Construction

The South African building industry is an active and vibrant part of our economy. In combination with economic growth and the national/provincial government's infrastructure thrust, major refurbishment projects have occurred in city centres around KwaZulu-Natal. The construction sector is entering into period of sustained growth that has not been experienced by most people currently employed in the sector and will test the ability of the sector to react to demand side pressures and the ability of downstream industries to put the appropriate supply side measures in place. The construction of homes and resorts has led the growth in the provincial construction sector and looks set to continue for a decade. Total construction increased 12.9% in real terms for the year to March 2005 and a further 16.4% in 2007. This high level of growth was supported by sustained growth in the residential (24.9%) and non-residential (10.1%) construction sector on the back of the sustained low interest rates.

In KwaZulu-Natal, the volumes of property development projects, both residential and resort have had a positive effect on new business in terms of management and securing new management contracts. All this has had implications for staffing, capacity, marketing and sales, as well as service delivery. Moreland has large number of projects underway. A private public partnership with eThekwini municipality has seen the establishment of an industrial park. Metallon and the Point Development Company have large number of mixed-use development projects based on the Durban Point. KwaZulu Natal has plenty of well developed suburbs with good quality housing to suit most income groups. The Department of Housing is being proactive in addressing the housing shortage in informal settlements.

The government's Expanded Public Works Programme has also created many opportunities for contractors. The EPWP is a nation-wide programme covering all spheres of government and state-owned enterprises that aims to draw significant numbers of unemployed into productive work accompanied by training so that they increase their capacity to earn an income. One of the key focus areas of the EPWP is the replication of best practice programmes, and the Zibambele Road maintenance programme of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport has been identified as one such programme. This programme currently provides work for more than 14 000 people who maintain sections of rural road network across the Province.