PART 1: BIG 5 CONSTRUCT SOUTH AFRICA WOWED JOHANNESBURG WITH INFRASTRUCTURE SA, NAFBI, SAICE, SACPCMP

The 11th edition of Big 5 Construct South Africa was held at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg 4-6 June.

Day one hosted the Stakeholders Engagement Forum focused on building sustainable and resilient infrastructure in South Africa

Big 5 South Africa Impact Awards celebrated impact and achievements in construction in 10 categories

The 11th edition of Big 5 Construct South Africa opened at the Gallagher Convention Center in Johannesburg following the official ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Dr Hubert Joynt, Programme Manager – Centre of Excellence, Infrastructure South Africa and Vishaal Lutchman, Managing Director, Zutari. From dmg events, the organizers of Big 5 Construct South Africa, Ben Greenish, Executive Vice President, Mehtap Gürsoy, Portfolio Director – Construction and Tracy-Lee Behr, Event Director were also present.

“This year’s Big 5 Construct South Africa has opened to construction and engineering professionals, with strong participation from both local and international companies,” said Gürsoy. “The event has long served as a catalyst for driving investment and innovation within the nation’s economy, and its significance extends far beyond the exhibition floor. The next two days are just the start of its impact and how it ignites innovation and conversations across industry leaders and decision-makers.”

The ribbon-cutting was followed by the opening of the 7th edition of the Stakeholders Engagement Forum which prioritized building sustainable and resilient infrastructure in South Africa. Addressing the attendees, Aubrey Tshalata, National President, NAFBI, South Africa, stressed the collective efforts initiated by industry professionals to drive forward the development and transformation of South Africa’s built environment, despite challenging market conditions.

Also, attending the event were renowned industry leaders, including Lufuno Ratsiku, President, The South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions; Sekadi Phayane-Shakhane, Chief Executive Officer, South African Institution of Civil Engineering; and Themba Mahambi, Chairman, SANRAL. Some of the discussions at the forum highlighted the state of infrastructure in South Africa, innovative strategies to address challenges and opportunities from the design and implementation stages and the importance of asset preservation and resilience.