Editor’s NOTE

The impairments to our fundamental infrastructure affect the construction sector – and its concrete industry – with particular force. Now that the depth of political criminality hobbling SA’s electricity infrastructure comes into clearer focus almost daily, preparing for the worst is a natural, smart response.

It is also a response embedded with personal and collective anger towards the individuals and party forces still committing this violence on the very structures entrusted to them for a better future. The astonishing level of this betrayal displays a greed more self-serving than any of us could have imagined. Now that we are experiencing its results, we are also seeing what has likely been visible all along. And in having failed to see what we could not imagine, our anger is the power we can use for the commission of creation. It will take imagination to convert the anger of “preparing for the worst” into the force driving better solutions to our power systems – electrical and political.

The carbon challenge need not be positioned as an additional challenge. It conveniently dovetails the same one. Imagining better, life-affirming and sustainable solutions requires and forges new partnerships for new solutions, using often unfamiliar ideas and environments. This is especially so in the precast concrete industry.

Opportunities in new value chains such as solar and wind power, residential offgrid generation and storage installations, concrete 3D printing services and components can open up a reinvigorated thirst for the new. Not all at once and not alone, but as something we can do together – and do well. Let us forge the South African way.

4 Twinstar Precast:

Twinstar Precast is truly a one-of-a kind company. Quality, bespoke precast concrete pieces, elements and parts have all taken on a life of their own, through development, planning, creation, delivery and assembly.

PRECAST is independently published by Isikhova Media (Pty) Ltd 10th Floor, Metal Box, 25 Owl Street, Milpark, South Africa

Tel: +27 (11) 883 4627 www.isikhova.co.za

Editor: Nicholas McDiarmid Tel: 067 672 2503

E-mail: nicholas@isikhova.co.za

Director: Jenny Justus

E-mail: jenny@isikhova.co.za

Operations director: Thuli Majola

E-mail: thuli@isikhova.co.za

Creative director: Joanne Brook

E-mail: joanne@isikhova.co.za

Managing director: Imraan Mahomed

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Copy editor: Anne Phillips

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The views and statements expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor or the publishers and neither the publishers nor the editor accept responsibility for them. No person connected with the publication of this journal will be liable for any loss or damage sustained as a result of action following any statements or opinions expressed herein. The same applies to all advertising. Precast© 2023. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publishers.

Twinstar Precast in Olifantsfontein famously manufactures all types of custom-designed and cast products for civil engineering contractors and is specially geared to manufacture concrete components of exceptional complexity and size.

The company is relied upon not only for custom projects: its imprinting and massproduction capabilities also make it the supplier of choice for many local councils and municipalities. From manhole covers to windfarm infrastructure and bicycle racks, Twinstar Precast does it all – and to an unfailingly high standard.

As the company’s founder and director Annemerie Coetzee points out: “We strive to be a problem-solver and are solutiondriven in all aspects of precast concrete. We’re able to manufacture products ranging in weight from 2kg-6 tons quickly and affordably.”

Stormwater made to measure

One of its most successful products, for both