We take pleasure in introducing you to the only Building Excellence competition in South Africa.  The Excellence in Construction Awards was launched during 2004 by the Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal and is now in its fifth year.

The Awards Programme is aimed at recognizing and acknowledging excellence in building and construction. The pursuit of excellence in construction is a particularly important calling, as buildings have a profound effect on their occupants and its users - influencing and shaping the way in which we live, learn, work, contemplate and relax.

Previous winners include; Thonga Beach Lodge on the Zululand Coast (2005), Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom on the North Coast (2006), Absa Towers in Central Durban (2007), The Breeze-Pearls of Umhlanga and Standard Bank Regional Offices and Banking Hall at Kingsmead Durban (joint  winners 2008).
                                                                                      

The Minister of Labour has under section 43 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993) promulgated the Pressure Equipment Regulations. These are not new regulations and replace the Vessels under Pressure Regulations.

These regulations will not have a major impact on Contractors, the only note to be taken is the maintenance and servicing intervals of compressors that are used on construction sites and plant yards.

For more information and to discuss the regulations please follow the "Read More" link.

South African Revenue Services (SARS) has published Interpretation Note 47 dated 28 July 2009.

This note is effective 1 March 2009 and is in respect of wear and tear or depreciation allowed to be written off machinery, plant, implements, utensils and articles used for trade (fixed assets excluding immovable property and intangible assets).

1. The cost of small items under R7000 (previously R5000) can be written off in full in the year it is purchased.
2. The acceptable write off periods of over 180 different assets are listed by SARS. 

The assets range from adding machines (do they still exist?) to X-ray equipment..

On the 1st of August 2009 (the start of Women's month), the first sod was turned at a construction project aimed at uplifting a particular family in the Gamalakhe township west of Port Shepstone.  Turning the sod were Sports and Recreational Minister, Makhenkesi Stofile and the MEC for Health from the KZN Provincial Legislature, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo.  Present also were the Mayor of Ugu municipality, Councillor Sithembiso Cele, and Deputy Mayor, Cynthia Mqwebe.

A small grouping of business people from the region, spearheaded by Ray Basson representing the Master Builders Association of KwaZulu-Natal, and George Enslin from Wakefields, have agreed to contribute and do what is necessary to assist in this project  Nduduzo Shozi and Ntuthuko Shozi, 15 and 16 years old respectively, lost their parents some 3 years ago.  They both go to school and are living in a small little dwelling with their uncle, Eugene Shozi, who is suffering from tuberculosis.  Eugene lives in a small adjoining room which is build of stone and clay and which is in danger of collapsing at any time. Nduduzo  and  Ntuthuko approached the Mayor of Ugu Municipality, Councillor  Cele, some time  ago and requested assistance.  The Mayor approached certain role-players in the business community who have pledged  their support to assist this family.

At very short notice, Peter Brandsma of Architectural Design from Margate came up with a two phase design which would see the demolition of the stone structure and the construction of new room as well as replacement of the roof over the existing room.  Phase two envisages an additional two rooms which can ultimately become the new kitchen and bedroom.

1.    We recently successfully represented a contractor in the Supreme Court of Appeal  ("SCA") in enforcing payment under payment certificates using the "Summary Judgment" procedure, a process that has traditionally been considered as somewhat difficult to succeed with. In a very lucid Judgment, the SCA provided clarity on the use of Summary Judgment processes to enforce payment of certified amounts. Its a very important judgment for parties engaged in construction contracts in South Africa. In this newsletter, we provide a history of the case and explain the judgment and its impact:

2.    Stocks Mavundla ZEK Joint Venture ("Stocks") as the contractor and Joob Joob Investments (Pty) Ltd ("Joob Joob") as the employer entered into a contract for the construction of a luxury hotel at Zimbali near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. The contract was let under the JBCC 2000 Principal Building Agreement (July 2000 edition) ("the PBA").

3.    The contract ran into difficulties quite early on and eventually Stocks cancelled the contract under the provisions of clause 38 of the PBA. Joob Joob's principal agent had issued 2 interim payment certificates before the date of cancellation and issued two further certificates, (the last being a final payment certificate) after cancellation.