Nigeria: Contractors Accused of Using Inferior Materials - Two major contractors handling the N30 million Naira renovations work at the Police Children's School at the Police Barracks, Otop Abasi in Cross River State, have been accused of using inferior materials for the job. [AA Construction]

Kenya: New Building Laws to Lock Out Quacks - Professionals in the building sector will review ancient laws that they say have failed to keep quacks out of the sector, leading to poor quality work. [AA Construction]

Kenya: Contractors Seek Flexible Building Rules to Cut Costs - Players in the building and construction sector have asked the government to relax the building and construction code to spur further construction of houses to meet growing demand. [AA Construction]

Nigeria: SON Set to Rid The Country of Fake Roofing Sheets - The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) has said that it is set to rid the nation's market of substandard Long Span Aluminum Roofing Sheets following recent observations through its market survey activities and complaints from consumers in the country. [AA Construction]

Uganda: Ministry - Building Control Bill in Pipeline - The Works Ministry has put forward a Building Control Bill to guarantee decent, secure and planned building structures in the country, the State Minister for Works has said. [AA Construction]

By Gabi Khumalo

Nelspruit - Government has issued a stern warning to shoddy housing contractors who continue to build defective houses, saying that they could be struck off from the list and lose all contracts from the government.

Handing over 53 houses to beneficiaries on Friday in Thekwane North, Minister of Human Settlements Tokyo Sexwale urged people to inform the department if they were not happy with the standard of the houses built for them.

"If the contractors were awarded a tender to build the houses and they don't do the right thing, they will no longer get the contract from the government and we will spread the word to all the provinces and districts not to give them any jobs," Minister Sexwale said.

A contract to build 53 houses in Thekwane North was awarded to the South African Women in Construction (SAWIC) as part of the Women's Build project, which coincided with Women's Month.

Through the cooperation from private business sectors, the houses came fully furnitured with fridges, microwaves, pots, sofas, irons and groceries.

Uganda: Steer Clear of Disaster, Save Money by Testing Materials - Last year was filled with collapsing buildings in various parts of Kampala. According to media reports; it was observed that only 10 per cent of new buildings in Kampala conform to construction requirements. However, when the average person considers those requirements he doesn't bear in mind material testing, which is a major prerequisite in the construction industry. [AA Construction]

Nigeria: Lagos Establishes Building Material Testing Lab - As part of efforts to stem incidence of building collapse, Lagos State Government has established a Material Testing Laboratory at Isheri, Ojodu-Berger, to test the state of structurally defective buildings in the State. [AA Urbanisation]

Zambia: Govt Should Ensure Only Quality Building Are Put Up - NEAT and well-planned infrastructure in a given environment makes it easy for local authorities and other planning institutions to guide developers to put up new structure. [AA Construction]

Uganda: Underweight Cement Seized in Jinja - THE Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has impounded 181 bags of under weight cement in Jinja. [AA Construction]

Nigeria: National Assembly Makes Case For Disaster Prevention - The National Assembly is working on a legislation that will make provision for fire safety in buildings and industries among others a priority, the House of Representatives sub Committee Chairman on Fire Matters, Rep Innocent Chime has said. [AA Construction]

Pretoria - The Department of Labour is expected to kick off blitz inspections on companies in the construction sector, starting from today.

According to department spokesperson Page Boikanyo, the five-day inspections will focus on companies' compliance with health and safety laws.

"With construction booming, we have a duty to see to it that workers operate in safe conditions and eliminate unnecessary accidents in a proactive manner.

"Our approach will be underpinned by pillars of education, monitoring and ensuring compliance with labour standards,'' said Mr Boikanyo.

The worst offending employers would be followed up on and be subjected to prosecution, he said, adding that a database of repeat offending employers would be created.

He said labour inspectors visiting various workplaces will be accompanied by senior departmental officials. The Free State province has been identified as one of the many places to be visited during this week.

Mr Boikanyo said inspections in sectors like hospitality and private security will be conducted in November and February next year.

Rwanda: Premier Raps Sham Contractors - The Prime Minister, Bernard Makuza has castigated contractors who win local tenders only to build weak structures that cost government more resources. [AA Construction]

Uganda: Govt Unveils New Construction Rules - THE Government has developed a National Construction Industry Policy to manage the physical infrastructure. [AA Construction]

Nigeria: 'Quacks, Bane of Quality Housing' - The Head of Building/Civil Engineering in Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr Sunday Yashim, has identified non adherence to standards as the bane of quality housing. [AA Construction]