The construction industry is a major employer in any growing economy. Within the South African context, the Master Builders Association of the Western Cape has established a proud tradition of producing skilled and semi-skilled people who have worked on major projects all over Southern Africa through training initiatives.

A recent Balfour Beatty survey envisions a construction industry with dramatic digital capability by 2050.

The Master Builders Association (MBA) North says that the continuing trend of main contractors delaying payment of their sub-contractors – or defaulting altogether – is a symptom of the deteriorating health of the construction industry.

The announcement on the 15 June 2018 that Basil Read Construction is applying for business rescue is a clear indication of the critical state of the construction industry, says Mohau Mphomela, Executive Director, Master Builders Association North.

The gazetting of an amended Code of Good Practice on Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) specifically for the construction industry on 2 November 2017 opens up new opportunities for the industry, says Kwakho Mpepho, Education, Training and Transformation Manager at the Master Builders Association North.