers and collectors, photovoltaic panels, a range of solar lights - traffic, garden and streetlights and Win-Pin Energy saving glass. NASTEP's range of Himin geysers varies from complete stand alone units, suitable for both flat and pitched roofs, to integrated split systems and heat collectors which can be fitted to existing electrical geysers.

CONTRACTS MANAGER / SITE AGENT - Botswana

Superb opportunity for a stand alone Contracts Manager / Site Agent to join a medium size building construction company in Gaborone and make a difference, earn slaary with minimum tax. This opportunity is really for a hands-on Site Agent who is capable of running 2-3 jobs simultaneously with a visiting Contracts Director. Your previous experience with a building contractor as a site engineer/agent is a must as is your ability to accept responsibility and be a problem solver. Ideal candidate would have a building qualification and the desire to run your own projects. Projects range from shopping centres, commercial, industrial and R20ml upmarket homes as well as hotels. In return the client will assist with minimising tax, good salary which covers the car and home as well as medical aid, plus fuel and cell. Plus bonuses!
Due to ongoing work, our clients needs someone ASAP but will wait for the person who is able to deliver.
Send your CV with contactable references to wallstreet@worldonline.co.za

Zimbabwe: Fears of Second Round of Mass Evictions

July 28, 2009 - 21:42

Zimbabwe: Fears of Second Round of Mass Evictions - Thousands of people in the Zimbabwean capital face mass eviction from their market stalls and homes in a government operation reminiscent of the forced evictions that left about 700,000 without homes or livelihood in 2005. [AA Urbanisation]

Kenya: Govt Should Provide Emergency Shelter for the Thousands Forcibly Evicted from their Homes in Winter

July 28, 2009 - 21:41

Kenya: Govt Should Provide Emergency Shelter for the Thousands Forcibly Evicted from their Homes in Winter - Kenya’s government should provide emergency shelter and other humanitarian aid to the 3,000 people forcibly evicted from their homes and who are now exposed to the cold and rain of Kenya’s winter, Amnesty International said today. [AA Urbanisation]

Kenya: Nairobi Requires Decongestion And Proper Planning

July 28, 2009 - 21:41

Kenya: Nairobi Requires Decongestion And Proper Planning - I FIRST VISITED NAIROBI IN 1958 as a child, but when I joined Alliance High School in 1959, the city virtually became my home, as I spent most of my school holidays there. [AA Urbanisation]

Nigeria: Badagry Road Expansion - Task Force Demolishes Buildings At Orile-Igamu

July 28, 2009 - 21:40

Nigeria: Badagry Road Expansion - Task Force Demolishes Buildings At Orile-Igamu - THE Lagos State Government Joint Special Task Force yesterday, pulled down several structures along Orile Igamu-Badagry Expressway as part of the ongoing demolition exercise to pave the way for the reconstruction the Lagos Badagry Expressway metro line project into 10 lanes. [AA Construction]

South Africa: Local Group Secures R4 Billion Abu Dhabi Deal

July 28, 2009 - 21:39

South Africa: Local Group Secures R4 Billion Abu Dhabi Deal - CONSTRUCTION and engineering group Murray & Roberts has won a joint venture contract worth about R4bn to develop a major resort on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, bringing the group's order book to about R44bn. [AA Construction]

Nigeria: Presidential Mandate On Housing - We Are On Course - Minister

July 27, 2009 - 21:39

Nigeria: Presidential Mandate On Housing - We Are On Course - Minister - Minister of State in the Federal Ministry of Works, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Grace Ekpiwhre, has said that the presidential mandate to her ministry to provide one million housing units before the end of the life of the present administration is very feasible. [AA Urbanisation]

Tanzania: Govt Rules Out Needless Demolitions

July 27, 2009 - 21:38

Tanzania: Govt Rules Out Needless Demolitions - The Government has said there would be no demolitions unless houses stood on ground reserved for roads, schools, hospitals or open spaces. [AA Urbanisation]

Nigeria: Demolition - Rivers to Pay N20 Billion Compensation

July 27, 2009 - 21:37

Nigeria: Demolition - Rivers to Pay N20 Billion Compensation - Rivers State Government is to pay over N20 billion as compensation to owners of the ramshackle water front areas to be demolished in Port Harcourt, the state capital. [AA Construction]

Nigeria: Nasfat to Raise N5 Billion For National Mosque

July 27, 2009 - 21:37

Nigeria: Nasfat to Raise N5 Billion For National Mosque - President of NASRUL-LAHI-L-FATIH(NASFAT), Mr. Abu Salami, yesterday in Lagos said the organisation will raise the sum of N5 billion for the construction of NASFAT national mosque in Mowe,Ogun State. [AA Construction]

Rwanda: New Church Complex to Cost U.S.$66 Million

July 27, 2009 - 21:36

Rwanda: New Church Complex to Cost U.S.$66 Million - Evangelical Restoration church has announced the construction of a state-of-the-art, USD 66 million facility that will host the church's world wide headquarters. [AA Construction]

South Africa: Deputy Minister Inspects Construction Sites

July 27, 2009 - 21:35

South Africa: Deputy Minister Inspects Construction Sites - Deputy Minister of Public Works Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu on Sunday visited construction projects at a correctional facility and a police station to check on the progress made. [AA Construction]

Nigeria: Committee Inspects National Assembly Complex Extension

July 27, 2009 - 21:35

Nigeria: Committee Inspects National Assembly Complex Extension - The Federal Government has commended the FCT Administration (FCTA) for the steady progress of work on the National Assembly Complex extension work in Abuja. [AA Construction]