Reform measures key to restoring confidence in the built environment, Macpherson says

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has announced a series of reform measures aimed at strengthening safety, accountability and infrastructure delivery.

In his keynote address at the second Public Works and Infrastructure Summit, held in Johannesburg, on July 3, Macpherson said this framework would be important in assisting the built environment industry restore market and public confidence following a string of fatal building failures across South Africa.

The summit, themed “From Collapse to Confidence: Strengthening Public and Building Safety, Asset Management and Infrastructure Delivery” marked the launch of the National Built Environment and Construction Safety Framework, which is viewed as an important step towards strengthening safety, accountability and collaboration across the built environment system.

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, through State body the Council for the Built Environment (CBE), will also be gazetting CBE Public Interest and Safety Regulations.

These regulations focus on identifying, reporting and responding to structural and dolomitic occurrences, improving compliance in the erection of buildings and adhering to certification scheme requirements in line with the principles established in the South African National Bureau of Standards (SANS) 17024.