imiesa october 2012

IMESAIMESAThe official magazine of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT • MAINTENANCE • SERVICE DELIVERY

Winner of the 2011 PICA Non-professional writer of the year

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VOLUME 37 NO 10 OCTOBER 2012CONTENTS

Regulars3 Editor’s comment

5 President’s comment

News

9 Local government leadership is critical

Government perspective12 State-owned construction

company – debate needed

Industry perspective14 Building bridges for the breaking

Insight19 To import…or not to?

Water and wastewater25 Long-term water

requirements addressed

32 Municipal groundwater supply

SAPPMA Conference47 A holistic view of the

humble pipe

SABITA55 The benefits of warm mix asphalt

59 SABITA membership listing

61 Asphalt planer for diverse applications

62 Mobile crushing plant launched

64 Reduced fuel consumption for hydraulic breakers

Housing81 Integrated solutions at

Scottsdene

84 Free housing construction plans

87 R5 billion for housing projects

89 Reducing water losses

Asset management93 Integrated asset management

95 Remote environmental monitoring

CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards99 Publisher of the year

100 Winner: Projects valued in excess of R250 million

101 Commendation: Projects valued in excess of R250 million

103 Entry: Projects valued in excess of R250 million

104 Winner: Projects valued between R50 million and R250 million

105 Commendation: Projects valued between R50 million and R250 million

105 Winner: Projects valued at less than R50 million

13 Construction conundrum

25 Water deliver y

91 Water losses

106 Commendation: Projects valued at less than R50 million

107 Winner: Best International Project

108 Commendation: Best International Project

GIS111 Total Geo-spatial Information

Solutions now ISO certified

Waste management112 The way forward:

waste management

Education115 SAICE & WRC Water Competition

Municipal water116 Municipal invoices not

consumer friendly

Energy119 Biogas digesters installed in KZN

Municipal governance122 Reassessing municipal

management

123 Municipal electricity wired for success

Road equipment125 Bell previews new E-series ADT

126 Sustainable concrete roads

127 New road stabilisation product

128 Improving public transport

130 Facelift for Free State bridge

Water equipment131 Relocatable steel reservoirs

132 Reinforced soil at Bushkoppies WWTW

133 Historical wooden pipeline saved

134 PVC minimisation clause removed

135 Tough pumps for abrasive fluids

135 Online academy launched

136 Built-in protection for pumps

Products and services137 Township road construction

brochure available

137 Paving skills development

138 Paving specified for housing estate

139 Precast CRCP system developed

140 Unimog to Kalagadi well

140 A decade of growth for pump distributor

141 Failing retaining walls – are you covered?

143 Innovation and customer support

144 Record time achieved for supply contract

he theOT HOEATSE

in HS

Dumi Sibandze, MD, Southern Mapping Geospatial on managing municipalities 16

Cover Story CSM Consulting Services conducted the professional services needed for The Masimong 4 Community Residential Units project in Matjhabeng.

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PANEL DISCUSSIONThe latest products and services in road construction 67

Roelof JacobsLafarge South Africa 69Frank CattichVelocity Road Rehabilitation 71

Mark SmithCLM Positioning Solutions 73

Trevor FreestonePolokwane Surfacing 75

Pascal GarriochNational Cold Asphalt 77

Albert WeberTechnicrete 79

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EDITOR'S COMMENT

Richard Jansen van Vuuren Defying gravity

PUBLISHER Elizabeth ShortenASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Ferdie PieterseEDITOR Richard Jansen van VuurenHEAD OF DESIGN Frédérick DantonSENIOR DESIGNER Hayley MendelowSENIOR SUB-EDITOR Claire NozaicSUB-EDITOR Patience GumboCONTRIBUTORS Candice Landie, Helen Seyler, Andiswa Milisa, Kornelius Riemann, Nick Mannie, Greg AustinPRODUCTION MANAGER Antois-Leigh BotmaPRODUCTION COORDINATOR Jaqueline ModiseFINANCIAL MANAGER Andrew Lobban (ACIS, FCIBM)MARKETING AND ONLINE MANAGER Martin HillerADMINISTRATION Tonya HebentonDISTRIBUTION MANAGER Nomsa MasinaDISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Asha PursothamSUBSCRIPTIONS [email protected] United Litho Johannesburg +27 (0)11 402 0571___________________________________________________

ADVERTISING SALESJenny Miller Tel: +27 (0)11 467 6223___________________________________________________

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ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: R480.00 (INCL VAT) ISSN 0257 1978 IMIESA, Inst.MUNIC. ENG. S. AFR.© Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.___________________________________________________

IMESA CONTACTSIMESA Administration Officer: Ingrid BottonP O Box 2190, Westville, 3630Tel: +27 (0)31 266 3263Fax: +27 (0)31 266 5094Email: [email protected]: www.imesa.org.za

BORDER BRANCHSecretary: Melanie MatroosTel: +27 (0)43 705 2401Fax: +27 (0)43 743 5266E-mail: [email protected]

EAST CAPE BRANCHElsabé KoenTel: +27 (0)41 505 8005Fax: +27 (0)41 581 2300E-mail: [email protected]

KWAZULU-NATAL BRANCHSecretary: Rita ZaaymanTel: +27(0)31 311 6382

NORTHERN PROVINCE BRANCHSecretary: Cornel TaljaardTel: +27 (0)82 899 8341Fax: +27 (0)11 675 1324E-mail: [email protected]

SOUTHERN CAPE KAROO BRANCHSecretary: Henrietta OliverTel: +27(0)79 390 7536Fax: 086 536 3725E-mail: [email protected]

WESTERN CAPE BRANCHSecretary: Erica van JaarsveldTel: +27 (0)21 938 8455Fax: +27 (0)21 938 8457E-mail: [email protected]

FREE STATE AND NORTHERN CAPE BRANCHSecretary: Wilma Van Der WaltTel: +27(0)83 457 4362Fax: 086 628 0468E-mail: [email protected]

REST OF SOUTHERN AFRICARepresentative: Andre MullerE-mail: [email protected]

All material herein IMIESA is copyright protected and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without the prior written permission of the publisher. The views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa or the publishers.

Cover opportunity In each issue, IMIESA offers advertisers the opportunity to get to the front of the line by placing a company, product or service on the front cover of the journal. Buying this position will afford the advertiser the cover story on pages and maximum exposure. For more information on cover bookings contact Jenny Miller on tel: +27 (0)11 467 6223.

t

IMESA

The official magazine of the Institute

of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT MAINTENANCE SERVICE DELIVERY

Winner of the 2011 PICA

Non-professional writer of the year

Water in Africa

Sustainable

operations

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“It is our goal to ultimately maximise service delivery” Dumi Sibandze, MD, Southern Mapping Geospatial

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THE UNITED STATES has never been

a shy nation. Everything is bigger and

better in ‘State-side’, or so it seems.

I was very surprised recently when

I read about the former mayor of Chicago’s

backing of a very unusual decision – this being

to reverse the flow of the Chicago River, AGAIN.

Yes, you read correctly. The flow of the

Chicago River was first reversed in 1900!

Chicago originally pumped untreated sew-

age into the Chicago River, which in turn

emptied into Lake Michigan. In an apt case of

not seeing the bigger picture, the lake soon

became the city’s primary source of fresh

drinking water.

As was to be expected, contagion soon ran

rampant and outbreaks of cholera and typhoid

claimed thousands of lives. So, in 1900, a

group of engineers, in an effort to keep the

lake clean, blocked the Chicago River's path

to the lake – effectively reversing the flow with

the construction of two canals directing the

water to run back

inland and eventu-

ally into the mighty

Mississippi River.

This ‘old-school’

engineering solu-

tion has now even-

tually led to a new problem. Several non-

indigenous species of fish are now migrating

up the Mississippi and are threatening the

lake’s ecosystem. In addition, three problems

still persist. Firstly, the lake level's contro-

versy remains. Since the channel system still

receives the treated effluent and overflow, it

is necessary for some diversion to provide

a current. When drought conditions in the

1980s hampered navigation on the Illinois

and Mississippi rivers, suggestions that the

Chicago diversion be increased were opposed

on the basis of the potential reduction in

lake levels.

Secondly, pollution continues to affect the

area. In 1969,

the Sanitar y

District adopted

an ordinance that forced pretreatment of indus-

trial pollutants at their source. It prohibited

discharges into Lake Michigan and reduced

those into the waterways. Although more than

90% of the district’s wastewater is treated, a

heavy rainfall or quickly melting snow can still

force the district to open the floodgates and let

raw sewage escape into the lake, violating the

spirit, if not the letter, of this law.

A 1972 federal law required area wide plan-

ning to control water pollution. The Tunnel

and Reservoir Plan (TARP), prepared by the

North-eastern Illinois Planning Commission,

with Sanitary District expertise, provided a

solution to the third problem, the lack of effi-

cient natural drainage in such a flat region. The

majority of the district has combined sewers

carrying both waste and stormwater. Heavy

rainstorms can overload the combined sewer

systems so that the sewers overflow into the

district’s waterways and flood low-lying areas.

Phase 1 of TARP, the anti-pollution phase,

which went into

operation in

1985, involved

the construc-

tion of 10 miles

(16.09 km) of

tunnels to cap-

ture the overflow. Phase 2, the anti-flooding

phase, calls for an additional 21 miles of tun-

nels plus three large reservoirs.

By re-reversing the flow of the river again

the non-indigenous species of fish will not be

able to reach the lake, and used water will

be recycled back to the lake instead of down

the Mississippi. The local engineering and

construction firms are eagerly awaiting the

passing of the plan as it will require a complete

overhauling of the city’s soon to be defunct

sewerage system.

I’m certain that I, and many of our readers,

will be learning about mega projects such as

this during October and November as IMIESA,

along with many of our readers, will be attend-

ing the SAFCEC, IMESA and CESA conferences.

See you there!

As was to be expected, contagion soon ran rampant and outbreaks of cholera and typhoid claimed thousands of lives

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IMESAPRESIDENT'S COMMENT

shortcomings. Conference delegates will be

presented with professional papers on relevant

engineering topics and opportunities to meet,

network and exchange experience. There will

also be an extensive range of technology and

products exhibited, as well as technical tours

showcasing local engineering achievements.

Another opportunity to showcase engineering

achievements is at our biannual IMESA/CESA

Excellence Awards, which will be presented at

the opening cocktail function. The aim of these

awards is to recognise and promote innova-

tion, ingenuity and science in finding profes-

sional engineering solutions to the challenges

faced in responding to community needs,

environmental sustainability and financial sus-

tainability of municipal infrastructure.

Award categories include:

• structures and bridges

• water/wastewater

• roads/stormwater

• environment

• community upliftment

The entries this year provide ample evidence

of the quality and ability of our local resources

to meet the challenges of ‘Engineering for

Change’, and it will be an honour to present

the awards.

In closing,this is my last entry for this page–

my two year term in office terminates at the

end of October 2012. My special thanks to

all our readers, I hope you've enjoyed reading

my comments.

THE THEME FOR this year’s confer-

ence, ‘Engineering for Change’, is

appropriate in terms of technological

advancement occurring at the

greatest rate ever. Emphasis is on con-

tinually improving efficiency and output

while increasing the life expectancy of

infrastructure assets, with dwindling

natural resources.

Municipal engineering has undergone

a huge change in the last 10 years, with

less technical capacity in municipalities

and more reliance on government and

outside sources for funding and sup-

port. The quality and quantity of human

resources are also dwindling, while a

growing population has greater needs

and demands. The lack of economic

development and delivery of infrastruc-

ture in rural areas, together with unem-

ployment, has led to increasing migration

and urban influx, increasing the burden

on the resources within municipalities.

This year’s IMESA Conference is aimed at

using technology advances and changes in

infrastructure engineering to address these

by Jannie Pietersen, president of IMESA

The 76th IMESA Conference, to be hosted by the Southern Cape/Karoo branch in George from 24 to 26 October 2012, promises to be a special event in the unique and beautiful area of the Garden Route, the Klein Karoo and the Greater Karoo.

IMESA CONFERENCE

Addressing infrastructure challenges

Municipal engineering has undergone a huge change in the last 10 years

6 IMIESA October 2012

COVER STORY

Multidisciplinary This project was awarded Best Rental Housing Project – 2012 Free State Govern Mbeki Award. National Govern Mbeki Award 2012 runner up and 2012 SAHF category 2B award.

concluded in 2010. The MOU was geared towards the formation of a

partnership between the Free State provincial department, Matjhabeng

Municipality and Harmony Gold Mining Company to focus on converting

single quarter mining hostels into rental family units. The overall objec-

tive of the partnership was to upgrade existing units into sustainable and

acceptable tenancy, thereby providing high-quality living environments to

qualifying beneficiaries in the Welkom area.

A project steering com-

mittee, which includes the

Free State province, National

Depar tment of Human

Settlements, CSM Consulting

Services, Harmony Gold

Mining Company as well as

the Matjhabeng Local Municipality was set up and has been running

since the inception of the project. Masimong 4 was identified by the

steering committee as the first phase of the MOU.

CSM services include:

• application for approval of the project

• feasibility study for the project

• architecture

• civil engineering

• electrical engineering

• electronic engineering

• project management

• property management: design of plan and systems and ongoing

involvement acting as director on Amohela Property Management

• quantity surveying

• structural engineering.

Harmony Gold Mining company provided the folowing:

• bridging finance

• donation of land

• commercial and social amenities

CSM CONSULTING SERVICES conducted all the professional

services needed for this project. The Masimong 4

Community Residential Units (CRU) project in Matjhabeng is a public-

private partnership (PPP) development, where the Free State provincial

government, through the Department of Human Settlements, formed a

partnership with Matjhabeng Local Municipality and Harmony Gold Mining

Company to develop affordable rental housing for low income groups.

The Department of Human Settlements is

providing financing as well as the regulatory

and management framework, while Harmony

Gold Mining Company has donated land and

buildings, and also provided bridging finance

to the project. The rental housing units

developed are government-owned through

Matjhabeng Local Municipality and will not at any stage be transferred

to individual occupants.

CSM Consulting Services was commissioned to provide profes-

sional services for the design, facilitation and management of the

implementation of the programme. A Memorandum of Understanding

(MOU) on behalf of the Free State Department of Human Settlements

with Matjhabeng Municipality and Harmony Gold Mining Company was

Suffi cient effort was put in to ensure a cost-effective, low maintenance, well-run development


COVER STORY

excellence

• social development framework

• property management: acting as the director

on Amohela Property Management.

Duplication of developmentPrefeasibility studies and engineering services

scoping studies have already been completed

for other similar developments identified in

the MOU. CSM is of the professional opinion

that this development is not only replicable,

but can be implemented more cost-effectively,

depending on specific development objectives,

locality and size.

The minister of Human Settlements, Tokyo

Sexwale, officially opened the Masimong 4

estate on 20 June 2012 and stated that based

on the quality of development that he has

viewed during his visit, the next phase of the

development is approved.

Target marketThe target market for the development is for

tenants with an income of less than R3 500

per month. A small number of units have

been made available to Harmony Gold Mining

employees earning above R3 500, but this is

in line with the CRU policy that makes provision

for accommodating existing tenants in a CRU

development regardless of their income.

Apartments are rented at the following

monthly rates:

• bachelors unit – R500

• one-bedroom unit – R700

• two-bedroom unit – R1 000

• three-bedroom unit – R1 200.

Specific care in the design of the estate was

to reach the objective where CSM could, with

confidence, state that sufficient effort was put

in to ensure a cost-effective, low maintenance,

well-run development, which will host satisfied

tenants willing to continuously pay their rental in

time every month. This is proven by a consist-

ent 0% rental default.

Innovative engineeringConsideration into ongoing maintenance of the

estate after construction was a key aspect of

the design. It was a condition of the design

brief that maintenance will not be performed by

the local authority, but by the appointed prop-

erty manager. The property manager’s agent

therefore took part in all design decisions

ensuring that easy maintenance formed part

of the team's design decisions. Successes

reached in terms of planning and designs

consist of:

• Stormwater originally drained to the centre

of the clusters, from where it connected

to an elaborate open deep V channel and

underground system. Stormwater control

was changed to a predominantly over-

land system that is not only easier to

maintain, but also assisted in providing a

safer environment.

• Safety of tenure was achieved by the utilisa-

tion of biometric access control.

• Roads and parking were constructed with

paving rather than bitumen topped surface,

ensuring easier maintenance.

• Prepaid water meters (hot and cold) were

installed, again ensuring less cost in month-

ly meter reading and debtor control.

• Boreholes and storing of water for irriga-

tion was introduced to lessen the cost to

the tenant.

• TV antennas were installed as part of

the project to lessen the effect on the

aesthetics of the building, should tenants

start installing their own antennas at a

later stage.

• Solar geysers and energy efficient lighting

were installed to reduce electricity cost.

• The layout of the development ensured easy

service delivery in terms of emergency and

other services like refuse control.

CONTACT CSM

Tel: 0861 276 266 | Web: www.csmeng.co.za

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Concrete Manufacturers [email protected]

Corrosion Institute of Southern Africa [email protected]

CSIR Built Environment [email protected]

Davies Lynn & Partners [email protected]

Development Bank of SA [email protected]

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Elster Kent Metering [email protected]

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Nyeleti Consulting [email protected]

Odour Engineering Systems [email protected]

PD Naidoo & Associates Consulting Engineers [email protected]

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IMESA


NEWS

BUT LEADERSHIP ON its own is not

enough, and local governments are

failing to build the capabilities they

need to overcome the challenge of

execution in several key areas, such

as adequate financing, implementa-

tion planning, and comprehensive per-

formance and risk management.

These are some of the findings in the latest

PwC report focusing on the challenges facing

today’s cities and local government organisa-

tions entitled: Making it happen – A roadmap

for South African municipalities to achieve

desired outcomes.

This year’s survey of local, district and met-

ropolitan municipalities confirms that leader-

ship is critical to the development and execu-

tion of an organisation’s strategy. But with

public, private and voluntary sector organisa-

tions collaborating to deliver public services,

all stakeholders need to be aligned in order to

maximise the chances of success and being

able to do more with less.

The study was under taken by

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC). It covers

local, district and metropolitan municipalities

across all of South Africa’s nine provinces.

The findings in the report are based on 36

completed surveys. This research follows an

international study carried out by PwC of local

government leaders around the world, which

also confirms that leadership is critical to the

development and execution of an organisa-

tion’s strategy.

Jan Gey van Pittius, PwC director and local

government subject matter exper t, says:

“While we agree that sound leadership is

crucial to the implementation of strategy, in

our view leadership on its own is not enough.

The study discloses that, of the other internal

management capabilities needed to accom-

plish a city’s vision, local governments are

falling short in some key areas.”

These key areas are:

• Financing: More than half (56%) of munici-

palities see financing as the biggest

Leadership for local government is criticalA PwC report states that inspirational leadership is critical if cities implement their strategies and deliver the outcomes their stakeholders deserve.

SERVICE DELIVERY

barrier to implementing strategies. There

also appears to be a lack of capability to

make plans resilient to the financial chal-

lenges. Less than a third (31%) of respond-

ents reported having a strategic plan, under-

pinned by a financial plan with key risks

properly assessed and mitigated.

• Implementation planning: Only one in three

(30%) of municipalities has a comprehen-

sive implementation plan, with accountabili-

ties and responsibilities in place, together

with frequent monitoring, updating and risk

mitigation.

• Supporting frameworks, tracking systems

and performance management: Outcome

assessment and sourcing (both 53%) were

cited as the biggest challenges to service

delivery. Only one in five (19%) of respond-

ents has a comprehensive per formance

management framework in place that is

aligned to the municipality’s strategic objec-

tives and supported by transparent report-

ing of per formance.

Van Pittius says it is encouraging to note

that all respondents have a strategic vision.

“However, it is concerning to note that only

just over half (56%) say that this vision is

being implemented, having an impact and

being regularly kept up to date.

“A vision on its own is not enough. It

needs to set the overall scene and

direction for growth and develop-

ment for the municipality. The

shorter-term strategies (integrat-

ed development plan and spatial

development framework) should take

the vision (growth and development

strategy) as a blueprint, and their

formulation should be done with

the involvement of key internal and

external stakeholders.”

The study also shows that almost two in

six (42%) of municipalities reported that

their organisations’ strategies were ‘com-

pletely integrated with the strategic visions’.

For 39%, the level of integration is not

complete as there are gaps and a lack of

full integration.

“In our view, municipal managers need a

clear and deliverable strategy setting out the

focus for the organisation, what is driving it

and what it does best and why. The ability to

respond to a constantly changing environment

through sensitivity to market forces and hav-

ing visibility of the future impact; and a clear

mandate for change that is driven through the

organisation,” says Van Pittius.

Service delivery: The challenge of assessing outcomesIn carrying out the research for this report,

PwC looked more closely at the service deliv-

ery cycle of municipalities to understand the

key challenges being faced by local govern-

ments. According to 53% of respondents, the

greatest challenges are posed by sourcing

and outcome assessments.

The study indicates that the majority of

local governments (94%) is reaching out to

The study indicates that the majority of local governments (94%) is reaching out to their external stakeholders in designing and implementing their strategies

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their external stakeholders in designing and

implementing their strategies. Most local

governments report the need to par tner col-

laboratively with city officials, followed by

residents (44%) and to a lesser

extent, businesses (36%). Local

governments also appear to have

a need to par tner with private

(89%), public (86%) and voluntary

(64%) sector providers to deliver

their strategies effectively.

Key success factorsOnly one in five (22%) of local governments

strongly agree and just over half agree (58%)

that they have been successful in implement-

ing their strategies.

Leadership is seen as by far the most

important factor in enabling the implementa-

tion of a strategy with more than two-thirds

(69%) of local governments emphasising this

factor. There are some strong barriers to

the successful implementation of a strategy.

The most important of these identified by

respondents is finance (56%). Over two in five

of respondents (42%) see innovation as the

second most significant obstacle.

The research suggests that smaller organi-

sations are more likely to involve all levels

in a highly collaborative process and have

less negative impact on the implementa-

tion of strategies arising from the number

of decision-making levels and complexity in

their organisations. Fur thermore, most of

the respondents from the relatively small-

er municipalities believe that per formance

monitoring is the biggest challenge in the

service delivery cycle, whereas larger local

government respondents believe it to be an

outcome assessment.

“We believe that there is an urgent need

for cities and local government organisations

to prioritise their activities and develop a

road map to ensure they have in place the

internal capabilities and external relation-

ships needed to deliver efficient and effec-

tive strategies. With the mantra

‘do the same with less’ ringing

in their ears, local governments

must focus on outcomes in order

to make things happen,” states

Van Pittius.

The suggested ‘agenda for action’

should include:

1. investing in their capabilities around

financing

2. redesigning their organisations to enable

more effective collaboration with primary

stakeholders

3. assessing the impact of their size and

scale, seeking out ways to standardise,

simplify and streamline their operations

4. introducing systems to measure outcomes

and value for money

5. developing implementation plans with

clear roles, responsibilities and timetables

for actions.

Only one in fi ve of local governments strongly agree and just over half agree that they have been successful in implementing their strategies


GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE

SEXWALE MAINTAINS, however, that

the R50 billion rectification bill is

forcing his hand.

“I cannot continue giving money to

people whose sole mission is to undermine

the work of government. We want to see you

succeeding, creating wealth and being profita-

ble. At the same time we want quality delivery.

What we have been getting in the past is less

than pleasing, shoddy work,” states Sexwale.

The triple challenges of poverty, inequality

and unemployment means that the government

and the industry, the very foundation of infra-

structure development in the country, have to

change course.

The South African economy is going through

tough times forcing the Gross Domestic

Product to be revised from 2.9 to 2.7%, large-

ly influenced by what is happening in the

global economy.

President Jacob Zuma saw it fit to establish

the Presidential Infrastructure Coordination

Commission in line with the country’s New

Growth Path. This would see over R800 billion

being invested in infrastructure over the next

few years.

Human Settlements occupies a very pivotal

role in infrastructure development because

whatever the country does, it had to think

about where people lived first as they could not

live on freeways and harbours.

Sexwale asks: “Why not give the Human

Settlements budget of R25 billion a year

to major companies that would be forced

to bring in their partners into the low cost

housing sector?”

Establishment of a state-owned construction company

DEBATE NEEDED

Human Settlements Minister, Tokyo Sexwale, says no decision has been taken as yet to establish a state-owned construction company, but he wants a debate on the issue to address the shoddy workmanship that characterises low-cost housing.


GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE

“We want people who are credible, people

who pay attention to detail, people who have

the know-how and who can provide us with

quality work. We are gatvol, fed-up… We want

taxpayers to feel that it is worth it to pay their

taxes,” he says.

Governments worldwide are known to be

very ineffective, characterised by stinking cor-

ruption and nepotism, but this does not mean

that the idea of a state construction company

is not going to work in South Africa. It is work-

ing in Brazil.

This also does not mean that government

is going to control 100% of the state-owned

construction company. Management of such

a company can remain with the private sector.

“I cannot continue doing this job knowing

that the figure of R50 billion will escalate and

we keep on going to the same people (who are

the cause of the problem in the first place) to

rectify. I need your help to find out what it is

that you are thinking,” maintains Sexwale.

Sanitation task team reportThe Sanitation Task Team, appointed by

Sexwale last September to look at the chal-

lenge of unclosed toilets in the country, found

that there is no compliance to the norms

and standards in the implementation of the

programme. Briefing the Portfolio Committee

on Human Settlements on the findings of the

Task Team in parliament recently, Sexwale said

the lack of compliance led to poor operation

and maintenance of sanitation facilities and

infrastructure by municipalities designated as

Water Services Authorities.

The report has also found, among others, that:

• Local authorities are not using the annual

Municipal Infrastructure Grant allocation of

R7 billion for water and sanitation, rerouting

it to other priorities instead.

• As a result, municipalities are not adequately

planning for the sanitation programme in

their budgets.

• Government has delivered over 2.5 million

sanitation facilities since 1994, halving the

backlog by 2010.

• Rural and urban communities are

generally serviced.

• More settlements are connected to the

grid (waterborne).

• Informal settlements dwellers on privately

owned land are severely underserviced.

The Ministerial Sanitation Task Team recom-

mends that sanitation become a national prior-

ity of government, something that has been

achieved following a decision by the recent

Cabinet Lekgotla to elevate it to one of the

Strategic Infrastructure Projects.

“The first thing for common people, the

first infrastructure before a road and airpor t

and all these things, even before a house, is

a toilet. Sanitation is the first line of defence

for human dignity,” says Sexwale.

Sanitation must remain a national priority,

until the last person in South Africa found

dignity – not behind a tree or a rock.

There was something wrong in buying

arms, which were impor tant but not criti-

cal to the country at the time when there

was pressing socio-economic imperatives,

states Sexwale.

“If only a quar ter of that money would have

been given to housing and sanitation… If

you cannot deliver that (sanitation), people

cannot trust you with delivering houses and

other things. If we can’t provide this one,

then we are not wor th the trust people have

invested in us.”

Sexwale also announced that he will

request the Special Investigating Unit to see

if people who are responsible for the “sloppy

work” in the delivery of sanitation cannot be

brought to book.

Housing challenges in the Free StateFollowing the Por tfolio Committee’s visit to

the Free State in September 2011 as par t

of its Parliamentary oversight mandate, it

expressed disquiet about the state of hous-

ing delivery by the provincial human settle-

ments depar tment in that province.

Upon invitation for a briefing to Parliament

by the Por tfolio Committee led by Nomhle

Dambuza, Sexwale repor ted to the commit-

tee, inter alia, as follows:

• The National Depar tment of Human

Settlements has established as far back

as 2010 that there is serious cause for

concern around housing grant expenditure

totals, which do not tally with the amount

of units delivered on the ground.

• At the time, this led to the Human

Settlements MINMEC – a committee of all

provincial human settlements MECs and the

minister – taking a decision to reallocate

certain funds to other provinces to avoid

non-performance and failure of delivery.

• National Treasury also become involved and

indicated their concerns around the Free

State issue.

• On 16 May this year, the office of the

Auditor-General independently dispatched

a team led by Paul Serote to the Free

State, and having interacted with human

settlements officials presented disconcert-

ing analysis and findings on the housing

delivery situation in the province. These

included wrongful housing allocation by

senior managers, irregular expenditure

of more than R500 million, houses built

without being registered with the NHBRC,

houses recorded on the Housing Subsidy

System that could not be physically verified,

advanced payments to suppliers on behalf

of contractors; and so on.

• The full and detailed report beyond the brief-

ing to the Portfolio Committee will be tabled

before the cabinet for remedial action.

“We want people who are credible, people who pay attention to detail, people who have the know-how and who can provide us with quality work.” Tokyo Sexwale


INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

The finals of the annual BKS-SAICE International Bridge Building Competition organised by the South African Institution of Civil Engineering were recently held at St Albans College in Pretoria.

Building bridges… for the breaking!

THE COMPETITION attracted par tici-

pation of approximately 600 schools

countr ywide, as well as from

Namibia and Zimbabwe. The final-

ists from all the regions, organised by the

South African Institution of Civil Engineering

(SAICE) branches countrywide, competed for

the much sought-after shield and the cash

prize for team members and their schools.

The 2012 winners are the Domino Servite

School from Pietermaritzburg with its bridge

weighing 130 g, which carried 87 kg before

it succumbed! The team consisted of Janek

Stegen, Luke Allen and Johnny Pop. The

second place went to Merrifield College in

East London, with team members Dakota

Corbett, Mitchell Struwig and Vasco Mendes.

The team’s bridge weighed 160 g and car-

ried 75 kg. Technical High School Daniel

Pienaar from Uitenhage came third with a

bridge weighing 155 g and withstood 63 kg

before destruction. Its team consisted of

Frank Ferreira, Nicholas Coetzee and Anroe

Steyn-Clulow. For the three teams to reach

the winning marks of 156, 114 and 105

respectively, aspects such as aesthetics,

the mass of the bridge and, ultimately, the

weight-bearing capacity determined the win-

ning bridge.

The bridge building kits contained 25 sticks

of 3 mm nominal thickness, glue and a little

string. Construction is done according to a

technical briefing given on the day. The teams

then got down to the gruelling business

of planning, designing, measuring, cutting

dowel sticks and constructing the bridges

by gluing everything together to form sturdy

bridge structures, while racing against the

clock towards ‘tools-down’ time. The bridges

were then left to dry for a few hours. The

adjudicators completed their task regarding

the aesthetics and weight of the bridges.

SAICE initiated the bridge building competi-

tion in 1991 to fur ther high school learners’

use of mathematics and science in an engi-

neering context to grow the profession. It has

since become an enormous success and is

enjoyed by all. The bridge building competi-

tion forms an integral par t of some schools’

activities and is recognised on the same

level as academic or sports achievements.

In some schools it has been incorporated as

par t of the curriculum.

Because of its practical and hands-on

nature, this event is SAICE’s most success-

ful initiative in attracting learners to civil

engineering, as well as promoting a general

awareness of the profession. The compe-

tition provides an ideal career guidance

opportunity. The camaraderie that develops

among the various competing teams during

their stay gives learners the opportunity to

also build bridges between people, cultures

and countries!

TOP Intense concentration is essential

LEFT The competitors constructing their bridges

Through a sound understanding of and partnership with the public sector, Nedbank provides the funding and banking expertise needed to help the country meet the challenges of infrastructure development. Just one of the ways we embrace our responsibilities to make a difference.

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HOT SEAT

Please provide a brief background on Southern Mapping Geospatial. Southern Mapping Geospatial is

a division of Southern Mapping.

It was launched in 2010 to focus

independently on the South

African geographic information

systems (GIS) market with the

existing technology available

through Southern Mapping. As I

have extensive experience as a

commercial pilot and am familiar

with the technologies used, I was

approached to head the company.

We are South Africa’s only Level

1 BEE aerial survey company.

What technologies does Southern Mapping Geo-spatial make use of and

how are these used to assist municipal manage-ment? Recent technological

advancements in airborne and

satellite imaging stand to benefit

municipalities. High-resolution

satellite coverages of all mu-

nicipalities year on year since

2006, are already available free

of charge. These images allow

for powerful analysis of formal

and informal urban growth, and

are essential inputs to Spatial

Development Frameworks (SDFs)

and Integrated Development

Plans (IDPs). In conjunction with

the vast amount of high-resolution

satellite imagery being utilised for

municipal planning, is the rapidly

expanding use of airborne LiDAR

(light detection and ranging).

This technology allows for up to

200 000 survey accurate height

measurement, to be captured per

second from an aerial platform

using laser technology. This

translates into the ability to

survey each square meter of an

area the size of Johannesburg

every four days, a task that would

take a conventional surveyor

a lifetime. The same airborne

LiDAR data used for engineering

design is also being utilised by

other municipal departments

allowing for cross subsidisation of

the data investment. The output

imagery (up to 5 cm resolution)

and accompanying height meas-

urements allow for efficiencies in

engineering design for town-

ship establishment, road, rail,

power, sanitation and water bulk

service infrastructure projects

as demonstrated by Southern

Mapping Geospatial's delivery

of full coverage LiDAR for the

municipalities of Johannesburg

and Mogale City. Disaster risk

management is another municipal

function area that is benefiting

from the rich content of LiDAR.

By utilising high-resolution digital

elevation models in flood model-

ling software, flood risk maps are

easily generated as demonstrated

by Southern Mapping Geospatial

in Alexandra township in the City

of Johannesburg. Cutting-edge

airborne hyperspectral cameras

Disaster risk management is another municipal function area that is benefi ting from the rich content of lidar

Hyperspectral technology is able to provide quantitative information on two key water quality indicators. Organic water quality through direct measurement of Chlorophyll-a concentrations in water and turbidity. By mapping these water quality indicators, it is possible to determine not only where water quality source points occur but also the likely contributors

GIS TECHNOLOGY

The eye in the skyGIS can provide a wealth of information necessary for municipalities to manage not only their geographic topography, but also social dynamics and urban sprawl, pollution and resources. Richard Jansen van Vuuren finds out exactly how this is done from Dumi Sibandze, MD of Southern Mapping Geospatial.

MANAGING MUNICIPALITIES


HOT SEAT

have the ability to map water

quality by accurately mapping lev-

els of chlorophyll a and b in water

bodies and rivers, thus pinpoint-

ing organic pollution sources. By

also accurately measuring water

turbidity, which is generally a

function of erosion and mining

activities, it is possible to discern

not only organic pollution sources

but also those from mining and

construction sectors. Airborne

technology is also able to assist

with infrastructure monitoring and

maintenance function of munici-

palities. Utilising airborne thermal

cameras, Southern Mapping

Geospatial is actively monitoring

pipeline and industrial infrastruc-

ture to detect leaks and areas

prone to failure.

In what areas of munici-pal management can all of these technologies as-sist? Satellite and airborne imag-

ing technologies are able to assist

municipal housing, engineering,

disaster, infrastructure mainte-

nance and monitoring, and plan-

ning functions. Southern Mapping

Company’s experience in these

fields is unprecedented. Being the

only local black-owned geospatial

firm offering these services, it is

our goal to share this experience

with the local government sector

– ultimately to maximise service

delivery. The provision of free and

rich image data sets, coupled with

our access to free open source

GIS systems (with our University

of Pretoria accredited training), is

one of the ways we intend achiev-

ing this.

Business in such a spe-cialised field must have limited access to young talent. How does South-ern Mapping Geospatial address this issue? Southern Mapping Geospatial is

extremely proud to be associ-

ated with Continuing Education

at University of Pretoria, South

Africa’s leading provider of work-

place training solutions for career

professionals, to present a short

course in Quantum GIS (QGIS).

The short course will be offered

on a postgraduate level with the

aim of supplying valuable educa-

tion to individuals wishing to grow

in their fields.

QGIS is an open source GIS

software package, but it goes

much further than that; the idea

of open and free data coupled

with an open source GIS software

package is priceless. This educa-

tion drive by Southern Mapping

Geospatial will expose to the GIS

community at all levels that there

is another software option out in

the market. Southern Mapping

Geopspatial provides lectures on

our cutting edge technologies at

various universities and through

this, identify candidates for our

internship programme which

currently stands at five sudents

per year.

Southern Mapping Geospatialt +27 (0)11 467 2609

www.southernmapping.com

Left Multi-temporal satellite image coverage over south-western Polokwane. Note the rapid increase in RDP developments (in the north and south), and the subsequent reduction of informal housing units (centre) showing the positive effect of housing delivery in this area

Below High-resolution aerial photography of Kendal Power station.

Lidar surveys that provide extremely accurate height positions of infrastructure

are accompanied with high resolution aerial images

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INSIGHT

To be or not to BEE

LOCAL CONTENT, high-quality

products, fair labour practic-

es and environmental stand-

ards – these are the top four

factors that determine a company’s Proudly South African status.

By opting for products that carry this local stamp, consumers, busi-

nesses and government make a personal contribution to building the

nation and economy. According to the Proudly South Africa Campaign,

buying South African stimulates an increased demand for locally pro-

duced products and services. This translates into the safeguarding of

existing employment opportunities, economic growth and the creation

of more quality employment opportunities in our country.

The World Cup that wasIn order to complete the 2010 World Cup projects on time, budgets

were pushed to the limit and, in some cases, stretching even fur ther.

The effect: an almost instant drawback in government funding fol-

lowing the big event. BMI reported that real growth decelerated from

7.8% year-on-year (2009) to 0.9% in 2010, and continued to weigh

heavy on South African construction companies in 2011 – result-

ing in a drop in share prices. The medium-term outlook for the local

South African manufacturers can find competing on the global market challenging

Following South Africa’s 2011 post-World Cup hangover, Business Monitor International noted a gradual return to slow yet steady economic growth, with a GDP of 2.7% reported in 2012. However, international threat reigns supreme for the local construction sector, with the industry experiencing a severe hangover from pre-World Cup excesses, IMIESA reports.

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INSIGHT

construction industry was a carefully calcu-

lated positive one of 2.5% forecast for 2012.

Year of infrastructureAccording to President Jacob Zuma’s State of

the Nation address, 2012 has been dubbed

the ‘year of infrastructure’. Clearly identified

infrastructure projects have been strategically

identified across the country, and the Eastern

Cape is finally receiving its long overdue

budget allocation. The Department of Public

Works is also on a drive to transform the built

environment, including the maintenance of

current structures. Great hype has been cre-

ated around the department’s new job driver:

the New Growth Path, which stresses the need

for substantial public investment in infrastruc-

ture. Although the much-anticipated R3.2 tril-

lion-infrastructure budget has been allocated

provincially, there are still concerns from the

private sector that the actual projects are yet

to manifest. There seems to be no urgency in

unlocking the massive infrastructure capital

made available by National Treasury.

But with ageing infrastructure rearing its

ugly head and the country’s housing situation

in dire straits, the spotlight is on government

to deliver on its infrastructure mandate. The

private sector has been in negotiations with

government over numerous issues, rang-

ing from skills

development and

training through

to corruption and

failure to pay con-

tractors and con-

sultants on time. However, the issues of local

supply and BEE are also burning concerns

that need to be tackled head on.

A local supplier’s perspective The number one problem arising from import-

ed products is whether these materials are

built or even suited for local conditions? This

could be a good reason as to why the country

battles with the state of its infrastructure

over the long-term. Is price being selected

over quality, job creation and local economic

growth? IMIESA

chats to market-

ing executive of

Dynamic Fluid

Control, Charl

Myburgh, on the

company’s experiences with local govern-

ment and tender processes.

DFC manufactures valves for the water,

wastewater, mining and mineral processing

industries and its biggest customers are

therefore water authorities and bulk water

suppliers such as the Department of Water

Affairs and Rand Water. We asked Myburgh

about the tender process with local govern-

ment and the clout DFC’s BEE status holds,

if any. Normally, local government has a

minimal prescribed technical requirement but

eventually, it will opt to buy from the cheap-

est supplier, regardless of which country

the product is being imported from.” When

it comes to smaller orders, these are usu-

ally narrowed down to the cheapest of three

quotes. With cheap labour and manufacturing

costs, it’s no surprise that most products are

imported from the East. “What happens is, a

one- or two-man organisation comes along, is

Infrastructure projects have been strategically identifi ed across the country

Tender processes can be detrimental to local manufacturers if imported goods can be supplied at a lower cost


INSIGHT

fully BEE compliant, gets awarded the tender

and then imports the products from our Asian

competitors. Who runs a follow-up on these

companies? What lengths does government

go to in order to ensure the products are not

being imported but locally manufactured?”

Myburgh continues.

DFC is a Level 2 BEE

contributor and employs

about 300 people. The

company is also dedi-

cated to community

upliftment and skills

development, but these

factors are very easily overlooked when

pitching for a tender. “Within reason, we try

to source all our materials locally. We pay

and employ local people and in doing so, we

continue to support local business in South

Africa,” he explains.

There will always be a battle regarding the

cost to manufacture products in South Africa

versus the cost to manufacture products in

Asian countries, says Myburgh. He believes

the reason for this is very simple – many peo-

ple in China work 14 hour-days, with very little

time off – quoting an article taken from The

Shanghai Times, Simon Perry interviewed with

a worker at a factory on the outskir ts of the

city, the staff member who quoted “one month

I worked 30 days out of 31 nd did over time

everyday and I still only made 1 200 Yuan.”

These working conditions do not raise any

red flags as it is considered the norm in

those countries. In South Africa, companies

are under scrutiny from the Labour Act, which

sets out clear working conditions, working

hours and salary indications for labourers.

“It’s very simple: local job creation grows

the local economy.

Of course one has

to import from time

to time but the local

guys must be given

preference.”

Despite the com-

pany’s commitment to supporting local, DFC

also has some of the best manufacturing

facilities in the world – boasting a plant in

the US, Finland and two sales offices in

Australia. “So, no one can tell us we don’t

have the technology or know-how to deliver

on a job,” Myburgh reiterates.

The bigger pictureAnother point to consider with regard to

impor ted products is transpor tation and

logistics. It is undeniable that transporta-

tion is a considerable cause of greenhouse

gases. Consider then the absurd amount

of carbon dioxide and other gas emissions

released into the atmosphere when bringing

in products from the East as opposed to

transporting from Johannesburg to Durban?

What about health hazards? In 2007, two

out of three recalls were for products from

China. Out of 447 products recalled for

safety reasons, 298 were produced in China.

The pet food recall was just one example

where an imported product – vegetable pro-

tein – created a massive recall. The Mattel

toy recall was another widespread problem of

Chinese imports due to lead paint and small

ingestible magnets. There have also been

recalls on baby carriers, oscillating fans,

air pumps, children’s toys and even circular

saws in just 2007 alone.

Every time imported goods are purchased,

we indirectly support the processes behind

the manufacture of those products and also

the manner in which they are transported.

So, whether you are awarded a tender as a

supplier, contractor or consultant, remember

to think twice before opting for imported

products.

Consider the quality of the end prod-

uct, consider the manufacturing process,

consider local job creation, consider the

environment and, most impor tantly, con-

sider building the South African economy.

Let’s utilise local skills and products wher-

ever possible!

It is undeniable that transportation is a considerable cause of greenhouse gases

The quality of products is often not considered when comparing quotations

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WATER AND WASTEWATER

The DWA is exploring options to meet the long-term water requirements of almost five million domestic and industrial water users in the Durban and Pietermaritzburg regions of KwaZulu-Natal.

Long-term water requirements in KZN’s coastal region

TO THIS END, the Department of Water

Affairs (DWA) is currently implement-

ing the Technical Feasibility Study as

part of the uMkhomazi Water Project

Phase 1 (uMWP 1).

The uMkhomazi River is the third-largest

river in KwaZulu-Natal in terms of mean annual

runoff (MAR), but is largely undeveloped. This

proposed new water scheme will transfer

water from the uMkhomazi River to the exist-

ing Mgeni System, thereby developing the

uMkhomazi River and augmenting water sup-

plies to the downstream users and ensuring

that the area’s long-term water demands can

be met. Once completely developed, phases

1 and 2 of the uMWP will be the largest water

transfer scheme in South Africa, compara-

ble to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project

in terms of water volume and tunnel lengths

and diameters.

Background to the studyIn 2010, the DWA conducted a water reconcilia-

tion strategy study for the KwaZulu-Natal coast-

al metropolitan areas, which found that the

total yield of the system was 334 million cubic

metres per year at an annual assurance of sup-

ply of 99% (measured at Inanda Dam).

The Mgeni System comprises the Midmar,

Albert Falls, Nagle and Inanda dams, as well

as a water transfer scheme from the Mooi

River. The current construction of Spring

Grove Dam (Phase 2 of the Mooi Mgeni

Transfer Scheme) on the Mooi River, and a

new water transfer scheme to take water

from Spring Grove Dam to the Mpofana River,

will augment the system by 60 million cubic

metres per year, bringing the total system

yield to 394 million cubic metres per year.

Unfortunately, this addition to the system

will only meet water requirements until about

2017, when additional augmentation will be

needed to meet the downstream region’s long-

term water requirements.

The aim of this study, therefore, is to explore

the preferred options for supplying water to

UMKHOMAZI WATER PROJECT

FIGURE 1 Location of the uMWP in the Umgeni and uMkhomazi River catchments

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FIGURE 2 Location of the uMWP in the Umgeni and uMkhomazi River catchments

FIGURE 3 Location of the recently constructed Western Aqueduct linking Umgeni Water’s infrastructure with infrastructure of the eThekwini Municipality

meet the long-term requirements of water

users in the Mgeni System, specifically in the

eThekwini Municipality’s area of jurisdiction.

Pre-feasibility investigations undertaken by

the DWA indicated that Phase 1 of the uMWP,

which involves the transfer of water from the

largely undeveloped uMkhomazi River to the

integrated Mooi-Mgeni System, should be

the most favourable scheme for providing

additional augmentation. However, the details

of this option and its possible date of imple-

mentation still needs to be evaluated with con-

sideration of other alternatives such as the

reuse of treated effluent and desalinisation,

which can be implemented at an earlier stage

to provide some relief for the shortfalls likely

to occur from 2017 to 2023. While the reuse

of water is being considered as an option for

augmenting supply, it is not the focus of this

article and will not be discussed under the

water demand projections that are presented.

Phase 1 of the uMkhomazi Water ProjectPrevious studies identified eight alternative

schemes as possible alternatives, but the com-

bined Impendle and Smithfield scheme con-

figurations emerged as preferred alternatives

that were suitable for further investigation.

The pre-feasibility investigation, concluded

in 1998, recommended that the Smithfield

scheme be taken to a detailed feasibility-level

investigation because its transfer conveyances

would be independent of the existing Mgeni

System, thereby reducing the risk of limited

or non-supply to the eThekwini Municipality,

and providing a back-up to the Mgeni System.

The pre-feasibility investigation concluded

that the first phase of the uMWP would

comprise the new Smithfield Dam on the

uMkhomazi River near Richmond, water trans-

fer infrastructure (possibly a tunnel) to a

balancing dam, proposed to be the existing

Baynesfield Dam (which would have to be

raised) or another dam in the area, a water

treatment works in the uMlaza River valley

and a pipeline to a distribution reservoir at

Umlaas Road. From Umlaas Road, water

would be distributed under gravity to the



FIGURE 4 Likely area to be supplied from the uMkhomazi Water Project: Phase 1

eThekwini Municipality and low-lying areas of

Pietermaritzburg. The implementation period

(design, procurement and construction) for

this project is estimated to take approxi-

mately six years.

Current feasibility studiesThe objective of the current feasibility study is

to finalise the planning of the proposed uMWP

at a detailed level so that the scheme may

be accurately compared with other possible

alternatives and be ready for implementation

(detailed design and construction) on comple-

tion of the study.

To expedite the study’s progress, the feasi-

bility study has been divided into the following

modules, which will run concurrently:

• Module 1: Technical feasibility: Raw

water (The DWA appointed BKS in

December 2011).

• Module 2: Environmental Impact

Assessment (EIA) (The DWA will commis-

sion a full EIA under a separate study).

• Module 3: Technical feasibility: Potable

water (Umgeni Water is under taking

this module).

Figure 2 shows how the three study mod-

ules overlap in terms of the infrastruc-

tures and development options that are

being addressed.

Technical feasibility study: Raw water (Module 1)In December 2011, the DWA appointed BKS

to undertake the uMkhomazi Water Project

Phase 1, Module 1: Technical feasibility study

raw water. Some specific objectives for this

study are to:

• investigate Smithfield Dam (Phase 1) to a

detailed feasibility level

• investigate the availability of water from

Impendle Dam (Phase 2) as a future

resource to release to Smithfield Dam, and

refine the phasing of the selected schemes

• optimise the conveyance system between

Smithfield Dam and the proposed

Baynesfield Water Treatment Plant

• undertake a water resources assessment of

the uMkhomazi River Catchment, including

water availability to the lower uMkhomazi

• evaluate the use of Baynesfield dam as a

balancing dam

• investigate the social and economic impact

of the uMWP.

The raw water module (Module 1) is consid-

ering water resources aspects, engineering

investigations and project planning, schedul-

ing and implementation tasks, as well as the

environmental and socio-economic impacts of

the proposed project.

At the same time, Umgeni Water is under-

taking a study for the potable water compo-

nent (Module 3), ranging from the water treat-

ment plant to the tie-in point with eThekwini

Municipality’s distribution system.

Projections for meeting long-term water requirementsPhase 1 of the uMWP will supply water from

the proposed Smithfield Dam via the recent-

ly constructed Western Aqueduct (shown in

Figure 3) to parts of the integrated Mooi-Mgeni

System as well as the eThekwini Municipality

downstream of the Umlaas Road Reservoir.

The area likely to be supplied is shown in

Figure 4.

Previous water requirements projections

(based on Average Annual Daily Demand

(AADD) and indicated by the red line on Figure

5) was revised, at eThekwini Municipality’s

request, to assume a growth rate of 1.3%,

based on proposed new developments and

projected positive economic growth in the

area, as well as plans to include supply

to areas such as Cornubia, Umhlanga and

Waterloo from the system.

The resulting projection (indicated by the

green line on Figure 5) is based on a list of

requirements and not on the capacity of the

Western Aqueduct.

A water requirement projection assuming

the Summer Daily Demand (SDD) was also

developed and is shown as a pink line

in Figure 5. For this, an SDD peak factor

of 1.5 was assumed in consultation with

eThekwini Municipality.

The projections in Figure 5 show that Phase 1

of the uMWP can meet water requirements via

the Western Aqueduct up to 2036. However,

while Umgeni Water has indicated that the full

allocation from Smithfield Dam will be used

from the date of first water delivery for supply

via the Western Aqueduct, with a combination

of water supplies from the proposed scheme

with the Mooi-Mgeni into an integrated system,

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FIGURE 5 Water requirement projections for the proposed uMkhomazi Water Project: Phase 1

FIGURE 6 Long-term water requirement projection for the integrated Mooi-Mgeni System

Contract value: R31 325 000Study period: Dec 2011 to Nov 2014Client: Department of Water AffairsTeam: BKS (lead consultant), AGES, MMA

the water requirements of the entire system

could be met up to about 2040 (even without

the implementation of other augmentation

options such as the reuse of water). This issue

is illustrated by the water balance for the total

integrated Mooi-Mgeni System (including Phase

1 of the uMWP and water requirement projec-

tion for the Western Aqueduct) in Figure 6.

Module 1 (Technical feasibility study: Raw

water) of the feasibility study will include a

detailed planning analysis of the integrated

system, aimed at balancing water resources

with long-term projected water requirements,

as part of the Water Resource Planning Model

(WRPM) task.

Stakeholder involvement and participationBecause the project aims to augment water

supply to the Mgeni system, an area that

is managed by Umgeni Water with users

mainly from eThekwini Municipality, this study

requires participation from the three spheres

of government, as well as from key stakehold-

ers in the water sector. An extensive public

participation process will be followed as part

of the EIA (Module 2).

Phase 2 of the uMWPAt this stage, indications are that Phase 2 of

the uMWP would be implemented when need-

ed, and would comprise the construction of a

large dam at Impendle further upstream on

the uMkhomazi River to release water to the

downstream Smithfield Dam. The proposed

Impendle Dam will probably be implemented in

two phases to the maximum size of 1.5 MAR,

with a gross storage capacity of 830 million

cubic metres. Together, these developments

have been identified as having a 99% assured

stochastic yield of about 388 million cubic

metres per year.

By developing the uMkhomazi River and

using its supplies to augment current sys-

tems, the DWA’s long-term vision for reliable,

efficient and sustainable water supplies for

the hub of KwaZulu-Natal is being realised. In

a water-scarce country such as South Africa,

the DWA is taking careful steps to optimise

the current water resources to ensure sus-

tainable supplies to support the country’s

developing economy.



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Trenchless Technology Specialists

According to the National Water Act, a landowner does not own the water under his land. The use of groundwater from private land for municipal domestic supply is therefore possible and promoted. By Helen Seyler, Andiswa Mlisa and Kornelius Riemann from Umvoto Africa

… and municipal groundwater supply

PRIVATE LAND

HOWEVER, the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) requires

landowner agreements before considering any licence appli-

cation or funding for groundwater development projects.

According to the National Water Act (NWA), the DWA has the

right to access private land for monitoring purposes, but this right is

not extended to municipalities as Water Services Authorities (WSAs).

The municipalities are bound by the Water Services Act, under which

they are allowed to lay services on properties but cannot necessarily

gain entry for groundwater exploration or drilling prior to laying of the

service. In addition, in terms of the Municipal Ordinance, the only com-

pensation required for the laying of a service is calculated based on the

value of land under the servitude area. The typical problems encoun-

tered in groundwater development projects for municipal supply are:



• The worth of time to be spent in

negotiations with landowners to

access the land for exploration

is unknown, as the exploration

has not yet given results.

• Commencing exploration on the

basis of verbal consent is cost

effective in terms of negotiation

time but the lack of written con-

sent enables the landowners to

refuse access to the established

boreholes, which inhibits the monitoring process.

• Landowners often make requests for compensation in the form of

private assets that the municipality cannot legally fund.

• No standard exists for calculating compensation for inconvenience

caused during drilling or laying of services.

• Landowners attempt to use the laying of service process to secure

rights to water on land that is currently not utilised, or to object to the

municipal abstraction, which can only be done under the DWA water

use licensing process.

Hence, although the NWA, the WSA and the municipal by-laws and

ordinance support the municipal procedures and allow for servitude for

water works with agreed compensation, a key challenge for the munici-

palities, the landowners and the DWA is to run the various processes

in conjunction while maintaining that requests and concerns are dealt

with under the correct process, i.e. establishing servitude for water

works and licensing of abstraction are two separate processes. The

lessons learned and the hurdles jumped in overcoming these problems

are discussed. All parties involved should try to avoid the last resort,

expropriation of the land so that the municipality can ensure the provi-

sion of water to all.

Groundwater has historically been given limited attention and has not

been perceived as an important water resource in South Africa. This

is reflected in general statistics showing that only 13% of the nation’s

total water supply originates from groundwater. Public perception that

groundwater is not a sustainable resource for bulk domestic supply and

cannot be managed properly lingers. Despite this, a growing number

of municipalities utilise groundwater on a regular basis, and provide

examples of successful management of this resource.

A number of guidelines for groundwater management have been

developed internationally and for the South African context, these

include the NORAD toolkit (DWAF, 2004), the WRC Guidelines for

the monitoring and management of groundwater resources in rural

water supply schemes (Meyer, 2002) and the DWA Guideline for the

assessment, planning and management of groundwater resources

in South Africa (DWAF, 2008). Other documents include water qual-

ity management protocols, minimum standards, the Framework for

a National Groundwater Strategy (DWAF, 2007), the National Water

Resources Strategy (DWAF 2004), the Guidelines for catchment

management strategies towards equity, sustainability and efficiency

(DWAF, 2007) and regional groundwater plans, as well as selected

national and international ar ticles and publications on groundwater

management aspects.

However, neither of these guidelines provides the local authorities

with tools on how to deal with access to private land. This hinders

groundwater development in the country, and as a result, several WSAs

have opted to only develop groundwater on municipal property, or this

is seen to be the first option. This means that even when desktop

studies have shown that the best groundwater yield will be on private

land, the WSAs opt for exploration

on municipal land first and only

when it is proven that the yield will

not be sufficient they commence

with the process to access the

private land for drilling and eventu-

ally abstraction, which means the

projects get delayed and become

more expensive than they need to

be. This also adds to the percep-

tion that groundwater cannot be

used effectively for municipal supply.

Recent groundwater development projects in the Eastern and Western

Cape have shown that the process of getting landowner agreements

and registering servitudes is problematic for municipalities and can

result in municipalities only drilling on municipal land. The projects

include:

• Drilling of exploration boreholes commenced in the Oudtshoorn

Municipality without having landowner agreements and servitudes

in place. Subsequently, one of the landowners denied access to the

borehole for monitoring and used the artesian borehole for irrigation.

• An artesian monitoring borehole, drilled during a WRC project for

the City of Cape Town on communal land, managed by Cape Nature,

has been opened to be used for an ablution facility on the nearby

picnic spot.

• Lengthy and finally unsuccessful negotiations with different landown-

ers close to Stanford in the Overstrand Municipality have resulted in



the need to drill the proposed production close to the existing road

outside of the farm fence under condition that a percentage of the

abstracted water is supplied to the landowner.

• Most municipalities in the Eastern Cape focused the drilling of

emergency boreholes during the recent drought on municipal land,

with the expected result of low yields and boreholes declared dry

and unsuccessful.

Legal framework for access to water and water deliveryA number of laws, from the South African Constitution to municipal

by-laws, govern the access to water in South Africa.

The South African Constitution supports access to water for all and

gives rights to the relevant authorities to ensure delivery of water.

Section 27 states: “... Everyone has the right to have access to suf-

ficient food and water… the state must take reasonable legislative

and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the

progressive realisation of… these rights”.

The South African Constitution allocates the management of water

resources to national government and the management of water and

sanitation services for all citizens to municipalities (local government).

Hence there is one Act that deals with the sources of water (National

Water Act, national responsibility) and one Act that deals with water

services (Water Services Act, local responsibility). The public water

and sanitation sector in South Africa is organised in three different

tiers, namely:

• The national government, represented by the DWA, and

establishes policy.

• Water boards, which primarily provide bulk water, in addition to play-

ing a role in water resources management. They also provide some

retail services and operate some wastewater treatment plants.

• Municipalities, which provide most retail services and also own

some of the bulk water infrastructure. The municipalities do this

through the WSA and Water Service Provider (WSP) departments.

South Africa’s Water Services Act (Act 108 of 1997) contains a sec-

tion on the right of access to basic water and sanitation. It states that:

• everyone has a right of access to basic water supply and basic

sanitation

• every water services institution must take reasonable measures to

realise these rights

• every water services authority must, in its water services develop-

ment plan, provide for measures to realise these rights.

Under the Water Services Act, the municipalities are allowed to lay ser-

vices on properties but cannot necessarily gain entry for groundwater

exploration or drilling prior to laying of the service. The National Water

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TABLE 1 Phases of groundwater development and landowner agreements (after Riemann et al., 2011)

LEVEL OF STUDY PRODUCT/DECISION DATA COLLECTION LANDOWNER AGREEMENT REQUIREMENT

Conceptualisation • Inception/planning report • Expert evaluation of existing data • Not required

Reconnaissance

• Identify target areas• Recommendation for

and prioritisation of monitoring

• Primarily desktop work with limited fieldwork and data collection, as required, (e.g. Hydrocensus)

• 1st order water balance model

• Access to private land for fieldwork

Pre-feasibility

• Environmental monitoring and assessment

• Identify target sites

• Geological and ecological mapping• Installation of monitoring

infrastructure and ongoing monitoring of relevant processes

• Recalibrate water balance model

• Access required for establishing monitoring infrastructure and ongoing monitoring.

• No law in support of this

Feasibility

• Exploration • Yield estimation• Licence and EIA

application• Feasibility report

• Site survey, borehole siting• Drilling and testing of exploration

boreholes• Regional groundwater modeling• Invest in collecting all relevant input

for design purposes

• Access required for borehole siting, exploration drilling and continuous monitoring.

• NEMA no longer requires EIA for drilling of exploration boreholes

• For licensing purposes DWA requires the WSA to have landowner agreements in place

• Exploration and monitoring boreholes not seen as services by the Water Services Act

• DWA is supported by the NWA to establish exploration/monitoring boreholes but not the WSA

Options analysis • Options analysis report• Comparison of different options for

water supply, based on feasibility studies

• No access required

Design and implementation

• Wellfield design and implementation

• Operating rules

• Design all components of the scheme

• Wellfield model

• Access and servitude required for drilling of production boreholes and laying of services e.g. pipeline

• The Constitution and NWA provide guidance on compensation

• The Water Services Act grants the WSP the legal right to lay services

Operation and maintenance

• Operation and maintenance

• Ongoing monitoring • Access to undertake continuous monitoring required

Act (Act 36 of 1998) provides a framework to protect water resources

against over-exploitation and to ensure that there is water for social and

economic development and water for the future. It also recognises that

water belongs to the whole nation for the benefit of all people. The Act

outlines the permissible use of water. It says people can:

• take water for reasonable domestic use in their household, directly

from any water resource to which they have lawful access

• take water for use on land owned or occupied by that person for

reasonable domestic use, small gardening (not for commercial pur-

poses) and the watering of animals (excluding feedlots) that graze

on that land (within the grazing capacity of that land) from any water

resource that is situated on or forms a boundary of that land, if the

use is not excessive in relation to the capacity of the water resource

and the needs of other users

• store and use run-off water from a roof

• in emergency situations, take water from any water resource for

human consumption or fire fighting.

According to the NWA, a landowner does not own the water under that

land. Municipal abstraction from private land is therefore possible and

promoted. However, the DWA requires landowner agreements before

considering any licence application or funding for groundwater develop-

ment projects. According to the NWA, the DWA has the right to access

private land for drilling exploration boreholes for monitoring purposes,

but this right is not extended to municipalities as WSAs.

The municipal by-laws and ordinance give municipalities a certain

amount of legal leeway for accessing private land; however, enforce-

ment of these laws and their legal value is not clear. In terms of

the Municipal Ordinance, the only compensation required for the

laying of a service is calculated based on the value of land under the

servitude area.

When drilling of exploration boreholes and abstraction of groundwa-

ter was considered a listed activity under the National Environmental

Management Act (NEMA) (Act 107 of 1998), requiring a Record of

Decision and an EIA, landowner consent was a requirement if the

activity would not occur on the applicant’s land, e.g. on private land

for a municipality as applicant. This caused confusion with landown-

ers as they thought this may mean they cannot object to the activity,

which in turn caused delays with the EIA process as basic assess-

ment reports could not be finalised and submitted, or site evaluation

could not be carried out until the consent forms had been signed. The

change of the NEMA regulation for EIA requirements with respect to

groundwater development is welcome, as it would help to align the

different processes.

Groundwater development and landowner agreement processThe development of groundwater schemes and implementation of well-

fields should follow a standard project process, which is similar to other

infrastructure development (Riemann et al, 2011). The main elements

of this process are shown in Table 1.

It is clear from the above process that only the landowner agreements

of the design level are supported by the current laws, although even

those are not sufficient as they do not give the WSAs the full rights

required for successful and effective implementation. Unlike the DWA,

which can just inform the landowner through a standard letter when

they need to undertake exploration and/or monitoring on private land,



the WSAs have to go through a negotiation and compensation process,

which is time consuming and expensive, and sometimes leads to expro-

priation as at times the landowners are not reasonable and agreeable.

As outlined in Table 1, groundwater development is a phased

approach. Hence, access agreement, servitudes and compensation

agreements are required at different times and levels of the groundwa-

ter development project:

• access for exploration fieldwork from reconnaissance level onwards

• access for installation of monitoring network from pre-feasibility

level onwards

• access for drilling of exploration and/or production boreholes at

feasibility and design level

• servitude for monitoring from pre-feasibility level onwards

• servitude for services, e.g. borehole, pipeline, pump house from

design level onwards

• compensation for servitude and use of water from operation

level onwards.

It is also not clear who is responsible to engage and negotiate with the

landowners for these different agreements. In some cases:

• the consulting hydrogeologist undertakes the process

• the WSA undertakes these with or without the legal assistance of

the municipality

• external lawyers are appointed to undertake the process.

Unfortunately, the whole process of landowner agreements and com-

pensation for access of land for groundwater development is not regu-

lated. As there is no guideline available, the municipality must become

a negotiator involving bargaining, handshake agreements, pleas and

memorandum of agreements. In most cases, the landowners request

far more as compensation than what is reasonable. One of the land-

owners in Stanford requested fencing off of the proposed servitude.

Access agreement Access agreements can have many forms and details. For once-off

access at an early stage of a project, a handshake agreement or

verbal permission is normally sufficient, while the installation of

equipment or drilling should only commence once a written agreement

is in place. There is no guideline or template for these agreements,

TH

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/05/

05/4

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The landowner still has free access to the land, but might be restricted in his activities

and each one must be negotiated on its

own merit. The EIA and licensing processes

require the consent of landowners, on which

land the activity will occur. The Department

of Environmental Affairs uses a consent form

for the EIA process that simply states that

the landowner gives consent to the activity

being investigated and considered. This does

not imply that the landowner agrees with the

activity taking place and does not foreclose

any comments or concerns by the landowner.

A special form of agreement is the servi-

tude that is registered in the title deeds. A

registered servitude gives the municipality

the right to access land for reasons stipu-

lated in the servitude. The landowner still

has free access to the land, but might be

restricted in his activities, so that the servi-

tude can be effective. Since the servitude is

registered in the title deeds, it remains valid

when selling the property.

CompensationThe question of compensation is addressed in the South African

Constitution, Section 25, 2): “… Property may be expropriated only

in terms of law of general application… for

a public purpose or in the public interest;

and subject to compensation, the amount of

which and the time and manner of payment

of which have either been agreed to by

those affected or decided or approved by a

court.” It further states that “the amount of

the compensation and the time and manner

of payment must be just and equitable,

reflecting an equitable balance between

the public interest and the interests of

those affected, having regard to all relevant

circumstances, including:

• the current use of the property

• the history of the acquisition and use of

the property

• the market value of the property

• the extent of direct state investment and

subsidy in the acquisition and beneficial

capital improvement of the property

• the purpose of the expropriation.

The Constitution further states that for the

purposes of Section 25 “… the public interest includes the nation’s

commitment… to bring about equitable access to all of South Africa’s

natural resources... ” The NWA also stipulates conditions for servitudes



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Potential land use and hence loss of ‘economical productivity’ of that land to the landowner is often not considered

and associated compensations,

effectively stating that compensa-

tion should be based on the value

of the effected land.

In Table 1 it is suggested that

compensation is agreed upon

effectively during the design and

implementation level of a ground-

water development project, since

the success of the groundwater

exploration like borehole yield can

only be established at this stage.

However, there might be a case

for compensation for inconven-

ience during earlier phases of the

project, meaning compensation for

day to day disturbance of the land-

owner by the project activities such

as drilling, which mainly occur dur-

ing feasibility and design levels of

a project. Following the recommen-

dation of the Constitution and the

NWA on compensation, the minimum requirement is deemed to be the

value of land to be used (area), which is a straightforward land evalua-

tion by a municipal land evaluator. The current or potential land use and

hence loss of ‘economical productivity’ of that land to the landowner is

often not considered.

Possible way forwardThough the Constitution and the NWA allow for expropriation, this is

found to be an extreme path by all parties involved, and hence servi-

tude registration in the title deeds of the property has been found to

be the most effective option for a final agreement for access to land.

The following process is considered appropriate for groundwater devel-

opment projects:

• Signing of an “in principle” Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) prior to

commencement of exploration drilling, i.e. at feasibility level – reaching

an “in principle” agreement

with the landowners over

whose property access for

drilling is required.

• If possible, the MOA

should cover all activities

required to be undertaken

on the land, including the

design level.

• The agreement should

consider the duration of

the intended servitude,

i.e. will it be for a fixed

period of time or will it

subsist indefinitely or be

based on activity.

• The MOA should indicate

that a subsequent servi-

tude registration might

occur depending upon the

results of the feasibility and

design levels of the study.

• Compensation for the servitude will be negotiated once the results of

the design level are available, meaning once it is known whether the

boreholes will be used for abstraction of water.

• Servitude to be registered by way of an endorsement/restriction on

the title deed for the property concerned so that it gives rise to what

is known as a real right, i.e. it is enforceable against the world at

large. This would protect the municipality in a situation where the

owner of the land concerned sold the property, as the new owner

would be bound by the servitude as reflected on the title deed of

the property.

Following the above two-step process ensures that the negotiations for

compensation are carried out once the WSA knows the value of the

water found on the land and hence can evaluate a reasonable compen-

sation for the access and use of water. The request by many landown-

ers for use of water as compensation is premature before production



The negotiation and agreement with respect to the compensation is a lengthy process, if proper guidelines are not followed

boreholes have been drilled and tested

as the amount of compensation cannot

be agreed upon until the yield of the

boreholes has been established.

Commencing exploration on the basis

of verbal consent is cost-effective in

terms of negotiation time, but the

lack of written consent enables the

landowners to refuse access to the

established boreholes, which inhibits

the monitoring process, e.g. two years’

worth of monitoring data was lost in

a project, while access was being

renegotiated. Hence, the “in principle”

MOA is a strongly suggested step prior

to drilling.

The negotiation and agreement with

respect to the compensation is a lengthy

process, if proper guidelines are not fol-

lowed. The minimum requirement of the

land value is often not accepted by the landowners, while their requests

for special items and assets to be included, e.g. fence, private borehole

and free water supply, cannot be entertained by the municipality.

However, it has been a very successful approach to “buy” the water

from the landowner for a value similar to the potential profit, if the

landowner would use the water on their

property for economic benefit.

In estimating reasonable compensa-

tion, the WSAs have to consider the

following additional costs related to

servitude registration:

• surveying of the section of the

property to be registered for servi-

tude, including dimensions of the

road access

• survey diagrams lodged with and

approved by the Surveyor-General

and, thereafter, the servitudes would

have to formally register against

the properties’ title deeds at the

Deeds Office

• land evaluators’ fees – prefer-

ably use municipal ones, though

mutual agreement may need to be

reached between the par ties on

who to appoint to avoid perception

of biases

• lawyers’ costs for all par ties involved, including the lawyers for the

landowners. In this case the WSAs are advised to set a maximum

charge per hour and expected time to be spent by the lawyer.



Member of the Dawn Group Think Green

Johannesburg Tel: +27 11 345 5600 Cape Town Tel: +27 11 957 5600 www.dpiplastics.co.za [email protected]@[email protected]

[email protected]@dpiplastics.co.za




Leading manufacturer of quality piping systems for water reticulation and conveyance

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Building a GREENER tomorrow today...

ABOUT THE AUTHORS (from far Left)Andiswa Mlisa is a director at Umvoto AfricaDr Kornelius Riemann is the principal hydrogeologist at Umvoto Africa Helen Seyler is a senior hydrogeologist at Umvoto Africa

Recommendations and conclusions Although the Constitution, NWA, the WSA and the municipal by-laws and

ordinance support the municipal procedures and allow for servitude for

water works with agreed compensation, a key challenge for the munici-

palities, the landowners and the DWA is to run the various legal process-

es in parallel while maintaining that requests and concerns are dealt with

under the correct process. Although the NWA Section 24 requires the

consent of landowners for the use of water found underground on that

land, it is suggested that the DWA considers water use licence applica-

tions (WULA) without the requirement for landowner agreements in place.

Their concerns can be dealt with in the comments and responses

register of the public par ticipation during the licensing process, and

the water could be allocated to the municipality without the consent.

The passing of a licence then allows the municipality to establish the

water works and lay the pipeline. It is further suggested that right for

the establishment of exploration boreholes and the access to land for

monitoring purposes be extended to include the WSAs and WSPs.

References: Government of South Africa, 1998. South African National Water

Act, Act No. 36 of 1998. Government Gazette Volume 398.

Government of South Africa, 1997. South African Water Services Act. Act No.

108 of 1997. Government Gazette Volume 390.

Riemann, K, D. Louw, N. Chimboza & M. Fubesi (2011). Groundwater

Management Framework. WRC Report No. 1917/1/11. Water Research

Commission South Africa, Pretoria

Acknowledgements: This paper draws on lessons from two Umvoto projects

in which the support of the Overstrand Municipality and the Outdshoorn

Municipality is acknowledged.

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SAPPMA CONFERENCE

The Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association recently held its annual conference and exhibition. IMIESA examines one of the papers delivered at the event. It was presented by Peter Kleynhans, president-elect of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering.

The humble pipe and the triple challenge

A HOLISTIC VIEW

SOUTH AFRICA IS FACED with many developmental and sus-

tainability challenges. The South African government has iden-

tified three socio-economic imperatives as requiring particular

attention. They are:

• poverty alleviation

• removal of inequality

• reduction in unemployment.

As practitioners, we tend to focus on the aspects with which we are

charged and give limited thought to the sole purpose of a pipe, namely

to convey a fluid intended for some form of service delivery. Also, many

buried pipes are subject to a human shortcoming, often referred to as

‘out of sight out of mind’. This paper serves to illustrate some of the

contributions that the ‘humble pipe’ makes to address the triple chal-

lenge, and what those of us who are actively engaged in the life cycle of

pipes should do to enable the ‘humble pipe’ to come to its ‘full glory’.

The three socio-economic imperatives are intertwined and much of

The panel of speakers answering the audience’s questions at the end of the SAPPMA conference


what is done in respect of one can have a ben-

eficial result for another.

A sound, well-balanced socio-economic

regime is the foundation of efforts to address

the triple challenge. Virtually all economic activ-

ity and social services require the efficient and

effective conveyance of fluids. Hence, without

the ‘humble pipe’, a developmental socio-

economic order would not be possible. While

it is not always obvious, the ‘humble pipe’ is

integral to addressing the triple challenge.

The pipe as an asset and as a liability For convenience, the comments in this paper

are structured to reflect the life cycle of a pipe.

The implication of a life cycle approach is that

a pipe is not only an asset, but also a lifelong

liability.

In order for a pipe to attain its true asset

potential, it needs to be fit for purpose with

the liability in respect of matters such as cost,

resource requirements, loss of the fluid con-

veyed, refurbishment and replacement being

as low as reasonably possible. Only then can

the ‘humble pipe’ come to its ‘full glory’. In

essence, for the ‘humble pipe’ to contribute

in full to the package of measures required

to address the triple challenge, the benefits

of the pipe need to be maximised, while the

liabilities associated with the pipe need to be

minimised. The fitness for purpose of a pipe

installation, its quality and the manner in which

it is managed throughout its life cycle are the

dominant contributors to the value of the asset

and the extent to which the pipe installation

contributes to addressing the triple challenge.

Inappropriateness, poor quality and inadequate

management have an adverse effect on ser-

vice delivery by increasing the liability of the

pipe, while reducing its value as an asset. This

adverse effect works against endeavours to

address the triple challenge. Every rand spent

unnecessarily due to a shortcoming in a pipe

installation, reduces funds available to address

the triple challenge.

Materials and manufacture Many materials are used in the manufacture

of pipes. Each material and manufacturing

process tends to have individual resource

(including employment) and energy require-

ments. These requirements can be expected

to become increasingly important selection

criteria.

The abstraction and processing of raw

materials contribute to addressing the triple

challenge. The manner in which and extent to

which there is a contribution, varies among

pipe materials.

Extractors and processors of raw material

together with manufacturers of pipes seek to

obtain a sound balance between factors, such

as energy needs, quality of product and the

employment of labour, while remaining locally

as well as internationally competitive.

International competitiveness is critical as

the importation of less expensive pipes is not

conducive to addressing the triple challenge.

On the other hand, the ability to export pipes

contributes to addressing the triple challenge.

The quality of pipes (and the associated

fittings) plays a

significant part

in a pipe being

an asset and in

reducing the lia-

bility associated

with that asset.

Consequently,

standards for

materials and the manufacture of pipes as well

as compliance with those standards (for locally

manufactured as well as imported pipes and

fittings) are central to the contribution that the

‘humble pipe’ can make towards addressing


Continual technological improvement of mate-

rials, pipes, fittings and coupling arrangements

(that result in a more robust pipe installation

with reduced risk of failure, reduction in the

loss of fluid and increased longevity) goes

a long way towards increasing the value of

the asset and in reducing the lifelong liabil-

ity. These technological improvements are an

important contributor to addressing the triple

challenge.

Planning, design and documentation Planning and design are the foundations of

the life cycle of any asset, including the ability

of the ‘humble pipe’ to contribute to the triple

challenge.

An important component of planning is to

reduce the need for an asset, such as pipes

(thereby reducing the lifelong liability), while still

retaining appropriate service delivery. Much of

this planning might vest with political decision-

makers and others who are not involved with

pipes. In those instances, the planners of

pipe installations might have little input into

determining the service delivery mechanisms.

In other instances, the planners of pipe instal-

lations would

have a central

role in deter-

mining appro-

priate ways

of addressing

service delivery

requirements.

Whichever way,

planners should seek ways of reducing the

necessity for new assets.

Once the most beneficial pipe installation is

identified, it becomes incumbent on designers

to apply their minds with ‘due skill, care and

diligence’ to select the most appropriate pipe

materials, pipe sizes and pipe configurations.

Collectively, these considerations determine,

or at least strongly influence, the appropriate-

ness of the resulting asset for the desired

service delivery requirements, together with

the lifelong liability associated with the asset.

Inappropriateness of one or more of pipe mate-

rials, pipe sizes and pipe configuration could

result in the service delivery requirements not

being met, energy being used unnecessarily,

Every rand spent unnecessarily due to a shortcoming in a pipe installation, reduces funds available to address the triple challenge

Lizl du Preez of Pipeflo was the lucky draw winner of the Canon camera

SAPPMA CONFERENCE


and excessive maintenance and in extreme

cases, premature failure coupled with the need

to replace the asset. While these aspects

are undesirable in their own rights, they have

knock-on effects by deviating scarce financial

and human resources from other matters that

seek to address the triple challenge.

An important consideration in the design

of pipe installations is the ability to identify

leaks that might occur during the operating life

of the installation. While the loss of fluid is

undesirable from resources and ecological per-

spectives, it also reduces finances that might

otherwise be available to contribute towards

addressing the triple challenge.

When detail designs are prepared, designers

need to make maintenance as easy as practica-

ble. Poorly designed pipe installations from the

perspective of maintenance might contribute

to a reduction in unemployment by needing

larger maintenance teams. The employment is

not productive, however, and results in greater

costs, which detract from the ability to address

the other two socio-economic imperatives of


The identification, selection and design of

an appropriate pipe for a specific service

delivery requirement need to be accompanied

by sound bid and contract documents, without

which problematic contracts or a less than

optimal asset with significant lifelong liability

could result. ‘Due skill, care and diligence’ is

required when compiling bid and contract docu-

ments. ‘Cut and paste’ documentation, using

flawed documents as the basis, has the danger

of shortcomings being repeated.

Standards, pro

forma documents

of various forms

and pipe manufac-

turers’ handbooks

have a major part

to play in ensuring

suitable bid and contract documents, thereby

contributing towards the creation of sound

assets and limiting lifelong liabilities. In their

own right, such documents play a meaningful

role to assist in addressing the triple challenge.

A critical element of bid documentation is the

evaluation criteria that are adopted when bids

are adjudicated. In the case of public sector

pipe installations, the current Broad-Based

Black Economic Empowerment regulations

make it incumbent on the compilers of bid

documents (for professional service providers,

suppliers and contractors) to make sure the

‘functionality criteria’ are such that there is

assurance only bidders capable of designing

or constructing sound assets proceed to the

second round of evaluation. Failure to do so

would increase the risk of troublesome con-

tracts and assets with high lifelong liabilities.

Both such occurrences would detract from the

authorities’ abilities to contribute to addressing


Labour-based methods of construction for

pipelines and pipe systems are an acknowl-

edged method of contributing towards the triple

challenge, particularly for poverty alleviation

and for the reduction in unemployment. Owners

and ‘implementers’ of pipe installations should

allow for such methods of construction where

practicable, with the design and documen-

tation being appropriate. Recent experience

in such projects, including those containing

pipes, has indicated shortcomings in our pre-

sent approach; however, particularly concern-

ing assurance of value for money in asset

creation. Such shortcomings can and should

be rectified in the interests of addressing the

triple challenge.

Construction, testing and commissioning The manner in which a pipe and its fittings are

installed and the appurtenant works are con-

structed is central to the creation of a sound

asset with low lifelong liability.

In accordance with the most commonly adopt-

ed general conditions of contract, the quality of

the pipe asset is a combined responsibility of

the ‘contractor’, the ‘employer’ and the ‘engi-

neer‘. Each has specific contractual rights and

responsibilities. If any party fails to exercise

those rights or to comply with its responsibili-

ties, the quality

of the resulting

asset may be

compromised.

For example,

a contractor’s

failure to ade-

quately bed a pipe, the employer not allowing

for adequate site attendance and the engi-

neer’s site representative not inspecting the

bedding, could result in premature failure of the

pipe, additional maintenance and the unneces-

sary loss of fluid from the pipe.

Although a manufacturer of pipes is gener-

ally not a party to the construction contractual

arrangement outlined above, much benefit can

be derived when the manufacturer (through

initiatives such as training, monitoring and

technical assistance) proactively contributes

to ensuring that the pipe and its appurtenant

fittings are properly installed and protected.

Hydraulic testing of a pipe installation plays

an important part in quality assurance and in

detecting potential defects that could result in

fluid leaking from the installation or premature

failure of pipes and/or fittings. These matters

are key to the soundness of the asset and to

reducing the lifelong liability associated with

the asset. The three participants in conven-

tional contracts, as well as pipe manufactur-

ers, should participate in ensuring that a pipe

installation is tested for soundness, thereby

reducing the lifelong liability and contributing to

addressing the triple challenge.

Where inadequate attention is given to com-

missioning, a pipe installation’s fitness for pur-

pose is suspect. The result might be that less

fluid is delivered than was initially intended,

higher energy costs might be necessary or the

level of service might be lower than required.

All these aspects have a negative impact on

addressing the triple challenge by reducing the

value and/or increasing the lifelong liability of

the asset.

Management, operation and maintenance It is common knowledge that the planning

and construction of a pipe installation is of

short duration relative to the lifelong need for

management, operation and maintenance of

the asset.

A pipe installation should fulfil its purpose

for many decades and ideally well in excess of

a century. The longer a pipe is fit for purpose

the better it contributes to addressing the triple

challenge. The absence of sound pipe man-

agement, resulting in higher than necessary

Where inadequate attention is given to commissioning, a pipe installation’s fi tness for purpose is suspect

Attached is a picture of Dawie Fick, MC, handing Peter Kleynhans a bottle of wine to thank him for his presentation

SAPPMA CONFERENCE

SAPPMA CONFERENCE


maintenance costs and the possible premature

replacement of the asset detracts from an

institution’s abilities to focus on other matters

that contribute directly to addressing the triple

challenge.

Critical parts of water management are cost

recovery and reduction of non-revenue water.

Every rand that is not collected for services

rendered and every litre of

water for which costs cannot

be recovered detract from an

institution’s ability to contrib-

ute towards addressing the tri-

ple challenge. The same tends

to apply to pipe installations

conveying other fluids.

While it can be argued that poor consum-

ers benefit in respect of poverty alleviation

by not paying for water, free basic services

are intended to achieve this objective. The

water for which there is no payment is above

that required to meet basic needs and is

often in respect of water that is used (or

possibly wasted) by consumers who are not

impoverished. Non-payment for such water

actually detracts from the potential to address

poverty alleviation.

An asset that is fit for purpose and of sound

quality does not result in service delivery if it

is not appropriately operated. In addition, poor

operation could result in a reduction of the

useful life of an asset (or even its destruction),

while increasing the lifelong liability due to

breakdowns or unnecessary failures that result

in unplanned maintenance. The avoidable cost

of keeping the asset functional reduces the

funds available to contribute towards address-

ing the triple challenge.

The South African Institution of Civil

Engineering infrastructure report card clearly

shows that, in general, the public sector pipe

installations are at best satisfactory; many are

at risk, while sanitation in certain areas outside

of the major urban areas is unfit for purpose.

The cause is not necessarily divorced from the

quality of the assets that were constructed,

but is generally the result of inadequacy in

maintenance.

In essence, inadequate planned maintenance

and shoddy unplanned repairs have resulted

in unnecessary remedial work being required

in respect of pipe installations. While such

remedial work could contribute to a temporary

reduction in unemployment (often at a local

level), the expenditure would not be necessary

if the assets had been appropriately managed.

There is no addition to the infrastructure assets,

merely a replacement, thereby utilising funds

that should otherwise be available to address

poverty alleviation and the removal of inequality.

Being part of the global economy, South

Africa needs to be able to compete with the

best in the world if the triple challenge is

to be addressed. Consequently, the ‘humble

pipe’ has a role in basic services as well as in

delivering services to world-class enterprises.

Several of our cities have aspirations to be

‘world-class cities’.

Conclusion The ‘humble pipe’ is an important component

in our endeavours to address the triple chal-

lenge. The manner in which we approach and

execute our disparate roles in the life cycle

of pipe installations either contributes to the

country’s ability to address the triple chal-

lenge or detracts from our ability to address

the triple challenge. By fulfilling our obligations

as ‘pipe practitioners’ with ‘due skill, care and

diligence’, we contribute to addressing the

triple challenge.

Marley Pipe Systems was awarded a gold certificate for their stand at PIPES VI

Inadequate planned maintenance and shoddy unplanned repairs have resulted in unnecessary remedial work

PROFILE

How many manufacturers of Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP) pipes are there in South Africa? JK Fiberpipe is

the sole manufacturer for the civil

industry, but there are more in the

industrial sector.

What speciality does GRP pipes provide? They are easy

to install, non-corrosive, have an

extended lifespan, have a very low

coefficiency of friction, and are

lightweight with high strength.

What makes it suited to local conditions? It is

corrosive resistant, therefore

no maintenance or cathodic

protection is required.

How has it been received locally? We have had mixed

reviews as it is still a relatively

new material and you will always

have the two camps: people who

embrace new technology and

people who do not.

Where are you experiencing growth – or are you

strategising to move into new markets? As people

become more confident with a

new material they start to use

more of it. We are also moving

into new markets such as mining.

Why is GRP a better choice? Each product has its

place in the market just as GRP

does. But with the advantages

that GRP has, it is a viable option

and very competitive on pricing.

What sets your product apart from others? We supply

a full pipe system out of GRP,

including fittings, which are tailor-

made to specification, and we

also provide on-site assistance

from our field engineering

department, which advises the

contractor with correct installation

methods throughout the project.

What is the cost comparison of your products to similar options? Depending on the

pressure and diameter, GRP pipes

can be 20% more cost-effective

than traditional materials.

You manufacture two brands, Flowtite and Vectus; what are their specific applications? Both are used to

transport water and sewage, but

Flowtite is more widely suited for

long lengths due to the continual

manufacturing process.

Why are the products suited to water applications in Southern African? They have

the right price combined with

excellent advantages, and there is

little or no maintenance required.

In relation to corrosion with certain wastewater streams, how do your two brands fare? Excellent, as no corrosive

materials are used in GRP.

How do the products fare in terms of life cycle? Excellently, as they have a design

lifespan of 50 years. From tests

performed on pipes removed from

the ground that have been in use

for 25 years the expected lifespan

forecast is up to 120 years.

What key maintenance aspects need to be taken into account? Very little or

no maintenance is required on

our pipes.

How important is the proper and specialist installation? Like all pipe systems, correct

installation is a key factor, but we

do not require a special artisan

to install our pipes with our field

engineering department on-site.

We train the contractors’ staff

The leader in piping in civil applications

FIBERPIPE

on the installation methods and

advise during installation.

What are the specific ben-efits of Vectus? The joining

method used in Vectus allows us

to test at every joint after installa-

tion to ensure no leakages.

Does the Flowtite pipe have applications in agriculture or is the use only industrial? Agriculture is one of our main

markets as our pipes are used for

the transportation of bulk water.

What is Fiberpipe’s mission and vision? To be the leading

manufacturer and preferred

supplier of GRP pipes and fittings

in civil engineering, mining,

industrial and agricultural markets

in sub-Saharan Africa and in

the Indian Ocean islands. Our

financial goals will be achieved

through intensive focus on

quality products, excellence

in customer service and

manufacturing efficiency.

How do these contribute to project success? Our main

focus is on quality and providing

excellent customer service; we

are ISO 9001:2008 certified and

manufacture to strict processes

to ensure a quality product. We

also supply our clients with after-

sales service and assistance from

our field services division.

Jan Kruger of Fiberpipe talks to IMIESA about Vectus, Flowtite and the benefit of using Fiberpipe for water and sewage applications.

www.fiberpipe.co.za


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SABITA

OVER THE PAST three years, the

South African bituminous prod-

ucts industry has made significant

strides in the introduction of warm

mix asphalt (WMA), a process which allows

asphalt mixes to be manufactured and paved

at temperatures at least 30°C below those

of conventional hot mix asphalt (HMA), while

maintaining or even exceeding the quality of

equivalent HMA mixes. This generates sig-

nificant savings in energy consumed in heating

aggregate and bitumen in the asphalt manufac-

turing process.

Other significant benefitsLower overall emissions: Lower mixing tem-

peratures to manufacture WMA means reduced

consumption of burner fuel, conservation of

non-renewable fossil fuels, and reduced green-

house gas emissions.

Improved working environment: The reduction

in fuel burned reduces emissions of aerosols

and fumes, both at the mixing plant and the

paving site, improving conditions for both the

workers and the neighbouring communities.

Lower asphalt temperatures improve general

worker safety and reduces the risk of heat-

related injuries.

Engineering benefits: WMA offers a host of

engineering benefits, including:

• Its improved workability and compactability

that is beneficial for hand work such as at

intersections, widening, around manholes or

for patching.

• The longer “compaction window” provides

significant advantages over HMA when trans-

porting and paving asphalt at night and in

cold weather. It allows for longer haulage

distances or times. WMA can be produced

at normal HMA temperatures to enable sub-

stantially longer haulage distances or times

to be achieved.

• The reduced temperatures of WMA can

be expected to reduce binder ageing dur-

ing manufacture and paving, and result in

improved durability, flexibility and resistance

to fatigue and age cracking, resulting in

reduced life cycle costs.

• There is close synergy between WMA and

asphalt recycling, where the WMA technol-

ogy tends to improve the compactibility of

stiffer mixes resulting from the incorporation

of high proportions of recycled asphalt (RA).

This last point – highlighting the use of RA (up

to 40%) in WMA – is important in the areas of

sustainability, the conservation of diminishing

resources and also the reduction of infrastruc-

ture cost to the taxpayer.

By substituting varying proportions of aggre-

gate requirements in any particular WMA mix,

existing assets (the distressed pavement that

is being recycled) are used rather than virgin

aggregate. The RA also includes a proportion

of aged bitumen, which is rejuvenated in the

WMA manufacturing process. Recycled materi-

als therefore include both pre-owned aggregate

and bitumen, and offers significant savings in

the construction of new pavements.

An additional and unexpected benefit that

arose during the WMA development and trial

period, initiated by the eThekwini Municipality

in 2008, was the unique synergy that emerged

The benefi ts of warm mix asphalt

The imperative of sustainable practices in the road construction industry has been accepted throughout the world.

ABOVE The effects of reducing asphalt manufacturing temperatures can best be seen when loading asphalt into a tipper truck. The silo on the left is loading con-ventional hot mix asphalt, that on the left is discharging WMA, and the reduction in fume emissions is clearly visible

SUPPLIERS OF

Test Sieves & Sieve ShakersCivil Laboratory Equipment

labconLaboratory Drying Ovens

Bitumen - Asphalt Testing Equipment

Soils Testing Equipment

Concrete Testing Equipment

Continuous Flow Filterless Centrifuge

Marshall Computerized 50kN Load Frame with Digital Display Unit

Marshall Stability Mould Automatic Penetrometer

CBR/UCS/ITT/MAR Machine Nuclear MoistureDensity Gauge

1m Dynamic Cone Penetrometer

Fully Automatic Concrete Cube PressModel PREC3FT -

High Stability Stiffness Frame

Fully Automatic / AC type

Slump Set Consisting of:Slump Cone, Tray, Tamper, Hopper, Ruler & Scoop

Concrete Testing Hammer Mpa - reading

Cast Iron & Nylon Rubber Concrete Cube Moulds

100mm & 150mm &Concrete Cube Tamper

CBR Body, Collar, Perforated Base Plate,

Compaction Base Plate & Soaking Weight

DICK KING LAB SUPPLIES (Pty) Ltd

Tel: +27 (0)11 499 9400Fax: +27 (0)11 493 6349

Email: [email protected]

Email: [email protected] 6, Selby 515, Prop Street,Selby, Johannesburg, Gauteng


between the client, the consulting engineers

working on the WMA mix design, the manufac-

turers producing the mix and the contractors

who carried out the paving. This cooperation,

which continued throughout the three-year trial

period, resulted in the development of a WMA

template that will facilitate the implementa-

tion of WMA for many years to come, and

also in the publication of Sabita’s Manual

32: Best practice guideline for warm mix

asphalt, which was launched at CAPSA’11 in

September 2011.

This guideline synthesises the technical and

practical experience gained from the three tri-

als carried out by the eThekwini Municipality,

as well as that gathered by members of the

Warm Mix Asphalt Interest Group (WMAIG) who

undertook a study tour of several European

Union countries in August and September

2010. The document was drafted by a team of

WMAIG members and was subjected to both

local and international peer review.

The relatively rapid introduction of this new

technology into South Africa – it took just

over three years – has surprised the asphalt

industry in a number of countries where the

process is taking much longer. This quick

response no doubt hinges to a large extent

on the excellent cooperation and teamwork

between all parties as mentioned above and in

particular those professionals and practition-

ers involved in the WMAIG.

South Africa’s bituminous products sec-

tor has acknowledged that the process of

entrenching WMA technology was also facilitat-

ed by the boldness of eThekwini Municipality’s

Road Rehabilitation Branch, which took the

initiative to use new technologies on its roads

and to implement sustainable and environmen-

tally friendly processes.

ABOVE Members of the Society for Asphalt Technology inspect WMA paving in Greyville, Durban

SABITA

Ammann Construction Machinery South Africa

229 Hull Road, Rynfield, Benoni 1500Tel. + 27 11 849 3333 Fax + 27 11 849 8889

Mobil + 27 82 554 7620rocco.lehman @ ammann - group.com

Single drum roller ASC 110.

Productivity Partnership for a Lifetime

An innovative family firmAmmann is a leading supplier of plant and machinery, with the focus very firmly on road building. Our strengths are the forthcoming approach of a family firm that has been operating for many years, coupled with our strong and well - established international presence. Ever since 1869 we have been setting benchmarks in the road - building industry, thanks to countless innovations and solutions which are as competitive as they are dependable.

For more information on compaction machines, asphalt mixing plants and pavers go to www.ammann - group.com


SABITA

ACTOPHAMBILI ROADSTel: +27 (0)11 894 1433

AFRISAM SATel: +27 (0)11 670 5500

AG THOMASTel: +268 518 4499

AJ BROOM ROAD PRODUCTSTel: +27 (0)11 454 3102

AKASIA ROAD SURFACINGTel: +27 (0)12 562 9500

AQUA TRANSPORT & PLANT HIRETel: +27 (0)32 533 6883

ARCUS GIBBTel: +27 (0)21 469 9172

ASPHALT SERVICESTel: +27 (0)43 745 2733

ASTEC – ASPHALT TECHNOLOGYTel: +27 (0)16 362 1310

AURECONTel: +27 (0)12 427 2634

AURECONTel: +27 (0)21 526 9400

BIGEN AFRICA SERVICESTel: +27 (0)11 802 0560

BITUMEN CONSTRUCTION SERVICESTel: +263 (0)4 305 506

BITUMEN SUPPLIES & SERVICESTel: +27 (0)11 803 9338

BKS CONSULTING ENGINEERSTel: +27 (0)11 206 6980

BSM LABORATORIESTel: +27 (0)31 764 6537

CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGYTel: +27 (0)21 959 6664

CHEMIMPO SOUTH AFRICATel: +27 (0)11 293 2058

CHEVRON SOUTH AFRICATel: +27 (0)21 403 7834

COLAS SOUTH AFRICATel: +27 (0)21 531 6406

CONCOR ROADS & EARTHWORKSTel: +27 (0)83 326 6746

DICK KING LAB SUPPLIESTel: +27 (0)11 499 9400

Sabita membersDMV HARRISMITHTel: +27 (0)58 622 2676

DUPONT DE NEMOURS INT SATel: +27 (0)11 218 8600

DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGYTel: +27 (0)33 845 8916

ENGEN PETROLEUMTel: +27 (0)11 480 6389

GMH/CPP CONSULTING ENGINEERSTel: +27 (0)11 462 0601

GOBATel: +27 (0)12 679 9300

GROUP FIVE CIVIL ENGINEERINGTel: +27 (0)11 409 6607

HHO AFRICATel: +27 (0)21 425 2870

ILISO CONSULTINGTel: +27 (0)31 266 2600

IMESATel: +27 (0)31 266 3263

INSTANT ROAD REPAIRS ASPHALTTel: +27 (0)15 291 3225

JAVSEALTel: +27 (0)31 902 5988

JEFFARES AND GREENTel: +27 (0)11 807 0660

KANTEY AND TEMPLERTel: +27 (0)21 405 9600

KAULANI CIVILS SOUTHTel: +27 (0)21 881 3152

KAYMAC T/A KAYTECHTel: +27 (0)31 717 2303

LAFARGE INDUSTRIES SATel: +27 (0)11 657 1156

LETABA LABTel: +27 (0)13 752 7663

LIDWALA CONSULTING ENGINEERSTel: +27 (0)861 543 9252

MDUBANE ENERGY SERVICESTel: +27 (0)31 304 2470

MILLING TECHNIKSTel: +27 (0)31 792 9580

MMILA CIVILS & TRAFFIC SERVICESTel: +27 (0)12 993 3098

MORE ASPHALTTel: +27 (0)21 975 0784

MTTCTel: +27 (0)12 800 3018

MUCH ASPHALTTel: +27 (0)21 900 4411

N3 TOLL CONCESSIONTel: +27 (0)11 454 3596

NADESON CONSULTING SERVICESTel: +27 (0)21 418 4988

NAIDU CONSULTINGTel: +27 (0)31 265 6007

NAMIBIA TECHNICAL SERVICESTel: +264 (0) 61 215 324

NATHOO MBENYANE ENGINEERSTel: +27 (0)31 312 2097

NATIONAL ASPHALTTel: +27 (0)12 562 9533

NEIL SOBOTKER AND ASSOCIATESTel: +27 (0)21 863 2020

OUTENIQUA LABTel: +27 (0)44 874 3274

PD NAIDOO AND ASSOCIATESTel: +27 (0)21 440 5091

PHAMBILI ROAD SURFACINGTel: +27 (0)33 346 1982

POLOKWANE SURFACING Tel: +27 (0)15 293 1221

POWER CONSTRUCTIONTel: +27 (0)21 907 1300

RAND ROADSTel: +27 (0)11 923 5045

RANKIN ENGINEERING CONSULTANTSTel: +260 (211) 290 085

RAUBEXTel: +27 (0)31 700 8216

ROADSMARTTel: +27 (0)21 713 0129

ROADSPAN ASPHALT PLANTSTel: +27 (0)11 552 8505

ROYAL HASKONINGDHVTel: +27 (0)11 798 6051

SALPHALTTel: +27 (0)11 823 2218

SARFTel: +27 (0)11 403 5603

SASOL OILTel: +27 (0)11 889 7872

SASOL TECHNOLOGY FUELS RESEARCHTel: +27 (0)16 960 4068

SASOL WAXTel: +27 (0)16 960 2126

SHELL SA MARKETINGTel: +27 (0)31 571 1000

SPECIALISED ROAD TECHNOLOGIESTel: +27 (0)31 700 4510

SPRAYPAVETel: +27 (0)11 868 5451

TAR SPRAYTel: +27 (0)82 601 9062

TAU PELE CONSTRUCTIONTel: +27 (0)51 436 0103

TOR CONSTRUCTIONTel: +27 (0)44 694 0008

TOSASTel: +27 (0)11 889 7872

TOTAL SATel: +27 (0)11 778 2056

TPA CONSULTINGTel: +27 (0)31 765 1907

TSHEPEGA ENGINEERINGTel: +27 (0)12 665 2722

UNITRANS SUPPLY CHAIN SOLUTIONSTel: +27 (0)21 521 6200

UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA, DEPT CIVIL ENGTel: +27 (0)12 420 2171

UNIVERSITY OF STELLENBOSCHTel: +27 (0)21 808 4379

VAN WYK TARMACTel: +27 (0)12 561 1871

VELA VKETel: +27 (0)12 481 3805

WORLEYPARSONSTel: +27 (0)12 425 6300

WSP SA CIVIL AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERSTel: +27 (0)11 450 2290

ZEBRA SURFACINGTel: +27 (0)21 761 3474

bidim R


WIRE ROPE

QUADGUARDS

ALPHA 70K TMA

END TERMINALS

Isando 011 392 1242 | Cape Town 021 531 9071 | Durban 031 705 6355

Port Elizabeth 041 486 3674 | Bloemfontein 051 432 0707

Web: www.armcorsp.co.za

SABITA

THE PLANER IS an ideal attachment for efficiently milling

asphalt or concrete, and is ideal for asphalt and concrete

repair jobs, making uneven pavement surfaces a thing of the

past. This compact machine is designed for operator comfort

and excels in demanding construction, industrial and agricultural appli-

cations. Planer ski contact is maintained across uneven surfaces,

which according to Eugene Brown, director at Bobcat Equipment South

Africa, is unique to Bobcat planers.

“This ensures optimum surface tracking for the best reliable output

because the loader travels across any surface to deliver consistent

even cuts,” he says.

With features that enable the operator to work productively and effi-

ciently, the asphalt planer is suitable for any job, from repairs to crea-

tion and removal; the planer utilises the high-flow hydraulic systems of

Bobcat loaders for maximum horsepower and production.

Effi cient output from asphalt planerA new Bobcat asphalt planer delivers all the power required to meet demanding and diverse applications.

The new asphalt planer in action


SABITA

THIS IS WELL ILLUSTRATED on

Metso Mobile’s latest and most

advanced track-mounted jaw crusher

plant, the Lokotrack LT120.

Significantly, the Lokotrack LT120 uses the

same field-proven technology seen in Metso’s

tracked units for over 26 years

“Building on this track-record, the LT120

combines crushing per formance and

user-friendly design in a new, revolution-

ary way,” points out Andrew Stones, sales

manager for Barloworld Equipment’s Metso

Mobile division.

The new on-board C120 jaw crusher, with

its feed opening width and depth of 1 200

and 870 mm, respectively, provides excellent

capacity even in the toughest applications

and is optimally designed to meet the require-

ments of aggregate producers, medium- and

large-scale contractors, and mining concerns.

Metso’s primary targets in developing

this unit are safety, reliability, simplified

A new benchmark for crushingA reliable and efficient mobile crushing plant is a sum of several factors working together smoothly.


SABITA

maintenance, energy efficiency and long

operational life.

Good examples of safety in-built on the

Lokotrack LT120 include sturdy, easy-

to-open composite flywheel guards and

hydraulically folding and locking feed hop-

per sides. Additionally, jaw die bolts are

readily accessible.

“The result of in-depth field research, the

C120 comes equipped with a large feed open-

ing, a very aggressive cavity nip angle and an

extremely long stroke in the

bottom of the cavity

to achieve the high-

est possible capac-

ity in its class. Plus,

for the first time, the

same Lokotrack model

is available either as a hydrau-

lically or electrically driven

option,” continues Stones.

Power delivery on the hydraulic version is

provided by a 310 kW Cat C13 engine. In

turn, the Lokotrack LT120E electric powered

unit sources its energy from an external sup-

ply or a 420 kV on-board diesel generator,

depending on the preferred configuration

set-up. The operating weight on the LT120

and LT120E are 57 and 63 t respectively with

the same compact dimensions for road legal

low-bed transportation.

LEFT The Lokotrack LT120 is the latest and most advanced of Metso’s track-mounted jaw crusher plants

The Lokotrack LT120

SABITA

THE INCREASE IN the power to weight ratio and the high effi-

ciency of the latest generation Atlas Copco small, medium

and heavy hydraulic breakers translate to reduced investment

and operating costs for lower overall cost of ownership. This

is the view of Neville Stewart, business line manager: construction

tools division.

He explains: “Less hydraulic input power is required from the car-

rier, while maximum impact performance is maintained, which calls

for smaller carriers and lower investment costs,” adding that less

input demand from the hydraulic system to operate the breaker means

Low costs and high productivityThe Atlas Copco Solid Body concept of the small hydraulic breakers integrates the percussion mechanism and guide system into one block of steel, including a 20% weight reduction.



SABITA

reduced fuel consumption and resultant lower

operating costs. “This makes our range of

hydraulic breakers efficient and suitable for a

wide range of market segments including min-

ing and quarrying, heavy demolition, renova-

tion, construction, metallurgical industry and

underwater applications.”

Powered by a combination of oil and gas,

the breaker becomes vir tually independent

from the hydraulic oil supply. About 70% of

the impact energy is generated by the gas

from the piston accumulator and only 30% by

the oil supply from the carrier. The breaker,

in combination with the internal control valve,

is able to convert the required hydraulic input

into more hydraulic output, thus improving the

use of energy resources.

Atlas Copco medium and heavy hydraulic

breakers are particularly suitable for mine and

quarry applications when:

• loading is primarily done by wheel loaders

• backhoe loaders or heavy-duty excavators

(with service weights upward of 150 t) are

in use

• loaded rock is very tough

• secondary reduction is subcontracted.

The hydraulic breaker design is kind to man,

machine and the neighbourhood, as well as

the environment.

“Our breaker range is proof that high per-

formance does not compromise environmen-

tal friendliness,” comments Stewart. The

VibroSilenced hydraulic breakers ensure effec-

tive noise and vibration damping as standard

and, according to Stewart, the breakers are

among the quietest in the industry. In addi-

tion to lower vibrations, which reduces wear

and tear on carriers, the Solid Body design

concept and the new impact mechanism also

reduces noise levels to approximately 6 dB(A).

The VibroSilenced Plus system on the medium

and large hydraulic breakers reduces strain

on the breaker, carrier and operator, while

the Atlas Copco recovery system helps to

absorb recoil.

Increased impact performance due to Energy

Recovery is a feature that minimises mainte-

nance costs. The equipment is easy to use,

including the easy set-up, which prevents or

minimises downtime, is easier to service and

easy to lubricate for full efficiency. Additional

features including PowerAdapt (detection of

excessive carrier settings on all HB breakers),

ContiLube II (eliminates regular manual greas-

ing intervals), and DustProtector II.

The hydraulic breakers enhance productiv-

ity by allowing continuous operations without

interruptions for blasting and clearing, which

also allows for more flexible planning. The

cost of initial work impacts the profitability

of the overall mining operation, thus using

an Atlas Copco hydraulic breaker reduces the

costs of removing the overburden with faster

productivity and more flexibility.

BELOW The new hydraulic breakers offer reduced fuel consumption and lower operating costs

Less input demand from the hydraulic system to operate the breaker means reduced fuel consumption

MANUFACTURERS & SUPPLIERS OF PIPE FITTINGS SINCE 1984

Cascade has a full range of Couplings and Flange Adaptors from 50mm to 800mm.

Larger sizes up to DN 1600mm and higher pressures up to PN40 are available on request

Tel: +27 (11) 824 3943Fax: +27 (11) 827 0556Email: [email protected]: www.cascade.co.za

PANEL DISCUSSION • Introduction


THE LATEST IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION

by Candice Landie

It is common knowledge that road con-

struction products, equipment and tech-

nology are essential in building South

Africa’s vital transport network. However,

a factor that is often neglected, yet remains

an important, is precision quality engineering,

which most companies claim to offer but not

all can deliver on. Technology of choice for

each operation, the correct type and cost of

equipment and the overall running and mainte-

nance costs of road products and equipment,

play a huge factor in enhancing road projects

and delivering on imperative customer service.

But with all the equipment, products and

technology available in South Africa – both

imported and locally manufactured – what

makes certain road products a cut above the

rest. How do your products assist in the quality

construction of roads? What feature/s does

your equipment or products offer, which give it

a competitive edge? How does your equipment

or products fair in terms of purchase price,

efficiency, maintenance and warranty? Do you

offer an after-sales service? IMIESA com-

pares the latest road construction products,

equipment and technology available in the

market – to help municipalities, industry and

decision-makers in their selection of road

construction products.

Timely road maintenance is extremely important as it sustains the quality and safety of the country’s ar terial networks.

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Scan here to go to website


ROELOF JACOBS – Manager: Products & Customer Support – Quality Department

Southern Africa – LAFARGE SOUTH AFRICA

What are the major chal-lenges experienced in lo-cal road construction and how do your products, equipment or technology assist in the quality con-struction of roads? The

diverse demands on the country’s

resources impact the road sector.

Frequently, a short-term expedi-

ent use of asphalt is adopted

rather than a decision based on

life cycle costing that takes into

account the low maintenance ben-

efits of concrete roads and new

technologies such as ultra thin,

high-strength concrete paving.

Lafarge South Africa is a leader

in adapting international best

practice technology for the benefit

of the local construction industry.

Examples of this are:

• Soil stabilisation – Lafarge

introduced the innovative

specialised cementitious road-

binder, RoadCem CEM II/B-M

(V-S) 32,5N in 2010 – at the

time it was the first of its kind

in the market. Designed to con-

trol the plasticity and enhance

the strength of various road

making materials, RoadCem

has been highly successful.

Subject to an assessment of

the road material, contractors

also have the option of using

our well-known general purpose

cement, Buildcrete.

• Concrete – Lafarge Readymix

continually introduces prod-

ucts of Lafarge research

such as the Agilia range of

self-compacting concretes,

and the recently launched

Hydromedia – the company’s

breakthrough in concrete drain-

age technology.

How do your products or equipment fair in terms of purchase price, efficiency, maintenance and warranty? Innovation in

products and services provides

real value that differentiates

Lafarge from its competitors. For

example, the Lafarge Stoltz Site

Spreader is able to consistently

and comfortably spread cement

from 3.5 kg/m² to 50 kg/m² in

one pass, which is currently unat-

tainable with any other equipment

in South Africa. Lafarge South

Africa can assist cement custom-

ers with product application

policy and technical investigation

work, by providing access to the

unique technical and laboratory

resources of Quality Department

Southern Africa (QDSA) at

Industria, Gauteng. QDSA oper-

ates one of the largest and most

respected SANAS accredited civil

engineering testing facilities in

South Africa. Complying with ISO/

IEC 17025, the facility has a

proud 16-year track record of con-

tinuous accreditation. Similarly,

the Lafarge South Africa Readymix

business operates three regional

laboratories, including the SANAS

accredited one in Cape Town.

The business conducts all its

own quality control testing and

provides a laboratory service to

contractors and engineers.

Does your company offer an after-sales service on projects? Lafarge maintains

an ongoing interest in the perfor-

mance of its products and their

application techniques as a key

part of working with customers

to continually develop enhanced

value, innovative products and

services. Should a problem arise

on a project or a customer has

technical queries with regard to

the performance of Lafarge prod-

ucts, the company has technical

service staff on the ground that

will investigate and carry out any

necessary laboratory testing.

What would you like to see changed in the future with regard to road construction in the country? With regard to road

construction contractors, the

overall challenge largely centres

on the bitumen versus concrete

debate. We believe all stake-

holders have a role to play in

creating better informed, better

coordinated guidelines regarding

the short-term, lower cost expe-

diency of using bitumen, versus

the long-term durability, low

maintenance but higher capital

outlay of concrete.

Lafarge is actively involved in

new technology development

such as ultra-thin continu-

ously reinforced concrete paving

(UTCRCP) and contributes locally

to the better understanding

of the benefits of concrete for

road construction through the

excellent work of the Cement &

Concrete Institute.

Lafarge is the world’s leading cement company and a world leader in building materials. The core business of Lafarge South Africa are the manufacturer and supply of cement, aggregates, readymixed concrete, gypsum plasterboard and interior building fittings. The company works closely with all players in the construction industry chain to develop innovative solutions to their current and future needs.

Lafarge offers road construction contractors the unique specialised roadbinder, RoadCem; road and concrete aggregates; technical backup from the world’s largest building materials research and development facility; support services such as QDSA (one of the largest and most respected SANAS accredited civil engineering testing facilities in South Africa); a range of spreading equipment for soil stabilisation cements, including the unique Lafarge Stoltz Site Spreader; mobile concrete pumps and mobile concrete batch plants.Additional information is available on the website at www.lafarge.com

The state-of-art Lafarge Stoltz site spreader

The company offers road contractors extensive support services including the unique Lafarge Stoltz Site Spreader

ROADS INFRASTRUCTURE

PANEL DISCUSSION

For further information contact us on;-Tel: (012) 001 7086Fax: 086 239 1243E-mail: [email protected]

One unit repairs in excess of 200 potholes per day

The Hole Solutionon

!Potholes

Making South Africa’s roads safer for all

A fast and economic alternative to road rehabilitation solutions

Before During AfterBefore During After


Q. What services and/or products are offered by Velocity Patching? Velocity offers fast and efficient

repairs to numerous types of

road defects, for example, the

reinstatement of broken road

edges, potholes, sheet patching

to cracked road surfaces, and

the filling of depressions, all with

the use of specialised and se-

lected materials. Velocity’s repair

operation basically consists of a

three step simultaneous process,

that is:

(a) clear all dust and loose

debris from the defect and

expose any cracks with com-

pressed air

(b) apply tack or prime emulsion

coat at high velocity to ensure

maximum penetration, result-

ing in an optimum seal

(c) apply evenly coated cold-mix

asphalt to defect in thin layers

from the bottom up, ensuring

maximum compaction.

What are the major chal-lenges experienced in lo-cal road construction and how do your products, equipment or technology assist in the quality con-struction of roads? Gen-

eral road maintenance in many

areas has been overlooked due

to budget restraints, and conse-

quently, existing maintenance

teams cannot effectively cope

with the backlogs that now exist.

Furthermore some of the meth-

ods used to deal with the repairs

of road defects are inadequate or

at best only serve as temporary

measures. The repair jobs are of-

ten carried out by inexperienced

or unqualified contractors simply

for the sake of creating additional

job opportunities. Unfortunately

more permanent repairs and ef-

fective preventative maintenance

require technical knowledge,

specialised equipment and the

use of selected materials. These

conditions need to be continu-

ously monitored and applied cor-

rectly. Velocity offers the required

knowledge and expertise with the

aid of specialised equipment that

has been developed and evolved

after 20 years in the field. Speed

and performance are also critical

to addressing any backlog and

sustaining an effective preventa-

tive maintenance programme that

is economically viable. No other

process can match Velocity in

this regard.

How does your prod-ucts or equipment fair in terms of purchase price, efficiency, maintenance and warranty? Velocity SA

has made a substantial invest-

ment in acquiring the licence to

operate in Southern Africa (from

Velocity UK), train personnel (op-

erational and technical), acquire

numerous machines (seven at

present), and the manufactur-

ing licence for the specialised

polymer modified emulsions

developed by Colas/Velocity UK.

Velocity SA is therefore a fully

operational service provider and

does not retail road maintenance

equipment or machines. Conse-

quently, the client benefits from

a well-controlled process that is

carried out by qualified staff and

applied using the best technology

available in the world today – the

results of which equates to a

fast and economic alternative to

conventional patching.

Does your company offer an after-sales service on projects? The Velocity

process deals primarily with the

surface layer of the road and

not necessarily the condition or

stability of the road base or sub-

base. Therefore any guarantee

may be limited. We monitor all

repair work for up to a full year

and refurbish repair work if and

when required for a period of 12

months; however, that has not

proven necessary to date.

What have been some of the challenges expe-rienced with local and national government with regard to road construc-tion, and what would you like to see change in the future? Velocity has done

countless presentations and on-

site demonstrations in numerous

parts of the country. All of which

have made an impression and

the overall response has been

very positive.

In reality, there appears to be

an urgent need for additional

funding to meet road maintenance

requirements; not just for dealing

with backlogs but for the introduc-

tion of sustainable preventative

maintenance programmes. The

establishment of Velocity in South

Africa represents a much needed

initiative by the private sector;

however, it now requires the

support from local government in

order to succeed.

FRANK CATTICH – CEO – VELOCITY ROAD REHABILITATION


ABOVE Velocity polymer modified emulsion developed in collaboration with Colas UK, now produced locally by Colas SA. The picture indicates core samples taken for analysis after a year

BELOW Defect repair combined with preventative sheet patching

PANEL DISCUSSION

…about increasing your productivity and profitability with

Trimble technology. You’ll be surprised at just how easy it is.

Trimble Heavy Civil Construction Division (800) 361-1249 (937) 245-5154 FAX: (937) 233-9441 © 2012 Trimble Navigation Limited. All rights reserved. TC-165 (02/12)

Talk to CLM Positioning Solutions today

Tel: +27 11 708 7206 www.clmps.com

wasting time and money...


MARK SMITH – MD – CLM POSITIONING SOLUTIONS

What are the major challenges experienced in local road construc-tion and how do your products, equipment or technology assist in the quality construction of roads? MS One of the biggest

problems facing the roads and

earthworks contractor is the

lack of skills. We are often told

by contractors that they battle

to find good final level grader

operators. Trimble’s 3D systems

integrate high-precision GPS,

lasers and optical positioning

with a sophisticated control

system and extensive software,

enabling operators to precisely

grade complex sites up to an

accuracy of 5 mm. This precision

reduces rework and increases

job site productivity by more

than 25%. Contractors need to

track all expenditure on site and

this includes knowing where

their plant is used (or not), and

allocating these expenses to

the correct cost centres. We

offer mobile asset management

systems designed specifically

for the contractor. Knowing when

a vehicle is working and when it

is idling, and knowing how much

fuel was burnt, can add huge

value overall. Companies that

have clamped down on excessive

idling have saved 20% on their

fuel bill.

How do your products or equipment fair in terms of purchase price, efficiency, maintenance and warranty? We offer a

complete range of products for

all on-site positioning applica-

tions, from a simple laser tape

measure to a 3D automated

grade controlled motor grader.

Trimble Grade Control Systems

can be installed on machines

from any vendor and use industry

standard inter faces to deliver a

system that allows contractors

to easily add more sensors and

upgrade software as needed

to meet specific machine and

application requirements. From

laser or sonic-based through to

3D, these rugged systems are

easy to use, fully upgradable and

flexible enough to meet a

wide range of applications and

job site requirements.

Does your company offer an after-sales service on projects? We understand that

downtime costs money. We under-

stand that for contractors to reap

the rewards of high productivity

using Trimble Grade Control sys-

tems, they must have timely sup-

port from their supplier. In order

to provide world-class support, we

have factory trained technicians

in our Trimble authorised service

centre, and we have a large stock

holding of spares to perform

these repairs. We are very proud

to say that most of the systems

we sell can be repaired locally, at

our workshop in Johannesburg.

We employ a dedicated team of

field technicians and support spe-

cialists to perform installations

and provide training and ongoing

support. Trimble provides us with

regular training to ensure we are

on top of our game.

What have been some of the challenges expe-rienced with local and national government, and what would you like to see change in the future? We would like to

see government offer bonuses

to contractors who provide a

world-class product with better

rideability. This way we would

see more technology used to

achieve per fect layer thickness,

proven compaction and better

final levels. Stronger roads

with smoother sur faces means

better pavement durability, less

unnecessary wear and tear on

vehicles and a much safer driv-

ing experience.

Through all phases of the con-

struction process, our solutions

help streamline work processes,

minimise downtime and rework,

which increases productivity and

profitability for the contractor.

CLM Positioning Solutions supplies the most complete range of positioning solutions for the construction market, including design and data prep software, grade control machine systems for earthmoving, site positioning systems for construction survey, general and interior building laser tools, and mobile asset management. Our solutions are based on Trimble’s experience in developing positioning products for the harsh construction environment. Trimble lasers, total stations, GPS positioning and wireless technologies give customers more control over their job site.

BELOW GCS900 Dual GPS Motor grader

One of the biggest problems facing the roads and earthworks contractor is the lack of skills


PANEL DISCUSSION

POLOKWANE SURFACING is committed toproducing and paving quality asphalt

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ASPHALT PRODUCERS & SURFACING CONTRACTORS

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TREVOR FREESTONE – MD – POLOKWANE SURFACING

What are the major chal-lenges experienced in local road construc-tion and how do your products, equipment or technology assist in the quality construction of roads? TF The South African

road network consists of a large

number of ageing roads. The traf-

fic volumes and intensity thereof

has also increased exponen-

tially over the past few decades.

Polokwane Surfacing operates a

modern fleet of pavers, rollers,

milling machines, chip spreaders,

haulage trucks, asphalt plants

and other ancillary equipment to

enable us to offer the full range

of service from road mainte-

nance to the surfacing of newly

constructed roads. We recently

purchased a Roadtec Shuttle

Buggy, which was only the third

of its kind to be brought into

South Africa.

The use of this machine is

essential for the paving of

ultra-thin friction coarse seals;

however, it has vast benefits

to the quality of the finished

product when paving any grade

of asphalt sur facing.

Local refineries have, in recent

times, struggled to meet the

bitumen supply-demand of the

road industry. We have recently

invested in a Drum Decanting

Plant, which allows us to stock-

pile local bitumen in drums

during the periods when bitumen

is readily available. We thus have

a backup supply for use when

the refineries are on shutdown or

when bitumen is in scarce sup-

ply. By drumming South African

bitumen rather than importing bi-

tumen, we ensure the quality and

consistency of our bitumen and

downstream products. Although

this is an insurance policy for a

rainy day, it allows us the ability

to complete our projects with

less risk of disruption or delay.

How does your product or equipment fair in terms of purchase price, efficiency, maintenance and warranty? Although the

geographic nature of our market

is small when compared to other

larger players in the bigger city,

we believe we are leaders in

the industry, dominating the

nor thern region of South Africa.

Our modern fleet ensures quality

and reliability, and our dedicated

and competent staff ensures

quality and delivery. This is

fur ther enhanced by the good

relationships we maintain with

our suppliers, strategic par tners

and related companies, and is

filtered through to our valued

clients. Our products are all

produced and placed in accord-

ance with industry norms and

standard specifications such as

COLTO or SANS or the SABITA

guidelines – whichever are ap-

plicable. Our production plants

are ISO 9001 cer tified, which

ensures consistent quality and

peace of mind.

Does your company offer an after-sales service on projects? Not only do we offer

an after-sales service, but we are

always willing to give advice on

available products, local conditions

and alternate products or designs.

When we commit to a project,

we will always avail ourselves

to the successful completion of

that project. Often as surfacing

subcontractors to other contrac-

tors, we are required to fit into the

main contractor’s programme. We

are a versatile company willing to

take on any project from driveways

to highways.

What have been some of the challenges expe-rienced with local and national government, and what would you like to see change in the future? One of the biggest problems

we face, mainly with local and

provincial governments, is when

political alliances are chosen

over price, capacity, quality and

service. In our home province of

Limpopo, corruption has featured

extensively over the past few

months. National government’s

intervention into the provincial

government’s administration has

caused a slowdown in projects.

We trust that this will soon

normalise and we can continue

to deliver quality services to

the people of our province. With

regard to national government,

we mainly deal with Sanral, and

it is always a pleasure tendering

for it. If your tender comes in the

lowest and you conform to the

requirements of the tender with

regard to BBBEE and capacity in

line with the CIDB grading, you

are generally confident of being

awarded the job. This goes a long

way in the planning and manage-

ment of our business. Similarly it

is a pleasure working for Sanral

Polokwane Surfacing offers a wide range of products and services related to bituminous road surfaces. Its product range can be broken down into prime coats, chip seals and slurries, asphalt seals, and crack sealing. The company also offers road maintenance and rehabilitation services, such as crack sealing, patching and texture slurries.

Our products are all produced and placed in accordance with industry norms and standard specifi cation


BELOW RIGHT Asphalt surfacing on the N1 Section 27 near Polokwane BELOW LEFT Asphalt surfacing of streets in Polokwane

as it has a clear set of rules that

are consistently applied; it usually

appoints competent consulting

engineers, and its payment record

is impeccable. Ultimately, South

Africa requires a great deal of

investment in infrastructure. If the

limited public funds available are

spent wisely on quality products

that are good value for money, we

will have a better outcome.

PANEL DISCUSSION


What are the major challenges experienced in local road construc-tion and how do your products, equipment or technology assist in the quality construc-tion of roads? PG The

main obstacles, challenges and

concerns with respect to road

construction in South Africa are:

limited government resources; an

enormous backlog in total repair

and maintenance solutions;

limited centralised, local and in-

tegrated IT Project Management

Offices; late payments, which are

especially detrimental to SMMEs;

qualified labour-intensive alterna-

tive solutions (products and

technology); lack of transparency

and accountability; and limited in-

terdepartmental communication,

focus and holistic strategies.

National Cold Asphalt (NCA), part

of a Raubex, ensures maximum

delivery, support and infrastruc-

ture; all its products supplied

meet with relative national and

local road authority standards;

all its machinery, equipment and

products supplied genuinely aim

to optimise national government

strategy and policy to increase

labour in all construction applica-

tions. Being part of a JSE-listed

entity means the company main-

tains strict codes of conduct,

business ethic, production and

staff/labour relations.

How do your products, equipment or technology fair in terms of purchase price, efficiency, main-tenance and warranty? NCA considers itself to be the

market leader locally in terms

of continuous development and

innovations with all its products

supplied. Our initial cold mix

was originally licensed from the

World Asphalt Convention held in

Florida (US) in March 2009, and

is arguably considered to be in

the top three products globally.

Our infrared ProMix and LT40

‘hot mix in a bag’ was developed

through our national laboratories

and engineers for SMMEs that

have difficulty getting access and

supply from hot mix plants, and

are adversely affected by time,

wastage, weather conditions or

geographic locations. Our ‘Chippy’

manually-operated chip spreader

has won numerous SABITA and lo-

cal awards for innovation and opti-

mising labour in constructions. All

our materials used for the specific

applications mentioned result in

enormous cost savings from an

input and productivity perspective.

Our products also carry qualified

warranties with perpetual data

sheets and testing to ensure

we supply quality materials at

all times.

Does your company offer an after-sales service? Being part of ‘big brother’

Raubex means we have the

ability to provide total support at

all levels to all sizes of emerg-

ing contractors. We are proud

to say that our company has

numerous members of staff that

have varied levels of incredible

personal expertise with decades

of work experience. This has

been visibly noticeable in our

ability to develop sustainable

working relationships and models

that truly empower our focused

SMME initiatives, providing

opportunities for all members

of our community ranging from

the unskilled, semi-skilled and

operators, through to foremen,

management, administration

that the private sector needs to

make more diligent investments in

previously disadvantaged commu-

nities where infrastructure is espe-

cially poor and neglected. This

means investing in programmes

that are not ‘quick fixes’ or purely

there to gain the necessary BEE

points for tenders, but rather

programmes that will enable the

beneficiaries to genuinely contrib-

ute to themselves, their communi-

ties and the economy as a whole.

I would like to see transparent,

reciprocal investment and return

on investment for all parties

concerned. Giving our youth and

future generations a real sense

of hope, ownership and belonging

is all it will take to truly unite our

incredible rainbow nation.

National Cold Asphalt (NCA) offers the following products and services: NCA Wearing Course cold mix; NCA BTB Base Course cold mix; ProMix Infrared pothole repair; LT40 continuous grade ‘hot mix in a bag’; and ‘Chippy’ manually-operated chip spreader. NCA endorses and supports a comprehensive SMME Development Model including: CIDB accredited training and safety; access to world-class technology partnerships; access to government grants and CAPEX funding; access to financing models for vehicles, CAPEX, equipment and tools; and credit facilities with preferred banks and qualified suppliers.

We have the ability to provide total support at all levels

Below left NCA Cold Mix repairs carried out on the N1 South between Pretoria and Johannesburg

PASCAL GARRIOCH – Business Development Consultant

– NATIONAL COLD ASPHALT


and owners. We have dedicated

staff (myself included) that focus

on all key areas of support to

ensure continuous delivery and

long-term success is maintained.

What have been some of the challenges expe-rienced with local and national government, and what would you like to see change in the future? The main challenge, I person-

ally feel, is to consolidate and

integrate all positive national

and local government efforts,

programmes and initiatives. It is

almost impossible right now to

get to all the various departments

to integrate and make optimal

use of their collective SMME

programmes. I also firmly believe

PANEL DISCUSSION

Tel: 0861266267www.technicrete.co.za

EROSION PROTECTION SOLUTIONSAND PAVED ROADS

• Pave roadways, pathways, driveways and line canals, river banks and dams• Products let you make use of local labour• Technical back up and training• Projects remain as good as new after many years

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paving concrete masonry

retaining walls

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erosion protection precast products


ALBERT WEBER – MD – TECHNICRETE

What are the major chal-lenges experienced in lo-cal road construction and how do your products, equipment or technology assist in the quality con-struction of roads? AW The major challenges experi-

enced in road construction come

from financial constraints at the

level of the road owner – the mu-

nicipality. The most important tool

the municipal design engineer has

is life cycle costs, whereby the

total investment cost of a project

is ascertained. Usually new

infrastructure may be financed

externally. There is absolutely no

excuse to go for inferior products,

equipment or technology when

new capital projects are undertak-

en. Maintenance, however, cannot

be financed externally but must

be funded from direct income,

such as rates and taxes. It is

therefore easy to explain that the

limiting factor in road construc-

tion is the maintenance budget.

It should be a criminal offence to

create infrastructure that cannot

be maintained. Therefore the

municipal maintenance budget

dictates the type of roads a mu-

nicipality can afford. Technicrete’s

products, such as concrete block

pavers, kerbs, erosion control and

landscape products, are immi-

nently suitable to feature in capi-

tal projects where life cycle cost

principals control expenditure and

capital investments. In the rural

areas, where labour-intensive

projects take place, the construc-

tion of quality roads is provided

through Technicrete’s training of

local community members on, for

example, how to lay paving, which

in turn creates employment op-

portunities and empowerment.

How do your products or equipment fair in terms of purchase price, efficiency, maintenance

and warranty? Technicrete’s

products are extremely cost effec-

tive when compared to other sup-

pliers of similar products or even

when compared to other types

of products and services used in

similar situations. The fact that

we have been in the industry for

so long proves that we have im-

mense experience and are driven

to keep on improving and coming

up with innovative products. We

use world-class equipment and

ensure at all times that we stay

abreast of changes within the

industry, whether they be techno-

logical or product specific in the

form of raw materials, moulds,

etc. If our products are applied

correctly the first time they last

for years and years to come.

Does your company offer an after-sales service on projects? Most definitely!

We offer after-sales service in

the form of long-term guarantees

on our products and services

and we also provide continuous

consultative advice both pre- and

post-construction.

What have been some of the challenges expe-rienced with local and national government,

and what would you like to see change in the future? What we would like to

see change is the attitude that

everything should be cheap at

the investment stage with scant

regard for future cost implica-

tions. Even when some future

maintenance costs have been

taken into consideration, it has

been proven time and again that

these maintenance issues may

be abandoned by the department

to the detriment of the entire

organisation and the ratepayers.

Another important issue that we

would like to see changing is the

enforcement of SABS-accredited

products for all players in the

industry. If government could

be strict about this, there would

not be delivery of poor quality

products that end up cracking and

not being durable like accredited

SABS products. It becomes dif-

ficult competing with companies

that will sell their products at

extremely low margins because

they know that the products that

they are manufacturing are not up

to standard.

There should be a drive from

government’s side to ensure that

SMMEs are provided with proper

training and that when they land

major contracts from government

tenders they are paid on time

because the late payments that

are currently taking place have led

to a number of these companies

being shut down and the owners

being left blacklisted. It’s all good

and well to encourage people to

be entrepreneurs, but, support

and mentoring should also be in

place. Although our government

comes up with good initiatives, it

is important to ensure that proper

planning takes place to avoid de-

lays and projects running late.

Technicrete employs the highest technological standards in the manufacture of concrete products for the building construction and mining industries. With factories in Olifantsfontein, Welkom, Stilftontein, Carletonville, Polokwane, Witbank and White River, the company is one of the largest manufacturers of precast concrete products in South Africa. Technicrete manufactures an extensive range of products such pavers, kerbs, masonry, roof tiles, retaining walls, and erosion and flood control drainage systems. The company also customises its offering to suit specific requirements for the mining industry.

There is absolutely no excuse to go for inferior products, equipment or technology


Below left Armorflex Project in Pretoria

Below Beany Blocks -used on the N4 highway

PANEL DISCUSSION

Delivering sustainable

infrastructure that

improves our world.

“DOING GOOD WHILE

DOING BUSINESS”

Contact www.bigenafrica.com, or the office most convenient to you: Pretoria (012) 842 8700; Johannesburg (011) 802 0560; Bloemfontein (051) 430 1423; Cape Town (021) 919 6976; Durban (031) 717 2571; East London (043) 748 6230; Gabarone [email protected]; Kuruman (053) 712 2882; Mafikeng (018) 386 2111; Mthatha (047) 532 5234; Nelspruit (013) 755 1421;

Polokwane (015) 297 4055; Richards Bay (035) 753 1235; Rustenburg (014) 597 3655; Umtata (047) 532 5216; Windhoek +26 461 237 346.


HOUSING

BIGEN AFRICA WILL under take

management and design of all

civil engineering work required for

this project, which follows govern-

ment’s new approach to developing integrat-

ed human settlements by actively involving

private sector funders. This new approach is

set to be successful in addressing the nation-

al housing backlog, according to the par ties

involved. Despite the fact that 2.8 million

houses have been built since the advent of

democracy, South Africa has “hardly moved

in breaking the [housing] backlog at a rate of

just 10% per annum”, says Tokyo Sexwale,

Human Settlements Minister.

“This project is an encouraging and deci-

sive step in the right direction, and one

which addresses both the housing backlog

Bigen Africa has been appointed consulting engineers for a groundbreaking housing project in Scottsdene, Western Cape, by Calgro M3 Holdings.

Breaking new ground at Scottsdene housing project

INTGRATED SOLUTIONS

Above A schematic of the project

Below Construction work in progress on the retention pond


HOUSING

and the high levels of unemployment,” says

Deon Fabel, executive director: RSA South

at Bigen Africa. “By actively

involving private sector funders,

government will go a long way

towards achieving minister

Sexwale’s challenging target of

delivering 220 000 homes a

year between 2010 and 2014.”

The four-year integrated hous-

ing project in Scottsdene,

Kraaifontein, which was started

in January and is set to be com-

pleted in 2015, is a successful

example of building a truly inte-

grated community, and the first

of its kind to be implemented

in the Western Cape. “The idea

behind this development is not

to base housing just on reliance

on government funds, but also to

draw in the private sector to bal-

ance the forces of the housing

market,” says Patricia de Lille,

executive mayor of Cape Town.

The more than 2 000 families to be housed

in the 22 ha settlement will not only receive

water and electricity services, but will also

benefit from a network of tarred cycling

lanes, sidewalks and taxi embayments. A fur-

ther important benefit is the development of

infrastructure and transport services, which

not only the new residents but also the wider

community in the nor thern suburbs of Cape

Town can look forward to.

Complete infrastructure development is

being achieved through the public-private part-

nership between the City of Cape Town and

Calgro M3 Holdings.

“Experts from the full spectrum of prop-

erty development and construction are involved

in this project, and they have

the know-how to ensure qual-

ity lower-cost housing,” says

Willem Steenkamp, Western

Cape divisional director of Calgro

M3 Holdings.

The more than 2 000 hous-

ing units to be constructed will

consist of:

• Nearly 550 semi-detached,

double-storey Reconstruction

and Development Programme

(RDP) houses, also known as

Breaking New Ground units.

These are fully subsidised units.

• Approximately 350 commu-

nity residential units, which are

subsidised rental units owned

by the municipality. These will

consist of three- to four-storey

flats in blocks of 24 to 40 units.

• Social housing units, also con-

sisting of three to four-storey

The four-year integrated housing project... is a successful example of building a truly

integrated community

Above The Scottsdene project is scheduled for completion in 2015

Below The project will house more than 2 000 families with water and electricity services as well as tarred cycling lanes, sidewalks and taxi embayments


HOUSING

flats in blocks of 24 to 40 units. These are

rental units for households and par tially

subsidised.

• Approximately 200 affordable units for the

gap house market, which are freestanding,

single-storey homes offering a choice of

house plans.

The bulk and link services will be funded

by the City of Cape Town through the Urban

Settlements Development Grant (USDG) pro-

gramme and the required development con-

tributions by the developer. The internal

services for the subsidised units will also be

funded through the USDG programme. The

internal services for the non-subsidised units

will be the responsibility of the developer. A

new taxi transfer station at Scottsdene will

be built as par t of this project. At present

there is an informal taxi transfer station with

no supporting infrastructure. The new taxi

routes within the Scottsdene road network

will be incorporated into existing taxi routes

in the region, ensuring easy access for future

commuters. Proper taxi embayments along

these new routes will improve the safety of

public transport users.

The bulk infrastructure in the region will be

upgraded as par t of this housing project. The

bulk water line from the existing reservoirs,

which serve Scottsdene and Wallacedene,

will be upgraded, along with two sewage

pump stations and the current wastewa-

ter treatment works. Also included in the

project is the rehabilitation of an existing

retention pond.

Certain sections of Old Paarl Road, one

of the main roads serving the area, will be

upgraded as well. This includes the intersec-

tion between Old Paarl Road and Okavango

Road as well as a par t of Old Paarl Road

leading to Kruisfontein Road.

The project will, when finished, achieve the

goal of creating a better life for this com-

munity, showing that government and the

private sector can work together successfully

to better the lives of South Africans. “Bigen

Africa’s involvement in the implementation of

this project has, once again, convinced us of

the significant benefits derived from an inte-

grated approach to housing delivery, which is

aligned with Bigen Africa’s smarter business

approach of bringing together the key success

factors that will attract private sector funders

to public sector projects,” says Fabel.

“We remain committed to assisting govern-

ment to empower disadvantaged individuals

and support job creation and the initiatives

of the Expanded Public Works Programme by,

among others, facilitating accredited skills

training during the development and con-

struction of these projects.”

The bulk and link services will be funded by the City of Cape Town through the Urban Settlements Development Grant

Above Infrastructure development is being achieved the a public-private partnership

Right The transport services infrastructure at the project will benefit the residents as well as the communities in the surrounding areas

Bottom The bulk and link services will be funded by the City of Cape Town


HOUSING

Our engineering and architectural skills are world-class and we

have the people, systems and structures to make your project

world-class too.

Call us, or visit www.twp.co.za

TWP South Africa

T 0861 TWP TWP (SA) / +27 11 218 3000

E [email protected]

Agile, Powerful, Prepared And Determined.

ISIA ORTNER, the architect who designed the Concrete

Manufacturers Association (CMA) house, says that placing the

plans into CAD software means that they can be easily modified

and will therefore have much broader appeal.

“There is no such thing as a totally standard house, even at the

subsidised housing level. Each development is different, if only mini-

mally, and CMA house plans can now be easily adapted to suit specific

developments.

“For example, CAD allows for easy orientation and makes future

extensions much easier. It also facilitates mirror imaging as well as

the adjustment of internal layouts,” comments Ortner.

Unlike most subsidy housing plans which are basic, the CMA house

plans are fully detailed, down to the last concrete block in fact.

Central to the whole CMA house concept is modular masonry, which

requires that each block and dimension is accounted for and avoids

the time-consuming and wasteful process of chopping blocks to fit;

if applied correctly, the process can generate substantial cost and

quality benefits.

“Preparing plans for proper modular masonry is time consuming

but the extra effort is definitely worthwhile. As most subsidy hous-

ing developments involve the construction of ±50 if not hundreds of

houses, the additional costs that detailed/modular masonry plans

entail are rendered insignificant through amortisation. Moreover, when

the savings that accrue from modular masonry are realised, the prepa-

ration of detailed plans becomes even more compelling.

“This poses the question as to why all subsidy housing develop-

ments are not built using modular masonry? The sad truth is that most

subsidy housing developers are too focused on securing architectural

plans at the lowest possible cost and, in so doing, missing out on

the cost-savings and improved quality aspects that detailed plans for

modular masonry entail.

House plans available on CADArchitectural plans for the 40 m² Concrete Manufacturers Association’s house are now available on CAD. CAD-based plans can be downloaded off the association’s website at no charge.

Unlike most subsidy housing plans which are basic, the CMA house plans are fully detailed


HOUSING

“This false economy results in plans that

cover the basics only and leaves building

contractors to proceed as they see fit. Houses

that take longer to build, shoddy quality control

and a high percentage of wasted materials are

often the consequence,” states Ortner.

“If developers appreciated the cost sav-

ings, let alone quality benefits of modular

masonry they would most certainly insist on

its widespread application,” says CMA direc-

tor, Hamish Laing. There are two sets of CMA

house plans; one for inland projects based on

the 290 x 140 x 90 mm solid concrete block

and the other for coastal projects based on the

390 x 140 x 190 mm hollow concrete block.

“Now that the plans are on CAD they can

be used as a template for almost any subsidy

housing project with minor modifications. And

because all the detailed leg-work has already

been done, very little additional work, if any,

would be required to adopt the plans for numer-

ous subsidy housing projects. Being available

at no charge, the only cost would be that of

the modifications, which should be minimal,”

maintains Laing.


HOUSING

R5 billion for housing projectsA joint venture between an estate agency, construction group and an investment company will see R5 billion steered annually into affordable housing projects.

HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE

ACUTTS MOTLEKAR, a joint ven-

ture between the Acutts Property

Group and African investment hold-

ing company Motlekar Holdings, in

conjunction with construction company Group

Five as the building contractor and develop-

ment manager, aims to bring 18 000 housing

units to the market each year.

This conservatively translates into a R5 bil-

lion injection to the local economy with spin-

offs and job creation expected in land survey-

ing, architecture, building and construction,

material delivery and administration. Currently

the initiative has the capacity to deliver 100

houses a day, a mobilisation that will also

promote employment in the selling, mortgage

origination and property transfer value chain.

The properties would be geared towards

first-time buyers and middle-income earners,

typically households earning R13 500 to

R25 500 monthly to secure bonds between

R450 000 and R850 000. The new suburbs

would correspond with the government›s pro-

posed economic zone requirements for newly

establishing commercial centres.

“In areas where the government is driving

economic development, there is a critical

need for housing as investments come to

bear. The government is driving a need to

create housing, specifically in the spectrum

of the economically active population that

can purchase affordable housing – and this

initiative answers that demand,” says Acutts

chairman, Pat Acutt.

Old Mutual research into South Africa›s

affordable housing reflected the country has

14 million households, of which half were sub-

standard quality and included three million

formal dwellings without sanitation.

Government housing focused on households

earning below R3 500 a month, while private

sector development catered to the country›s

top 10% earners receiving more than R20 000

a month.

The research, covered in its A Glimpse into

the Development Impact Funds report by

Christine Glover and Leon Dykman, released

in March 2012, concluded that a quarter

of South African households had limited

opportunities to participate in the formal hous-

ing market. A 2006 survey reflected the coun-

try had a housing backlog of 660 000 units

in the middle and upper income tiers covered

by the Financial Services Charter (households

earning between R2 500 and R7 500), while

Statistics South Africa showed a decrease in

private sector housing delivery in line with a

market contraction and reduced bank lending.

Acutt states that the association between

Acutts and Motlekar will drive and transform

the South African affordable housing property

sector. The realty company Acutts Motlekar

was forged to market newly constructed hous-

es and apartments across South Africa on

behalf of the property developers. The joint

venture would manage the marketing, sales

Below Gearing up to accelerate South Africa’s delivery of affordable housing are the Acutts Motlekar directors (from left) Jonathan Acutt, Ken Fann, Michael Dewar and Pat Acutt

Each suburb would range between 600 and 5 000 houses to effect the delivery of quality houses to communities.

HOUSING


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and mortgage origination processes for a

number of developments.

The initial project, Crystal Park, comprising

4 250 units, was launched in Benoni in May

this year with further projects in the pipeline.

Acutt adds that the next phase would be in

Midrand followed by the Western Cape and

East London.

Each suburb would range between 600

and 5 000 houses to effect the delivery of

quality houses to communities. The conse-

quential spin-off would involve the develop-

ment of schools, shopping centres, health

facilities and transpor t initiatives, which

Acutt confirms form part of the pre-planning

phases in terms of getting the development

areas approved.

Acutts Motlekar director and project manag-

er, Ken Fann, says the limit to the number of

properties built in each development depends

on the limitations for the neighbourhood.

Specifically, if the number of schools currently

available cannot handle 5 000 new homes,

then approvals will only be granted for the

capacity in that region.

Acutt highlights that the country’s finan-

cial institutions are committed to providing

mortgage finance to the affordable hous-

ing segment. The developments will have a

streamlined credit approval and bond calcula-

tion system on-site to assist potential buyers.

Homes within the schemes are colour-

graded to guide buyers with their choices in

line with their mortgage limits, and in the

initial phase, where homes have already been

built, transfer will be effective within six to

eight weeks. Acutt discusses that the banks

will typically grant bonds, but the joint venture

has also made arrangements with Old Mutual

via its Development Impact Funds specialist

financial services company, Mettle, and spe-

cialist home loan group, Integer.

The Old Mutual Development Impact Funds

South Africa specifically provides opportuni-

ties to invest in assets benefiting disadvan-

taged individuals and communities, while

generating commercially accepted returns on

investment. The underlying investments pri-

marily focus on stimulating the supply of

affordable housing and related infrastructure

and on increasing access to housing finance

for lower-income households.

Glover and Dyman’s report expects these

funds to facilitate the development of more

than 50 000 affordable housing opportunities

over the next decade. Finance will include

unsecured housing financial and mortgages,

areas where the Acutts Motlekar develop-

ments will focus.

The Integer product links the home loan to

a transaction account, debit card and credit

facility, while Mettle is a niche provider of

property finance focusing on the affordable

housing segment. Currently the company is

managing property that will lead to the deliv-

ery of 12 000 housing units in this market.

Acutt says the initiative has already seen

three new sales agents employed on-site at

Crystal Park, and he anticipates around 200

front-line estate agency positions will be cre-

ated as the developments rolled out nation-

ally. Further positions will be created in admin-

istrative levels, effectively promoting black

economic empowerment and transformation

within the real estate industry.


HOUSING

THIS IS BECAUSE the company plans

to introduce the advanced German-

engineered VAG intelligent pressure

management system to the local mar-

ket within the next two years.

Incledon national product manager for civils,

Kelly Wilson, highlights that the majority of

local authorities tend to increase investments

in water infrastructure in an attempt to raise

production capacities, rather than implement-

ing programmes to reduce water losses.

“Although investment in infrastructure

increases production capacities, it does not

permanently increase water production. This

means that the structure of the pipeline sys-

tem remains unchanged, placing enormous

pressure on the valves that regulate the flows

and pressures to maintain a constant supply

of potable water,” he explains. “If those valves

cannot be precisely controlled, high pressure

differences in the pipes can ultimately lead to

a collapse of the entire distribution system.”

Wilson notes that the most cost-effective

and environmentally friendly solution is to

reduce water losses in the distribution sys-

tems, by implementing the VAG intelligent

pressure management system. “The system-

atic reduction of pressure in the main water

supply system enables the water authori-

ties to reduce water loss to sustainable

economic levels.”

The VAG intelligent pressure management

system is comprised of a plunger valve, a

pressure sensor and a flow meter, which are

installed at the feed point of the supply area.

Wilson adds: “A programmable logic control-

ler (PLC) records, processes and archives

the measured sensor data needed to control

the plunger valve. Depending on the supply

system’s topography and consumption, the

valve is moved into the position that optimally

reduces the supply pressure, ultimately reduc-

ing the risk of new leaks occurring in the

supply system.”

Unlike butterfly or gate valves, which assume

only shut-off functions in the pipeline, VAG plung-

er valves are designed to fulfil special control

func-

t ions

in the water supply systems.

Due to the linear regulating characteristic,

these valves guarantee best cavitation behav-

iour with lowest friction-loss and can be used

for the delivery of potable water at tempera-

tures of up to 50˚C.

“The VAG plunger valve precisely regulates

pressure in a piping system and guarantees a

constant supply of water at any time or condi-

tion in coordination with both flow rate and net-

work pressure. It is available in nominal widths

from DN 150 up to DN 1 600 and in pressures

ranging from PN 10 to PN 40,” Wilson contin-

ues. “Another essential advantage of the VAG

plunger valve is its piston guiding, which is

made of welded bronze for added strength. The

piston-drive is connected by a stainless steel

shaft to a gearbox assembled to a connecting

flange on the outside of the body.”

Wilson points out that the VAG intelligent

pressure management system can be operated

Conveyance solutions supplier Incledon is able to assist municipalities in addressing the increasing challenge of water leakages in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner.

MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT

Reducing water losses through pressure management

t

func-

t ions

i th t l t

ABOVE VAG Plunger Valve under test in VAG laboratory

RIGHT VAG Plunger Valve with multi-orifice cylinder

ADVERTORIAL


AREAS OF EXPERTISEAREAS OF EXPERTISE• Roads and Stormwater.

• Bulk water and sewage installations.• Water and Sewage reticulation networks.

• EPWP Projects.• Structures and Buildings (Facilities)

• Sport and Recreational Facilities.• Solid Waste Projects.

• Community Centres.• Multi-Disciplinary Project Management.• Labour Intensive Projects.

• Township Establishments and Housing Projects.• Railway Engineering Services.• Mining Infrastructure Projects.

OFFICES:

ALBERTON-Gauteng ERMELO-Mpumalanga NEWCASTLE-Kwa-Zulu Natal 118 Hennie Alberts Street 67 Fourie Street 34 Paterson StreetBrackenhurst: PO Box 145851 PO Box 1903 Newcastle Bracken Gardens 1452 Ermelo 2350 PO Box 27 Newcastle 2940 Tel: 011 868 2494 Tel: 017 819 1985 Tel: 034 315 3232 Fax: 011 868 1348 Fax: 017 819 4017 Fax: 086 669 7533E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

www.lekwaconsulting.co.za

LEVEL 2 BBBEE PROCUREMENT CONTRIBUTER

Our historyLekwa Consulting Engineers was established in

2002 by two dedicated professional engineers,

Kibiti Ntshumaelo and Gert Smit, who seized

and developed an entrepreneurial opportunity

in the civil engineering industry. Our approach is

based on finding synergies with the public and

private sector stakeholders, including communi-

ties. We believe that through this partnership

approach, we could be instrumental in unlock-

ing skills development and job creation initia-

tives in South Africa. Our office network covers

the Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Free

State and North West provinces.

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS of dedication to service delivery Lekwa Consulting Engineers is proud to be celebrating its 10-year anniversary this October.

What 10 years means to usTen years in a sector that is constantly and rapid-

ly advancing is an achievement we are proud of,

and we have successfully established ourselves

in the civil engineering consultancy sector.

The company has grown progressively over

the past 10 years from being a small con-

sultancy to a fully fledged medium-scale firm.

Through our dedication and consistency, we

have strived to fulfil our mission and offer

our clients:

• value-added project management servic-

es according to internationally accepted

standards

• in-house exper tise that is broadened

through networking with specialist partners

and associates to provide conventional and

turnkey project solutions to our clients

• quality consulting engineering services

• a high level of technical expertise and pro-

fessionalism that has ensured excellence in

terms of our service delivery.

Our 10-year journey has not been an easy

one, but like all of life’s journeys it has been

a rewarding experience that has compelled the

company to grow. We continue our commit-

ment to offering our clients a professional and

unrivalled service.

We would like to thank all our clients, stake-

holders, suppliers and staff for supporting us

through all these years and look forward to

continuing the journey with you.


HOUSING

via the following three approaches, depending

on budgeting and engineering requirements:

• Time-based modulation: This method is

achieved by using a controller with an inter-

nal timer to change the set point of the

fixed outlet control. Control is affected in

time-bands in accordance with the demand

profiles. This mode is effective for areas with

stable demand profiles and head loss, and

where cost is an issue.

• Flow or demand-based modulation: More

water can be saved when the pressure fol-

lows the demand cycle for a specific period,

such as a day, week, month or year. A flow

meter in the main supply pipeline recognises

current demand for water in the network.

This value is sent to a computer, where an

evaluated curve for this specific network is

stored. This method is best-suited for areas

with varying conditions, head loss and fire

flow requirements. As demand is reduced

primarily at night, pressures are reduced

accordingly and, when demands peak, higher

pressures are applied.

• Remote node-based modulation: With this

mode, the pressure is measured directly in

the network at a critical point, via a signal

that is sent wirelessly to the control valve.

This type of control is the most proactive,

and is affected by connecting a remote pres-

sure sensor to the valve controller. A remote

sensor is usually placed at a critical point

in the district and the controller is set to

change pressure at the valve to consistently

maintain the desired pressure in the network

system. This mode also smooths system

pressure at the weaker extremities, thereby

reducing the number of new pipe breaks.

Despite its distinct advantages, Wilson does

admit that it will be a challenge for Incledon

to promote the VAG intelligent pressure man-

agement system to the local market due

to the fact that the initial capital outlay is

high. “We expect water boards to be initially

reluctant to convert to the VAG system, as

a large amount of capital and civil works

is required during the installation process.

Following this initial cost, however, the long-

term savings are substantial, due to the fact

that the need for continuous maintenance is

significantly reduced.”

Wilson points out that Incledon has been

involved in high-profile talks with a number

of water authorities, and he is confident of

the potential for the VAG intelligent pressure

management system in South Africa in the

short-term future.

“We are currently working on a number of

technical proposals for water bodies across

South Africa, and we have received over-

whelmingly positive feedback to date. I am

ABOVE VAG PRV installation in Sao Paulo, Brazil

BELOW VAG Plunger Valve with lever and weight

“The long-term savings are substantial, due to the fact that the need for continuous maintenance is signifi cantly reduced”

confident that the VAG intelligent pressure

management system will obtain strong market

share in the years to come, as the need for

saving our country’s most precious resource

becomes more urgent. With this in mind,

I anticipate that the first systems will be

installed and fully operational in South Africa

by 2013,” he maintains.


INTEGRATED INFRASTRUCTURE asset

management (IIAM) is concerned with

meeting a required level of service in the

most cost-effective manner for present

and future customers.

Key elements of IIAM include:

• identifying all assets

• understanding the impact of growth

• managing the risks associated with

asset failures

• continuous improvement in asset manage-

ment practises

• cost-effective management strategies for

life cycle asset management

• defined level of service and monitoring

performance

• life cycle approach

Infrastructure is the cornerstone of municipal

service delivery and is essential to achieve

the increased levels of economic growth

through job creation and the establishment of

well serviced areas conducive for economic

investment. Sound knowledge of the location,

characteristics, estimated lives, capacity and

utilisation, cost characteristics, risk exposure

and safety requirements of assets is required

to best manage them and make sustainable

improvements in service delivery.

If the engineer does not apply his mind in

the setting of expectations of the useful life of

assets, tariffs may increase beyond customer

affordability levels when assets lives are set

too low, or insufficient funding may be avail-

able for asset renewal where asset lives are

set too high.

Modern infrastructure asset registers (AR)

are no longer the inventory lists to suit

basic accounting criteria. Sophisticated asset

management systems allow for the compo-

nentised asset registers to not only satisfy

accounting requirements, but provide data on

aspects such as asset physical characteris-

tics, capacity, failure mode status, criticality

rating and remaining useful life. As such, an

Integrated infrastructure asset management is the discipline of managing infrastructure assets that underpin an economy, such as roads, water supply, wastewater, stormwater, power supply, flood management, recreational and other assets.

Integrated infrastructure asset management and asset registering

asset register should be a common and accu-

rate dataset used to inform decision-making

in the areas of services planning, risks

assessments, asset life cycle planning and

investment prioritisation. The introduction of

the generally recognised accounting practice

(GRAP) standards has not only highlighted

the value of the specialist asset knowledge

of engineers, but placed the municipal engi-

neer in a position to negotiate funding for the

establishment of asset registers and associ-

ated asset management planning instruments

way beyond accounting compliance needs.

The use of a system that allows the capturing

of asset data and also provides outputs show-

ing asset performance and therefore funding

requirements, goes a long way to providing a

long-term integrated asset planning platform

for both accountants and engineers.

Asset information is extracted and collected

from whatever sources of data that are avail-

able, preferably electronic but if needs be,

from physical plans. In doing this, the basic

asset inventory is established using available

data. IMQS has introduced the Big 6 approach,

whereby it focuses on the six core civil engi-

neering services of water, sewer, roads, prop-

erty and buildings, stormwater and electricity.

It provides the system elements to effectively

capture and track all the details required to

populate an integrated asset inventory. In

doing so, the system effectively links the detail

in the underlying (Big 6) technical systems to

a comprehensive and abstracted integrated

asset register. The system ensures that the

final infrastructure inventory can be maintained

and updated utilising the tools within the inte-

grated asset management suite of products.

Depending on the other systems deployed,

the AR may well also be linked to other

‘feeder’ systems. These systems may include:

hydraulic modelling and master planning,

maintenance, GIS and ERP systems – all of

which will be drawn on either manually or in

an integrated manner to further populate the

IIAM system.

Increased levels of economic growth through

job creation and improved service delivery

can only be achieved through the provision

of well-managed infrastructure. To that end,

IMQS has designed and built a fully integrated

geo-referenced asset management solution

that not only supports improved service deliv-

ery, but also supports the asset manage-

ment practice and reporting requirements of

National Treasury allowing local authorities

to configure and populate the system to be

GRAP compliant.

ASSET MANAGEMENT

uppe

mar

keti

ng A

0778

2

INFR SET

PAVING • RETAINING WALLS • ROOF TILES

ROSSWAY (MIDRAND) – TEL: +27 (0)12 652 0000

KWAZULU NATAL (EFFINGHAM) –

TEL: +27 (0)31 569 6900

Aveng Manufacturing Infraset produces a diverse range of precast concrete products to world-class quality standards and actively contributes to SADC infrastructure development. Our range includes concrete pipes, culverts, manholes, special precast products, various type of pre-stressed railway sleepers, turnouts, maintenance-free railway electrification masts and poles, paving blocks, retaining wall systems and roof tiles.

Aveng Manufacturing Infraset’s admired heritage is founded on innovation, technical and service excellence.

Aveng Manufacturing Infraset

Steeldale House

TEL: +27 (0)11 876 5500

FAX: +27 (0)11 872 1713

EMAIL: [email protected]

www.infraset.com

PIPES • CULVERTS • MANHOLES:

GAUTENG – TEL: +27 (0)11 876 5100

CAPE TOWN – TEL: +27 (0)21 908 1156

KWAZULU NATAL (PIETERMARITZBURG) –

TEL: +27 (0)33 387 2236

RAILWAY SLEEPERS • POLES & MASTS

NATIONAL – TEL: +27 (0)11 813 2340

INTERNATIONAL BRANCHES

SWAZILAND – TEL: +2682 518 4236 | ZAMBIA – TEL: +260 21 131 1838

BUILDING DURABLE INFRASTRUCTURE WITH PRECAST CONCRETE PRODUCTS

ASSET MANAGEMENT


With a solid track record spanning over half a century, GIBB has established itself as a partner of choice. Backed by a Level 2 BBBEE rating, GIBB provides engineering solutions to a diverse range of markets across the African continent.

[email protected] | www.gibb.co.za | +27 11 519 4600

HYDROMACE XCI is a ready-to-use

data logging platform to facilitate

remote monitoring of inputs from

flumes and weirs, water quality sen-

sors and rainfall gauges, drinking water flows

(detecting leakages) and weather stations.

With a fully integrated data logger, solar regu-

lator and battery housed in one weatherproof

enclosure (IP65 rating), the HydroMace XCi is

built to withstand the harshest environments.

The system includes data logger, battery, LCD

display and solar panel kit for remote loca-

tions. In addition, with five available card inter-

faces, the user can install any combination

to tailor the HydroMace to exact monitoring

requirements. With the WebbComm card, data

can be accessed 24/7 from the Mace website.

The unit allows plug and play of just about

any sensor, such as multi-parameter water

quality probes; rain gauges; echo-flo ultrasonic

depth/level sensors; pH, DO and EC water

quality sensors; electromagnetic insert flow

sensors; water samplers and weather sensors.

The HydroMace is designed and manufactured

by Australian company Measuring & Control

Remote environmental monitoring system

Equipment (MACE), which has 40 years’ expe-

rience in water monitoring solutions. These

products are marketed in South Africa by

Impact Measurement Systems.

aerobic compartments of the BNR reactor

tanks. This first biogas-to-energy plant in

South Africa, which will sustainably use a

waste stream that is produced during the

treatment of domestic effluent, is currently

being commissioned.

Zitholele is proud to have successfully

undertaken this project, which will contribute

to preserving the country’s natural resources.

The company is a Level 3 BBBEE contributor,

operating within a quality management sys-

tem, and is a member of Consulting Engineers

South Africa.

A leading South African water utility has embarked on a multibillion rand capital investment programme to upgrade, expand and modernise its wastewater treatment facilities. The introduction of infrastructure, which contributes to the sustainable use of waste by-products, has the added benefits of significantly reduced long-term operating costs for the utility.

ZITHOLELE CONSULTING, a specialist

firm of consulting engineers and envi-

ronmentalists in the field of water and

wastewater engineering, was

appointed by a leading South

African water utility to provide

professional services for the

management, design and com-

missioning of a “biogas-to-

energy” installation. Zitholele

investigated and designed a

complete system to harvest

the methane gas (biogas) that

is produced from the biological

nutrient removal (BNR) process

in the utility’s wastewater (sew-

age) treatment facility, and to

convert this waste stream into clean, usable

energy. This process can reduce the plant’s

dependence on the local electricity grid, lower

the plant’s operating costs, as well as intro-

duce a sustainable source of energy for the

operation of the treatment plant. The project

was spearheaded by Dr Sven Sotemann, who

is a senior process engineer at Zitholele.

Two waste streams, apart from treated efflu-

ent, are typically generated following waste-

water treatment processes, namely sludge

(primary and waste activated) and biogas. The

biogas, produced from anaerobic sludge diges-

tion, is the key input and fuel to this technol-

ogy. High performance mesophilic anaerobic

digestion, including sludge pre-thickening, as

well as mixed and heated anaerobic digestion,

enhance the biogas production.

The key features of the biogas-to-energy pro-

ject include:

• A biological sludge cell lysis (cell destruc-

tion) installation on the thickened waste

activated sludge (WAS) stream to maximise

methane production from the WAS constitu-

ent of the combined sludge.

PROFILE

Biogas-to-energy at sewage treatment plants

• Cleaning of the biogas to adequately condi-

tion it for use in co-generation engines or

turbines. This is a critical step that ensures

reliable operation and enhances

longevity of the co-generation

equipment.

• Generation of electrical

power by means of co-gener-

ation methane gas engines

or turbines.

• Optimising the plant by reus-

ing the waste heat generated

from the equipment cooling

and exhaust circuits, to heat

the anaerobic digesters.

On average, a 200 Mℓ/d acti-

vated sludge treatment plant

can generate approximately 3 MW of electrical

power, which is equivalent to approximately

50% of the total electrical consumption of

the treatment plant. BNR processes use rela-

tively less electrical power compared to other

conventional activated sludge treatment pro-

cesses. The electrical power usage for waste-

water treatment, in general,

remains high due to the

requirement for mechani-

cal aeration of the

ZITHOLELE CONSULTING

p pthe treatment plant. BNR processes use rela

t

w

p p

tively less electrical power compared to other

conventional activated sludge treatment pro-

cesses. The electrical power usage for waste-

water treatment, in general,

remains high due to the

requirement for mechani-

cal aeration of the

t

c

c

w

c


Dr Sven Sotemann, senior process engineer at Zitholele Consulting

T (011) 207 2060E [email protected] www.zitholele.co.za

CESA AON ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2012


Infrastructure Development Structural Engineering Electrical Engineering Mechanical Engineering Civil Engineering Project Management Town Planning

HEAD OFFICE: BLOCK C - Menlyn Corporate Park C/O Garsfontein & Corobay Ave. MENLYN - PRETORIA Tel: +27 (0) 12 940 1111 FAX: +27 (0) 86 743 3100

E- www.bvigroup.co.za

MDP

Offices: Tshwane, Polokwane, Cape Town, Upington, Springbok, Durban, Port Elizabeth,

Mozambique,Namibia, Angola, DRC

THE FACT THAT 3S Media won this

award is an acknowledgement of the

high-quality information the company

provides through its magazines and

other platforms to the infrastructure sector.

3S Media showcases various projects that

CESA members are involved in and thus aids

the organisation in its goals.

3S Media’s relevant products are:• IMIESA magazine – the official publication

of the Institute of Municipal Engineering

of Southern Africa which deals with

infrastructure development, maintenance and

service delivery.

• Water & Sanitation Africa magazine – the

official magazine of the Water Institute of

Southern Africa which focuses on the entire

spectrum of water-related issues.

• RéSource magazine – promotes integrated

resource management, with a special interest

in waste management and cleaner production.

The www.infrastructurene.ws website and

its newsletters bring together the communi-

ties from the three magazines – IMIESA,

Water&Sanitation Africa and RéSource. It is

a leading news hub, with in-depth articles,

videos and podcasts, an events calendar and

full social media functionality.

Publisher of the yearIn recognition of the role the media plays in the consulting engineering industry, 3S Media was awarded Publisher of the Year: Trade Publications, at the CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards 2012.

WINNER • Publisher of the Year • 3S MEDIA

3S Media publisher and MD, Elizabeth Shorten, receives the Publisher of the Year: Trade Publications, from CESA president, Naren Bhojaram



THE R710 MILLION upgrade of the

Koeberg Interchange was completed

in July 2011 after a 42-month con-

struction period. The project alleviates

Upgrading of the Koeberg InterchangeWINNER • Projects valued in excess of R250 million • HHO AFRICA

congestion on one of Cape Town’s busiest

interchanges. It required construction of two

new directional ramps at a third level over

the old interchange, while maintaining the

existing traffic flow of 200 000 vehicles per

day. A ‘just-in-time’ design, use of precast

elements, and excellent cooperation between

the client, engineer, contractor and service

authorities overcame several challenges and

ensured the completion of the project ahead

of the scheduled contract completion date and

within budget.

Innovative design, approval and tender pro-

cesses were adapted to achieve the extremely

tight time constraints imposed by the need to

open Ramp A before June 2010. The design

aimed at the most effective use of concrete

beams to reduce interference with the heavy

daily traffic through the interchange. Innovative

construction techniques reduced traffic devia-

tions to a minimum.

Enormous 40 m beams were precast off-

site and transported to the project site using

a purpose-built beam carrier. They were also

launched in the quickest and most efficient way

using cranes.


Upgrading of the Ben Schoeman FreewayCOMMENDATION • Projects valued in excess of R250 million • BKS

THE BEN SCHOEMAN Freeway, link-

ing Johannesburg and Pretoria, is

one of the oldest and busiest free-

ways in the country. Extensive traf-

fic congestion occurs on the freeway – par-

ticularly at the old Allandale Interchange. BKS

has been appointed for the detailed assess-

ment, preliminary and detailed design, and

construction monitoring of the capacity

upgrading and rehabilitation of the freeway

and associated interchanges, as par t of the

Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project. The

project consists of 21 km of the N1 freeway

between the Buccleuch Interchange and the

Brakfontein Interchange. The five access

interchanges on the project are the Allandale,

New Road, Olifantsfontein, Samrand and Old

Johannesburg Road interchanges.

The upgrading of the Ben Schoeman Freeway makes use of ‘fit-for-purpose’ designs and construction methods


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The Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project Package E1

ENTRY • Projects valued in excess of R250 million • KAS JOINT VENTURE

THIS PACKAGE OF the Gauteng

Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP)

is located south of Johannesburg

and included the construction of a

405 m incrementally launched bridge, reloca-

tion of services, widening of existing freeway

lanes and bridges, and interchange upgrades

under very strenuous traffic conditions. The

planning, design and construction was exe-

cuted professionally – showcasing the KAS

joint venture’s commitment to providing safer

infrastructure, environmental sustainability and

engineering excellence. The GFIP Package 1 is

part of the network that will stimulate develop-

ment and growth while improving traffic flows

in Gauteng.

*The KAS joint venture comprises Knight

Piésold Consulting, Arcus Gibb and PD Naidoo

& Associates

An incrementally launched bridge



oror


The safety rehabilitation of Klein Maricopoort Dam

WINNER • Projects valued between R50 million and R250 million • BKS

SERVICES FOR THIS project included

the design and rehabilitation works

for the earth fill embankment, and

the design and construction of a new

central trough spillway. These elements show-

cased the design team’s ingenuity in success-

fully addressing numerous challenges on this

project. BKS successfully completed the pro-

ject in February 2012. The Klein Maricopoort

Dam is 7 km east of Zeerust in the North West

province. The dam now complies with dam

safety legislation and the increased spillway

capacity and refurbished earth fill embank-

ment have significantly lowered the risk of dam

failure if major flooding occurs in the area.

Members of the professional team receive their award from CESA president, Naren Bhojoram (far right)


The Northern WWTW sludge drying bed

COMMENDATION • Projects valued between R50 million and R250 million • JW WASTEWATER PARTNERSHIP: JOINT VENTURE

AS PART OF Johannesburg Water’s

sludge treatment and dispos-

al plan for compliance with the

national sludge guidelines, the

Johannesburg Water Wastewater Partnership

was commissioned to undertake the planning,

design, and assistance with procurement and

construction monitoring of a sludge bed at

the Northern Wastewater Treatment Works

(WWTW). Knight Piésold was the lead consult-

ant on the project which was characterised by

a significant earth platform and use of poly-

mer fibre reinforcement in an extensive con-

crete slab. The sludge treatment plan included

solar drying to enable composing without a

bulking agent to produce an end-product suit-

able for disposal to the agriculture industry.

*The JW Wastewater Par tnership com-

prises Knight Piésold Consulting, Zitholele

Consulting, PD Naidoo and Associates and

the WSP Group

An aerial view of the expansive sludge drying bed

Meulwater Water Treatment Works

WINNER • Projects valued at less than R50 million • AURECON

THIS PROJECT WAS carried out for

the Drakenstein Municipality in Paarl.

The 8 Mℓ/d Meulwater Waste Water

Treatment (WTW) was commissioned

in May 2012. “The design team overcame

significant challenges in providing a solution for

the water needs of the Drakenstein Municipality

in an extremely sensitive environmental area,”

says Brendon Theunissen, water and waste-

water engineer and project leader for the

Meulwater project. The WTW treats water from

the Nantes and Bethel dams, sited on the Paarl

Mountain, and is located on the boundary of the

beautiful Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve.

“Due to its location, the plant was designed

with careful attention to ensuring that it fits

appropriately into this environment, while

continuing the heritage of water supply and

treatment on Paarl Mountain,” comments

Theunissen. The involvement of professionals

such as a heritage specialist, botanist, land-

scaper and an architect added to the team of

treatment specialists and engineers, resulted

in a special product that will hopefully prove to

be a heritage for the community served by the

Drakenstein Municipality.

An external view of the Meulwater WTW



SOUTH AFRICA’S PREFERRED CONSULTING ENGINEERING COMPANY

SNA provides engineering excellence in Planning, Design, Project Management

art technology, teamwork

CIVIL & STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS (PTY) LTD

Tel: (012) 842 0000 | Fax: (012) 803 4429 | [email protected] | www.sna.co.za

SERVICES INCLUDE:

Design of Major Road Networks Civil Engineering Township Services

Bridge and Structural Design in Concrete and Steel

Railway Engineering Airport Runways


The Brakspruit Bridge

COMMENDATION • Projects valued at less than R50 million • GOBA

THE BRAKSPRUIT BRIDGE was exten-

sively damaged following a train

derailment. A temporary structure,

using material immediately available

to Transnet Freight Rail, was designed and

The construction method allowed for the majority of the work to be carried out while the line was operational

constructed in just five weeks – returning the

line to service. An innovative side-launched

scheme for a replacement bridge was devel-

oped by Goba to take advantage of a planned

maintenance occupation of the line.

This scheme required moving a new con-

crete deck 100 m long and weighing 1 700 t

into position on the existing substructure.

The project was completed on time and

within budget.


The Luanda Waterfront Development

WINNER • Best International Project • VELA VKE (PART OF THE SMEC GROUP)

THE BAIA DE LUANDA Project is

located along the Bay of Luanda on a

peninsula as the Ilha. Vela VKE was

appointed as lead consultant at pro-

ject inception stage during 2003. Despite sev-

eral obstacles along the way, the excellence

with which the consulting firm coordinated the

project culminated in a high quality product

that defined new parameters in the Angolan

construction industry. The site-based design

team demonstrated proactiveness, ability and

commitment while operating under challeng-

ing circumstances. The project enhanced the

lives of the local community and returned a

sense of pride in the city.

The first stage of the project consisted of

the public works, which was split into two con-

tracts namely the civil and marine contracts.

In order to create the least disruption to

traffic and not worsen the parking problems,

this stage was divided into three phases: A,

B and C.

The project is expected to continue over

several years as future stages commence.

These include the construction of hotels as

well as commercial and residential elements.

Prior to 2003, war-damaged infrastructure

and socio-economic problems were hugely

debilitating for the country. Vela VKE, together

with Pintoroux Architects, was instrumental

in initiating projects following the end of the

war that could contribute towards returning

Above The project under construction

Below CESA president, Naren Bhojoram with the professional team


the country to its former glory. The Baia de

Luanda was the most ambitious and high-

est profile project that could achieve that.

The project is perhaps the most prominent

project in the city due to the fact that it

attracted investors back into the city. At the

time the project was initiated, it appeared

as though the city would suffer the same

fate as so many others as a result of the

migration of investors but the project secured

financial backing.

When complete, the Baia de Luanda project

will impact the daily lives of the people of

Luanda. Recreational areas include children’s

play parks, adult training equipment, kiosks,

restaurants, a cycle corridor and spaces

for keen runners. Trees, plants and grass

as well as urban furniture enhance the

landscaped areas and bring new life to the

city’s water front.

Another distinguishing fact about the pro-

ject from others in Angola is that no money

could be obtained from the government to

upgrade the infrastructure.



MEYERTON

Fax: 016 362 3608

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0861STRUCT (787828)

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Specialists

in the

manufacturing

of domestic

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water storage

WaterStorage

The Ubombo Sugar Mill

COMMENDATION • Best International Project • BOSCH PROJECTS

The R1.5 billion expansion of the Ubombo Sugar Mill will boost productivity from 220 000 tpa to 300 000 tpa

AS ONE OF THE largest projects undertaken to date

by Bosch Projects, the brownfield expansion of the

Ubombo Sugar Mill in Swaziland included a number of

firsts for the company, as well as for Illovo Sugar.

The installation of a Bosch Projects’ chainless diffuser was the

first installed in Africa.

The project also included the installation of a boiler and steam

turbine for the generation of electricity from biogas for internal

consumption and export into the Swaziland national grid.

The project also included the upgrading of existing processing

equipment as well as the procurement and installation of a sub-

stantial amount of new equipment to achieve planned increase in

sugar production.

The Ubombo 410 to 500TCH factory expansion was an extreme-

ly large and complex project in scope which required a visionary

and multi-faceted approach to tackle the technical, logistical and

construction features inherent in a venture of this nature. What

makes the project all the more remarkable is that it was under-

taken in a foreign country with equipment and manpower sourced

from across the globe.

MANUFACTURER & SUPPLIER OF MASTS, POLES & TOWERS 1

SECTION

028SECTION

028EXP

LeBlanc CTH Lighting Structures (Pty) LtdReg. No. 2005/002613/07

18 Johnson Rd, Pretoriastad, Nigel PO Box 1592, Nigel, 1490, South AfricaTel: +27 (0)11 814-1404 Fax: +27 (0)11 814-1444email: [email protected] site: www.leblancgroup.com, www.lightingstructures.edx.co.za

LeBLANC CIH Lighting Structures is a leading supplier ofMasts, Towers and associated equipment for High Mast Lightingin South Africa and other African Countries and has been inoperation since 1976.

The company designs, fabricates and erects Monople Type Mastsand Towers in seven basic product ranges

• Railow Masts• Midhinge Masts• Hydro Masts• Internal and External Access Masts• Monopole Transmission Masts• Electricity transmission Masts• Street Lighting Poles

Manufacturing FacilityThe Facility comprises of a 3500 square meter covered factorywith extensive loading facilities and stacking space as well as 500square meters of office space.The faciluty is well equiped with extensive plant and machinery forthe handling and processing of steel plate as well as all othersteel work required for the production of Monopole typestructures.The production facility employs some fifty persons includingqualified boiler makers, coded welders and machine operators.

QualityThe production facility is EN ISO 9001:2008 certified by DekraInternational

EngineeringAll monopoles and structures fabricated by the company aredesigned by a professional structural engineer, and detailing forfabrication is done by our own experienced staff, making use ofthe latest CAD drawing facilities

Track RecordLighting Structures has designed and fabricated Masts fornumerous customers in the Ligthting and Electrical sectors bothin South Africa as well as many other countries in Africa.

Services• Design and fabrication of masts from a standard range or

special design to suit client specifications• Erection of Masts• Design and construction of Mast foundation• Inspection and maintenance of existing Masts and foundations• Turnkey capabilities for full site build• Technical support and as built documentation

LIGHTING STRUCTURES

JascoLeBlanc Jasco Lighting Structures (pty)ltdLLeBLANC Jasco Lighting Structures.co.za

87 310 1000 86 699 6999

LIGHTING STRUCTURESLIGHTING STRUCTURES

(0)87 310 1000 (0)86 699 6999 (0)87 310 1000 (0)86 699 6999

Lighting StructuresLeBLANC Jasco Lighting Structures

110 IMIESA OCTOBER 2012



GIS

TGIS is ISO certifi edTotal Geo-spatial Information Solutions has been awarded ISO 9001:2008 cer tification by PWC.

THIS IS an exciting milestone in

the history of Total Geo-spatial

Information Solutions (TGIS), which

stands proud as one of the very few

GIS, software and management information

systems companies in South Africa to pos-

ses this valued certification. Lance Nel, MD

of TGIS, delivered a heartfelt address to the

auditors from PWC and to all the staff:

“It is with much jubilation that I now

announce TGIS is ISO 9001: 2008 certified.

It is a clear indication of the commitment of

the management and staff of TGIS to deliver-

ing the highest quality products and services.”

Adri du Plessis, senior manager: Certification

and Accreditation for PWC, remarked upon

presentation of the certificate that “TGIS has

performed extremely well during the various

stages of the process towards accredita-

tion.” Du Plessis proceeded to deliver a well-

deserved round of praise for all the effort

that was put in. Special mention was made of

the fact that TGIS had zero non-conformances

of any kind, which is extremely rare for any

company. Fair warning for future complacency

was given and that only after the climax of

achieving certification does the real work

begin, to ensure that processes are continu-

ally improved.

Ciska Engelbrecht, director of Corporate

Services at TGIS, who oversaw the ISO certifi-

cation process, attribut-

ed much of the success

to the internal use, of the

Integrated Management

Information System

(IMIS), which is TGIS’s

flagship product.

After the formalities of the handover ceremo-

ny, the directors of TGIS proceeded to thank

each staff member individually for all the

effort they placed to achieve ISO certification

as well as over the years in maintaining indus-

try leading solutions. IMIS is a system that

integrates document management, land data

via a GIS, with business functions such as

HR and communications management; these

core modules can be

supplemented with

a myriad of techni-

cal functions such

as project manage-

ment, infrastructure

management, and town and building manage-

ment functions. The system is designed to be

a one-stop shop for most software needs of

any organisation, but especially the municipal

market which has complex technical require-

ments. IMIS is a process-driven system, which

allows TGIS to digitise all processes and then

align them to ISO standards. TGIS believes

TOP Lance Nel proudly shows the staff the certificate

ABOVE Adri from PWC and Lance Nel receiving the certificate

that the use of IMIS will enable other organisa-

tions to take great strides to achieve their own

ISO compliance.

The ISO certification is testament to the

effort to ensure that only the best products

and services are produced, keeping clients

fully satisfied. ISO is an ongoing process of

improvement. The management and staff

of TGIS will endeavour to continue to

improve their processes, which will in

turn increase the quality of delivery to their

valued clients.

The system is designed to be a one-stop shop for most software needs


WASTE MANAGEMENT

The way forward onwaste management

The negative impact of waste on the environment and on people’s health is of ongoing concern. Nick Mannie, Aurecon technical director – Waste

POOR WASTE MANAGEMENT places

significant and, at times, overwhelm-

ing pressure on the capability of

municipalities to manage waste. To

address this issue, waste management strate-

gies that are advanced, yet easy to implement

and have measurable outcomes, are required.

Gauteng’s Merafong City Local Municipality

(MCLM) has taken bold steps towards ensuring

sustainable waste management solutions and

lessons that can be shared from these actions.

Identifying low-hanging fruitsIn 2011, the MCLM was faced with the task

of disposing over 150 000 t of waste each

year, collected from 36 000 households and

businesses. After assessing the situation,

Aurecon identified numerous problems, in

many cases due solely to the use of plastic

bags for the storing and disposing of waste.

Key issues were:

• Frequent spillages from torn or open bags

resulted in unhygienic conditions, such as

exposure to noxious streams of waste, flies

and unpleasant odours.

• Workers risked sprains from handling heavy

bags and cuts from sharp objects in bags.

• The collection process was time consum-

ing as workers needed to pick up individual

bags, one at a time.

• The bags were unsightly and frequently the

source of windblown litter on residential

streets. This was environmentally poor prac-

tice as the bags themselves introduced a

secondary waste problem.

A simple solutionTo address the problem quickly and efficiently,

Aurecon recommended a switch to 240 ℓ trol-

ley (‘wheelie’) bins to replace the use of

plastic bags.

Sometimes, when faced with massive chal-

lenges, it is best practice to identify easy

actions that deliver big gains. We found this to

be true of the MCLM.

Apart from solving the problems listed above,

the municipality benefitted through a significant

reduction in health and safety costs among

employees, as well as the creation of revenue

from selling additional wheelie bins to mem-

bers of the community.

Discontinuing the use of plastic bags also

raised awareness among residents of the

need for responsible waste management. In

addition, reducing the quantity of plastics in the

landfill results in a reduced carbon footprint,

demonstrating the municipality’s commitment

to the National Waste Management Strategy

(2011) of South Africa.

Optimisation of waste collection service deliveryA major problem many local municipalities face

is the issue of service delivery.

The MCLM was challenged by one service

area in particular – that of its waste collection

process. Once the municipality had addressed

the immediate challenge of replacing plastic

bags with waste collection bins, it needed to

arrive at a holistic solution to its broader waste

collection challenges.

In dire need of a tool to optimise the alloca-

tion of resources and improve efficiency, the

municipality engaged Aurecon to investigate

and develop a management system for the

improved collection of waste in the local

municipality area.

Aurecon’s team, made up of myself, Kobie

Pretorius (project manager), and Hentie Viviers

(geographic information system (GIS) and

data management professional), undertook


WASTE MANAGEMENT

to completely review the municipality’s waste

management procedures and implement a

sustainable scheme with substantial benefits

for all the stakeholders.

A holistic solution The solution lay in an effective information

system that could measure service delivery at

any given time. The new collection system was

based on customised GIS modelling according

to the MCLM’s specific requirements.

The system was designed to take into

account various factors such as the geographi-

cal area (location, popu-

lation size and distance

to the landfill or transfer

station), future develop-

ments in the city, poten-

tial population growth,

the timing and frequency of waste collection

and, of course, the client’s resource allocation.

The GIS modelling for optimal route plan-

ning is a considerable improvement on the

municipality’s existing approach, which had

been to randomly designate certain days for

collecting waste in certain areas. With this

newly developed system, Aurecon was able to

assess factors such as risk areas, inefficien-

cies and costs that were incurred daily during

the waste collection process and report back

to the MCLM on its findings with innovative and

practical recommendations.

The latest information on all the solid waste

sites and services within the jurisdiction of

the municipality was also incorporated into a

database, allowing for the comprehensive com-

pilation of best waste management practices.

The system we developed can now govern

waste collection in order to make it optimal,

through the calculation of factors like waste

generation per suburb and the number of the

rubbish trucks required.

Aurecon’s GIS mapping and database also

assisted the municipality strategically in terms

of long-term planning to ensure that resourc-

es, equipment and

personnel will be

efficiently utilised.

Some of the wide-

ranging benefits of

the system’s opti-

mised route planning were:

• the MCLM’s collection backlog was eradicated

• the risk of drivers missing areas or collection

points was eliminated

• travelling distances were lowered, reduc-

ing chances of truck breakdowns and sig-

nificantly reducing fuel costs, which in turn

effectively lessens the MCLM’s overall car-

bon footprint

• productivity improved: the revised time

scheduling demonstrated that the waste col-

lection service could be maximised by imple-

menting an additional shift per day. The use

of equipment and personnel more efficiently

neutralised the amount of overtime taken

by municipal workers and the new system

motivated them by allowing them to leave

work early if they had completed their routing

for the shift

• customer satisfaction improved with the

well-organised collection of waste, reflect-

ing in minimised complaints from the

36 000 residents

• the MCLM is now better equipped to identify

potential problems in advance and take time-

ly preventative measures by re-optimising

the routes.

Lessons learnt When reviewing the way in which the MCLM

handled its waste collection challenges, two

important lessons emerge:

• Making small, simple changes (such as

replacing plastic bags with bins) all the way

through to a complete redesign of the cur-

rent working system (as with a new waste

collection route planning system) all have

a place in the adoption of a holistic view of

waste management.

• Instead of incorporating waste management

only as a means of cleaning up a messy and

unhygienic situation, it is far smarter and

more cost-effective to avoid the situation by

integrating an effective waste management

plan from the start.

The new collection system was based on customised GIS modelling

To subscribe and/or advertise please call +27 11 233 2600 or visit www.twa.co.zacribe and/or advertise please call +27 11 233 2600 or visit www.twa.co.za

• 853 million people • 6.4% GDP growth in 2012, and more beyond

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LEADING PRODUCT MANUFACTURERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS doing business in Africa read and advertise in Transport World Africa - regularly. Do you? To gain an understanding of this market, and more importantly, get your product to market, subscribe to Transport World Africa. We will provide you with the business intelligence needed for your company to operate profitably in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Intraregional supply chain solutions from producer to consumer

COMPARING APPLES WITH APPLES, the purchasing power parity (PPP) index of final household consumption expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa, using the average 2005 US dollar exchange rate as a constant, was last reported at $832 008 892 761.36 in 2010 - according to the World Bank. It is now 2012, and Africa has grown even more. Household final consumption expenditure is the market value of all goods and services, purchased by households, including durable products such as cars, washing machines, home computers and other items. Exports of durable products such as foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals to Africa have also increased substantially.

Household final consumption expenditure (PPP USD 2005 = ZERO) in Sub Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa set for a boom in 2012 and beyond

Magazine Website Newsletter Market alerts

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Transport-World-Africa twaeditorwww.twa.co.za


EDUCATION

Reticulation initiativeSAICE WRC SCHOOLS WATER COMPETITION 2012

The Aqualibrium educational initiative focuses on the preservation of water for future generations and encourages the youth to become part of this effort.

MARLEY INFRASTRUCTURE,

a division of Marley Pipe

Systems, was one of the

major sponsors at this year’s

South African Institution of Civil Engineering

(SAICE) and Water Research Commission

(WRC) Schools Water Competition. The finals

of the competition were held at the Sci-Bono

Discovery Centre in Newtown, where winners

of the individual regional competitions came

together to battle it out for prize money total-

ling more than R17 000.

To open the event, Marley’s Pranesh Maniraj

addressed the students on the importance of

water as a precious resource and the role of

water reticulation as a means of saving this

fundamental resource from one day running

out. Prof Kobus van Zyl then briefed the stu-

dents on what the competition would entail.

The teams of three students each were

tasked with designing a model water distribu-

tion network that would distribute three litres

of water equally between three points on the

grid using two different diameter pipes and

connection pieces. Each team had about an

hour in which to design, build and operate

their network and were judged according to a

penalty system.

The champions for 2012 came from the

Domino Servite School near Pietermaritzburg

with 160 penalty points conceded. The team

consisted of Bianca Coetzee, Ntengo Memela

and Zama Nyembe, whose ingenuity and prac-

ticality in design and execution is testament

to the untapped talent that the younger gen-

eration has to offer for the future of engineer-

ing and for the infrastructure of South Africa.

In addition,

Marley selected

six aspiring engi-

neers and civil

engineers from

the group of

finalists to par-

take in “a day with Marley”, which would give

them the opportunity to spend a day with

a Marley representative and gain valuable

insight into the manufacturing environment

and the practicalities of the industry. In the

build-up to the final, held in Johannesburg,

Knight Piésold’s CSI beneficiaries par ticipat-

ed in the Aqualibrium regional competition.

The regional SAICE-TCTA School Water

Competition was held in May 2012. This year

Knight Piésold supported the event by mak-

ing a financial contribution towards catering.

The company also provided par ticipants with

goodie bags.

Learners from previously disadvantaged

b a c k g r o u n d s

gathered at the

SAICE head

office in Midrand

to par ticipate in

this competition.

The purpose

of the competition was to emphasise the

importance of water distribution networks

for supplying safe and clean drinking water

to the people of South Africa as well as to

encourage learners to take mathematics and

science as school subjects. These subjects

are a gateway to professions in the built

environments.

Realogile High School (one of the schools

that Knight Piésold sponsors from Alexandra)

par ticipated again this year and was placed

in four th position.

The purpose of the competition was to emphasise the importance of water distribution networks

Above left Learners get cracking on their water challenge project

Above Marley Infrastructure was a sponsor at the SAICE and WRCSchools Water Competition


MUNICIPAL WATER

Municipal invoices still not consumer friendly in SA

Local and international research has shown that customers of many municipal entities, in both the developed and developing countries, struggle to understand their municipal invoices.

A LACK OF understanding of invoices

has a negative effect on customer

awareness, par ticipation and the

regulation of water services. It

also leads to distrust in the correctness of

an invoice, which, in turn, could affect con-

sumers’ willingness to pay. A study by the

Water Research Commission (WRC) found

that municipal invoices in South Africa have

much to improve on before they can function

as a tool to serve consumers effectively.

In par ticular, South African invoices are

not standardised at all. Most invoices do not

meet regulatory requirements, and are barely

legible as they are not in

plain and understandable

language as required by the

Consumer Protection Act

(68 of 2008) and far from

being user-friendly. Most

municipalities’ invoices are

not customer-orientated.

While South Africa has 11

of ficial languages, invoic-

es are still presented in

English only. Most invoices

do not communicate water

conservation and effective water use. South

African invoices do very little to reduce the

water and energy footprint, and lag far behind

international best practice in this regard.

Municipalities miss the opportunity to brand

water conservation through their invoices.

They could also be a tool to set consump-

tion targets or give incentives for conser-

vation. Very few municipal invoices show

comparative or historical consumption infor-

mation, which has been proved to positively

influence consumer behaviour.

A quantitative survey of 2 500 urban

respondents undertaken in 2010 by Sarah

Slabber t Associates showed

that the integrity of South

African municipal invoices is in

question. About 35% of con-

sumers doubt the correctness

of their municipal invoices. The

ordinary South African consum-

er struggles to find basic infor-

mation on municipal invoices,

such as the amount owed from

previous months, the meter reading date,

water use and Free Basic Water received.

For example, only 7.4% of respondents

could find the water use on an invoice that

scored ‘average’ (4.8 out of a possible

10 on the EMI tool that was developed

to evaluate municipal invoices). It is com-

mon practice on municipal invoices to use

numbers without the unit (R or kℓ), as well

as to include codes that are meaningless

to consumers.

Consumers have great difficulty to dis-

tinguish between numbers without units.

Consumers, especially those whose home

language is not English, find acronyms and

abbreviations such as ‘cons’, ‘w’, ‘bas’ or

‘char’ difficult to decipher. Consumers strug-

gle to understand words commonly used on

invoices, such as arrears, remittance advice,

rebate, consumption, opening balance, bal-

ance brought forward and previous. In some

cases, consumers confuse litres and kiloli-

tres. Simple changes dramatically increase

consumer understanding of municipal invoic-

es. Improved understanding strengthens con-

sumers’ trust in the correctness of the infor-

mation. According to the project leader Dr Sarah Slabbert of Sarah Slabbert Associates

IMIESA OCTOBER 2012 117

MUNICIPAL WATER

Integrated Waste Management PlansWaste Disposal StrategiesIdentification and permitting of landfill sitesDesign of General and Hazardous Waste sitesDesign of Solid Waste Transfer StationsDesign of Material Recovery FacilitiesOptimisation of Waste Collection SystemsAuditing of Waste Management FacilitiesDevelopment of Operational PlansClosure and Rehabilitation of LandfillsQuality Assurance on Synthetic LinersWaste Recycling Plans

Specialist Waste Management ConsultantsSustainable and appropriate engineering solutions with integrity and professionalism.

Jan Palm Consulting EngineersTel +27 21 982 6570 / Fax +27 21 981 0868 / E-mail [email protected] / www.jpce.co.za

Gansbaai Recycling Centre

Velddrif Transfer Station

Botrivier Drop-off

Herman us Materials Recovery Facility

Vissershok Waste Management Facility

Stanford Drop-off

Sarah Slabbert, municipal invoices, if used

properly, present a significant opportunity

to engage customers in water conservation,

water regulation and planning. The WRC

has created a platform for South African

municipalities to work towards improving

compliance and standardising their domestic

municipal invoices. The Standards Document

is an ef for t to

steer municipali-

ties, financial ser-

vices, businesses

and customers

towards quality

and efficiency in water management.

The standards and model invoices devel-

oped and tested in the study aim to improve

the understanding of domestic water invoic-

es, within specific South African regulatory

requirements, and contribute to changing

behaviour and reducing consumers’ water

footprint. Better understanding will improve

consumers’ trust in the validity of their invoic-

es, which will, in turn, improve consumers’

trust in, and suppor t for,

their municipalities.

Jay Bhagwan, WRC director

in Water Use and Waste man-

agement, says: “New soft-

ware developments and tech-

nology hold exciting possibili-

ties to address shortcomings

in the design and communi-

cation of municipal invoices. Opportunities

include sending invoices via SMS, e-mail

and web; using SMS, e-mail and the web to

activate payment, explain invoice details, set

targets, give incentives, communicate inter-

ruptions and educate consumers on how to

use water and electricity more effectively;

and using interactive websites to explain

invoices and assist consumers to manage

“Opportunities include... using interactive websites to explain

invoices.” Jay Bhagwan, WRC director

in Water Use and Waste management

their invoices.”

The WRC study

recommends a

cus tomer - cen t r ed

approach to achieve

compliance with the

Consumer Protection

Act (68 of 2008).

Municipalities could

star t to involve their

consumers in the

development of their

invoices and test

their customers to

make sure that they

are indeed clear. The WRC also recommends

the use of the EMI Tool to effect simple

changes, which is specifically developed to

evaluate invoices based on international

and local regulation standards. The study,

entitled “Towards standards for munici-

pal invoices in South Africa” (Report no.

TT 458), is fully downloadable to registered

website users.



kWh

Energie-besparing

Zonder oplossingBaseline energie@ gemeten@ geregistreerd

TijdMet oplossing

Implementatie van energiebeheeroplossing

Metingen geregistreerd voor vergelijking met de referentie

Metingen geregistreerd tijdens de referentieperiode

©2012 Schneider Electric. All Rights Reserved. Schneider Electric, Make the most of your energy, and EcoStruxure are trademarks owned by Schneider Electric Industries SAS or its affiliated companies. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Registered Name: Schneider Electric South Africa (Pty) Ltd Registration Number: 1971/002841/07 Terms and conditions apply. www.schneider-electric.com • 998-2574_ZA_B

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ENERGY

Enhancing the quality of life in rural KwaZulu-Natal

Biogas digesters have been installed in the Upper Thukela area in KwaZulu-Natal as part of a natural resource management project to enhance the quality of life of people living there. Agama Biogas’s Greg Austin reports.

BEFORE HER Agama biodigester was

installed, Mama Ethel Khumalo

spent R800 of her R1 140 monthly

pension on energy – R100 on elec-

tricity and R700 on wood. Unfortunately, both

the electricity and the wood never lasted a full

month, and the family often spent nights at a

time with only candles to light their home and

no fire to cook over. Today, she uses the dung

from her five cattle to feed the biodigester. The

gas it produces is used for cooking and the

electricity she purchases to light the home.

As a result of the digester, the family always

has light and Mama Khumalo has cut her

Eskom expense to R50 a month and no longer

buys wood.

Mama Miya’s household is large – three

adults, two children out of school and eight

school-going children. Before the biogas

digester project, she used R200 a month of

electricity for lighting and ironing, and spent

close to three hours a day collecting wood

to use for cooking. She points out that the

digester saves her time and money, as she

no longer needs to collect wood and she has

cut her electricity spend to R50 a month.

In a nearby valley, Velam Khumalo used to

spend R800 of his pension each month to

buy wood for cooking. This never lasted the

full month and so his wife and children would

go out to collect wood and cow dung. With

the biodigester providing all the energy they

need for cooking, they don’t need to forage

for fuel and he can spend that R800 on other

items like clothing, school books, candles

and more food to supplement the family’s

meagre pantry.

These three stories provide anecdotal evi-

dence of the benefits of biogas, an alternative

energy technology fulfilling all the criteria relat-

ing to environmental sustainability, requiring

relatively low technological input and being cost

effective to implement.

Although biogas is used all over the world

(India for instance has more than 12 million

ABOVE One of the biogas digesters installed in the Upper Thukela area

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WaterLooming crisis

EkurhuleniUrban infrastructure

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digesters), biogas in South Africa is practically

unknown. Less than 100, mostly small-scale

domestic installations, have successfully been

built and commissioned to date, locally.

The BiogasPro (from SESSA member Agama

Biogas), the first small digester to achieve

certification from the South African Pipeline

Gas Association and is installed in the Upper

Thukela area, is a unique, patented system

that is engineered, designed and manufactured

in South Africa for African conditions.

The unit has a total capacity of 6 000 ℓ and

can produce a nominal amount of 1.9 m3

of biogas every day, which is equivalent to

four hours burning time on a single gas

plate, 0.8 kg LPG, or 3.5 kWh continuous elec-

trical output. The biogas is captured and stored

within the upper part of the digester itself,

which has a gas storage capacity of 0.95 m3,

and relies on hydraulic pressure to produce gas

pressure at 7 kPa when fully primed.

The benefits of the Biogas Pro range are many,

including the following:

• prefabricated from linear, low-density pol-

yethylene (LLDPE) using a roto-moulding

manufacturing technique, making it ideal for

a wide range of applications and situations

• robust

• quick to install because it is pre-engineered

to circumvent the complex brickwork required

to build a digester

from scratch

• convenient to use.

Installations can be

performed by certi-

fied drainage and

gas technicians, who are accredited by Agama

Biogas. Alternatively there is a ‘DIY option’

where customers install the digesters them-

selves from comprehensive manuals supplied

with the digesters.

To prove the efficacy of the technology local-

ly, two senior researchers from the University

of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Monique Salomon and

Dr Terry Everson will be working with Mama

Khumalo, Mama Miya, Velam Khumalo and

others to plot their electricity and wood use

both before and post installation.

The biogas household owners provided

input regarding the variables that they would

measure during the project. Salomon created

a data sheet using photographs to facilitate

recording of data by both illiterate and edu-

cated household members.

Each par ticipant has been given a file with

copies of the

data sheets and

an information

leaflet on ways

to save energy

when cooking.

We are looking forward to receiving the

results of the project as we believe it will

help fuel the demand for biodigesters in

other areas around the country. We anticipate

that with an increasing number of reference

projects, our biogas systems will become

more mainstream.

It is important to note, though, that this

project is focused on reducing the wood

used for cooking and heating purposes. The

gas produced by the digesters can also be

used for lighting and heating, and this is a

‘second phase’ that could be introduced at a

later date.

This project is focused on reducing the wood used for cooking and heating purposes

ENERGY


MUNICIPAL GOVERNANCE

Reassessing municipal management Municipal officials need to relook their management and governance structures to turn the tables on the increasing number of difficulties and challenges they face, says professional services firm PwC.

WHILE THE audit outcomes

report for 2011/12 issued by

the Auditor-General, Terence

Nombembe, paints a dismal

picture of the country’s state of municipali-

ties, Kalane Rampai, PwC leader for Local

Government for Southern Africa, believes that

many of the issues that are giving rise to these

challenges cannot be isolated in a vacuum –

“the whole system must be reviewed and a

comprehensive turnaround plan be executed”.

Therefore, the focus should be broader than fix-

ing the financial management practices.

PwC supports the findings contained in the

Auditor-General’s reports, which PwC also

picked up during its dealings with local govern-

ment as auditor and adviser. These include the

poor quality of integrated development plans

(IDPs) and the poor supply chain and contract

management practices.

“These tend to be big problems in local

government,” says Rampai. “There are also

internal control deficiencies, with too many

loopholes where people can get away with

doing the wrong things.”

Johan Leibbrandt, a local government spe-

cialist adviser at PwC, says that another dif-

ficulty is that the current legal framework is

too onerous and costly for local government.

“Municipalities spend a lot of time and

money on complying with these laws, and

less focus on service delivery. Some of the

audit qualifications are also as a result of the

complexity of the requirements from these

regulations, which small municipalities find

difficult to comply with. The compliance pro-

cess needs to be simplified. There needs to be

a balance between service delivery imperatives

and compliance with the laws and auditing

standards,” says Leibbrandt.

However, South Africa has some very effi-

cient and sustainable municipalities in place,

he states. The findings of the Auditor-General’s

report bear testimony to this, with 13 munici-

palities receiving a clean audit and 115 receiv-

ing financially unqualified audit.

“This is an indication that the government’s

initiatives, such as the building of skills and

good governance practices, are beginning to

have an effect.” The government has also

rolled out a number of other initiatives to

improve a sustainable and accountable local

government. However, the difficulty with some

of these initiatives is that there are usually

insufficient skills and resources to sustain the

action plans beyond the intervention period,

explains Leibbrandt.

“PwC believes that there is a solution

towards a sustainable turnaround for local

government and in achieving clean audit.

PwC is committed to working closely and in

partnership with local government to assist

municipalities in overcoming their difficulties,”

says Leibbrandt.

Rampai suggest several solutions: “Firstly,

a credible IDP plan linked to the SDBIP

(Service Delivery and Budget Implementation

Plan), budget and Performance Management

System will drive the conduct of people in the

right direction. Currently, the IDPs of most

municipalities are prepared purely for compli-

ance with legislation, and if linked to budget

and scorecards of senior executives, such a

linkage can be quantified to be below 30%.

Further, the plans should be supported by

adequate governance and management struc-

tures, and optimal oversight systems.”

Secondly, the right performance enablers

should be put in place, such as facilities, infra-

structure, technology, processes and people.

“Local government needs to recruit and

retain the best available talent, particularly

the best possible leadership. It also needs to

implement the right value system at the top.

An organisation cannot confine values to a

document, such as a Code of Conduct. Leaders

need to set, define and live out values in order

for others in the organisation to follow them.”

Thirdly, management needs to reward

employees for good performance and there

must be consequences for poor performance.

Rampai says that the right partners must be

brought on board to assist in the delivery and

execution of these IDPs.

“Service delivery is the cornerstone of

local government and is currently by and

large impeded by internal constraints and

the silo effect. Sector departments, SOEs

(state-owned enterprises) and private sector

all have a role to play. Municipalities should

ensure that a space is created for meaning-

ful partnerships to be developed with these

social partners.

A clean audit should not be the outcome

we seek to achieve, but should be the only

outcome possible. This can only happen if

municipalities do the right things daily and not

at year end in preparation for the audit. The

importance of local government in the prosper-

ity of South Africa cannot be overemphasised.

Even private sector needs effective and effi-

cient local government to be successful and

globally competitive.

Municipalities should ensure that a space is created for meaningful partnerships to be developed with these social partners


MUNICIPAL GOVERNANCE

Municipal electricity wired for success

Over the last decade, asset management company, Pragma, has proven its consistent added value to local government service delivery by providing its expertise to five metropolitan municipalities.

THESE ARE: Ekurhuleni; City of Cape

Town; Nelson Mandela Bay; uThungulu

and eThekwini.

Pragma’s engagement with each

municipality started with either a detailed

asset management maturity assessment with

the development of a comprehensive asset

management strategy, or an asset identifica-

tion and verification process with an asset

management strategy.

The vehicle used to implement this strategy

is known as Asset Care Centres (ACC) and has

been implemented in each of these municipali-

ties. The ACC integrates best practice business

processes, enabling technologies and people

skills into a unified system that delivers infra-

structure asset performance at the least sus-

tainable cost and fully contained asset-related

risks, while maintaining an asset register com-

pliant to all public finance regulations.

Key challenges at the electricity and energy

department of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan

Municipality included the amalgamation of

nine previous municipalities and the associ-

ated challenges of improving and standardising

the level of maintenance and refurbishment,

personnel skills, technical asset management

and operations as examples.

“We used Pragma’s enterprise asset man-

agement system, On Key, as well as Pragma’s

Asset Management Improvement Plan (AMIP)

to improve performance. This has enabled us

to collate accurate asset data, standardised

work planning and control procedures, and

easier decision making based on accurate

data.

Through improved

asset manage-

ment, we supported

Ekurhuleni to invest

more than R600 mil-

lion on the refurbish-

ment of networks

over the last three

years,” explains Johannes Coetzee, regional

manager of Pragma Africa.

“Since Pragma established the solid basis of

maintenance, planning and asset care via On

Key and a dedicated ACC, it ensured best prac-

tice and standardisations thereof in our organi-

sation,” adds Hannes Roos, director: opera-

tions and maintenance, electricity division.

The distribution directorate of the Nelson

Mandela Bay Municipality is responsible for the

maintenance of and extensions to the distribu-

tion network, which includes overhead lines,

substations, underground cable networks, high

mast lighting and gas turbines.

Challenges facing the directorate included

low morale among the workforce, significant

manpower shortages, reluctance to accept a

formalised computerised main-

tenance system, seven depots

being supported from a central

ACC with a slow and unreliable

network, and unmaintained mul-

tiple asset data bases.

“Municipalities are required to

deliver services that are depend-

able, of consistent standard and

affordable. Delivering this standard of service

is influenced by a number of factors, and infra-

structure asset performance is certainly most

critical. Pragma’s ACCs is currently making the

difference in sustainable infrastructure asset

performance and thereby positively contribut-

ing to service delivery,” maintains Alan Tait,

managing director of Pragma Africa.

Municipalities are required to deliver services that are dependable, of consistent standard and affordable

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COMMUNITY STANDPIPE

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water savings through consumption management and leak detection with

Bad debt is reduced and the lower consumption contributes towards reduced demand on reticulation and treatment plant.

FEATURES

Revenue collection via standard billing. The client can check the status of his/her debt at any given time

the client buys credit in advance from a vending point the user is assigned a negative credit limit in

litres or rand value

700 C, water hammer and dirt particles in water

OVERVIEWThe Community Standpipe Water Meter and supporting Meter Management System (WAS) is designed to offer a solution to the provision of water at communal water supply points. It requires low capital investment and can be used in both rural areas and informal settlements.

unit consists of a Class B multi jet water meter with

patented valve system ensures extended battery life. The unit is meteorologically sealed and provides a high level of resistance to physical tamper and is immune to magnetic tamper. Should the meter become faulty, it can

FEATURES

OVERVIEW

is used in conjunction with the Intelligent Water Meter and Community Standpipe. It provides the link between the Meter and the Meter Management System (MMS). A network of conveniently located

customer with easy access to “point of sale” where credit can

is supported by a receipt printed from a dedicated printer.

FEATURES

charger. A car charger can also be used

data and online transactions


ROAD EQUIPMENT

‘E’ is for evolutionary with regards to Bell Equipment’s E-series generation of articulated dump trucks.

THIS IS according to Bell Equipment

chief executive Gary Bell. The South

African specialist and world leader

in the design and manufacture of

articulated dump trucks (ADTs) previewed its

latest product development for the first time

at this year’s Intermat in France.

With a wider hood and more imposing styl-

ing, the E-series looks well poised to grow Bell

Equipment’s proud heritage as a premium ADT

supplier and is planned to go into production

in 2013.

“We believe that our D-series has success-

fully met the challenges of the world’s job

sites and has many strengths and features

across the range that our customers would

like to see car-

ried forward

in our product

advancement.

Therefore we

have adopted

an evolutionary approach to the E-series, to

build on the legacy of the D-series genera-

tion and our decades of experience in design

and manufacture, rather than a revolutionary

clean-sheet design. We’ve stuck to our design

principles of delivering weight optimised, high-

production trucks with superior tractive effort,

but looked at ways of doing things smarter

to provide customers with an even greater

competitive advantage in their businesses,”

says Bell.

Bell Equipment has a tradition of pioneer-

ing industry firsts

and these ground-

breaking ADT inno-

vations are in its

latest generation

of trucks, includ-

ing standard on-board weighing, keyless igni-

tion, HillAssist, bin tip prevention, Auto Park

Application and standard turbo spin protec-

tion. In addition, the new trucks include vari-

ous other safety features and further advance-

ments have been made to the company’s fleet

management system, Fleetm@tic, to take

the existing technology to the next level and

provide customers with seamless integration

with their business systems. The new styling

keeps the functional strength and advantages

of the truck and ensures that no compromise

will be necessary to meet future emissions

requirements. “In Europe, the E-series trucks

will continue to use Bell’s Blu@dvantage sys-

tem, with its fuel saving benefits. Importantly,

the E-series platform has been engineered

to be with us for a long time and to stand up

to any future movements in the market and

legislation,” explains Bell.

Bell has been developing the E-series for the past five years and is currently in the final stages of durability testing, having enlisted reputable independent national and international test facilities for additional verification

Bell previews its new E-series ADT

Rhe E-series looks well poised to grow Bell Equipment’s proud heritage

ROAD EQUIPMENT

New publication on sustainable concrete roadsThe Cement & Concrete Institute (C&CI) has produced a new publication, Concrete Roads: a sustainable solution – the third in a series of publications on the sustainable use of concrete.

AUTHORED BY Bryan Perrie, the C&CI managing director

and a globally respected authority on concrete pavements,

the free publication covers the environmental, economic

and social aspects of concrete pavements and draws on

international experience to demonstrate that concrete pavements are

a sustainable solution for South Africa.

Perrie says in the introduction: “Sustainable pavements make effi-

cient use of natural resources and respect the environment during

their entire life cycle; they improve transport facilities for the entire

community, provide services to society in terms of mobility, safety and

comfort by means of judicious choices regarding design, construction,

maintenance and demolition.”

He believes that concrete pavements offer substantial benefits

over the long term and – in economic terms – are often the most

favourable solution when life cycle costs are taken into account. “This

is even more so

when user costs

are taken into

account, as con-

crete requires

minimal mainte-

nance and results

in less disruption

to road users.”

Furthermore, concrete pavements provide benefits such as reduced

fuel consumption, pollution reduction, stormwater attenuation, local

availability, recyclability, reduced heat island effect, reduction in street

lighting requirements, labour-intensive construction and improved

skid resistance.

“Concrete pavements have a crucial role to play in the provision

of new infrastructure in South Africa as well as for the upgrading of

existing pavement infrastructure. Concrete overlays and inlays provide

an ideal solution for the upgrading of existing asphalt and unsurfaced

pavements for all categories of traffic. The development of ultra-thin

concrete pavements has added to the various type of concrete avail-

able to the road design engineer,” he states.

“Sustainable pavements make effi cient use of natural resources and respect the environment”



ROAD EQUIPMENT

New road stabilisation product A specialist product designed for road stabilisation applications has been launched by AfriSam.

CALLED ROADSTAB CEMENT, the

new product has been undergoing

research, development and test-

ing for the past three years.

“Roadstab Cement will offer civil engineers

an excellent alternative for road design,” says

Mike McDonald, AfriSam product manager.

“This product has been developed to

achieve superior stability across a broad

range of road material types. Roadstab

Cement offers enhanced per formance, even

with soils with a high plasticity index.

“We’ve also had exciting results from tests

conducted on the higher clay containing soils

found in the Free State and we’re eagerly

awaiting the reaction of our customers to this

product. We can assure them that Roadstab

Cement will deliver on our promises, based

on the consistently good outcomes record-

ed from trials on stabilisation pro-

jects on the N8 in Tweespruit

in the Free State, the N1 from

Fonteintjie to Wurasoord, the N6

at Smithfield and the N5 from

Bethlehem to Kestell.

“The same excellent results

have been demonstrated on

projects in Gauteng. These

include the Kaalfontein Road in Midrand,

the R21 between Boksburg and OR Tambo

International Airpor t and on runways at

Lanseria Airpor t.”

Stabilisation using cement improves the

engineering properties of granular materials.

Cement with extended setting times, such as a

Roadstab Cement in the 32.5 strength class,

is more suitable for soil stabilisation applica-

tions, because of the longer working times

required to place and compact the material.

McDonald says a minimum of 2% cemen-

titious material is required to ensure a

uniform distribu-

tion of the stabilis-

ing agent through-

out the stabilised

layer, as cement

contents lower

than this may result in

the required strengths

not being achieved,

even though prior

laborator y tests have

indicated otherwise.

“The selection of the

cement type influences

the ‘working time’,

which is defined as the time between plac-

ing and compaction of the stabilised layer,”

he explains. “If most of the hydration has

occurred by the time the material is com-

pacted, the chemical bonds that have been

formed between the cement and the soil

will be broken down by the compaction pro-

cess and fur ther chemical bonding will be

limited. “This limitation may result in lower

in-situ strength of the stabilised layers and

we recommend that a 32.5 strength class

cement with a slower rate of strength gain

is used. Roadstab Cement effectively meets

these criteria.”

Upgrade across the boardThe release of

Roadstab Cement fol-

lows in the wake of

AfriSam’s recent across-the-board revision of

its entire cement product por tfolio.

“The upgrade of our cement product range

forms part of our strategic vision and posi-

tioning as a company committed to sustain-

able innovation. The completion of this initia-

tive is a proud milestone along the AfriSam

journey – with more to come,” Stephan

Olivier, AfriSam CEO, says.

BELOW Roadstab Cement offers civil engineers an excellent alternative for road design and has been tested on several contracts with success

BOTTOM Roadstab Cement has been developed to achieve superior stability across a broad range of road material types and offers enhanced performance, even with soils with a high plasticity index

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veral

“This product has been developed to achieve superior stability”


ROAD EQUIPMENT

Improving public transportThe improvement of public transport is one of eight key strategic focus areas identified by the City of Cape Town in its Integrated Development Plan for achieving its long-term vision and developmental goals.

THE CITY has been working on the

first phase of an Integrated Rapid

Transit (IRT) system, aimed at signifi-

cantly improving its public transport.

The first leg of this IRT system is the dedi-

cated work on the MyCiTi IRT system. While

the first leg is primarily a Bus Rapid Transit

(BRT) system, it is designed in a way that

emphasises the need for integration with other

modes, especially rail, the backbone of public

transport in Cape Town.

Phase 1A of the project includes the inner city

(including extension to Hout Bay), Woodstock

rail station, Paarden Eiland, Milner ton,

Montague Gardens, Century City, Dunoon,

Table View, Melkbos, Atlantis and Mamre. It

also includes the rapidly growing residential

areas in Blaauwberg north of the Diep River,

and the low-income communities of Atlantis,

Mamre, Du Noon and Doornbach. This corridor

faces some of the worst peak period conges-

tion levels, especially to the south and east

of the bridges over the Diep River. In October

2011, the council approved the commence-

ment of planning of Phase 1B (completion of

the logical set of services around Phase 1A),

and Phase 2 (Metro South East, including

Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain), which are

now nearing construction.

“The construction of the first stage of Phase

1A began in mid-2008. The route and stations

between the Greenpoint Stadium and the Civic

Centre was completed for the 2010 FIFA World

Cup. The second stage was constructed from

Civic Centre to Tableview, Bayside Centre, and

was completed for operation in May 2011. The

remainder of the routes, Blaauwberg Road,

Melkbos, Atlantis and Potsdam Road will be

completed by the middle of 2013 with the

whole Phase 1A system coming into full opera-

tion in the second half of 2013,” explains

Alastair Rendall, MD of ARG Design: Architects

& Urban Designers.

Corobrik has supplied 350 000 of its Autumn

Pavers to this ambitious project where they

have been used on the ramps of bus stations.

Dedicated bus lanes have also been created

in Cape Town providing vital link up with major

routes, and this could see the number of

Autumn Pavers used increase to as much as

800 000 over the next few years.

Thibault Station is one of the integrated rapid transport stations within the Cape Town CBD

It is designed in a way that emphasises the need for integration with other modes, especially rail


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“The Corobrik pavers have been used on the

sidewalks at station intersections and median

walkways to the stations. The specific pavers

were chosen to match the environment in

which the stations are located. Thibault Station

is paved with De Hoop Red as it is in the CBD

core area of the city in which the City of Cape

Town has selected this brick as the primary

theme. The Autumn Paver is used throughout

the route from the Civic Centre to Tableview

as it also accords with the City of Cape Town’s

landscape theme,” highlights Rendall. It is

estimated that more than 1 million Autumn,

Wheatstone and De Hoop Red pavers have

been supplied to these sections of the project.

“It is well known that solid clay 73 mm

pavers are the most durable paving mate-

rial available. In addition, they are aestheti-

cally pleasing due to their earthy colours

and ‘all-the-way-through’ colour. It is espe-

cially pleasing when seen during rain or when

‘irrigated’ by landscape sprinkler systems as

the moisture intensifies the colours,” main-

tains Rendall.

Corobrik has an established demand in

Cape Town having previously supplied

2.5 million Autumn 73 mm pavers, 350 500

De Hoop brown and 509 500 De Hoop

red 73 mm pavers to the Greenpoint

Stadium precinct.

ABOVE One of Cape Town’s BRT buses that are offering an improved transport system for residents of the city. Corobrik Autumn Pavers have been used on the ramps of the bus stations at the new IRT system

BELOW Cape Town’s new Integrated Rapid Transport system is improving publicity transport in the city. Corobrik’s Autumn Pavers have been used on the ramps of bus stations

Facelift for Free State bridge

The Modder River Bridge in the Free State was constructed in 1951. Sixty years on, the ageing bridge, for the first time in its history, required some cosmetic “surgery”.

BRIDGE REHABILITATION

AURECON WAS responsible for the

637 m2 operation and specified

Sika products, not only for their

outstanding quality, but also for their

excellent pricing and accessibility. The project

commenced in January 2011, with contrac-

tor Roadcrete Africa repairing the beams and

columns of the bridge. SikaTop-Armatec 110

EpoCem (40 kits) was used as a primer and

bonding agent prior to application of the repair

mortar. This cement-based, epoxy-modified,

three-component product, provides excellent

adhesion to steel and concrete, acts as an

ROAD EQUIPMENT


effective barrier against penetration of water

and chlorides and contains corrosion inhibitors.

It also provides a high degree of mechanical

strength and may be spray applied.

After the required waiting period, the beams

and columns were then coated with Sika

MonoTop-615 HB (50 bags). This is a high build,

cementitious, polymer-modified, one compo-

nent repair and reprofiling mortar containing sil-

ica fume. It is designed for thick layer concrete

repairs, and its excellent thixotropic behaviour

is especially suited for overhead and vertical

applications, making it an ideal product for this

project. Sika MonoTop-615 HB provides excel-

lent workability characteristics, requires mixing

with water only, has an adjustable consistency,

and is sprayable by the wet spray method. It

also provides good mechanical strength, good

freeze/thaw resistance as well as good resist-

ance to water and chloride penetration.

Following the repair phase of the pro-

ject, the entire bridge was coated with Sika

TopSeal-107 ZA (15 kits) which is a two-part,

polymer-modified, cementitious, mortar slurry

comprising a liquid polymer and a cement-

based mix, incorporating special admixtures.

It is used for exterior and interior waterproof-

ing and damp-proofing of concrete, including

basements and cellars. It provides protection

of concrete structures against the effects of

chloride and carbonation attack and freeze/

thaw attack, and may also be used for pore/

blowhole filling, sealing of hairline cracks and

as a levelling mortar. Sika TopSeal-107 ZA is

easy to mix and provides ease of application,

either by hand (using a brush or thin trowel) or

by the spray method. Providing very good adhe-

sion, it is also non-corrosive to steel or iron,

is over-paintable and possesses approval for

potable water contact.

Heavy rains causing delays, and interruptions

caused the contractor to be behind schedule

and the project was completed in September

2011. Now that the Modder River Bridge has

been repaired, strengthened and protected

with Sika’s high-quality products, there is

no doubt that it will continue to carry traffic

between Bloemfontein, Brandfort, Theunissen

and Welkom far into the foreseeable future.


“Although steel remains expensive, the price of cement has recently seen a dramatic rise, reducing the advantage of a lower initial outlay for a bricks and mortar reservoir.” Rainbow

Reservoir managing director, Wayne Thompson

Relocatable steel reservoirs

Rainbow Reservoirs has begun local manufacture of several reservoir component par ts and plans to begin local rolling of the Zincalume steel panels.

LOCAL ROLLING will increase the

number of flat panels that can be

packed by the source factory over-

seas into a shipping container, low-

ering shipping costs and helping Rainbow to

keep prices down. Panel cutting and punching

is likely to continue abroad because of the

precise nature of these operations and the

high cost of the machinery needed to carry

them out. Announcing plans for local panel

rolling, Rainbow managing director, Wayne

Thompson, explains that a worldwide short-

age of freshwater continues to drive reservoir

construction. Freshwater comprises just 3%

of all water covering the world’s sur face, and

much of it occurs only in the form of unusable

ice, he says.

According to Thompson, the steel panel res-

ervoir in recent years has been read-

ily adopted by commerce, industry

and construction because of its

increased structural and general

sophistication, and because of

the savings in space and

ease of installation deliv-

ered by a panel design.

However, agriculture has

largely ignored this con-

venience, preferring the

bricks and mortar structures, which have

over time become ingrained as the generally

accepted method of construction.

“In some sectors, the steel alternative

remains incorrectly viewed as expensive,”

explains Thompson.

“The purchase price is possibly gener-

ally higher than a bricks-and-mortar alterna-

tive, but when viewed in terms of overall

lifetime cost the panel reservoir is always

much, much cheaper than bricks and mor-

tar, and it carries the additional advantage

of relocatability.”

Thompson explains that a lower lifetime

cost is the direct result of the longer effec-

tive life of the steel panel reservoir. His

own product, the Rainbow reservoir, has

leak-free, corrosion-free installations going

back 30 years and more. The bricks and

mortar reservoir, by contrast, has a gen-

erally accepted effective lifespan of only

fifteen years. The inherent strength of the

steel reservoir, too, is often misunderstood.

Thompson argues that the cracks and bursts

that routinely occur in bricks-and-mortar res-

ervoirs (the result of unsound construction

and ear th movement) should cast doubt

on a preference for older methods of

reservoir construction.

“Although steel remains expensive, the

price of cement has recently seen a dramatic

rise, reducing the advantage of a lower initial

outlay for a bricks and mortar reservoir,”

he says.

“When the projected life of such a struc-

ture, say 15 years, is compared to the life of

30, 40 and more years of a steel reservoir,

the case for the latter becomes clear.”

Relocatability is a fur ther advantage,

Thompson points out.

“Whereas the bricks and mortar construct

is fixed, the steel reservoir’s design facili-

tates easy relocation. Should the source of

the steel reservoir’s water run dry, it can

simply be moved.

“In this way, the steel reservoir becomes

an asset rather than a consumable.”

A typical Rainbow steel panel reservoir

ndustry

of its

eneral

e of

m

e

WATER EQUIPMENT


WATER EQUIPMENT

Reinforcing soil at Bushkoppies WWTWAfter initial investigation the soil conditions at Bushkoppies Waste Water Treatment Works were found to be too soft and the shear strength unsatisfactory.

WHEN JOHANNESBURG WATER

instructed contractors’

Eigenbau Construction and

Zitholele Consulting Engineers

to erect four additional anaerobic digesters

at the Bushkoppies Waste Water Treatment

Works (WWTW) in Eldorado Estates, manda-

tory assessments of the soil strength were

carried out to ensure it had sufficient load-

bearing capacity.

Recommendation of RockGrid PCIt was essential that the soil foundation

was sufficiently solid in order to support a

20 m high, round anaerobic digester with a

diameter stretching up to 12.3 m and a wall

thickness of 400 mm reinforced concrete.

However, as the soil was found to be too

soft and the shear strength unsatisfactory,

it was deemed necessary to reinforce the

soil. Kaytech was called in to find a solu-

tion, and after carrying out the requisite

tests, the engineer recommended the use of

RockGrid PC, a high tensile strength compos-

ite geotextile, as the ideal solution.

It of fers the reinforcement character-

istics of a woven geogrid in conjunction

with the favourable

hydraulic qualities of

a non-woven geotex-

tile. The non-woven

is strengthened with

high tenacity, multifila-

ment polyester yarns.

This combination of components guarantees

the unique characteristics of RockGrid PC.

Additionally, the non-woven layer protects the

reinforcement elements during the critical

installation phase, thereby ensuring a safer

optimum per formance.

Wherever soft soils with low bearing capac-

ity are encountered, RockGrid PC can be used

as an effective and lasting reinforcement.

Even wet, cohesive soils can be utilised as

a fill in steep, retaining structures because

the PC grid helps drain the fill and accelerate

the consolidation process. This prevents soil

exchange and makes the import of expensive

fill material unnecessary, saving both time

and money.

Design and solutionIn the foundation design, the consultant

allowed for extra cushion, which is intended

to give suppor t to

the bearing capacity

of the soil by wrap-

ping dump rock at a

600 mm depth sur-

rounding the founda-

tion bearing area of

the digester. This will prevent possible shear

in the soil and will also act as a drainage

medium in case there is variation in the

water content. Because the PC grid carries

both the drainage characteristic as well as

the high biaxial strength (100 kN), should the

nature of the soil change, the environment

change, and/or water content increase, the

PC grid will ensure that no fines will escape

into the dump rock layer, thus retaining the

desired shear strength and preventing pos-

sible settling.

BELOW LEFT It was essential that the soil foundation was sufficiently solid in order to support a 20 m high round anaerobic digester

BELOW RIGHT Wherever soft soils with low bearing capacity are encountered RockGrid PC can be used as an effective and lasting reinforcement

The PC grid carries both the drainage characteristic as well as the high biaxial strength

Saving a historical wooden water pipelineAir release valves designed and manufactured in South Africa have helped save a 100-year-old wooden pipeline in Tasmania.

THE WOODEN PIPELINE was built as

par t of one of the southern hemi-

sphere’s first hydroelectric power

plant projects, near Lake Margaret,

Tasmania, in 1911. The lake was dammed

to raise its water level by 6 m, and a 2.2 km

woodstave pipeline constructed to transfer

water from the dam to the power station’s

turbines. Wood was chosen as the pipeline

material because it was cheaper than steel

at the time of construction, and was also

expected to last longer. For reasons that are

not clear, the original wood deteriorated very

quickly and was replaced in 1938 by pine,

allowing the line to remain in service until

2006, when the power station’s new owners,

Hydro Tasmania, closed it because of mainte-

nance costs. By that time, the line was wast-

ing a lot of water and had been dubbed by

one regional magazine “the world’s biggest

soaker hose”, a moniker that was per-

haps correct since, during the

2007 drought, leakage in

the pipe became so bad

that it drew down the

level of Lake Margaret

by a staggering 10%.

At the time, the pipe-

line was still under

pressure even though

the power station

was closed.

When the decision to close

the pipeline was taken, local

lobby groups pushed for it to be rebuilt,

as both the power station and its pipeline are

major tourist attractions and an important

par t of the local history.

Resulting from this, a new pipeline was

designed by Johnstone McGee and Gandy

(JMG) in Hobart and constructed by Hazell

Bros, with technical assistance from the

International Tank and Pipe Company,

Por tland, Oregon. The original woodstave

line was preserved in three sections.

To protect the restored pipeline against the

potential damage of surge and water ham-

mer, JMG chose South African Vent-O-Mat

valves, which are recognised worldwide as

the market leader in terms of useful life and

pipeline protection. The valves limit surge

and water hammer as a standard function

during pipeline filling, when most surge devic-

es are not yet operational, and deliver auto-

matic protection against column separation.

Under conditions of surge within the pipe-

line, they allow controlled air release through

a valve orifice aerodynamically engineered to

throttle air discharge when the velocity of the

approaching liquid would otherwise become

too great and induce an unacceptable pres-

sure rise.

This throttling action increases

resistance to the flow of the

Top The leaking woodstave pipeline in Tasmania before restoration Above The valves installed on the restored pipeline

One of the original woodstave lines preserved

approaching liquid, which decelerates. The

opposite extreme is experienced when a

pipeline experiences liquid column separa-

tion due to pump stoppage. Under these

conditions, Vent-O-Mat allows air into the

pipeline, but throttles its discharge as the

separated column begins to rejoin, reduc-

ing the impact velocity and alleviating high

surge pressures.

WATER EQUIPMENT



WATER EQUIPMENT

GBCSA’s removes PVC minimisation clauseBuilding contractors in South Africa can now enjoy the benefits of PVC piping products, following the GBCSA's announcement that it will remove the MAT-7 PVC minimisation clause from its green star tool rating system.

THE GREEN BUILDING Council of South

Africa (GBCSA) developed the Green

Star SA rating tool to provide the

local property industry with an objec-

tive measurement for green buildings, and to

recognise and reward environmental leadership

in the industry. The council initially introduced

the clause in 2007 to minimise the use of PVC

products in buildings, due to environmental

concerns with regards to the formulation, manu-

facturing process and end-of-life

disposal of PVC products.

Following negotiations with the

South African Vinyl’s Association

(SAVA), the GBCSA agreed to

adopt recommendations to

remove the MAT-7 PVC minimisa-

tion credit in its green star tool

rating system, provided that PVC

manufacturers adhere to best

practice conditions. DPI Plastics,

a leading manufacturer of water

reticulation, drainage and pipe-

fitting systems in South Africa,

has welcomed the decision.

“The MAT-7 minimisation

clause impacted negatively on

DPI Plastics’ sales, as contractors and archi-

tects would have been avoiding the use of PVC

pipes, in order to obtain a four or five star green

rating for their building. In the past, any projects

that used PVC would be penalised,” says Renier

Snyman, DPI Plastics product manager for pres-

sure pipe systems.

“In late 2011, the GBCSA completed a com-

prehensive credit review process for the Mat-7

PVC minimisation credit. The GBCSA Technical

Steering Committee (TSC) resolved to withdraw

the credit after considering the outcomes of

the credit review, which involved stakeholder

engagement through a PVC Expert Reference

Panel and precedents set by other green build-

ing councils surrounding the treatment of PVC

in green building rating tools,” adds GBCSA

CEO, Brian Wilkinson.

Snyman points out that the removal of the

clause means that the use of PVC products

now has a neutral impact on the green star

rating of a building in South Africa. The neu-

tral rating does, however, only apply to PVC manufacturers that meet best practice based

on the manufacture and recycling of the prod-

uct. “As a founding member of the South

African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association

(SAPPMA), DPI Plastics has committed itself to

these best practice methods.”

Snyman notes that due to its light weight,

high strength, low reactivity and corrosion

resistance, PVC is the best-suited material for

piping. “PVC has become the most popular pip-

ing product in South Africa, due to its unique

properties. What’s more, PVC pipes are almost

entirely leak-proof when joined together, mak-

ing it one of the most reliable piping products

in the industry too.”

He admits that the biggest challenge now

facing DPI Plastics is to inform and educate the

industry of the benefits of the removal of the

MAT-7 minimisation clause. “The most effective

method of highlighting the benefits of using PVC

products in green star projects will be through

word of mouth and product displays, in particu-

lar to non-residential building projects that are

focused on obtaining green star status.”

DPI Plastics will be marketing a wide range of

PVC products to green star projects during the

course of 2012. These include:

U-PVC: ‘Unplasticised’ or ‘rigid’ PVC has

been extensively used in the building industry

as a low-maintenance material in South Africa

for more than 50 years. U-PVC has strong

resistance against most chemicals

and oxidation from water.

• M-PVC: ‘modified’ PVC is a more

environmentally friendly product,

imparting greater ductility to the

pipe, with lower hydraulic friction

and pumping costs as a result of

a larger internal diameter.

• O-PVC: ‘oriented’ PVC, known

as Gemini Biax, has the thin-

nest wall thicknesses in the DPI

Plastics range, thanks to the

pipe molecules being orientated

in two directions to provide sub-

stantial strength and toughness,

making it the most energy-effi-

cient piping material in the DPI

Plastics range.

Snyman highlights the fact that DPI Plastics’

entire range of PVC piping products has numer-

ous advantages for environmentally conscious

building contractors. “Firstly, the energy con-

sumed in the manufacture of a PVC pipe is

considerably lower compared to a number of

traditional materials, which require high heat

and energy during the manufacturing process.

What’s more, PVC consists of more than 50%

b salt, which is available in abundance and is;

therefore, not as taxing on the environment

when compared to other materials. With this

in mind, I am confident that DPI Plastics can

achieve measurable growth in the sale of PVC

products in the short-term future, while keep-

ing a green eye trained on all our long term

futures,” he maintains.

DPI Plastics will be marketing a wide range of PVC products to green star projects


WATER EQUIPMENT

No slurry applicationtoo robust

In June 2012, Grindex received an order for 27 BRAVO 700 37 kW 50 Hz pump units, including control panels.

GRINDEX’S BRAVO SLURRY

pumps are designed for pumping

slurry and other fluids with high

concentrations of abrasives, like

sand and stones, delivering between 30

and 140 ℓ/s. Typical applications include

dredging, cleaning of settling ponds, coal

and ore slurries, bentonite, coal washing

water, steelworks, quarries, mines and many

other industries.

As pumping slurry is one of the most

demanding applications for any pump, parts

require maintenance and repair costs are

high. In many cases, frequent pump failures

lead to costly production downtime. Also,

excess sediment build-up in a sump cost time

and money to remove. Grindex has focused

on solving these problems by developing the

slurry pumps that can handle any high-wear

applications with an effective solution to the

rising costs of slurry handling.

Chris Heunes, Lester Fine and Klint Bawden of Grindex with 27 Grindex BRAVO 700 37 kW 50 Hz pump units developed to handle any high-wear applications

Online academy launched

THE KROHNE ACADEMY online is a web-based training

programme where customers can train themselves on

specific topics valid for the whole process industry,

and not only for Krohne.

The content provided does not represent adver tisement

either; Krohne decided to provide the content also on an

external platform, called Krohne Academy online. This platform

is dedicated to customers, prospects, students, etc. The men-

tioned target groups can train themselves on specific topics.

The registration and the use of the platform are completely

free of charge.

Register now for free: http://academy-online.krohne.com


DIAPHRAGM RUPTURE No problem Ecochem Pumps is importing a

new and highly accurate dosing pump with built-in protection against diaphragm rupture, targeted at local industrial and mining markets.

THE PRODUCT is the Maxroy hydraulically actuated double-

diaphragm dosing pump from Milton Roy Europe, a versa-

tile industrial design incorporating a cast iron casing and

stainless steel liquid end and check valves. Maximum

pump capacity is 1 100 ℓ/hour at a maximum pressure of 10 bar.

Manual control is standard, although the unit can be fitted with an

electrical or pneumatic stroke positioner. A variable speed drive

can also be used. The pump’s hydraulic

actuation eliminates the usual mechanical

linkage between reciprocating mechanism

components and the liquid end diaphragm.

Instead, a mechanical control spool piece

is set via the pump’s stroke adjustment knob, regulating the exact

amount of hydraulic fluid transferred from the pump reservoir cham-

ber in the liquid end, which in turn determines the amount of deflec-

tion of the diaphragm and the pump’s swept volume.

The result is a dosing flow rate accurate to between 1 and 2%

across the entire operating spectrum, and pump adjustment that can

be affected while the pump is running without damage to internal

gearbox components. The absence of a mechanical link also means

that discharge pressure on the process side of the diaphragm inside

the liquid end is equal to the pressure on the hydraulic side inside

the pump. The resulting absence of differential pressure across the

pump diaphragm reduces wear on it and extends diaphragm life.

A major feature of the Maxroy dosing pump is its double diaphragm

with rupture detection mechanism to provide increased safety and

operational redundancy. If the process diaphragm is perforated,

the rupture is immediately indicated by means of a pressure gauge

installed on the liquid end to detect such a fault. The remaining,

unruptured diaphragm allows the pump to continue running with only

negligible attenuation in hydraulic efficiency, and prevents ingress of

the process chemical into the gearbox. The benefit to the customer

is that there is time to plan for repair of the ruptured diaphragm

without pump downtime. A second key product feature is the internal

hydraulic over-pressure prevention system fitted as standard to all

models in the Maxroy range. Should the pump be started against a

closed valve on the discharge side, the pressure build-up in the liq-

uid end results in an internal pressure relief valve opening to release

hydraulic oil from the liquid end chamber back into the oil reservoir

chamber with each stroke. This prevents rupturing of the diaphragms

or, worse, a burst in the discharge process pipelines and the release

of harmful or corrosive chemicals. Other features of the Maxroy

pump range include a reciprocating mechanism lubricated by full

oil immersion, and robust process connections flanged to ensure

leak-free durability.

WATER EQUIPMENT

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Milton Roy Maxroy double-diaphragm dosing pumps


AIMED AT NON-TECHNICAL DECISION MAK-

ERS in national and local government, the

brochure promotes the use of concrete

block paving (CBP) for township roads.

Concrete Manufacturers Association director,

Hamish Laing, says although CBP has been used

extensively for township roads, the potential for its

fur ther use is immense.

“CBP has several advantages over asphalt, offering both practical

and important socio-economic benefits. Besides durability and low-

maintenance properties, CBP is aesthetically pleasing and is made

from 100% South African materials.”

The Concrete Manufacturers Association has updated its Township Roads paving brochure.

Updated township-roads brochure

Skills development paving manual launchedThe Concrete Manufacturers Association has introduced a skills-development paving manual, A step-by-step guide to per fect paving.

WHILE ITS PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE is to generate employ-

ment opportunities, the manual is sufficiently informative

and technical, and will be used as a refresher material or

a paving ‘bible’ for contractors, both large and small. It

is also being offered to training and technical institutions to be incorpo-

rated into construction-related course material. The DIY paver will find the

manual of considerable benefit too.

Essentially a visual guide comprising hand-drawn illustrations with

captions, it covers all aspects of flexible concrete block paving, begin-

ning with the ordering of materials, tool selection and site preparation.

Tool selection includes safety equipment such as tight-fitting gloves,

safety boots and face protection. Subsequent sections cover the lay-

ing of edge restraints or kerbs, bedding-sand placement, laying and

compacting, and the use of jointing sand. Maintenance is dealt with in

the final section.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

The manual was edited by former Concrete Manufacturers Association

(CMA) director and independent paving consultant, John Cairns, and the

illustrations were drawn by Anne Jonker-Colley.

CMA president, Taco Voogt, says that even the complete novice will be

able to lay concrete pavers by studying the manual.“However, if anyone

is unsure of any aspect and needs further information, they can contact

the CMA for a more detailed explanation,” comments Voogt.

“Another aim of the manual is to reduce the number of failures in the

concrete block paving industry, of which there are far too many. Most

paving failures result from insufficient or badly designed drainage and

inadequate earthworks, and the manual covers these aspects in detail.

“There are three important elements in the drainage of conventionally

paved surfaces, the correct falls (slopes), the surface drainage and the

sub-surface drainage. Any water which seeps into the bedding layer must

be properly drained. If not the whole structure is destabilised.”

The maintenance aspect was brought

to light recently when Lucain Paulik, Royal

Bafokeng Administration project man-

ager, said that in Nor thwest Province,

where 300 km have been paved with the

CBP, some R13 million was being saved on

maintenance annually.

Another benefit of CBP township projects is

they act as a spur for the improvement of the

properties adjacent to the roads.

“It is not uncommon for yards to be tidied, trees planted and houses

painted in the wake of newly-paved roads,” maintains Laing.

R20.00 incl. VAT

A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO

PERFECT PAVING

MAK-

the

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or,

ed

s

ring both practical

rs

Th

to lig

Bafok

ager,

where

CBP, so

maintena

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CONCRETE BLOCK PAVING – THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE

TOWNSHIP ROADS


THE ESTATE COMPRISES 270 stands

each measuring between 5 000 and

15 000 m².

The exclusive use of concrete pav-

ers in several shapes and colours, as opposed

to any other surfacing material, has highlighted

the estate’s upmarket and rural pedigree.

The pavers, in the colours of charcoal, tan

and Sahara sand, were supplied by Aveng

Manufacturing Infraset Construction Products

Division and the actual paving work was exe-

cuted by REE Paving Contracts.

The bulk of the paving material require-

ment was met by 30 800 m² of Construction

Products’ Village Cobble, which was used to

pave the roads at Blue Hills. The remaining

paver complement in various textures, finishes

and colours were used on the traffic circles,

intersections and pavements, and comprised:

Classic Cobbles, Masonique, Parkay Split and

Cottage Stone.

Peter Fielden, a construction products

sales and marketing manager, says that

all intersections and traffic circles were

highly detailed and incorporated a mix of

paving products.

“Classic Cobble pavers were used at the

main intersections and traffic circles, and

these were interspersed with Parkay Split pav-

ing and natural rock to create an attractive

wagon-wheel effect. Moreover, the Parkay Split

pavers were laid upside down to take advan-

tage of their rough textured finish.

“To further enhance the rural effect, all road

kerbing was laid flat, i.e. on a level with the road

verges. Kerbing was constructed by means of

in-situ concrete and dump rock beam. Besides

enhancing the aesthetic aspect of the develop-

ment, the combination of finishes, textures

and colours served to clearly demarcate the

roads, traffic circles, intersections, paths and,

of course, kerbing,” advised Fielden.

Parkay Split pavers were also used to create

traffic calming rumble strips that, because of

their rough texture finish, allowed the height

of the speed bumps to be lowered. Pedestrian

An assortment of ±35 000 m² top-quality concrete block pavers, manufactured by Aveng Manufacturing Infraset, have been used Midrand’s Blue Hills Country and Equestrian Estate.

Top The gatehouse at the main entrance to Blue Hills where Classic Cobble pavers were interspersed with Parkay Split paving and natural rock to create an attractive wagon wheel effect

Inset A view of the main traffic circle at Blue Hills showing the wagon-wheel style traffic circle and the estate beyond

Above Cottage Stone pavers, as shown here on the main traffic circle pavement at Blue Hills, were selected for their rustic textures, which have blended well with the overall rural theme

Paving specifi ed for Midrand estate


paths were constructed with Cottage Stone

pavers, their rustic textures blending in well

with the overall rural theme.

Fielden says most pavers supplied

to Blue Hills were manufactured at Aveng

Manufacturing Infraset’s new Masa plant at

Rossway, Midrand. The others were produced

on its American Columbia machine, also based

at Rossway.


Off-the-shelf precast CRCP system developed

SKYLINE’S NEW POSTTEN SYS-

TEM, for which a patent is pending,

involves an ‘off-the-shelf’ cost-sav-

ing solution for concrete pavement

construction, in which Postten slabs are trans-

ported to site and laid on a dry sub-base to

form bi-directional ‘continuous’ roads.

Michael Kretzmann, MD of Skyline, says

Postten slab dimensions are within the stand-

ard guide for concrete floors – with the length

not greater than 30 times the thickness, and

the width less than 1.5 times the length –

which prevents drying shrinkage . “To allow for

transport to site with conventional transport

vehicles, the slab length is set at 2.5 m and

the width at the road lane width of 3 5 m.

Some self-supporting reinforcing is provided

to add rigidity and prevent cracks or fissures

during transport,” states Kretzmann.

Postten slabs with a 180-mm thickness

should effectively provide 60 to 80 years

operational life, he adds. “Postten is a long-

life system and will exceed the life expectancy

of standard continuously reinforced concrete

pavement (CRCP) pavements, therefore all

reinforcing and reinforcing mesh has a mini-

mum of 50 mm concrete cover,” he states.

The slabs feature hollow tubes and cones

to accommodate torque rods, which are fas-

tened and tightened together on site. The

rods are not loaded into the slabs until

placement to prevent them from being bent

in transport and avoid delays by not readily

locating the torque nut in the previous slab

during connections.

To enable adjacent slabs to butt up against

each other and ‘pass’ the torque rods from

slab to slab in both directions, female cones

are cast-in on all sides of the slab during pre-

casting at the Skyline

plant. The fastened

torque rod connection

provides an unbroken

length of rebar in the

longitudinal direction of

the Postten CRCP.

“This concealed locking of the reinforcing

torque bars, and the post-tensioning into one

continuous reinforced slab in both longitudinal

and transverse directions, sets the Postten

slab apart from other systems that are cur-

rently available. The concept also provides

resistance to transverse cracks,” Kretzmann

explains. “To accommodate road curves, only

the length dimension of the Postten slabs

would require alteration.”

Colloidal cement grout is pumped under pres-

sure in and around the torque rods and nuts to

provide an effective imitation of on-site cast-

ing. The moulds for Postten slabs are made

from profile-cut 6 mm steel sides, resting on

a 40 mm granite base to prevent warping and

mechanical damage. The solid steel frame

platform for the granite base and concrete can

be mounted on a wheel chassis or lifted by fork

lift after casting to a curing area.

Kretzmann says the Postten system provides

the solution for current concrete road building

problems such as shrinkage, long on-site con-

struction periods, and logistic limitations for

laying down pavements in more than one loca-

tion at a time. “There is also no need to control

temperature and other site conditions during

casting and curing, and the performance – as

well as costs and overheads – can now be pre-

dicted. With sufficient moulds, up to 150 m of

pavement can be placed in an eight-hour shift.

The slabs can also be overlaid with asphalt for

high-traffic national roads.

“A Postten system with thinner slabs of

say 150 mm would be ideal for factory or

warehouse floors, and for airport runways,

hard-standing and parking areas, the thickness

could be increased to 320 or 400 mm. What’s

more, future development could include adding

walls and service ducts to the slabs for human

settlement housing – and such housing could

even be moved…”

Kretzmann says

he and Allan Sutton,

Skyline’s design engi-

neer, were assisted

by former Portland

Cement Institute

(now the Cement &

Concrete Institute) concrete road doyen, Louis

Marais, and the C&CI’s current MD, Bryan

Perrie. Skyline intends making the Postten

system available for national use through the

allocation of manufacturing licences.

The development of the system is not Skyline’s

first involvement in concrete roads. Over

55 000 concrete barriers were manufactured

for Sanral’s Gauteng Freeway Improvement

Project (GFIP) by the Group, providing a turnkey

operation involving its precast, readymix, crane

and transport divisions for the challenging con-

tract. In addition to the temporary barriers and

permanent barriers manufactured for the GFIP,

Skyline also supplied bridge parapets, toll gan-

try blocks, special manholes for all the junction

cables on the medians, wing walls, light masts

and 30 m high list mast bases.

Conventional CRCP operations on the N12 highway in Gauteng

The Skyline Group has developed an innovative precast concrete road system based on proven continuously reinforced concrete pavement techniques.


The Postten system provides the solution for current concrete road building problems



THE UNIMOG OFFERS top off-road

performance and its manoeuvrabil-

ity makes it possible to go almost

anywhere, says Christo Kleynhans,

product manager: Mercedes-Benz Trucks at

Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA).

“The Unimog’s versatility gives it the edge

and there are not many, if any, other vehicles

that are more suited for fire fighting on hostile

terrains. The Unimog is used extensively for

rescue missions, fire fighting, flood rescue,

recovery and disaster management incidents

over the world, and its numerous applications

are legendary,” he explains.

The Unimog is a custom-made vehicle that

can be adapted to best suit each individual

When Kalagadi Manganese was looking for a rugged, robust and reliable vehicle to use for fire fighting, its choice fell on the Mercedes-Benz Unimog 4000.

Unimog to serve Kalagadi well

A decade of growthPump distributor Wilo South Africa is marking 10 years of sustained growth with the introduction of latest-technology pumps that outperform the world’s most demanding environmental protection levels.

A STEEP REDUCTION in electricity

consumption by newly developed

Wilo pumps is the result of the

German parent company’s response

to a European Union (EU)

directive calling on pump

manufacturers to pro-

duce more energy-efficient

pumps. “South Africa is a

direct beneficiary of this

directive,” says Wilo South

Africa managing director,

Errol Cornelius. “This is

a significant milestone in

Wilo’s contribution to the

extra dimensions to the Unimog, allowing

it to operate with strength, stability and

superior traction.

The Unimog chassis allows for an expanded

range of flexibility and requires some expert

engineering to fit the specialised equipment. It

takes four to six months to complete the pro-

cess and each Unimog fire engine is closely

inspected by Mercedes-Benz upon completion

to ensure it complies with its stringent stand-

ards and regulations.

The Unimog is a custom-made vehicle that can be adapted to best suit each individual customer’s needs and requirements

Wilo South Africa MD, Errol Cornelius

customer’s needs and requirements. The

chassis concept is what makes the Unimog

ideally suited for conversions and why others

struggle to compete. The chassis provides

development of South African industry and

national infrastructure.”

Two of the latest pumps are the Helix

and Stratos high-efficiency pumps, which Wilo

recently launched on

the South African

market. “They sig-

nificantly outper-

form the present EU

performance levels

as well as the even

stiffer levels still

to be applied in Europe for pumps of this

kind,” explains Cornelius. “Energy efficiency is

increasingly becoming the watchword in pump

selection by major users and one German

coal-mine has reported electricity consump-

tion savings of as much of 80% by using Wilo

Stratos pumps.”

From modest beginnings in a suburban

garage in December 2001, Wilo South Africa

has grown to become a major supplier of the

renowned Salmson and Wilo pumps and pump

systems for heating, ventilation and air condi-

tioning, bulk water delivery, water treatment

plants, power stations, mines, sewage treat-

ment and irrigation systems.

THEY HAVE DISCOVERED that

although their walls are insured with

the rest of their fixed properties,

when they fail, as some of them

inevitably do, their claims for the repair work

are often not met.

There are several legitimate reasons why

insurance companies don’t simply pay up

when presented with claims – inadequate

wall designs, poor workmanship and defec-

tive materials being some of the contributing

factors. However, by far the most common

escape clause relates to the fact that 95%

of the walls which fail weren’t designed by

structural engineers.

For insurance claims to have any chance

of success property owners must be able

to submit approved structural engineering

designs on walls higher than 1.5 m. This

is one of the basic conditions stipulat-

ed in a typical home or property owner’s

insurance policy.

President of the Concrete Manufacturers

Association (CMA), and vice president of

its Concrete Retaining Block Division, Silvio

Ferraris, says the abnormally high rainfall

pattern of late has seen a rise in retaining

wall failures.

“Most of the failures have occurred on

walls built either with stone or brick walls,

whereas the incidence on concrete retaining

block and in-situ concrete walls has been

relatively low.

“Many of the walls which have failed

recently were built 30 to 60 years ago and

most of the failures are caused by a rise in

the underground water pressure. However,

no matter how old the walls, provided prop-

er ty owners can produce a set of engineer-

ing drawings, their claims will usually be

regarded in a positive light. That said, there

are many instances in which the structural

drawings have either disappeared during

change of ownership, or simply did not exist

in the first place.

“Insurance policies cover subsidence and

landslip but exclude damage caused by exca-

vations and defective workmanship. Other

typical exclusions include normal settlement,

shrinkage, expansion or inadequate compac-

tion. However, defective workmanship and

inadequate compaction are very difficult to

prove especially if the project was supervised

by an engineer and more especially if pho-

tographs were taken during construction as

supporting evidence.

“People buying a house on steeply sloping

ground should establish whether the retain-

ing wall(s) on the property was designed by

a structural engineer and should ask for the

cer tification to prove it. If no documentation

can be produced the new owner should either

factor this in to the purchase price or get

the existing owner to have the wall properly

assessed by a structural engineer. This can

involve considerable expense as the engineer

may well recommend some improvements

such as proper drainage.

“Of course it goes without saying that any-

one wanting a new retaining wall built higher

than 1.5 m must get a structural engineer

involved, not only in the design of the wall

but also to ensure that the contractor follows

the design to the letter. Once the wall is built

a copy of the drawing and design cer tificate

should be lodged with the local council, and

the original should be kept by the owner as

record,” maintains Ferraris.


FAILED RETAINING WALLS

Are you covered?South African property owners are learning some hard lessons about failed retaining walls.

The pictures show two typical retaining wall failures, one of a brick wall and the other a stone wall


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Chryso Southern Africa has six laboratories: four specialist laboratories for its Jet Park branch, and basic ones in Cape Town and Durban.

Innovation and customer support

preset criteria are dispatched to customers.

The research and development laboratory has

overall management responsibility for the qual-

ity control lab and the colour lab. The primary

functions of the research and development lab

are quality control, new product evaluation,

existing product optimisation, and product

comparison and product complaint evaluation.

The latter four functions are normally always

performed in conjunction with the concrete lab,

while the quality control function is evaluated

jointly only when the need arises.

THESE LABORATORIES ASSIST in giv-

ing daily technical support to its cus-

tomers, while upholding high levels of

quality control.

The first laboratory was established 15 years

ago, at the same time of the commencement

of its operations in South Africa. This was fol-

lowed by the research and development lab,

coupled by the concrete lab in 2004. In 2007,

the research and development lab was aug-

mented by the colour lab.

The quality control laboratory’s main func-

tion lies in its title: it measures the quality of

all products produced locally by the company.

This ensures that only products that meet


Chryso lab assistant Tumiso Makhabedu and mixer

We take this opportunity to invite you to purchase this collectors item:

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INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Abeco Tanks 41

Ammann Construction Machinery South Africa

58

Aquadam 18

Aquatan IFC

Arcus Gibb 95

Armco Superlite 61

Aveng Manufacturing Infraset 94

Bell Equipment 65

Bigen Africa 80

BKS 24

Bosch Stemele 4

BVI Consulting 99

Cascade 66

Cement & Concrete Institute 85

CLM Positioning Solution 72

CSM Engineering OFC

Dick King Lab 56

DPI Plastics 45

Du Pont South Africa 54

Dynamic Fluid Control 38

Elster Kent Metering 46

Fiberpipe 53

Fibretex 50

Frontier Pipeline Services 48

Hall Longmore 40

HHO Africa 100

IMQS Software 92

Incledon 86

Jan Palm Consulting 117

Jeffares & Green 104

Kaytech 60

Knight Piesold 103

Krohne South Africa 37

Lafarge Industries 68

Le Blanc Jasco 109

Lesira-Teq 124

Lekwa Consulting Engineers 90

Light Kinetics Inc 102

Letratek Water Technology 39

Martin East 98

Mercedes Benz Freightliner 23

Model Maker Systems 126

MPA 130

Much Asphalt 62

Murray & Roberts Building Products 78

National Asphalt 64

National Cold Asphalt 76

NedBank 15

Osborn Engineered Products 63

Polokwane Surfacing 74

Rainbow Reservoirs 33

Rand Water 35

Sabita 57

SBS Group 42 & 43

Schneider Electric 118

SIKA 44

SNA Civil and Structural Engineers 106

Southern Mapping 16 & 17

SRK Consulting 129

Sturctacom 108

Talbot and Talbot 20

Tecroveer 30

Terraforce 136

The Concrete Manufacturers Association 11

Total Geospatial Information Solutions 110

Transtech Manufacturing 2

Trenchless Technologies OBC

TT Innovations 32

TWP 84

Utility Systems 88

UWP 101

Vela Vke 121

Verder Pumps 52

Velocity Road Rehabilitation 70

Vermeer Equipment Suppliers 34

Videx Storage Tanks 96

Water & Sanitation Services 28

WRP Consulting Engineers IBC

Zest WEG Group 26

Zitholele Consulting 97

THE BIGGEST BUTTERFLY VALVES that

this leading manufacturer of high-qual-

ity valves has supplied to the local

market to date comprised of DN2500

valve bodies and discs, weighing 5 and 6.5 t

respectively, to be used on isolation duty.

With diameters of 2.5 m (inside) and 3.5 m

(outside), each fully assembled valve weighs

Supplying product in record timeKew Foundries has just completed a multimillion rand order for Gunric Valves – to cast seven valve bodies

around 13.5 t. The valves are pressure rated

for 10 bar. The valve bodies and discs were

cast from SG Iron, ideal for this application due

to its good pressure-rating and tensile-strength

and corrosion properties. Having received the

order in October 2011, KEW Foundries man-

aged to deliver in less than four months as per

the client’s requirement, despite the period

coinciding with the festive season. The first

four sets were provided in November, two

arrived at Gunric Valves’ factory in December,

and the last followed in January 2012.

KEW Foundries also assisted Gunric Valves

with the pattern-making for this order, and

acted as consultants for the project.

KEW Foundries supplied Gunric Valves with seven DN2500 valve bodies and discs, weighing 5 and 6.5 t each, respectively, to be used on isolation duty


300 000 metres of

TRENCHLESS PIPESuccessfully Installed

RENOVATE EXISTING PIPES BY:

INSTALLATION OF NEW PIPES BY:

Countrywide 08600 66 344

imiesa october 2012

Documents

potable water

raw water

o c t o b e r

r250 million105 winner

r250 million105 commendation

r50 million107 winner

housing projects89

year100 winner