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Enrica Van Der Linden from EVDL Architectural Design, and Kim Williams from Kim Williams Design, haven’t quite got their heads out of the clouds just yet. 

At the end of last year, the formidable duo was internationally recognised with four honourable mention awards at the International Design Awards (IDA) for their Enamel Clinic Design Project titled Organic Harmony. The celebrated Cape Town based interior designer and her architectural-genius associate were collectively tasked with transforming 1000m2 Enamel Clinic space in the mother city into something that was comforting, soothing to the soul and a world away from the sterile unattractiveness typically associated with dental practices.

Work began during the height of the pandemic and despite this placing additional pressure on the entire team, their bespoke and sustainable, never-seen-before concept has quite literally been the talk of the design world. It earned them a place in the official selection of projects for the IDA and even a finalist position  for the coveted Loeries Award in the Interior Design subcategory. 

They share their fantastic achievements with their client, Enamel Clinic, who undoubtedly have been the biggest winners. Not only does their beautiful and enticing new space create a unique customer experience, but it has also improved employee morale and created a four-fold increase in revenue. 

There have been several plusses for the professionals too, who explain that entering any type of competition, whether local or international, is a dream come true for any designer worth their salt. 

“Not only is it a wonderful opportunity to showcase to the world our creativity, hard work and passion for our craft, but it gives us recognition and helps set us apart from others in the industry,” says Van Der Linden. 

It’s a sentiment echoed by Williams who credits confidence as the biggest takeaway from their fantastic win.  “For designers like us, being acknowledged and being able to showcase our work on the same platform as some of the best in the world is a huge achievement and a lifelong dream. It just boosts the confidence our clients have in us and our designs.”

Sprinkling magic from the very beginning 

The Enamel Clinic was a very special project from the get-go and one that doesn’t come around often for designers. 

“The client gave us complete design freedom to execute our vision for their space and once they had seen the visualisation of the design, they were exceptionally excited by what it could do for their brand,” says Van Der Linden

There were plenty of challenges along the way, especially with regards to technical equipment which had to be positioned correctly but most of these tend to be unnoticeable to the naked eye. 

A lot of thought went into creating a space that was not just functional but was soul comforting. Using curves instead of straight walls, floors and ceilings, and rounded shapes, as well as sustainable elements and décor pieces from local artisans, they transformed a space giving it an organic and harmonious feel, making clients feel more connected to nature and leading them out of a defensive state – a central behavioural psychology strategy. 

Whilst it was overwhelming and daunting to submit all the required documents for the awards, the process did give the duo a welcome chance to reflect on how beautifully their design and décor ideas married together. 

“This entire process validated our holistic approach; from understanding the client, their brand, and the experiences they were trying to create, and then translating that into a visual and sensory experience with interior elements that enhanced our clean, organic, and very minimalist design,” says Williams. 

Looking ahead, the future for this creative partnership looks incredibly promising.  “Often as a designer, it is challenging to motivate your clients into a new way of thinking and shift their vision towards something they are not accustomed to seeing every day. The awards demonstrate to our clients that they can trust our design vision for  their spaces.”

To close, Williams and Van Der Linden share the following five top tips for any budding designers who have their sights set on earning a gong or two in the next few years: 

1. It’s never about you – the core of any good design is being able to understand what someone else is trying to achieve and the experience they want to create.
2. Be as unique as you can: good design is never a cut and paste and so try and bring something unique to the project that will make it special. 
3. Don’t compromise – no matter how small the budget is, never compromise on a sustainable design concept. 
4. Be fearless: Keep pushing boundaries and taking risks. That is when the most beautiful designs come to life.  
5. Show up for your client – give it your best always. Hard work pays off.  

To read more about architectural designer, Enrica van der Linden, visit www.enricavanderlinden.co.za, and for more about interior designer and behaviour strategist, Kim Williams, go to www.kimwilliams.co.za.

Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana’s announcement regarding the launch of the National Treasury’s rebate scheme for new rooftop solar installations on private homes from 1 March 2023, has further increased the demand for renewable energy solutions by homeowners and in particular that of solar panel installations.

“There is however currently confusion and uncertainty amongst some body corporates and homeowner’s associations (HOA’s) when it comes to insuring solar installations. Some are not aware or have not been advised that they are able to cover solar panels under their existing building insurance policies. There are various cover options available and unless specified, the cost implications are minimal,” explains Hermanus van der Linde, CEO – IntegriSure Brokers.

For body corporates and HOA’s some of the options in the market are to insure a typical rooftop solar system or fixed generator by increasing the building sum insured with the replacement value of the system, which can be added to the Participation Quota (PQ). “The system will be covered in full for typical building risks such as fire, hail, impact and accidental damage.”

Other cover options include increasing the power-surge and/or exterior theft first loss limit to ensure that they are covered for all losses up to the chosen amount on a first loss basis. Another option that has been seen in the market is to add the solar system as a specified item with an additional premium payable which includes full building cover without limitations on theft and power-surge. “In this instance, the system should be specified at full replacement value.”

Those who live in residential estates or complexes need to obtain approval from body corporates or homeowners’ associations when looking to install solar. “As this is a new subject matter to deal with, combined with the current reality of unprecedented load shedding, it is very important to add this insurance matter to the agenda at upcoming AGM’s for members to understand the cover they will enjoy for solar panels, what it excludes and if there are any limitations.”

But, what are your options if your body corporate or HOA does not want to increase the sum insured of your building? “We are currently seeing reluctance from some body corporates and HOA’s to add installed solar panels to their building insurance, even though owners should insist that building sums insured be increased.”

If there is still resistance, residents and owners living in estates or complexes will need to take out cover for their solar panels on their personal policies. “We have seen various cover options in the market ranging from adding these solar panels to contents cover, to specifying it as an all risk item.”

Van der Linde cautions consumers as well as body corporates and HOA’s to ensure that solar systems are installed by a qualified, accredited installer who is able to issue a certificate of compliance as insurance companies and manufacturers may reject claims if the system is not installed by an accredited installer. “Reputable installers should have liability cover, product liability and cover against defective workmanship. When contacting solar installers ask to see their proof of liability cover.”

“We will continue to keep a close eye on the market for further trends and developments on this front and remain committed to providing comprehensive advice on the best insurance solutions for solar panels.” “If you plan on investing in renewable energy installations ensure that you are adequately insured by talking to your broker for the best product options for peace of mind should something go wrong,” concludes van der Linde.

South Africa – Exelliq, the world’s leading supplier of extrusion lines, toolings and turnkey plants for profile extrusion, presented a webinar hosted by the Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA) on the numerous benefits of using PVC windows, doors and profiles. Gerhard Hoffman, Head of Product Design & Innovations at Exelliq, discussed the growing popularity of PVC fenestration products in Europe, South Africa and around the world by highlighting the various advantages they offer to the window industry, building developers or investors to create suitable PVC fenestration profiles.

PVC windows and doors have become the preferred choice for many homeowners and developers due to their affordability, energy efficiency and eco-friendliness. With a market share of around 50% in Europe, PVC windows are increasingly being used in both new construction and renovation projects. The growth of the PVC fenestration market has been significant since it was first introduced in the 1960s, and predictions suggest that it will continue to grow to reach approximately ~50 billion USD by 2028, and ~260 billion USD by 2030 according to Mordor Intelligence.

“South Africa has been identified as a growth area for PVC windows and doors, with increased spending on housing infrastructure, proliferating demand for uPVC profiles, rising replacement of aging infrastructure, and growing building activities,” Hoffman said. He discussed the numerous advantages of using PVC windows and doors, including resistance to salt atmosphere, UV radiation, and rain impact. The chambers within the frames also reduce sound and they are highly smudge-resistant and insect-proof. Additionally, PVC windows require low maintenance, offer excellent security features, and are fire-resistant. They are also 100% recyclable, making them an environmentally friendly choice.

“PVC windows and doors offer a long lifespan of approximately 50 years, making them a durable and cost-effective investment for homeowners and developers. Once they need to be replaced, these profiles are 100 % recyclable. Moreover, the best price/insulation ratio makes PVC windows and doors a smart investment, especially when compared to other materials such as aluminium. PVC windows and doors offer a vast range of design possibilities to meet market needs and offer a considerable price advantage due to lower production costs,” Hoffman explained.

PVC framed windows and doors can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 48-61% compared to aluminium framed windows. This reduction in emissions makes them an ideal choice for environmentally conscious homeowners and developers. The benefits of PVC windows and doors are making them increasingly popular and in demand by the discerning homeowner.

Monique Holtzhausen, CEO of SAVA stated: “We are very excited about the growth potential of PVC windows and doors in South Africa. Together with our members, our goal is to help the end-market, i.e. homeowners and developers make informed decisions when choosing fenestration products that offer energy efficiency, durability, and eco-friendliness and were manufactured in line with SAVA’s Product Stewardship Commitments”.

“The benefits of using PVC windows and doors are numerous and undeniable – making them a smart investment for homeowners and developers alike. They are affordable, energy-efficient, durable, eco-friendly, and offer a range of design possibilities. With the PVC fenestration market predicted to grow significantly in the coming years, Exelliq is well-positioned to meet the demand for high-quality, innovative PVC profiles that offer value and sustainability. We are committed to producing high-quality, innovative PVC profiles that meet the needs of the market and help our clients create beautiful and sustainable homes and buildings,” Hoffman concluded.

In today’s digital world, we can communicate across different time zones at a moment’s notice, but when it comes to brokering a big deal or fostering solid, long-lasting business relationships, nothing beats face-to-face interaction. Corporate travel is still so vital but it’s equally important to prepare thoroughly.

As a business traveller, your success on the road is directly connected to the planning and preparation of the trip. This requires careful consideration, clever planning and a detailed business trip plan.
There are many variables to keep top of mind, details to comb through, reservations to create and schedules to align. 

When you arrive at your destination relaxed and well-prepared, you’re better equipped to make a good impression and focus on the purpose of your meeting. Preparation lets your mind focus on the here and now, making sure you stay on the ball in that all-important meeting. 

But even after all that is done, you still have to contend with the possibility of the unexpected whilst you’re on the move.

Follow these steps for a successful business trip

If you’d like to fine-tune how you get ready for your next excursion, follow these essential tips to help you plan your next business trip and keep you as productive and stress-free as possible:

1. Familiarise yourself with your company’s corporate policy: you’re making travel arrangements for a business trip, not planning a personal or a short break, so being compliant with your company policy is essential.
2. Determine your budget: as part of planning your trip, this will help you make decisions on travel, accommodation and other expenses.
3. Book your travel: think about the journey door-to-door, balancing travel times against cost and convenience. Use multiple sources and different comparison sites, researching the best deals. Factor in the time it takes to fill out paperwork at the vehicle hire company too.
4. Research your destination: when choosing accommodation, consider the location close to your meeting venue to minimize travel time and expenses. Ideally, you want to minimise travel and time expenses so booking a hotel that’s nearby rather than be swayed by a more luxurious option that may be a stressful 45-minutes away. And as a business traveler you’re likely to want free Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service, plenty of power points for charging your devices and a hotel that has a generator.
5. Plan your transportation: plan how you will get from the airport to your accommodation, and to your meeting venue. Renting a car takes extra time vs an Uber.
6. Create an itinerary: this is your blueprint for a successful business trip. Use it to stay in control of every detail – from transport times and the names of those you’re meeting, to your travel reservations and hotel address. Plan out your schedule and prioritize your tasks, so you can stay on track and accomplish your goals during your trip. Be sure to allow yourself extra time on your itinerary for relaxing, meetings that have been delayed or overrun, and busy traffic.
7. Pack efficiently: pack only the essentials, and ensure that your luggage meets the airline’s requirements for size and weight.
8. Remember your travel documents: bring all the necessary documents, such as your passport, proof of airline ticket and business cards. Hours of careful preparation and research will all be wasted if you forget these vital travel documents. Keep digital copies of all these documents on your phone in case you lose them.
9. Stay organized: keep all your travel documents and itinerary organized in one place, in an electronic file or folder.
10. Stay connected: it’ll make your travel time really count. Remember to pack the relevant chargers, adapters and power banks too. 
11. Take care of yourself: finally, prioritize your health and well-being during your trip. Get enough sleep, stay hydrated, and take breaks as needed to ensure you can perform at your best.

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The importance of water and protecting our valuable water resources will once again be highlighted this year as we celebrate World Water Week, which will take place this year from 20-26 March 2023. World Water Day, which was established in 1993 to raise awareness about the global water crisis and the fact that 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation, will be celebrated on Wednesday, 22 March 2023.

Plastics SA, the umbrella body representing the local plastics industry and the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (SAPPMA), the voluntary industry association for the local plastic pipe manufacturers, are using these two occasions to emphasize the important role plastics play in ensuring South Africans have access to reliable, clean and safe drinking water and sanitation.

“In 2015, the world made a global commitment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6, which aim to ensure that everyone contributes to water and sanitation management by 2030. Today, eight years later, the sad reality is that the crisis has not yet subsided. This is especially true in South Africa, where far too many people continue to be denied a basic human right – the right to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation,” Jan Venter, CEO of SAPPMA, explains. 

According to the most recent data, the world is still frighteningly off track and nowhere near meeting its goals on a global scale and governments would need to work four times faster to meet SDG 6. As a result, all efforts for this year’s World Water Week are aimed specifically at accelerating the change required to solve the world’s water and sanitation crisis. “This is not something that can be accomplished by a single person or organization, but rather requires a collaborative effort from everyone,” Venter says.

The risk of water shedding in South Africa

Over the past decade, SAPPMA has repeatedly raised the alarm about the fact that South Africa’s water infrastructure is aging and that concrete or steel water pipes installed in the 1960s are now long overdue for replacement.

Says Venter: “We have been pleading with the government to invest in much-needed pipeline upgrades and repairs across the country. We have continually emphasized the importance of replacing aging and failing pipes with HDPE and PVC pipes bearing the SAPPMA mark as a quality assurance that these pipes have been independently audited and confirmed to have been manufactured in accordance with international standards. Only pipes bearing the SAPPMA logo are guaranteed to last 50 to 100 years”.

Despite numerous disruptions in water supply and the increasing risk of water shedding, the country’s leaders and citizens maintained an air of complacency for the longest time. On a more positive note, SAPPMA says it appears that the Government has finally recognized the dire state of the country’s water infrastructure, following the announcement made in February by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana during his budget speech that the National Budget Facility for Infrastructure had approved municipal water infrastructure projects worth R3.7 billion. The government has promised to spend more than R121 billion on water infrastructure in the medium term.

“We can only hope that the money is finally being used for its intended purpose and that it is making its way to our plastic pipe manufacturers,” Venter says. He emphasized that this has become an urgent matter following a cholera outbreak in Gauteng in early March as a result of inadequate sanitation and insufficient access to safe drinking water.

The important work of the plastics industry in cleaning SA’s water sources

Anton Hanekom, Executive Director of Plastics SA, confirms that plastics play a major role in providing people with safe and clean drinking water. “Apart from being extensively used in pipelines and underground water infrastructure, plastics are also used in plumbing accessories, water storage units and even buckets or wheelbarrows used in remote areas to transport clean drinking water back to homes”.

He also emphasizes the important work done by the plastics industry in ensuring that South Africa’s water sources are clean, uncontaminated, and free of litter.

“To put it simply, polluted water is contaminated water. Research has revealed that land-based waste accounts for more than 80 % of the litter found on South African beaches, in our oceans, and in other bodies of water. For this reason, we have been making concerted efforts over the past few decades to devise solutions that will mitigate this problem”.

Plastics SA has launched and is supporting a number of projects across the country in which they work closely with local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community organizations, and businesses to keep South Africa’s river catchment areas and water sources clean of visible pollutants. These include ongoing beach and river clean-ups, supporting the development of collection and sorting  infrastructure assisting with litterboom projects, and launching numerous education and awareness campaigns for local communities across the country in order to address waste in the environment in a proactive manner.

“We are grateful for the active participation of local community groups, civil society and municipalities as well as the support of major industry role-players and the various plastic industry Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) to help us achieve the amazing results addressing plastics pollution in our river catchments. Many of these industry leaders are also signatories of Operation Clean Sweep (OCS), a global voluntary commitment programme aimed at preventing the loss of plastic resin in the marine environment, such as pellets, flakes, and powders. This is yet another example of the plastics industry going above and beyond to help the global fight against the world’s water crisis,” Hanekom says.

No room for taking short-cuts

This Water Week and World Water Day, let us remember the often unseen work that the plastics industry does around the world to provide safe and clean drinking water and reliable sewage removal to communities, while also working tirelessly to remove visible litter from our environment.

Conclude the industry leaders: “Financial difficulties are rampant in all industries, and the plastics industry is no exception. Plastic product manufacturers may be tempted to cut corners when it comes to the safe and responsible disposal of their plastic waste, and we are increasingly seeing non-SAPPMA members produce inferior quality pipes in order to save money or increase profit margins. The single most important factor in our ability to consistently deliver exceptional results is trust. As an industry, we therefore remain unwavering in our commitment to do the right thing – even if nobody is looking – and we will not tolerate any activities that would bring our products into disrepute or jeopardize the health and safety of our environment, factory workers, or end-users”.

For more information, visit www.plasticsinfo.co.za or  www.sappma.co.za

Don’t let noise kill your dream of an open and collaborative workplace.

After Covid and with all the load-shedding happening, employees are returning to the office. Fortunately, offices have evolved from listless rows of desks to cubicles to truly free-flowing environments. They symbolize a distancing from clutter and aim to create a workplace in that people want to be energized and creative.

Unfortunately, the idea is not as successful in practice. Open offices are better, but they also generate a lot of noise – and noise may just be the biggest productivity killer. It’s not something that employees can ignore: noise can be very confusing to our brains, resulting in ideas only being half-heard. Try having a phone conversation while there is loud background noise. Even though you have the speaker pressed against your ear, you often don’t even understand what is being said. This is because your brain is attempting to make sense of the phone banter as well as the background noise.

Most companies only realize this after investing in their office design and believe there is nothing that can be done. Fortunately, this is not true: from commercial solutions such as acoustic panels to simply moving the furniture a bit, here are a few tips to kill the workplace cacophony.

Identify Noise Sources

Every solution starts with a diagnosis and sound is no different. Even though sound just comes across as a riot, it’s derived from many individual sources – and certainly not something like a lone elephant…

The first step for ideal open-plan office acoustics is to observe what creates noise in the office. Is the office largely a hive of activity or a quieter place? The distinction matters: there is a huge difference between the office noise levels of a design firm if compared to a call center. You will have to be realistic about the type of environment and how much you can reduce the noise levels.

Once you identify the different sound sources, look at the routes they take. A meeting table in the middle of the office will affect everyone around it. A printer next to a wall could seem louder because its sound bounces off that wall. Build an image of how sound journeys across your open-plan office design, then start to isolate the worst offenders. It may be as simple as adding an acoustic or soundproof door to an adjoining conference room.

Fight Background Noise

Background noise is one of the biggest annoyances for people and a key place to start when looking at office acoustics. But to get a handle on this, you have to do the exercise described above as many noise sources could create a background hubbub. Chatter on phones, air conditioners whirring away, traffic outside the building, chairs scraping on the floor above: these and more are regular noise generators.

But once isolated, they are easier to remedy. Acoustic ceiling and wall panels can help reduce the din of chatter, curtains greatly diminish outside noise, and moving electronic office equipment to the far side of the office all make big differences. You can also invest in indoor plants, which are very effective in scattering sound.

Tackle Chatter Next To Each Other

Sound privacy is perhaps the biggest single complaint from any office workforce, specifically the problem of hearing other conversations. This even has a name: the irrelevant speech effect. But in the quest for office noise reduction, it’s one of the harder problems to tackle since there is a habit to bunch desks around each other.

This is a challenge for open-plan office acoustics because it is counter-intuitive. The very point of putting desks together in an open office is to create an atmosphere of collaboration. Sadly numerous studies have shown it has quite the opposite effect on productivity. The interference from your desk neighbour’s phone conversation is one of the most common complaints about open offices.

Consider new layouts for the office. It may make more sense to have desks pointing away from each other or reduce the number of phones in the immediate area. You can consider using acoustic dividers between desks for improved privacy as well as noise reduction.

Create Specific Sound Zones

Chances are you will not be able to get everything right around open-plan office acoustics because the concept itself is not perfect nor are buildings designed to take the issue to heart. Maybe you simply can’t move desks apart or perhaps that meeting table just has to be in the middle of the space.

It doesn’t mean you are out of options. A popular trend, borrowed from airport business lounges, is to have a quiet space. This can be a segregated area where conversation and phone calls are not allowed. If furnished comfortably and properly, employees can go there to do work that requires deep concentration or to just relax a little.

The ideal acoustic re-mountable partition system creates confidential office spaces within open-plan applications. To achieve the best acoustic glass partition, the COMPLETE ACOUSTIC SYSTEM needs to be considered: Correct glass specification plus an Engineered frame plus the best acoustic door.

Flexible Acoustic Partition Solutions

The above acoustic glass office can seem contradictory for an open plan office, but there is a way to get the best of both. Acoustic sliding partitions can be installed on overhead tracks and moved around as needed. That central meeting table could be temporarily enclosed so what goes on inside does not disturb the tranquillity of the workplace.

Access to water is a basic human right, as emphasised by World Water Day on 22 March, which focuses on solving the global water and sanitation crisis. “If you touch on the community aspect, load shedding is an inconvenience, but as soon as you do not have access to clean water, it becomes a human rights issue,” comments Elisabeth Nortje, Associate Director – Environment, Africa at globally trusted infrastructure firm AECOM.

“Water is a basic service and critical human need and hence it is key to make it available to all people on the continent,” says Jan-Willem Van Huyssteen, Associate Director – Water Systems, Africa, AECOM. There is a great urgency to effect change in the industry to provide sustainable water supply and responsible sanitation management. Incidents such as the severe droughts in Cape Town and Gqeberha , the widespread failure of the sanitation systems in KwaZulu-Natal and other areas is an indication of a concerning trend in the industry that sustainable water supply and sanitation management requires intervention.

World Water Day is about accelerating change because water affects everyone and requires collective action. “I start to think about the children, the elderly and the sick who do not have that basic human right of clean water, and I realise how privileged I am to have running water in my house and to have relatively clean water all the time,” says Nortje.

Another issue is permitting compliance, with South Africa’s major water users like industry and mining being compelled to conserve this precious natural resource for future generations. Associate Engineer Jonathan Schroder says AECOM’s expertise lies in reconciliation strategies for water supply systems or catchment areas. Such strategies attempt to ensure water security for the time it takes major water projects to get off the ground, which can be up to 30 years.

“We have been doing these studies for the past decade, and what we are seeing is a slippage in terms of the implementation of such strategies,” points out Schroder, adding it is partly due to administrative challenges associated with finance approvals. In many places, the cheapest resources have already been developed and exploited. Any incremental additional volume of water therefore has a tariff implication, with these marginal costs having to be shouldered by already cash-strapped municipalities. Ironically this is resulting in a delay in agreements and implementation on some of the bigger schemes that have lower increases in the unit cost of water due to the scale of the commitment.

Schroder concurs with Nortje that so-called ‘water shedding’ must be avoided at all costs. “Electricity can be switched on and off. Load shedding has an impact on the electrical infrastructure, but not nearly the same impact as water shedding would have on water infrastructure and water leakages and losses.” The problem is exacerbated when municipalities have to limit water resources to the detriment of their own income stream, which is needed to tackle the problem of insufficient water resources.

End user awareness and education is critical, which is where global platforms like World Water Day play a vital role. “It poses a massive challenge because ordinary citizens are often not aware of the extent of our hydrology’s variability, and how much water we are actually using. Our dams are full right now due to the very wet years we have had. But we are actually over-extracting from them; it is only that we have been lucky enough to have had this wet period that we have the luxury of some limited time to address the problem,” warns Schroder.

However, infrastructure capacity constraints are already looming as a constraint to water supply, even if we have temporary ‘extra’ water resources. “We cannot increase the capacity of treatment (for potable supply) infrastructure until we have a reliable additional resource. While there may seem like there is sufficient water in our dams and river systems, to build additional treatment, plant capacity or pump stations and pipes would be premature. If we go into a dry cycle, which is likely to happen in the near future, building that additional infrastructure before the resource is secured is not only premature, but it will also accelerate the speed of depletion of the limited water resource, and incur costs the utilises that cannot be recouped,” warns Schroder.

“The fact that the pressure is building is going to force a need for change in end user behaviour,” he argues. For example, following Cape Town’s Day Zero, the city’s per capita use is now significantly lower. “Right now, the pinch has not really been felt, so there is a bit of lethargy in our response to the looming challenges. For me, the concern with water is that if the situation is not corrected and users do not change their behaviour and we move into a water shedding scenario, the problem is the people who are most vulnerable will likely be impacted the most.”

Schroder says: “Unfortunately, many end users are unaware of the risks of their current behaviour.” This includes not paying for or conserving water, which reduces the revenue available to municipalities to maintain existing infrastructure build for the future. In this regard, AECOM is looking to partner with the private sector on a range of initiatives to mitigate this risk. “We still have time to act, and preserve largely functioning water supply systems, but the time to act is now.”

AECOM is well positioned as a local large business with global reach to support clients in solving these very challenging problems. Utilising wastewater as an alternative water source for either industrial reuse or potable supply is an example of such an initiative. AECOM has a strong local process engineering team capable of providing the necessary support to local clients.

Pull quote

“Water is a basic service and critical human need and hence it is key to make this available to all people on the continent.” – Jan-Willem Van Huyssteen, Associate Director – Water Systems, Africa, AECOM

Dam walls may deteriorate over time or sustain damage from natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes, posing a safety risk to nearby communities and the environment. To prevent catastrophic failure, partial demolition may be called for.

In other instances, reducing the height or capacity of a dam wall could be necessary to restore a river or waterway to its natural state or accommodate changing land-use patterns. Older dams may have outlived their original purpose or been rendered obsolete by advancing technology. Here it could be more cost-effective to demolish a dam wall than to maintain it.

Refined blasting techniques have been developed specifically to retain the structural stability of dams themselves, with no wasted effort. Such projects call for highly controlled, cautious, partial demolition techniques. “Our work on large water-retaining dams consists some of the most important projects we have undertaken to date,” comments Jet Demolition Contracts and Project Manager Kate Bester.

Rehabilitation of dam walls usually requires demolition of redundant portions of monolithic blocks and associated concrete structures. Dynamic energy imparted by the demolition process has the potential to cause damage to concrete located just across the demolition boundaries and beyond. While it is essential to avoid damage to remaining concrete, it is also important to carry out the demolition works in a productive and cost-effective manner.

Informed and judicious selection of demolition methods and their application techniques are vital to a controlled and productive project, which is where Jet Demolition’s extensive experience stands it in good stead. Dam demolition calls for meticulous planning and execution to minimise the environmental impact, especially releasing debris and sediment downstream.

Demolition techniques range from controlled explosives to cutting or breaking the dam wall into sections so the material can be removed. Following demolition, the site can be restored to its natural state or repurposed for recreational use or hydroelectric power generation.

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“Our work on large water-retaining dams consists some of the most important projects we have undertaken to date.” – Kate Bester, Contracts and Project Manager, Jet Demolition

South Africa continues to record a gradual increase in the annual recycling of PVC products. Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic on the industry, the recycling rate of vinyl products increased by 9.5 % in 2020. The following year (2021), 22 242 tons of PVC were recycled: 14 201 tons of flexible PVC and 8 041 tons of rigid PVC. This is a 3.8 % increase, while the virgin market for PVC decreased by 4.6 % in the same period.

The Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA) – the voluntary association representing the local vinyls industry, says this achievement is a significant contribution to the country’s efforts to promote sustainable waste management practices and the circular economy.

According to the data released by Plastics SA, the total domestic demand for PVC is approximately 141,800 tonnes, of which roughly 76,000 tonnes goes into the manufacturing of rigids (compounds, dry blends, etc.) and 65,800 tonnes used for flexibles. Of this amount, only 12,600 tonnes (or 9 %) of the locally consumed PVC goes into packaging such as bottles, thermoformed punnets, blister packs, clingfilm and other flexible packaging.

“As only 9 % of the domestic virgin PVC market is for packaging (rigid and flexible), the input tonnages are minute and does not justify specialized collection and recycling initiatives. However, looking at the retail shelves, many imported products come in PVC packaging, ranging from linen, bedding and textile products, clothing and hardware accessories like nuts and bolts, paint brushes and hand tools. Packaging formats commonly seen include films, blister packaging, die-cut display boxes, pouches and bags, often unprinted and in perfect recyclable condition. With sufficient emphasis on identifying PVC products and creating awareness, sufficient volumes are potentially available for dedicated wash plants for contaminated post-consumer PVC packaging. All of these considerations form part of our EPR Plan,” says Monique Holtzhausen, CEO of SAVA.

SAVA is registered with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) as a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) with the registration number 19/7/5/P/PRO/20220811/034. All income generated from the vinyl packaging producers is ring-fenced in the SAVA budget and used specifically to increase the collection and recycling of post-consumer PVC packaging, support recyclers, encourage job creation and support the growth of the PVC packaging industries in South Africa.

Although PVC is a small volume polymer packaging material, Monique stresses that it has specific and necessary application values. Moreover, vinyl products are in high demand by the almost fifty PVC recyclers that operate throughout South Africa and work in close partnership with SAVA.

“The shortage of virgin material that we experienced over the past two years significantly contributed to the increased demand for recycled PVC. The combined output recycling rate for PVC was 12.1 %. If only PVC packaging is considered, an output recycling rate of 6.2 % was achieved, post-industrial packaging only,” Monique reports, adding that recycled PVC helps to reduce the amount of energy and raw materials needed to produce new products. Therefore, the recycling of PVC products is an essential aspect of sustainable waste management practices.

Innovation in PVC Conference

“SAVA is fortunate to represent South Africa on the global stage as a member of the Global Vinyls Council. Here we are able to work closely with other vinyl associations from around the world, share learnings and collaborate on issues that we are all facing, such as legislation which might impact on our industry, developing strategies for collection and recycling or developing innovative new applications. As an extension of this, we are excited to announce that we will be hosting our first “Innovation in PVC” conference on 30 August 2023 at Sasol Place, its beautiful head office in Sandton. The conference aims to encourage new and innovative solutions for dealing with post-consumer PVC packaging and to encourage raw material suppliers and manufacturers of PVC products to come and introduce their new applications or products to the rest of the industry,” Monique reports.

“We are proud of the progress made in the recycling of PVC products in South Africa. The increase in annual recycling figures is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all stakeholders involved in promoting sustainable waste management practices in the country. We remain committed to our goal of achieving a circular economy for PVC products in South Africa and look forward to further progress in this area,” she concludes.

Monday, 13 March 2023 – TUHF21, an impact-driven property finance company, has announced the finalisation of its first funding vehicle aimed at financing rental properties in townships. uMaStandi Fund has attracted R125 million in funding from new sources in its first year of operations. This reflects the ground-breaking work that uMaStandi is doing to provide financing in townships, thereby unlocking investment potential in a market segment that has historically largely been ignored by traditional financiers. The facility will be used to continue the good work started by uMaStandi of backing property developers in townships to provide decent and affordable rental accommodation.

The funders of the facility included Nedbank, the Nedbank Black Business Partners Legacy Trust, (which includes Old Mutual’s participation), the SA SME Fund, Novo Impact Fund NPC, Apex-Hi Charitable Trust and Oppenheimer Generations Foundation.

“We are proud that we were able to attract a mixture of funding partners, including a commercial bank and some innovative impact funders. It is especially important to acknowledge that we secured this support because of the catalytic funding provided by Oppenheimer Generations Foundation. These partnerships will be key to building on the momentum we have created during the past year as we move forward in 2023. For a developing country like South Africa, uMaStandi provides an innovative way for township developers to grow and deliver compelling value for property owners to diversify their portfolios while offering quality, affordable housing,” says Lusanda Netshitenzhe, CEO of TUHF21.

“As a purpose led bank, participation in this fund is a demonstration of Nedbank’s ability to adopt a flexible and innovative approach in providing complex funding solutions for our clients,” says Khayise Mashifane, Executive, Residential Property Finance. “We worked extensively with uMaStandi and TUHF to come up with a bespoke funding offering which enables uMaStandi to achieve their end goal.”

Much as how TUHF21’s partner company, TUHF Ltd, pioneered the inner-city investment process 20 years ago, uMaStandi will play a similar role for township development. The support of these highly regarded institutions will pave the way for other potential investors. It also breaks the perception that townships do not offer sufficient vehicles for growth in the property sector. The uMaStandi facility uses ownership of property as equity to gear a rental enterprise where owners can build quality affordable rental units on their land. It also ensures that construction is properly managed and has all the necessary planning permissions in place.

Property owners or entrepreneurs who hold title deeds and those who want to buy property or vacant land can apply for uMaStandi finance to develop units for rental purposes. The uMaStandi team will conduct a feasibility study and, if the proposed project is feasible, will guide the entrepreneur to professionally design the rental units to ensure the layout, size, and fittings, etc. respond adequately to market demand.

“When we approached funders to support our vision for township developments, we were initially apprehensive – but then pleasantly surprised by the high quality of investors who took the opportunity, their level of interest and their willingness to commit to township funding. In part, this can be attributed to the significant experience and reputation TUHF has built in the market over its 20-year history”, says Netshitenzhe.

While the rental market in townships has largely been informal, it is becoming more formalised and uMaStandi is committed to supporting its further growth. If anything, the investments received highlight how the township market is proving to be the next destination for micro-property development in the affordable housing sector. “TUHF21 is helping to lead this exciting market. There is potential in the townships that has been ignored for too long, and we believe it is time for the private sector to start recognising that these economies are worth investing in,” Netshitenzhe adds.

Because of the sprawl and low densities in townships – a result of the ineffective use of space in the past – there are many opportunities for densification and bringing in mixed-use developments. This kind of development will stimulate township economies, create places of employment, and offer people access to economic opportunity.

“uMaStandi has learnt from the lessons and experiences of partner company TUHF Ltd, and will continue to accelerate growth in this dynamic market. The funds we have raised to date are just the beginning. Our first draw has resulted in the acquisition of R40 million worth of assets spread across 36 loans. By the end of 2023, we aim to achieve R100 million worth of loans issued by uMaStandi. The demand is there, and we are seeing the need to mature beyond small-scale developers to mid-size developers,” says Netshitenzhe.

“Our observation has been that Soweto is still the strongest market for development, however, our new operation in Durban is picking up far quicker than expected with Cape Town and East London also remaining key growth markets,” concludes Netshitenzhe.

As a founding shareholder of the TUHF Group, TUHF21 builds on the track record of the TUHF Group by focusing on rapidly exploring other markets, particularly in townships, while growing its existing product portfolio and developing innovative new ones. It is connected to the overarching TUHF ethos of ensuring access to finance for property entrepreneurs is optimised, training and mentorship of clients continue, and that urban regeneration, densification, and management are scaled.