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IOL News
6 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Building for tomorrow: addressing climate change in South Africa's construction landscape
Climate change impacts vulnerable areas like townships as poor infrastructure turns delays into costly, sometimes indefinite setbacks. Image: Independent Newspapers Archives The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has warned that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. On Tuesday afternoon, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a Yellow Level 2 Warning for Disruptive rainfall resulting in localised flooding of susceptible formal/ informal settlements or roads, low-lying areas and/or bridges, slippery roads leading to minor vehicle accidents, and difficulty driving conditions on dirt roads along the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal. In construction alone, adverse weather delays are said to delay 45% of construction projects globally, costing billions each year, according to Research Gate. In South Africa, the industry faces mounting pressure to adapt, not just through resilient materials and design, but smarter labour practices. The Building Industry Bargaining Council (BIBC) believes that collective bargaining can help to keep construction safe, viable, and economically sustainable. "Climate change is impacting our industry now," says Danie Hattingh, business spokesperson for the BIBC. In the first six months of 2024, natural disasters cost Africa US$ 0.5bn (approximately R9 billion). "From floods that damage transport infrastructure to droughts that halt water-dependent operations, the construction sector is exposed on multiple fronts," Hattingh said. Weather disruptions impact every phase of construction, from damaged ports and rail lines to delayed supply chains. In vulnerable areas like townships, poor infrastructure turns delays into costly, sometimes indefinite setbacks. For workers, these disruptions translate into safety risks and potential job insecurity. "Our Collective Agreement acknowledges the reality of these challenges," says Hattingh. "It includes provisions that allow contractors to temporarily lay off workers when weather or material delays make it impossible to continue safely. This gives both parties a framework to manage disruptions without dismantling the entire project team." Some regions and project types are said to be more exposed than others. Low-lying coastal developments are vulnerable to rising sea levels and flooding, while inland projects are often constrained by water and energy shortages. Sites in areas lacking proper drainage or stormwater management infrastructure were said to be particularly prone to disruption. Hattingh said the consequences of failing to adapt are severe. "If the industry doesn't embrace climate-resilient practices, we'll see more failed projects, higher insurance premiums, and growing reputational and regulatory risk. Clients and investors are already scrutinising construction firms through an environmental lens." The BIBC said forward-thinking design and material innovation are emerging as critical tools in the industry's climate response. It said passive design strategies (such as optimising building orientation, increasing ventilation, and incorporating shading) help to reduce dependence on energy-intensive cooling systems. "It added that in flood-prone regions, elevated structures and permeable surfaces are mitigating water damage and reducing surface runoff, while non-combustible materials and buffer zones help to mitigate fire spread in high-risk fire regions. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ According to the council, technology is also playing a role, helping construction happen quicker and in smarter ways and not just with the building itself but throughout the whole process. It said modular and prefabricated structures reduce waste and allow for rapid reconstruction after extreme events. Renewable energy technologies, including solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems, offered off-grid resilience and water security, it said. "These aren't just aesthetic upgrades, they're economic imperatives," says Hattingh. "By integrating sustainable design into their projects, it promotes economic inclusion, job creation in green technologies, and compliance with international sustainability goals such as the UN's SDGs and the Paris Agreement." BIBC said adapting to climate realities does come at a cost, but the cost of doing nothing is far higher. It said firms that continue using traditional materials and processes face escalating operational expenses, insurance liabilities, and reputational damage. Unfit buildings may become uninsurable, energy-inefficient, or even dangerous to occupants. Fortunately, sustainability and profitability were mutually exclusive. Certifications like those offered by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) are helping firms unlock tax incentives, enhance resale values, and demonstrate leadership. "We're seeing more businesses embrace this shift, not just to reduce risk, but to remain competitive," Hattingh notes. In addition, green-certified buildings often command higher rental or resale values, particularly in the commercial sector. Historically, the industry could plan around fairly predictable seasonal weather. That is no longer the case. "We're witnessing increasingly erratic weather patterns, with devastating consequences," says Hattingh. "You can't always foresee a flood that will wipe out access to a building site or a heatwave that makes work conditions unsafe." This unpredictability directly impacts workers across all provinces. High and low temperature extremes can compromise material performance and endanger crews, making it difficult to schedule projects or maintain consistent employment. While the BIBC's collective agreement provisions offer some protection through structured layoffs and reinstatements, it said the long-term solution lies in creating more stable, resilient working conditions through planning, technology, and investment in climate-proof construction. Ultimately, the benefits of climate adaptation extend far beyond compliance; they shape the kind of society they are building. More durable structures mean safer communities. Smarter building systems reduce the environmental footprint. Inclusive green technologies create jobs, drive innovation and build resilience. "The construction industry doesn't just respond to climate change, it shapes how we live with it," says Hattingh. "We encourage industry leaders, contractors, and stakeholders to collaborate on how collective agreements can support greener, safer, and more resilient building practices. Together, we can build a future that withstands both environmental and economic pressures." The UN's latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report predicts more frequent extreme weather with rising financial costs, posing a serious threat to South Africa's already climate-vulnerable, semi-arid regions. Meanwhile, drought that has been intensified by global warming and compounded by human action, has taken a devastating toll on wildlife across Africa and the Amazon between 2023 and 2025. According to a sobering new United Nations report, animal populations are being ravaged not just by thirst and starvation, but by human intervention as fragile ecosystems buckle under climatic stress. The Drought Hotspots Around the World 2023–2025 report - released in July by the US National Drought Mitigation Center and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, with backing from the International Drought Resilience Alliance - catalogues the mass deaths of wild animals as both a direct and indirect consequence of prolonged drought. From East Africa to the edges of the Amazon, the line between ecological collapse and human survival is becoming dangerously thin. El Niño's re-emergence in 2023 brought a global spike in temperatures. This climatic event, part of the broader El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) system, is strongly linked to the spike in extreme droughts recorded over the past two years. In southern and eastern Africa, already brittle ecological balances gave way. Elephants starved in their hundreds, predators strayed into human settlements, and communities responded with lethal force. 'Human-animal interactions are becoming more complex due to climate change, but we must remember that we've fundamentally altered animals' natural migrations,' says Dr Henno Havenga of the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management at North-West University, offering a broader ecological context. 'Droughts have always occurred, but in the meantime, we've put up fences at every turn. Where elephants once migrated thousands of kilometres in search of food and water, they are now trapped in fixed reserves.' The environmental scientists said in a continent where ecological, climatic and economic stresses now collide with deadly regularity, the cost of doing nothing may prove fatal, not only to Africa's iconic wildlife, but to the human communities that have lived alongside them for generations. Independent Media Property
IOL News
02-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
How bargaining councils are fighting the construction mafia
South Africa's construction sector is being systematically undermined by criminal syndicates. Image: Supplied South Africa's construction sector is being systematically undermined by criminal syndicates. Commonly referred to as the 'construction mafia,' these groups extort, intimidate, and sabotage construction projects across the country. Their actions not only threaten worker safety but also stall critical infrastructure development, increase costs, and damage investor confidence. According to Deputy Minister of Public Works Sihle Zikalala, disruptions caused by so-called 'construction mafia' groups have cost South Africa an estimated R63 billion between 2019 and 2024. In the Western Cape alone, six major construction projects, collectively worth over R400 million, were halted last year due to the actions of criminal syndicates. Danie Hattingh, spokesperson for business at the Building Industry Bargaining Council (BIBC) said these criminal networks were not simply disruptive, they're deeply embedded in some areas and operate with increasing sophistication. 'But through collaboration and responsible oversight, bargaining councils can help identify and isolate illegitimate players posing as contractors or community representatives,' said Hattingh. The 'construction mafia' initially emerged around 2015, often misrepresented as attempts at economic transformation. Exploiting clauses in procurement policy, particularly the requirement that 30% of public contracts benefit local communities, these groups claimed to represent local interests. 'What began as calls for inclusion quickly devolved into extortion and violence. We have seen armed site invasions, demands for 'protection fees,' sabotage of equipment, and even threats to life. These are not empowerment activists. These are criminal syndicates exploiting legitimate policies for personal gain,' said Hattingh Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading He said the impact has been severe. Forced stoppages and heightened security requirements have led to significant project delays and cost overruns. Investor and contractor confidence has declined, especially among smaller firms and international stakeholders. Job losses and slower infrastructure delivery have negatively affected both the economy and local communities. Skilled professionals are leaving high-risk areas, resulting in a loss of expertise and capacity. Critical projects such as schools, housing, and hospitals face mounting delays and ballooning budgets. Perhaps most concerning is the growing sense of fear and insecurity among workers and contractors on the ground. Contractors, workers, and even government officials have reported intimidation, assaults, and in some cases, killings. Armed gangs have stormed construction sites demanding a cut of the project usually 30%, under the false interpretation of local empowerment policies. Syndicates thrive in an environment of weak enforcement, vague regulation, and fragmented oversight. Labour laws are inconsistently enforced, and under-resourced inspectors struggle to monitor all sites. Procurement frameworks lack clarity, enabling unvetted individuals to claim community representation. Smaller contractors often operate informally and without legal support, making them particularly vulnerable. 'The construction mafia exploits every gap,' said Hattingh. 'They scare and threaten without facing any punishment or consequences, manipulate the tender process, and operate freely due to legal delays and poor coordination between stakeholders.' Despite these challenges, the BIBC believes that working with organisations like Business Against Crime South Africa (BAC) and dedicated SAPS anti-extortion task teams, can help to turn the tide by playing a key role in identifying fraudulent activity within its jurisdiction. 'We actively track contractor activity through our Employee Benefit Administration system,' explained Hattingh. 'If someone linked to corrupt activity attempts to bribe one of our agents or issues threats, we escalate the case immediately to SAPS and BAC.' The BIBC also engages with international organisations like the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) to stay informed about trends and emerging threats. This level of insight allows the BIBC to support coordinated action and encourage legitimate contractors to stand firm against criminal interference. 'We're no longer in a position where contractors feel totally alone,' said Hattingh, 'our partnerships give them a structured avenue to report incidents and push back with the support of the law.' Although the threat remains significant, there are signs of progress. 'Yes, we still need to convince more businesses to break their silence,' Hattingh admitted, 'but there's momentum now. We see greater willingness to collaborate and a shared recognition that this issue cannot be ignored.' The BIBC advocates for several practical interventions: Regional threat-tracking systems to improve early warning and response. Mandatory anti-extortion clauses in all subcontract agreements. Rapid response task teams, co-ordinated with SAPS and municipal governments. Legal toolkits and education programmes for small and mid-sized contractors. Stronger oversight of local business forums to distinguish legitimate voices from criminal fronts.
