For the third year since its initial event the Southern African Housing Foundation's (SAHF) Conference, Exhibition and Housing Awards were a resounding success. In the region of 400 delegates from ten countries including England, The United States, France, China, Wales, Kenya, Namibia, Uganda, Mozambique and Zimbabwe attended the year's event, held from 12 to 15 October.

Four existing residential building sin the Argyle Precinct are being renovated into 427 stylish and contemporary one-bedroom and studio apartments.

What began as a single building residential conversion project to create important affordable housing in central Jo'burg has been skyrocketed into an unprecedented multi-building conversion of over a dozen neighbouring properties to create one of South Africa's most exciting residential suburbs and an urban renewal initiative on a flabbergasting R580-million scale.

On October 23, 10 months ago after one of the biggest home invasions in South Africa's history at perhaps it's most controversial housing project, 1000 homes in Delft were handed to their rightful owners by Lindiwe Sisulu, the Minister of Housing.

Tougher economic conditions and stricter lending policies have all affected the ability of SOuth Africans to acquire homes. it was with this in mind that the developers of MOntague Place in Maitland have launched a brand new development with apartments selling from as little as R340 000, putting them amongst the most affordable in South Africa.

Five young student interns have been exposed to cutting-edge satellite technology while gaining hugely-valuable practical experience in Geographical Information Systems GIS) at Cape Town earth sciences consultancy Umvoto Africa

If thermal ceiling insulation and high-performance window systems were introduced today into all new residential and commercial buildings, an estimated 3500 MW in electricity could be saved by 2020. This is almost twice the electricity currently produced in South Africa's only nuclear power plant, Koeberg (1800 MV)

Industry news and views from Southern Africa

Various construction products and services are highlighted for revue

Current and proposed upmarket developments within Southern Africa are discussed