Improving South African Masonry Construction Industry

Abstract

Given the current state of the masonry construction industry (MCI) in South Africa (SA), this study is long overdue. The issues that require immediate attention are: (1) noncompliance; (2) unethical behaviour and (3) lack of knowledge. Evidence to be presented later demonstrates that not all designers and contractors adhere to building policies, regulations and standards. As the demand for buildings constructed of masonry increases significantly over the next few decades, an intolerably high level of adverse overall impact will result. The study’s aim is to propose a first step toward a remedy strategy to improve the SA MCI’s current state. The objectives are to: (1) present through already published case studies and reports how lack of compliance, ethics and knowledge affects the MCI and (2) suggest recommendations to improve the situation. The study concludes that compliance (predominantly), ethics and knowledge need to be improved in MCI. The study identifies how SA government can improve MCI by systematically implementing ISO 9001: 2015 to improve (1) compliance, (2) ethical behaviour and (3) knowledge in MCI.