NEWSWORTHY
FULL RECONSTRUCTION OF STORMS RIVER SUSPENSION BRIDGES
South Africa’ s most beloved coastal icon is entering a new era. Smart Civils, in partnership with SANParks and consulting engineers SMEC South Africa, has officially begun the rehabilitation and complete reconstruction of the three suspension bridges at Storms River Mouth, located within the worldrenowned Garden Route National Park. Now, for the first time in nearly two decades, they are being rebuilt from the ground up to secure their longevity for generations to come. First constructed in 1969 and reconstructed in the mid-2000s, the main bridge spans 77m across the river mouth. Together with two adjacent bridges, the trio forms an accessible and breathtaking trail that winds through indigenous Tsitsikamma forest. The rehabilitation project ensures that the bridges remains structurally sound, environmentally safe and aligned with international standards of engineering excellence. Smart Civils has been appointed as the main contractor for the R17.9 million project, with the overarching objective being to demolish and replace all superstructures of the three bridges and rehabilitate the supporting substructures with minimal ecological impact. The result will be a refreshed and strengthened bridge system built to serve millions of future visitors. www. smartcivils. co. za
SAINT-GOBAIN OPENS NEW EKURHULENI PLANT
Saint-Gobain Africa recently opened its new state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Ekurhuleni, marking an investment of more than R500 million in local manufacturing. The event brought together government representatives, industry partners and community stakeholders, marking a strong vote of confidence in South Africa’ s economy and industrial potential, rooted in international collaboration and local empowerment.
The French multinational, with over 360 years of global manufacturing and innovation expertise and more than 90 years’ presence in South Africa, confirmed that the new plant will produce fibre cement. The investment is expected to create numerous job opportunities and strengthen local supplier development and skills transfer.
The investment aligns with the company’ s global purpose- Making the World a Better Home- which extends beyond products to supporting sustainable growth, industrial development and social progress.
“ This investment of more than R500 million is not simply about expanding capacity; it is a clear demonstration of our long-term belief in South Africa as a key industrial hub for the continent,” said Aymeric d’ Ydewalle, CEO of Saint-Gobain Africa.“ We continue to invest because we believe deeply in South Africa’ s talent, its manufacturing capability, and the importance of strong partnerships between the public and private sectors in driving sustainable growth.”
REDEFINE’ S COEGA LOGISTICS FACILITY EARNS 5-STAR GREEN STAR RATING
Redefine Properties’ modern logistics distribution centre at 62 Umlambo Street, located within Zone One of the Coega Special Economic Zone( Coega SEZ), has been awarded a 5-Star Green Star certification by the Green Building Council of South Africa( GBCSA), recognising the property’ s high standard of sustainable design and operational performance.
Designed to support large-scale industrial operations in the Eastern Cape, the facility integrates sustainability into its day-to-day performance through energyefficient systems, water-smart infrastructure and reduced operational carbon intensity. These metrics, measured over time, reflect an efficient deployment of natural resources. This reduces the operational carbon footprint and lowers building operating costs.
Completed in 2010, this property was purpose-built with an emphasis on occupier comfort and enhanced material handling efficiencies. Sixteen years later, it remains a top performer among its peers, demonstrating the successful integration of a well-designed modern logistics facility within the economic ecosystem offered by the Coega SEZ.
“ This certification reflects our belief that sustainability must be practical, measurable and embedded in how our assets perform over the long term,” says Ursula Mpakanyane, Head of ESG at Redefine Properties.“ High-performing green buildings make commercial sense. They reduce operational risk, improve efficiency, lower long-term costs and create enduring value for both tenants and property owners.”
For Redefine, the 5-Star Green Star certification reflects a deliberate, portfolio-wide commitment to futureready development that is delivered in partnership with tenants and publicsector stakeholders.
10 News Watch