A summary of the paper: How has South African construction been insulated from the global financial crisis? Authored by Reamogetje Ngoepe, Mbongeni Simelane and Ian Kennedy – School of Construction, Economics and Management (University of the Witwatersrand) The paper argues that five factors acted towards insulating South Africa from the cold chill of the Global Financial Crisis.

A summary of the paper: How has South African construction been insulated from the global financial crisis? Authored by Reamogetje Ngoepe, Mbongeni Simelane and Ian Kennedy – School of Construction, Economics and Management (University of the Witwatersrand) The paper argues that five factors acted towards insulating South Africa from the cold chill of the Global Financial Crisis.

The commodities boom of the 2000s was an unprecedented event in the history of global economics; driven by the rising demand from emerging markets such as the BRIC nations - Brazil, Russia, India and China have since firmly laid claim to their portion of the global economy. As the astronomical rise of these economies seems unstoppable, this unique development story has fascinated financial and media institutions across the world.

Construction dispute resolution techniques are no longer confined to grim court or arbitration battles. Far more appropriate techniques have emerged; techniques which seek to preserve commercial relationships and minimise disruption to the progress of the works.

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.

The abuse of labour in the construction industry has come under heavy fire of late. In particular, wage disputes, working conditions, benefits and worker's rights. Added to this, there is a strong undercurrent of unethical business practice on behalf of the contractors themselves.

Three years ago, building industry workers signed a contract allowing an 8% wage increase per annum, until August 31, 2009. The industry had come alive, and with 2010 on the horizon, voices called for an industry to band together and work toward one of the new South Africa's crowning moments in history. There was much to be done, and every hand was needed. There would be great spoils too, spoils to be shared by everyone. Or so they said...

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 readiness of South African industries to cheat has gone too far. The disease of dishonest business practices has permeated the major industries of the country, and most menacingly, it is these businesses that impact directly on the lives of the poor, and in turn undermine Government's development agenda. Think bread, milk, steel, bricks, cement, sand, pharmaceuticals, banking and even airlines. The sheer breadth of cartel and anti-competitive behaviour within South Africa is highly unnerving, especially when considered in the context of a global recession that is reaching into even the deepest of pockets.

The readiness of South African industries to cheat has gone too far. The disease of dishonest business practices has permeated the major industries of the country, and most menacingly, it is these businesses that impact directly on the lives of the poor, and in turn undermine Government's development agenda. Think bread, milk, steel, bricks, cement, sand, pharmaceuticals, banking and even airlines. The sheer breadth of cartel and anti-competitive behaviour within South Africa is highly unnerving, especially when considered in the context of a global recession that is reaching into even the deepest of pockets.

Under the microscope once again, the practice of labour broking is rousing heated debate within industry circles. Two very defined schools of thought are tackling its very existence - to ban or not to ban? The new fuel to this fiery debate was Namibia's recent decision to ban labour broking, effectively criminalising the practice within its new Labour Act. The constitutionality of the ban was challenged unsuccessfully in Namibia's High Court, which then prompted a rising voice within the ANC to announce similar intentions.

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.

Rod Burn, Director of Organisational Performance at Murray & Roberts, discusses the concept of leadership, and how getting back to basics, and face-to-face with your team can change the very soul and performance of your business. It all comes down to a simple truth – ordinary people really can do extraordinary things.

In our second issue we ran an article by Cees Bruggemans, First National Bank’s Chief Economist, titled ‘The Greatest Boom of all Time’. It illustrates the explosive pace at which this world is growing, and the inherent opportunities deep within. He describes the massive structural shifts taking place in global society, most notably a population growth of seven billion people in a single generation, 1950 – 2050, which will never happen again.

According to Kesavan, the shortage of skills and the insatiable demand placed on our construction industry are in indications that the economy is healthy and infrastructure is developing – it’s a good problem to have.

The early nineties was a time of cyclical downswings. It seemed as if every two years large numbers of industry staff received retrenchment packages and with less and less work floating around, competition was stiff. Unions were holding powerful cards, industrial relations were unhealthy and business was on the back foot. The largest construction industry boom in our country’s history had not even received a flirtatious glance at this point – hardly a time when companies would have been investing in their people.

Over 30 years ago, Madadeni Township, Newcastle, South Africa, was rife with the negative impact of a brutal and blinkered regime. A township with a youth culture that perceived money as the end and status as the goal. A culture dramatically affected by the shackles of apartheid, where one would dream of an education, but beyond that – dreams were all you had. When considering careers, the construction industry (in hard-hats and overalls) was never held in high regard, a misguided perception that still exists today. Youths dreamt of becoming doctors or lawyers or businessmen because money, respect and status were sure to follow. Ronnie Khoza came from Madadeni.

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.