Since the introduction of social housing in South Africa, there is no record of a private sector for-profit company having engaged in the initiation, development and management of a social housing project. This stark fact prompts two suggestions, either the private sector is not well informed about the social housing programme or, the private sector is informed, but does not consider the incentives being offered attractive enough to want to participate.

The South African National Roads Agency Ltd. is a first class road authority, whose business practices and innovations have been lauded by first world nations around the globe. On local shores, it pioneers, innovates and has been promoted the social and economic development of the disadvantaged long before it came into law. The Agency has strong ties with universities, and growing bonds with schools across the nation, and is a consistent force in the fight for a better life for the people of this country.

Like any business, a country has its "critical success factors". These are the handful of things you have to focus on to guarantee success. Most often, one of them is the most important of all. For South Africa, it is to make the poor productive. Handouts won't work.

Like any business, a country has its "critical success factors". These are the handful of things you have to focus on to guarantee success. Most often, one of them is the most important of all. For South Africa, it is to make the poor productive. Handouts won't work.

The purpose of the paper was to present an alternative delivery model for infrastructure, at scale, within an African context. Keeping in mind that the delivery should happen without compromising the social or economic deliverables, research suggested it was time for a fresh approach.

The purpose of the paper was to present an alternative delivery model for infrastructure, at scale, within an African context. Keeping in mind that the delivery should happen without compromising the social or economic deliverables, research suggested it was time for a fresh approach.

Ever since the fall of Rome (circa 476 CE) in the eighteenth century, there was practically no growth in per capita wealth generation in the West. With the rise of entrepreneurship, however, per capita wealth generation and income grew exponentially - 20% in the 1700s, 200% in the 1800s, and 740% in the 1900s.

Viwe Gqwetha - Nurcha's Chief Operating Officer and all round "go to” guy briefly discusses the company itself, his past, his present and his optimistic view of the horizon.

In all construction industries, the distribution of the contracting firms, by size, is the shape of a pyramid, with the SMEs forming the overwhelming majority of firms at the base of the pyramid. Many of these firms are rather fragile and transient. Of these, some have low commitment to construction, and perform poorly in both physical output and service terms, generally giving the industry a bad name. However, among the large number of SMEs, there are those which have the potential to be developed into bigger and technically better businesses. These firms have dedicated leadership, are committed to delivering good service on their projects, and are concerned with continuous performance improvement. These are the firms that make the difference between a strong base for the pyramid, and a weak one. However, this development is only possible if the situation is right.

“By pursuing his own interest an individual frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good,” wrote Adam Smith in Wealth of Nations more than 200 years ago.

History has shown that women and men, together, have been creating homes for many years, despite the absence of this traditional partnership in the modern construction industry. Not only does our Constitution require that women be employed in all sectors of the economy but many of South Africa’s organisations are finally building initiatives and mindsets that aim to embrace women in the country’s flourishing construction sector. The eradication of history’s stereotypes is the fuel of transformation.