Construction News

On July 20, 2024, Autumn Leaf Mall in Zeerust continued to celebrate Mandela Day with a series of activities and the grand opening of its first biggest restaurant, Spur. The event brought together the local community for a day of celebration and giving back. The festivities kicked off at 10:00 am with the highly anticipated ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Spur restaurant. As the first dining establishment at Autumn Leaf Mall, Spur’s opening was a significant milestone for the mall and the town of Zeerust.

The restaurant promises to bring a new dining experience to the area, with its renowned menu and family-friendly atmosphere. In the spirit of Mandela Day, the event also featured a soup kitchen organised by Checkers. Attendees were treated to free soup and bread, embodying the day’s ethos of community service and support for those in need. The soup kitchen was a heartwarming success, with many locals expressing their gratitude for the kind gesture. To keep the young ones entertained, jumping castles were set up, providing endless fun and laughter throughout the day. 

The day was further enlivened by live entertainment from local artists, including KingMartin88, Bos T, BlackJazz, Master Cque, and MC Sis Porsche. Their performances added a festive vibe to the event, making it a memorable day for all who attended. As if that was not enough, the bikers club also sealed the day by giving the community more fun bike experiences. The Autumn Leaf Mall Mandela Day event was a resounding success, blending community spirit with the excitement of new beginnings. With the opening of Spur and the support of local businesses like Checkers, the mall is set to become a central hub for the Zeerust community.

The mall has created employment for the people of Zeerust, and more is to come in uplifting the community and the economy.

To rent a space at the Autumn Leaf Mall, you can contact:

Sipho Morewa
Email: sipho@akaniproperties.co.za
011 578 5494

Tsholofelo Makola
Email: tsholo@akaniproperties.co.za
+27115785489

Adjustable chocks from SKF will play an important role in the world’s largest visible/near-infrared telescope, the ELT, which is currently under construction in Chile

An unsung product from SKF’s catalogue – the adjustable chock – has played a key role in the construction of a huge telescope.

The European Southern Observatory’s Extremely Large Telescope (ESO’s ELT), now being built in Chile, will be the world’s largest visible/near-infrared telescope on completion in 2028. Its 39m-wide main mirror comprises 798 separate hexagonal pieces, attached to a base structure using steel flanges and SKF Vibracon adjustable chocks.

“Each flange sits on four adjustable chocks,” says Marco Colussi, a structural engineer at Italian engineering firm Cimolai, which is responsible for assembling the mirror. “The ability to readjust each mirror segment is key to the success of the telescope.”

Each low-profile Vibracon unit typically allows up to 12 mm of adjustment. However, the application needed up to 15 mm of adjustment – meaning several design tweaks were needed.

First, Cimolai inserted extra washers, allowing the adjustment range to be extended to 15 mm. This had to be performed with a positioning accuracy of tenths of millimetre, across the 39 m span of the mirror. The chock also had to fit into a limited design space – which was restricted to 25 mm in height.

In addition, the chocks were installed upside-down, to help Cimolai meet the stiffness requirements of the system. The high stiffness helps to reduce the weight of the mirror – which improves the telescope’s stability and performance.

Overall, the main mirror will use more than 9,500 SKF Vibracon SM 16 ELP-ASTR low-profile chocks – 12 for each mirror segment. Chocks are individually surface treated, to give them consistent quality and extend their performance in such a demanding environment.

The ELT will cost an estimated €1.4 billion to build. It will, among other things, search for exoplanets and study early galaxies. Hard to think that, for its vast size and cosmic ambitions, its success will rely partly on adjustable chocks just three inches in diameter.

The Voices of Lusikisiki Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) and Legacy Programme linked to the N2 Wild Coast Toll Road emerged a significant achievement the 2024 Impact Awards organised by Zutari. These awards are an annual event where the leading consulting engineering and infrastructure advisory firm celebrates its collaboration and co-creation with key clients. “The projects celebrated captures what Zutari is all about,” remarked CEO Teddy Daka during the gala event held at the Pretoria Country Club on 18 April.

The project won the Shaping Radically Collaborative Networks category, which recognises a project that combines technical engineering and strategic advisory service across traditional boundaries. Exemplary collaboration with partners, clients, and end users resulted in improved outcomes. The project also received a commendation in the Delivering Resilient Spaces and Accelerating Equitable Quality of Life categories.

The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) appointed the Zutari Consortium to oversee the design and construction of the national route and associated local access roads in Package 4 of the N2 Wild Coast Road development. In partnership with Africa! Ignite, the consortium will implement the SANRAL Legacy Programme, which aims to engage with, and develop projects in the communities along the new road, explains Amelia Visagie, Associate Design Director at Zutari.

The scalable project offers the opportunity to expand the ABCD and Legacy Programme aspects to encompass even more villages in the region, thereby extending the community outreach and involvement of the project even further. “We have established a meaningful partnership with the client that has delivered exemplary results. It has been exciting to see people’s lives changed as a result.” shares Visagie.

The project is situated within the Ingquza Hill Local Municipal area of the OR Tambo Municipal District in the Eastern Cape. It includes villages along Package 4 of the N2, adjacent to Lusikisiki, between the Lingeni Intersection and the Msikaba Bridge.

The N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WCTR) is a multibillion-rand infrastructure project significant for the Eastern Cape economy. As a Strategic Infrastructure Project (SIP), it aims to stimulate development in the Southeast Node and Corridor (SIP3) and aligns with the National Development Plan.

Construction is creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs, though unemployment remains a critical issue driving community action against projects on the Wild Coast. Therefore, SANRAL’s Legacy Programme maximises the benefits of the new road for adjacent communities, creating broad buy-in for the N2 construction project, explains Visagie.

The Zutari Consortium, Zutari’s Social and Stakeholder Engagement Team, and Africa!Ignite used an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach. A method that empowers communities to identify and develop their skills, knowledge, and talents, focusing on strengths rather than deficits. It promotes active citizenship, community accountability, and sustainable development.

“Investing in proactive community engagement and development resulted in well-informed and committed stakeholders, broad buy-in, and endorsement of both the N2 road construction project and the associated Legacy Programme,” comments Visagie.

SKF’s maintenance free Y Bearing Unit has significantly extended equipment uptime for key customer Gibela, a foremost, level 5CE CIBD-rated civil company with more than ten years’ experience in the field.

The environment in which Gibela operates its machines and equipment can be extremely taxing. Charl Engelbrecht, SKF Key Accounts Manager – Agriculture, explains that Gibela’s Vermeer RT650 Trencher was experiencing bearing failures and housing breakages every 150m of trenching. “With project execution often taking place in remote locations, coupled with tight deadlines, the incessant downtime was not only becoming exceedingly frustrating for our customer but also proving to be very expensive in terms of both time and money.”

The SKF team engaged with Gibela owner, Zander Swanepoel, to gain more insight into the challenge. “Having established our customer’s specific needs, we recommended our maintenance free Y Bearing Unit as the best solution to mitigate downtime and costs,” notes Engelbrecht.

The unit consists of an insert bearing that contains a 5-lip Mudblock seal, which is paired with the SKF Cast Iron housing with solid base feet. The Trencher, fitted with the SKF Y Bearing solution, completed 1,2km of uninterrupted trench work enabling Gibela to complete the project ahead of schedule. Moreover, the customer benefited from an immediate saving due to no further external repair costs being incurred.

“While I always knew that SKF was one of the best brands, it was however an eye opener to experience the quality and technology of this premium product first-hand,” states Swanepoel. “The solution has contributed value and savings to my business by enabling us to now sustainably meet our project deadlines.” He adds that SKF met his expectations in terms of carrying good stock levels and having the necessary product knowledge, which they support with a friendly, professional and prompt service.

“The SKF Y Bearing Unit delivers a rugged and reliable solution that is more than a match for the punishing conditions ensuing from the extremely challenging trenching application. The unequivocal success story presented by our value-added bearing solution in stringent environments illustrates that this product group is a market differentiator which has resulted in a satisfied SKF customer,” concludes Engelbrecht.

Manufacturing concrete products is an industry segment that faces its own special demands, and AfriSam’s 90 years of experience allows it to take some of the weight of these challenges off its customers.

“Some of the country’s leading concrete product manufacturers (CPMs) have been our customers for over 40 years,” says Adele Wentzel, Sales Manager Cement Manufacturing Gauteng at AfriSam. “Relationships like these give us real insight into their daily concerns, and how we can add value to their operations.”

With its need for efficient production lines and quick cycle times, the CPM segment relies extensively on AfriSam’s Rapid Hard (52,5R) cement and its High Strength (42,5R) cement. Concrete products need to be removed from moulds as quickly as possible, and in most cases there are stringent demands on quality, finish and strength.

“While many customers have applications that need our ‘Rolls Royce’ product – the Rapid Hard cement – there are also segments where their concrete products are better suited to other classes of cement,” explains Wentzel. “Whatever the application, though, customers rely on the AfriSam service team to ensure they receive the right cement and the optimal mix to achieve the best results.”

Among current priorities in the CPM segment is to reduce energy consumption – as steam curing is generally energy intensive. A key resource for AfriSam customers is its Centre for Product Excellence (CPE), which helps find innovative and cost effective solutions.

“The CPE’s depth of expertise – backed up by sophisticated testing and laboratory infrastructure – means there are specialists available in the field of concrete products,” she says. “One of our initiatives has been a collaboration with a leading admixture provider, combining our skills and products with theirs to find ways to reduce costs for customers.”

These initiatives include focused interventions for customers to achieve strategic improvements in their operational efficiency, she notes.

“Our ability to provide these value-adds stems from the trust we’ve built over many years within the CPM segment through sustained relationships,” she emphasises. “Throughout the years, we have practically demonstrated our contribution to customers’ businesses, providing a tangible contribution cementing the necessary trust.”

This trust is a vital foundation for a segment faced with varying levels of loadshedding, as CPMs rely heavily on electricity supply for curing concrete products.

“With our flexibility, responsiveness and qualified specialist advice, we help customers to manage operational uncertainties while still ensuring the highest quality of product,” she says.

The City of Johannesburg Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Development Planning, Councillor Eunice Mgcina, along with Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) CEO, Mr. Themba Mathibe, conducted an oversight visit to two capital infrastructure projects in Ivory Park, Region A.

The transformation of Ivory Park into a vibrant integrated community is central to the principles of the City of Johannesburg’s Growth and Development Strategy (GDS) to facilitate social mobility and settlement restructuring.

The Greater Ivory Park region is regarded as one of the most densely populated areas within the region. The City’s development objective is to transform the area to ensure its socio-economic integration, consolidation and long-term sustainability.

As the infrastructure arm of the City of Johannesburg, the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) has been spearheading the implementation of various projects as part of the Ivory Park Urban Development Framework (UDF).

The oversight visit took place on Thursday, 04 July, to check on progress on capital development underway. These projects are the upgrading of the Kopanong Sport Complex, and the construction of the new state-of-the-art Hikhensile Clinic.

WORKS CONTINUE ON KOPANONG SPORTS COMPLEX

The Kopanong Sports Complex is set to undergo a remarkable transformation, encompassing a multitude of enhancements aimed at enriching the lives of residents and visitors alike.

This transformative initiative promises to breathe new life into the area and also underscores the JDA’s commitment to fostering equitable, sustainable, and resilient communities.

Once completed, Kopanong Sports Complex will feature state-of-the-art rugby and soccer fields, tennis, basketball, and netball courts, modern amenities such as grandstands, a guardhouse, and drinking fountains, a clubhouse and multisport building and extensive landscaping, fencing, and street art installations.

HIKHENSILE CLINIC COMMENCES FOLLOWING ENGAGEMENT WITH SMMEs

The new Hikhensile Clinic is being implemented to meet the City of Johannesburg’s Health Department’s quality standards. It will be able to accommodate larger volumes of patients and provide a wider range of services.

The implementation of the facility is on track following the MMC’s and CEO’s engagement with the local SMMEs and labours within the community during the oversight. The engagement sought to identify issues that could lead to potential delays and implement solutions to ensure the project stays on schedule.

The clinic’s construction, which the JDA is undertaking on behalf of the city’s Health Department, will be implemented in two phases. Phase 1 will include the construction of a single-story structure featuring six consultation rooms, a counselling room, a vital room, a doctor’s room, and a social worker room, as well as external works, parking, paving, and all necessary electrical and mechanical works.

“It is our objective to monitor the project’s progress, address concerns, and gather feedback throughout the construction process to ensure the completion of the project,” stated MMC Mgcina.

The Kopanong Sports Complex and Hikhensile Clinic projects will supplement the various developments that the JDA has been implementing in the region, including the Kaalfontein Multipurpose Centre and the Ivory Park Swimming Pool Complex.

The travel industry is currently experiencing a transformative period, driven by evolving consumer behaviours and overarching global changes. From the blending of business and leisure to the increasing prevalence of wellness-focused trips, four significant trends are reshaping the travel landscape. BlackBrick, Africa’s fastest-growing aparthotel brand, delves into these trends, analysing their global implications and the distinct dynamics within South Africa’s lively travel ecosystem.

Bleisure Unleashed: The Confluence of Work and Play

Bleisure travel, seamlessly blending work and play, has surged in popularity post-pandemic, extending its appeal from solo business travellers to families seeking a balanced lifestyle, as reported by Forbes. South Africa, celebrated for its rich culture and entrepreneurial spirit, is rapidly emerging as a top bleisure destination. Notably, Cape Town’s renowned V&A Waterfront saw a remarkable 18% surge in occupancy in 2023, a clear indicator of its rising influence. As the lines between work and leisure blur, hotels across Africa are challenged to adapt and cater to the diverse needs of modern travellers.

International arrivals to South Africa spiked in 2023, with notable growth from the U.S. totalling 7.6 million visitors. Looking forward, a forecast by the World Travel and Tourism Council positions Cape Town and Johannesburg among the top 10 global destinations for business travel by 2032, underscoring their significance alongside renowned cities like Singapore and Amsterdam.

Wellness Renaissance: The Pursuit of Holistic Harmony

The wellness tourism sector is set for significant expansion, expected to more than double from 2022 to 2027. Projected spending is on the rise, from $651 billion in 2022 to $868 billion in 2023, surpassing $1 trillion in 2024, indicating a strong upward trend. In today’s era of persistent stress and burnout, wellness tourism emerges as a sanctuary for travellers seeking holistic renewal. Evolving preferences among health-conscious travellers prompt hotels to reimagine their wellness offerings. With wellness travel thriving, including 94% of travellers integrating self-care into their journeys and 59% opting for solo wellness retreats, luxury properties worldwide and numerous resorts are seizing the opportunity to provide transformative experiences. Advancements in health and wellness technology are rapidly evolving, introducing exciting new possibilities such as sleep therapy, guided meditation, dynamic bathing, cryotherapy, and infrared saunas, with many companies actively exploring these innovations.

Microcations Unveiled: The Rise of Bite-Sized Escapes

Microcations, defined as trips lasting less than five nights, offer quick, fulfilling breaks to maximize time off. Unlike traditional short breaks focused on relaxation, microcations prioritize making the most of long weekends and strategic trip planning throughout the year. This trend is gaining popularity as travellers opt for brief, frequent getaways to rejuvenate and explore locally, avoiding the complexities of long-distance travel.

South Africa’s diverse landscapes and cultural heritage are fuelling a surge in domestic travel, with overnight trips within the country skyrocketing by 138.6%, according to the Ministry of Tourism. 

Research indicates that microcations are gaining popularity, especially among young people, who prefer shorter trips over longer vacations. A study found that 57% of young Americans didn’t take vacations longer than four nights last year. The trend toward microcations is driven by the ease of taking shorter breaks, particularly for millennials who find it easier to request time off from work. Financial considerations also play a role, with travellers opting to spread expenses throughout the year rather than saving for a single large trip. This trend is evident in the growing popularity of part-pay options for travel expenses.

Sustainability 2.0: Charting a Greener Path Forward

A recent Trip Advisor survey indicates that sustainability is a top priority for the majority of consumers. The survey revealed that 62% of travellers have actively chosen environmentally friendly options in hotels, food, and transportation. Additionally, 69% of respondents expressed their intention to make even more environmentally responsible travel decisions in the future. As environmental concerns continue to escalate, sustainability has evolved from a peripheral issue to a central imperative within the industry. In response to mounting pressure to reduce carbon emissions, hotels are adopting comprehensive sustainability strategies, aiming for carbon-neutral operations and integrating eco-conscious practices.

In 2024, the travel landscape is evolving with a focus on adaptability, wellness, local experiences, and sustainability. Amid these shifts, BlackBrick shines with its commitment to catering to the changing desires of travellers.

BlackBrick showcases its dedication to sustainability by integrating recycled materials across its properties, meeting the rising demands of eco-conscious travellers. Beyond providing accommodation, BlackBrick actively contributes to community growth by fostering employment and boosting local economies. Adapting to the remote work trend, BlackBrick offers a versatile workspace equipped with cutting-edge technology, catering to professionals seeking a blend of work and leisure. Additionally, BlackBrick enhances guest experiences with wellness amenities including modern gyms, paddle tennis courts, meditation areas, and pools, resulting in a surge in bookings.

BlackBrick is transforming hospitality by delivering unforgettable experiences that encapsulate the essence of contemporary travel in 2024