the safety of professionals in the built environment .
ASAQS Vice President , Newton Baloyi , " With the police taking over the criminal element , professionals in the built environment will be able to focus on the fundamental reason for local community dissatisfaction when large projects are involved ."
PREVENTING DISRUPTION
IS BETTER THAN CURE According to Baloyi , disruptions in the construction sector are not limited to mafias .“ It usually happens the moment labour and companies from outside the local communities are appointed to projects . The local community g e t s upset , as t h e y feel deprived of opportunities for meaningful economic participation ”.
He explains that this can be expected , as many of these mega projects are being done in environments where people live in poverty , are unemployed , and looking for opportunities .
Baloyi believes that a shift in mindset is required to fully address the issue .
“ A mindset shift is required wherein projects are evaluated and monitored not only on the basis of technical and financials , but to include socioeconomic impact . And this can only happen once clients and built environment professionals realise that projects are actually an opportunity for the deliberate socio economic upliftment of
84 APRIL 2022 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine