Forthcoming industry event information and a review of recently held industry functions

""The entrepreneurial people in India taught me the value of saving and the spirit that drives them to ensure that they do provide a house for their families. They are a people determined that they will do their bit to restore their dignity. I yearn for that spirit here in South Africa,"" stated the Minister of Housing at the recent Conference of the Slum Dwellers International and Federation of the Urban Poor Conference in Cape Town

The Gauteng Department of Housing and First National Bank (FNB) are co-operating to close the gap that exists in the affordable housing market. Heeding the government's call to lend a hand in the eradication of informal settlements, FNB has launched a R800-million housing development in Soweto. More than 3 000 houses are expected to be built in the new Soweto suburb to be called Glen Ridge

Last year the Minister of Housing, Lindiwe Sisulu, tasked the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) with the responsibility of developing new housing designs that would provide a wider choice of quality, aesthetically pleasing and affordable homes to people. In response to this call the NHBRC and ABSA set up a National Housing Innovation Competition with the sole intent being the identification of new housing products for the subsidised and affordable housing markets

On Friday 9 June the MEC for Housing in Gauteng, Nomvula Mokonyane delivered her budget speech for the 2006/2007 financial year. She stated that South Africa is witnessing unprecedented growth and expansion in the economy. ""In fact the fundamentals of our economy are so sound such that foreign investment is surging"".

BEE on the up within the local designing field Women's Build 2006 - another step in building partnerships

News briefs concerning the housing and construction industries from the Southern African region