Creating an effective construction industry strategy in South Africa

The South African construction industry, like many other construction industries in other developing countries, is challenged by many systemic problems. These include unstable and insecure employment, financial instability, a bias towards urban development, and an erratic approach to integrating the construction industry within overall government policy. To achieve the objectives of its Reconstruction and Development Programme, the South African government initiated a process to create an effective strategy for its construction industry within a national agenda of social and economic transformation. The process of creating a cooperative framework and specific strategies for the structured engagement of public- and private-sector stakeholders is described. Structured policy debate, analysis and implementation have fostered a new culture through government and industry partnership and created the foundation for establishing the South African Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB).