http://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Follow @EngNewsZA

Advertise on this page? Click Here to Learn More

Construction News

More than R650m budgeted to prepare Gauteng land for expropriation

By: Anine Kilian 2nd July 2018 The Department of Human Settlements has budgeted more than R650-million to prepare identified portions of land in Gauteng for expropriation without compensation. Human Settlements MEC Dikgang Uhuru Moiloa said on Monday that the province’s rapid land release programme, launched in May, would... →

WG Wearne suspended on JSE owing to results delay

By: Marleny Arnoldi 2nd July 2018 The JSE has suspended trading in building materials supplier WG Wearne’s securities, owing to the company’s failure to submit its provisional financial statements by June 30. →

ATON’s mandatory offer undervalues company, M&R reiterates in circular

By: Terence Creamer 2nd July 2018 The board of engineering and construction group Murray & Roberts (M&R) has again guided shareholders not to accept ATON’s mandatory offer of R17 a share, which it argues undervalues M&R’s strategic platforms and business prospects. The board made the statement in a circular response to ATON’s... →

Group Five relocates in effort to cut costs, secures early work on PPP

By: Irma Venter 2nd July 2018 Cash-strapped construction firm Group Five has relocated its offices as part of an effort to cut costs. The JSE-listed group said on Monday that its South African construction operations had been relocated to Spartan, on the East Rand, to owner-occupied premises. →

Tiso Blackstar to sell non-core steel subsidiary to Macsteel

By: Marleny Arnoldi 2nd July 2018 Publishing group Tiso Blackstar is in the process of selling 100% of the issued share capital of its non-core asset Consolidated Steel Industries (CSI) to Macsteel Service Centres South Africa. →

Offshore property investment a big opportunity for South African Reits

By: Nadine James 29th June 2018 The global sell-off in emerging markets, an intractably weak domestic economy, an oversupply of business space and a focus on the quality of earnings are all set to be major drivers of South Africa’s real estate investment trust (Reit) sector in the second half of this year, the SA Reit... →

Grayston drive bridge collapse inquiry to resume on July 2

By: Creamer Media Reporter 29th June 2018 The Department of Labour (DoL) will, on Monday, resume its inquiry into the Grayston drive pedestrian and cyclist structural bridge collapse with testimony from the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA). The October 2015 incident resulted in the death of two people, while 19 others were injured.... →

Service expansion expected to promote geographical expansion

By: Paige Müller 29th June 2018 Multidisciplinary consulting engineering firm Bosch East Africa Consulting Engineers – part of South Africa-based Bosch Holdings – has extended its mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) services to include civil and structural engineering services to further extend its footprint in Africa.... →

GERTRUDES GARDEN CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL The project began in April this year and is scheduled for completion in mid-2020

Mining downturn results in profile expansion for consulting firm

By: Paige Müller 29th June 2018 International consulting engineering and scientists consultancy SRK Consulting’s local non-mining contracts have become its main revenue contributor, contributing to about 40% to 50% of the firm’s overall workload over the past three years. “The company’s growth in non-mining work is not just in... →

MEDUPI POWER STATION SRK Consulting’s scope of work at the Medupi power station is due for completion in December

With universal access in sight, SA’s electrification drive takes on new dimensions

By: Schalk Burger 29th June 2018 The integrated national electrification programme (INEP) of the Department of Energy (DoE) is set to change in scope and character as it nears its initial goals of electrifying most communities in South Africa that were not connected to the national grid. Energy Deputy Minister Thembisile Majola... →

Sephaku optimises capacity utilisation despite subdued trading environment

By: Simone Liedtke 28th June 2018 Despite a subdued trading environment, owing to intensifying competition in the ready-mix concrete segment, building materials company Sephaku Holdings has optimised its overall capacity utilisation in terms of production and transport, while further reducing its debt in the financial year ended... →

Meyburgh to retire as Stefanutti CEO in May 2019

By: Simone Liedtke 28th June 2018 JSE-listed Stefanutti Stocks on Thursday announced several leadership changes, including the retirement of CEO Willie Meyburgh on May 31, 2019. Russell Crawford, currently MD of the company's construction and mining business unit, has been appointed CEO-designate, and will report to Meyburgh from... →

Radebe initiates bilaterals with Moz and Namibia on cross-border gas prospects

By: Terence Creamer 27th June 2018 Energy Minister Jeff Radebe initiated bilateral discussions with Mozambique this week regarding the further development of the cross-border gas infrastructure linking South Africa’s energy and chemicals sectors to Mozambique’s vast natural gas resource. Well over 100-trillion cubic feet (tcf) of... →

Ministers Jeff Radebe and Gugile Nkwinti with SADC deputy executive secretary Dr Thembinkosi Mhlongo

Kenya's ARM Cement counts on shareholder loans for revival

By: Reuters 27th June 2018 Kenya's ARM Cement will rely on short-term loans from shareholders to lift production back to capacity and seek a deep-pocketed strategic investor, its chief executive said on Wednesday, as the firm struggles to stem its financial woes. The company, which was once Kenya's second-largest cement... →

R59m project completed on R44 route in Western Cape

By: African News Agency 27th June 2018 The Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) in the Western Cape has completed a R59-million maintenance project on the scenic R44 route between Rooi Els and Gordon’s Bay in the Western Cape, the department said on Wednesday. The project that started in October 2017, included crack... →

South Africa to align energy plans with SADC gas master plan

By: Terence Creamer 26th June 2018 Energy Minister Jeff Radebe has promised greater alignment between South Africa’s energy plans, included the new Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity, with a regional gas master plan, which is currently under development within the the 16-country Southern African Development Community... →

Photo by Dylan Slater
Energy Minister Jeff Radebe

EPP on solid growth path with strong Q1 operational performance

By: Anine Kilian 25th June 2018 JSE-listed Polish property company EPP successfully bought the first tranche of the M1 portfolio, comprising four properties in sought after regions, adding 194 000 m² in gross lettable area (GLA) and taking total income producing assets to over €2-billion in the quarter ended March 31. The M1... →

100 Resilient Cities appoints Dana Omran as MD for Africa

By: Marleny Arnoldi 25th June 2018 Dana Omran has been appointed Africa MD for the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) programme. →

PIC increases shareholding in M&R to 20.41%

By: Anine Kilian 25th June 2018 Engineering and construction group Murray and Roberts (M&R) on Monday reported that the Public investment Corporation (PIC) has increased its beneficial shareholding in the company from 19.96% to 20.41%. The PIC is one of M&R’s biggest shareholders. →

Order received for two H-25 gas turbines

22nd June 2018 Thermal power generation systems manufacturer Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) has received an order for two H-25 gas turbines for a thermal power station being built by power provider China Resources Power Group, in Taixing City, in Jiangsu province, China. The units will form the core... →

Photo by Bloomberg
POWER PLANT Serving as a standalone power source in a local industrial zone, the new plant will supply power, steam for manufacturing processes, and cooled air for air-conditioning

Import duty causes fallout for stainless steel fastener suppliers

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 22nd June 2018 Stainless steel nuts, bolts and fasteners supplier Fastenright has been forced to increase the selling prices of its stainless steel fasteners, a detrimental consequence of the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa’s (Itac’s) changing import duties, Fastenright MD Rainer... →

IMPORT BUSINESS Fastenright imports its stainless steel fasteners from approved suppliers, mainly the Far East, specifically China and Taiwan; and Europe

Improving industry presents opportunities for fastener portfolio

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 22nd June 2018 While the local fasteners industry has experienced a “downfall”, the proposed increase in government spend on power generation points to an upswing during the course of 2019, with this holding significant opportunities for technical solutions provider BMG’s portfolio of fastener products, says... →

RELIABLE SOLUTION The Nord-Lock wheel nuts use tension, instead of friction, to secure bolted joints

Solutions engender safety, reliability for chemical fasteners

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 22nd June 2018 Construction industry service and technology provider Hilti South Africa is offering two “innovative technologies” – the HIT-Z rod and advanced on-site testing – to ensure safety and reliability for chemical fasteners, Hilti South Africa head of engineering Christiaan Davel tells Engineering... →

Photo by Dylan Slater
FASTENING SOLUTION While a conventional rod depends on bonding to secure it, the HIT-Z rod is controlled instead by friction, thereby negating the need to clean the hole during installation

Strapping and buckle system improves signage erection

22nd June 2018 The Band-It Grade 304 stainless steel strapping and buckle system from industrial equipment supplier Banding & Identification (ID) Solutions Africa has allowed signage and branding company Fox Signage to reduce the total cost of erecting signage substantially, while simultaneously speeding up... →

IMPROVED ERECTION The Band-It Grade 304 stainless steel strapping and buckle system has enabled Fox Signage to substantially reduce the total cost of erecting signage

Siemens boss outlines how China’s BRI will benefit 70% of global population

By: Zandile Mavuso 22nd June 2018 Earlier this month, multidisciplinary cooperation Siemens held its first Belt & Road International Summit in Beijing, China, themed Create, Connect and Collaborate, during which it advocated for a digital ecosystem to foster future-oriented infrastructure development globally in what it referred... →

Strong attendance growth at Fastener Fair Turkey 2018

22nd June 2018 Exhibitors at the fourth edition of the Fastener Fair Turkey 2018 welcomed high calibre Turkish and international visitors for three days, with a total of 2 900 managers, engineers and buyers visiting the event. This represents an impressive 70% growth, compared with the 2016 show. →

Govt to deploy support teams to assist distressed municipalities – Nel

By: Simone Liedtke 21st June 2018 Government is working to ensure that all distressed and dysfunctional municipalities have access to a district support team by December this year, says Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Deputy Minister Andries Nel. Speaking at the Vision 2030 Summit, in Johannesburg, on Wednesday, he... →

Photo by Simone Liedtke
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Deputy Minister Andries Nel

NGOs rate South Africa’s transition to a green economy at five out of ten

By: Nadine James 21st June 2018 Nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) on Thursday released the findings of new research, which describes South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon, sustainable and inclusive future as “stuck in first gear”, with ambitious policies but slow implementation. The ‘South Africa Green Economy... →

Traffic on Gauteng’s freeways to grow by 50 000 trips a day in 2018

By: Irma Venter 21st June 2018 Current traffic growth on Gauteng’s e-toll freeways is running at around 4%, says South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) planning, toll and transportation project engineer Alan Robinson. This means the current volume of 1.25-million people-trips a day on the e-toll freeway network... →

Takeover panel clears way for M&R to move on Aveng tie-up amid ongoing ATON opposition

By: Terence Creamer 21st June 2018 Murray & Roberts (M&R) announced on Thursday that it would proceed to further develop a potential tie-up with Aveng after the Takeover Regulation Panel (TRP) sanctioned the outcome of an earlier shareholder vote, which approved a resolution stating that the proposed Aveng deal was not designed to... →

Zambia urges South African firms to invest in public projects

By: Reuters 21st June 2018 Zambia's finance minister urged South African firms to invest in roads and power plants in Africa's No.2 copper producer after it suspended borrowing indefinitely, slowing down the accumulation of new debt amid worries about the risk of distress. The International Monetary Fund rejected Zambia's... →

Western Cape govt identifies 7 possible affordable housing sites

By: News24Wire 21st June 2018 At least seven vacant plots have been identified as "possible sites for social and affordable housing" in Cape Town's southern suburbs, including Parkwood, Lotus River and Retreat. The announcement was made by Thando Mguli, head of the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements, GroundUp... →

Basil Read applies for suspension of listing

By: Reuters 20th June 2018 South African construction firm Basil Read Holdings said on Wednesday it had applied to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange for the voluntary suspension of the listing of its shares after a key unit started business rescue proceedings. The cash-strapped company announced on Friday that Basil Read... →

‘Prudent’ consolidation positions Accelerate for future growth – COO

By: Nadine James 20th June 2018 JSE-listed Accelerate Property Fund on Wednesday posted stable financial results for the year ended March 31, reporting a 57.56c a share distribution, in line with guidance. Since listing on the JSE in December 2013, the company’s portfolio has grown from about R5-billion to R12.3-billion,... →

Sephaku warns of lower FY earnings

By: Nadine James 20th June 2018 Sephaku Holdings on Wednesday advised shareholders that the company earnings for the 2018 financial year, ended March 31, are expected to be between 32% and 40% lower than the R68-million reported for 2017 financial year. Sephaku attributed the decrease in earnings to poor performances from its... →

Energy forum panelists reiterate need for regional integration in Africa

By: Marleny Arnoldi 20th June 2018 A panel of speakers at the 2018 Africa Energy Forum, in Mauritius, on Wednesday, agreed that Ministers of energy in Africa and other stakeholders should focus on regional power integration, and what would work accordingly, rather than debating country-specific suitable energy resources and... →

Attacq appoints new CEO, CFO

By: Simone Liedtke 19th June 2018 JSE-listed Attacq has appointed Melt Hamman CEO and Raj Nana CFO and executive director, with immediate effect. “After a rigorous process we are delighted to permanently appoint Melt as the CEO. Melt has provided the team with clear direction and guidance as interim CEO and has a strong history... →

Company Post

Dispute resolution procedures aren’t working…what’s next?

more

Latest News

Eskom swings to R2.3bn loss

Ill health forces Fiat Chrysler’s Marchionne to step down

Investor bearishness on platinum needs to be turned around – CPM

R30m damage caused by Cape Town train fire

Cape Town's Freeway Foreshore Project might be back on again

In Senegal, China's President Xi pledges stronger Africa ties

Egypt hikes gas prices by up to 75% in IMF-backed austerity plan

VW to temporarily park cars due to new emissions testing bottlenecks

AfDB approves $250m risk participation agreement with ABSA

FCA South Africa appoints new CFO, head of network development

ANC not fulfilling people's expectations – Ramaphosa

Eskom blames illegal connections for Soweto power failures

Emira to start leasing The Bolton apartments in Rosebank from August

Rival aerospace majors win orders and commitments for over 1 100 airliners at show

Electricity interruptions impact on Sasol’s FY18 production performance

more

Latest Videos

SA’s ambitious Youth Employment Service starts taking shape

Ramaphoria index falling

Listed contractors feeling the pinch as construction sector dynamics change