Basil Read intensifies focus on integrated housing development to strengthen order book

Construction company Basil Read will be focusing in particular on the integrated housing development sector to drive future growth and strengthen its order book, as this “is a real opportunity for South Africa”.
Speaking to Engineering News Online on Tuesday, CEO Neville Nicolau highlighted that integrated housing development was of strategic importance in the future of the country, as for many years, South Africa had “perpetuated apartheid” by building entry-level housing in less accessible areas, in contrast with more expensive estates, effectively “splitting up society”, which has for some time now been undergoing a shift.

The division on Monday reported operating profit of R8.6-million for the six months to June 30, down from R14.8-million in the six months to June 2015; however, the company’s order book in the sector grew from R200-million to R470-million over the same period.
Nicolau explained that, over the last ten years, Basil Read had been involved with the Cosmo City development, west of Johannesburg, where entry-level housing and middle-class housing were mixed together in an area where auxiliary amenities were also built, including schools, shopping centres, churches and industrial areas.
“You end up with an integrated society,” he pointed out, adding that the company was close to completing Cosmo City.
Basil Read is also involved in the development of Savanna City, in the south of Johannesburg, where unit sales continue to exceed expectations, underscoring the demand for affordable housing, with some 700 families already living in the development.
“We are looking to develop this idea and are in talks with government, as well as private companies that have land available and are ready for this kind of development,” Nicolau said.
This includes partnering with Old Mutual’s Housing Impact Fund of South Africa, the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements and the Midvaal local municipality to ensure its 1 400 ha Savanna City project sets a benchmark in economic development and housing.
Currently, Basil Read is installing internal bulk services to support the continued roll-out of stands.
Nicolau pointed out that the integrated housing development model also generated work for the company’s construction and roads divisions, which would allow for greater control of its order book, in time.
“If we increase the number of integrated development sites that we are working on, we will control our order book – a competitive advantage for a construction company. [We] are very often at the mercy of the market, the State and outside factors,” he said, adding that this division added some stability.
Meanwhile, the company highlighted that progress at its Malibongwe Ridge development had slowed owing to the budgetary constraints of key government partners. Servicing for the first phase, comprising 486 fully subsidised residential stands, is complete and 41 homes have been handed over and occupied by residents.
Nicolau explained that the company continued to see growth in South Africa, despite the subdued building environment, as the country had capital to support infrastructure growth, unlike other countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
He highlighted that while the roads sector was slower at the start of the year, moving into a rehabilitation-and-maintenance-dominated phase, it had started to pick up again.
Nicolau added that other projects, such as water and sanitation, major port upgrades and the rail sector, would further bolster the company’s order book in months to come.

COSMO CITY – Nkosi wants to help the children of Cosmo City improve the culture of reading.

NYDA donated a water tank, placed on the open land, which Nkosi is going to use as a library.
Muzi Nkosi is adamant that his initiative to start-up a community library will prevail, thereby, improving the culture of reading.

This Cosmo City resident has already collected over 3 000 books from different donors in Johannesburg and has been searching for books since the beginning of this year.

“I started posting on Facebook community groups such as I Love Northcliff, Melville and other groups in the Randburg area,” he said. Most people began sending him messages, supporting his idea and promising him books.

According to Nkosi, about 90 children from low-income households in the area visit him every week to borrow books and the number is gradually increasing. “These children tell others about this initiative; currently, most of these children are from Extensions 2,4 and 6,” he explained.



Nkosi believes his library will help uplift the community. “We only have one library here and most of the children cannot walk to the Multipurpose Centre, hence the need for a library,” he gushed. He said Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) has allocated him around two hectares of land in Extension 4. “The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) donated a water tank and dug up the boreholes on the land,” he beamed.

Nkosi’s house is full of books and this trained pharmacist quit his job to address the plight of children in the community. He was also trained by NYDA to facilitate the agency’s programmes in the area. “I saw that children from this area, Extension 4, have the potential to read regularly,” he pointed out. His non-governmental organisation (NGO), Perfect Start Ministries, was registered a few years ago and he plans to change the lives of many through this organisation.

“Our government relies on NGOs to help them minimise the social backlogs in our society and that’s why I started the NGO.” He is in dire need of a proper structure to contain all the books he has collected. Nkosi is appealing to any member of the public who can help him collect three containers from Soweto, that were donated to him, which can serve as a library.

Details: Muzi Nkosi, 084 238 8410.

Cosmo City Multipurpose Centre 31 August '16 is The annual Business Connect Seminar: Back to Kasi

The workshop, a 1-day entrepreneurial course was specially designed to empower women entrepreneurs with skills necessary for them to compete in the global marketplace. At the end of the course, participants gained extensive knowledge on crucial leadershipskills, hands-on experience in business management, and a new circle of contacts with fellow women entrepreneurs.The workshop aims to educate entrepreneurs through a series of lectures and special talks by guest speakers who are industry practitioners and successful entrepreneurs, group roundtable discussions, e-business sessions, a ‘Bring Your Own Case’ experiential workgroup and industrial study excursions to various local businesses in the country.

Key areas of Discussion:

• ·         Identifying Opportunities
• ·         Feasible Business Models
• ·         Business Plan Framework

Developing a New Business

• ·         Financial Management
• ·         Competitor Analysis
• ·         Marketing & Communication

Sustaining a Good Business

• ·         Market Positioning
• ·         Creativity & Innovation
• ·         Managing Growth

Amongst many others

Promoting Township economy through Information, Business Opportunities and Networking. INVESTMENT for R200.00 including refreshments and goodie bags.


EBonoko Holdings is a private organization which focuses on multiple business sectors. Trading privately with consumers on a one on one basis, EBonoko Holdings prides itself in developing strong relations with the consumer in order to give the customer exactly what they are looking for.

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Mother’s search for her daughter is ongoing HONEYDEW – Mother and Honeydew SAPS are on the lookout for 15 year old girl.

Have you seen this young lady?

The distraught mother of 15-year-old Phomolo Mokgatlhe is doing everything in her power to find her daughter.

Detective Duma from the Honeydew Police is investigating the case. Spokesperson for Honeydew Police, Warrant Officer Karen Jacobs, confirmed that Mokgatlhe has still not been found. “Detectives were with the parents at the school and other addresses where she might be, but with no success,” said Jacobs.

Phomolo’s mother, Evelyn Mokgatlhe explained that her daughter was last seen at her school, Far North Secondary School in Cosmo City on 12 August at around 1.30pm. Mokgathle explained that – allegedly – witnesses saw her daughter get into a taxi to meet a boy at another school in Cosmo City.

“He goes by the name of ‘KR’ and is in Grade 11,” said Mokgatlhe.
This, however, has not been confirmed.

Various people also commented that they might have seen Phomolo at this same school’s matric dance, after party. Her mother confirmed that she did not have her phone with her as its charger is not working.

Mokgathle and Duma went to the school in Cosmo City, where they were provided with a list of names of all the Grade 11s. None of them, however, fit the profile of ‘KR’.

Detective Duma can be contacted with any information. Phomolo is of medium build, has brown eyes and shoulder-length, black straightened hair.

Details: Honeydew Police Station, 011 801 8400.

Cosmo City : WATCH: Janes and Unathi play ‘mogusha’

Unathi and Janez were taught how to play the beloved games, mogusha (also known as umgusha in IsiZulu) and amathini.

Idols SA Judge and Metro FM breakfast show co-host Unathi Msengana and Mancave presenter Janez Vermeiren, recently took to the streets of Cosmo City for the Shield MotionSense ‘It’s Your Move’ challenge.

As part of the campaign, the two personalities had to select two individuals who had to assign them a challenge.  The first of the series of challenges took place at Cosmo City’s Tirisano Mmogo Primary School, where the learners taught Unathi and Janez umgusha and amathini. Next they were challenged to take on the Honeydew maze in Randburg, where they had to find hidden Shield MotionSense products.

The winners of the Shield It’s Your Move challenges met up with Unathi Msengana and Janez Vermeiren to compete in the final challenges of the campaign. The two winners, Mamsy Mdluli and Abongile Xozwa, challenged the Shield ambassadors to play indigenous games with school kids and to do the Honeydew maze.

Watch the Video Below

Cosmo City Grade 10 learner wins gold at Eskom Science Expo

Winner of gold medal in the Eskom Science Expo's district competition Ofentse Mafokosho says it has been a great honour to have her work recognised.

The grade 10 learner at Meridian school in Cosmo City in the north of Johannesburg, will later this year compete in the International Science Expo after winning a Bronze medal at the Regional competition.

As an active member of the Eco Club, she created a Grotto Robot that cleans caves.

Speaking on Morning Live, she says the robot can access places that are too small for humans to enter.

She says: "It was not an easy task because she had to balance her school work with this project."

"All the hard work paid off when I was announced as the winner as this was my first year entering," adds Mafokosho.

For more watch below

Off-duty cop shoots thug in Cosmo City

COSMO CITY – Hijackers met their match as they tried to hijack a cop.

THREE Cosmo City robbers got it all wrong when they attempted to hijack an off-duty cop, who retaliated with fatal consequences.

The constable, who cannot be identified for ethical reasons, shot back and killed an armed would-be hijacker in Mostyn Park near Cosmo City.

According to Diepsloot Police Station’s principal communication officer, Captain Daniel Mavimbela, the constable was seated in his Rav 4 vehicle when three armed suspects attempted to hijack his car. This went wrong when an exchange of gunfire ensued, leaving one thug dead and the officer injured.

“One of the suspects was fatally shot. He collapsed next to the constable’s Rav 4 and died on the scene,” said Mavimbela

He added that the other two suspects ran away, leaving their dying accomplice with a toy gun. “It is believed the other remaining suspects escaped with the real firearm.”

Mavimbela confirmed that the constable was taken to a local hospital in a stable condition.

Police are now investigating a case of attempted hijacking and attempted murder.