EDITOR’ S COLUMN
Keep warm, fatten that‘ missing middle’
With the winter season officially in motion keeping warm and staying indoors is the ideal scenario, but we’ re here bringing you another strong edition of SA Affordable Housing.
Truth be told, I wouldn’ t want to be doing anything else because the sector has so much to offer and there’ s nothing better than being on-site and seeing yet another win for the‘ missing middle class’.
My editor and I were pleasantly surprised when we came across the Fourleaf Estate, which is Africa’ s first green affordable housing estate on page 34! This project proves that being environmentally friendly is not only for the elite. With women’ s month approaching, five women give us a glimpse into their industry journeys, and how they are changing the way things are done( page 29).
As RDP housing is given more attention, the design has changed, Raubex Building shares more about this on page 31. Addressing the growing housing backlog is a hot topic and although much is being done from the public and private sector, it may not be enough. Harry Gey van Pittius, member of SAARDA, advocates for the Spatial Planning and
Land Use Management Act to be updated( page 18) because current specifications may deter potential developers. As if finding an investor to fund a development project isn’ t difficult enough, the ACT may further shy away investors. We speak to developers and institutions about the complexities that lie within securing funding for a project on page 24.
It’ s always great fun to fill our pages with news and events that emphasise the work being done in our industry. The # TotallyConcrete Expo( page 14) was one such event. The who’ s who in the game gathered to showcase what they currently offer the market.
I hope you enjoy reading the magazine as much as I enjoyed putting it together. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more news and updates.
Ntsako Khosa Writer ntsako @ interactmedia. co. za