Master Builders Kwazulu-Natal Newsletter

Provincial government and Standard Bank Group cooperate in affordable housing drive.

The KwaZulu-Natal provincial government in South Africa and Standard Bank Group (SBG) have agreed on a series of measures to identify and develop affordable housing projects across the province.

Investigation of conditions of employment and minimum wages in the unskilled labour sector in South Africa

In terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act of 1997, the Minister of Labour cancelled the following wage determinations on the dates indicated:

Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan activist, showed that tree planting activities in that East African country can mobilise grassroots constituencies and create environmental awareness. Her promotion of the planting of trees to restore natural forests, ecosystems and water catchment areas was the key to her being awarded a Nobel Prize.

The Association is aware that certain Employers are in arrears with their contributions to the Retirement Funds that we administer.

These Employers are advised that they could be placing themselves at considerable risk in terms of the Insured Benefits which are contained in the Retirement Fund elements of the scheme.

Some 130 200 job opportunities were created in the construction of 10 stadiums, 6 which were constructed from scratch.

As part of our current renovations at the Master Builders Centre in Westville (Durban), we will be introducing a retail outlet.

The retail outlet will be open to both members and the public and is one of a number of projects which will be launched by the commercial division this year.  These initiatives are being rolled out so that the Association can continue to subsidise Membership fees.

By Cees Bruggemans, Chief Economist FNB 16 March 2010

After reaching a low point of -4 during 4Q2008, the FNB/BER consumer confidence index (CCI) increased gradually to a level of +6 at the end of last year. During 1Q2010 the FNB/BER CCI rose by a further 9 index points to a level of +15[1]. This is the single biggest increase between two consecutive quarters in five years. Furthermore, the FNB/BER CCI is now at a slightly higher level compared to the one that prevailed before it plunged 2 years ago. However, the current level of +15 is lower than the levels of +20 and above prevalent during 2006 and 2007.

M e s h f i e l d Sustainable Innovation are again going to be running their course in sustainable design and construction in Durban, from the evening of the 20th through to the 23rd April 2010.

They inform us that they had an exceedingly positive response to their last course, and that this course is fast filling up with a group of very interesting people.

On March The 27th -- Turn Off Your Lights And Show Your Commitment To
Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

Earth Hour is a global initiative of WWF to highlight our ability to
take action on climate change. The Imagine Durban project is encouraging
Durban citizens and business owners to participate actively in EARTH
HOUR. Due to the fact that the Copenhagen Climate Summit in December
failed to deliver a comprehensive global response to climate change, WWF
is challenging individuals to take the lead by pledging to reduce their
own carbon footprint and demonstrate their commitment by participating
in EARTH HOUR.