A growing trust deficit between the government and the private sector threatens to derail efforts to turn around the struggling construction sector, but government is intensifying its efforts to build meaningful relationships with the industry.

As a black-owned Level 1 B-BBEE certified company, we have always been an organisation that has gone above and beyond to attract people from previously disadvantaged communities to the construction sector as it is part of our philosophy of “building communities”.

Despite the headwinds facing the world economy, the global construction sector entered 2019 with significant momentum, having seen growth of five percent in 2018.

A group of construction industry stakeholders has urged the industry to return to basics in order to overcome its current challenges successfully.

As reported by Stats SA, many sectors in South Africa today are facing a downturn. In fact, the report states that construction, mining and trade are in recession with a 3.2% decline being the biggest quarterly fall in economic activity since 2009.

Preparations are well underway for another spectacular occasion celebrating innovation, quality, outstanding workmanship and professionalism in the engineering industry as Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) and the engineering community get ready for the prestigious CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards.

Climate change is a trending topic that is gaining momentum. With movements like 16-year old Greta Thunberg’s Fridays for the Future gaining notoriety this is something that we need to address.

The ruling by the Constitutional Court on 18 September 2018 that the private use of cannabis would be decriminalised has raised important questions for the construction industry.

Following Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s first budget, economist Dr Azar Jammine has raised hopes for a “major recovery” in the South African economy, but he warned it was unlikely to happen before 2021.

The Institute for Timber Construction South Africa (ITC-SA), the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) accredited professional body for the engineered timber construction sector in South Africa, has successfully developed an inspectorate process to assist Local Authorities, whose role is pivotal in the enforcement of compliance with the National Building Regulations (NBR).