INTRA-AFRICA
AFCCA Connects Intra-African Construction Master Builders South Africa (MBSA) hosted high-level members of the African Federation of Construction Contractors’ Associations (AFCCA) from various African countries in Johannesburg on 29 January 2013.
Minister T W Nxesi
Itumeleng Dlamini, Executive Director, Master Builders South Africa
56
|
Diplomat Africa
MBSA is the leading national federation of registered employer associations representing construction and building contractors in the formal sector in South Africa. This Executive Bureau Committee (Exco) meeting was a privilege for MBSA and South Africa to host, as it allowed an opportunity to further open the gates of construction with other African countries and encouraged discussion on industry strengths as well as gaps for exchange and partnership. Esteemed guests of Ms Itumeleng Dlamini, Executive Director of Master Builders South Africa, included Mrs Eunice Forbes, Former President of Master Builders South Africa, Engineer Abdel-Aziz Hassan, AFCCA First Advisor, as well as Minister T W Nxesi MP, South African Minister of the Department of Public Works. Also in attendance was the President of the MBSA, Danie Hattingh, as well as AFCCA members from Egypt, Morocco, Malawi, Sudan, Burundi, and Ghana.
Minister T W Nxesi was invited to present the Keynote Address at the Welcome Function for the Exco, held at the Country Club Johannesburg, Woodmead on Tuesday 29 January 2013. The Minister called for the regulation of construction policy in the public sector and alluded to the fact that hosting AFCCA members was a significant milestone for the construction industry of South Africa as it had potential to create a step further in the development of international trading in the building sector. This includes trading across borders within the African continent to enhance delivery capabilities across Africa. MBSA is an acknowledged leader representing South Africa in the formal sector. AFCCA is acknowledged on the African continent as it represents construction contractors in 30 different countries. The Minister alluded to the similarities between AFCCA’s principles and that of the Public Sector of South Africa. The aims of AFCCA resonated with the Minister’s view of South Africa’s own thinking to build ties with an established group of contractors in each country in Africa. This can be aided through the establishment of networks, databases, and consortiums. The strengthening of such, through pioneers like MBSA and AFCCA, will have a far-reaching effect. The core of African growth is infrastructure development – through the public sector and the private sector. MBSA’s initiative of hosting the AFCCA Exco meeting contributes to