ON THE COVER: It is not the cranes or concrete mixers that make or break a project - it is the choices made before they even arrive on site. In the scramble to stretch budgets, too many infrastructure projects in South Africa are being quietly, but irreversibly, undermined by a silent compromise - sacrificing quality in construction materials.
This trend, according to leading construction materials supplier AfriSam, is not only becoming more entrenched - it is becoming increasingly dangerous.
“Durable infrastructure doesn’t fail in a headline-worthy moment,” says Amit Dawneerangen, Construction Materials Executive: Sales & Product Technical at AfriSam. “It deteriorates quietly, beneath the surface, because someone, somewhere, decided that cutting costs on aggregate, cement or concrete was a risk worth taking.”
Astec cold planer ensures precision milling on N5 road rehabilitation
In a landmark order, global equipment manufacturer Astec Industries has supplied and commissioned the first Astec (Roadtec) cold planer on the important N5 corridor maintenance and rehabilitation project in the Free State.
The group reports that it is proud to be contributing to SANRAL’s critical national infrastructure improvements after supplying an Astec (Roadtec) RX-600ex 2.0m Cold Milling Machine to Damian’s Contractors, for use on the roadworks between Bethlehem and Harrismith.
Demand and land scarcity make Cape Town and Durban investor hotspots
With land constraints tightening, infrastructure under pressure and demand surging, well-located industrial and logistics facilities in Cape Town and Durban will remain sought after.
As global supply chains shift under the weight of e-commerce, localisation and climate risk, Cape Town and Durban have emerged as two of Africa’s most investable logistics and industrial (L & I) markets due to their resilience, adaptability and strong investor appeal.
Why sustainability and resilience matter more than ever to navigate the ESG backlash
We are at a pivotal moment in the evolution of the global sustainability agenda. ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), once heralded as a pragmatic framework for embedding long-term resilience into business, is now facing growing resistance. It is under scrutiny from both political and cultural fronts, particularly in markets that were previously considered ESG frontrunners. By Stephan Jooste, Managing Director – Sustainability, Africa, Zutari.
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