Construction Industry News and Views Edition 2000 7 Feb 2022
Dear Members and Readers
The Association is proud to release its 200th edition of its eNewsletter, which signifies several remarkable years of sharing construction industry news and views with members and readers. To commemorate this milestone, the 200th fully paid annual membership fee for the next membership term will be fully discounted.
2022 brings renewed hope amidst strong signals that South Africa is equipped to brace the COVID - 19 storm. The trajectory of the pandemic and the improved levels of vaccination in the country have prompted a significant relaxation of COVID protocols, resulting in changes to Adjusted Alert Level 1 COVID-19 Regulations which further reduces the isolation period from 10 to 7 days.
On the economic front however, the year got off to a rough start with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) decreasing its global growth projection for 2022. The IMF forecasts that South African growth will stagnate to 1.9% this year and 1.4% in 2023. The factors hindering economic growth requires urgent intervention from key role players to ensure an upward economic trajectory in the foreseeable future.
January 2022 saw another landmark day for Construction Alliance South Africa (CASA) as it celebrated its one-year anniversary with the launch of its website. Members will recall that CASA was established as the Construction COVID-19 Rapid Response Task Team in 2020, which provided a collective industry response on the reactivation of the construction sector under Alert Level 3 of the lockdown restrictions. The initiative was reconstituted as CASA on 21 January 2021 and currently has 36 member organisations, with Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal serving as the Convener. Visit the CASA website at www.constructionalliancesa.org.za
The Association is pleased to inform members that our Zululand office has relocated from Empangeni to the CBD of Richards Bay, housed at the upmarket 15 on Cent Office Complex. This offers excellent brand exposure in a high visibility area.
The Association will continue its efforts to create and maintain an enabling business environment for its members, whilst keeping members informed about pertinent industry matters. Members are once again reminded of the Member Value Proposition and are encouraged to take full advantage of the services offered by the Association. Click here to download the Member Value Proposition matrix.
In this issue, we bring you news of a unique approach to project financing designed to empower emerging contractors and developers. Read about the top safety- related trends for 2022 and managing a contract to reduce risk. Members should take cognisance of the article on the Workplace Skills Plans (WSP) as employers may claim 20% of their total levy contribution annually.
On the radar for 2022 is the annual Excellence in Construction Competition and the Health and Safety Competition, which showcases our members and their commitment to quality construction and health and safety. Look out for the entry forms!
Enjoy your newsletter!
Vikashnee Harbhajan | Executive Director
Can a builder's lien be substituted with security?
In other words, can an employer evict a builder who is exercising a lien over a site by providing security, say in the form of a bank guarantee, to cover the contractor's claim which is the subject matter of the lien?.
Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal continues to engage with institutions to increase funding of construction projects. The Association recently met with Tusk Construction Support Services who presented a unique offering, geared towards assisting contractors with various steps of project implementation and management.
When a project is awarded, the pitfall many Contractor’s face after signing the contract, is that this is the last time that they look at it. Contract Management is seen as a specialised discipline and, in some instances, specialised resources are hired to manage the contracts, supporting the Project Managers.
In 2022 the trending story for health and safety personnel continues to be the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges it presents to employers and workplaces. It is estimated that these four trends will have a big influence on health and safety practices.
Respirable dust can be defined as the fraction of inhaled dust particles which penetrate to the unciliated airways, into the area of the lung where gas exchange occurs (the alveolar region). The respirable fraction can vary between individuals and will also depend on the breathing rate of the person; however, the particle sizes of respirable dust are generally up to 10 microns in diameter
Writing a will has always been perceived as a task to tackle in old age. Planning on what will happen after your death is hardly the most cheerful of subjects but as an entrepreneur running your own business, it is critical that you do have a will in place.
The Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) is submitted by organisations to the relevant Skills Education and Training Authority (SETA) and documents the training required for the next 12 months. The Annual Training Report (ATR) which is also submitted to the SETA depicts the training that took place in the prior year. The Skills Development Act No 97 of 1998, aims to expand knowledge and competencies of the workforce in order to improve productivity and employment.
The training programmes are intended to provide access to currently employed candidates, unemployed candidates and school leavers, as well as to facilitate workplace training.
Members who have current contracts that make provision for Contract Price Adjustment are able to download the latest published indices from Statistics South Africa by clicking on the following link.
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