JSE-listed construction group Basil Read’s business rescue plan was approved by 99% of creditors and 98% of independent creditors during a shareholder’s meeting on Thursday.

Basil Read entered into voluntary business rescue in June and its business rescue plan was published in August.

In light of the launch last week by President Cyril Ramaphosa of an economic stimulus package for South Africa, Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa) reiterates that public funds management is critical to deriving true value for money.

CEO Chris Campbell said in a statement issued on Friday that, over the past few years, Cesa has been partnering with government to assist and advise the public sector on maximising its investment in infrastructure and ensuring that the correct capacity is in place to design and implement large-scale, durable projects.

Aluminium composite cladding / material (ACP or ACM) is widely used on building facades internationally, and although very much in its infancy in South Africa, it is slowly gaining traction. It is preferred over painted surfaces due to its colour retention, corrosion resistance and low maintenance properties says Johannesburg-based metal supplier Consolidated Steel Industries aluminium subsidiary Stalcor MD Craig du Plessis. ACP consist of three layers – namely two outer layers of aluminium skin that sandwich a polyethylene or mineral core material, that forms the middle layer. The aluminium skin is coil coated with various paint finishes in a large array of colour options, but a polyvinylidene difluoride coating is most common for colour retention.

As landfill space in South Africa reaches capacity, the controlled, planned and systematic filling of landfill cells requires progressive closure and rehabilitation, says infrastructure delivery company Aecom, adding that it can provide this specialised service. Landfills may need to be closed for various reasons, including unacceptable environmental impacts such as groundwater pollution, and/or unmanageable air pollution such as dust or odours.

Mall of Africa is set to unveil a world first in integrated renewable energy systems, with the largest rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system of its kind in the southern hemisphere and tenth worldwide. The 4 755 kW installation covers most of the available mall roof space, an area of about 45 000 m² and the energy generated will be used to power the mall’s daily operations.