September October GIfA connect magazine (1) compressed

View September October GIfA connect magazine (1) compressed flipbook.

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The highlight of the programme was the Sophia Gray Memorial Lecture, the lecture honours the legacy of Sophia Gray, widely recognised as South Africa's first woman architect. Each year, this lecture is awarded to a distinguished architect or practice that has made a significant contribution to the field. The 37th Annual Sophia Gray Lecture took place at the Fairview Conference Centre, attracting previous laureates, academics, architects from across South Africa, and a large number of students. This year’s laureates were award winning Savage and Dodd Architects. Dr Heather Dood delivered an insightful lecture on behalf of the practice titled Spatial Tactics, guiding the audience through their architectural journey. They shared their experiences in designing and building social housing, adaptive reuse projects, and many superbly crafted institutional work, blending personal anecdotes with a philosophical perspective on architecture, the city, history, memory and transformation. Their work cut across several fields, including applied research, heritage, forensic architecture seting a high standard for others, demonstrating that innovation and craftsmanship in architecture can seamlessly coexist. Reflection and ethics are always at the forefront, guiding the purpose of their work and informing every decision. “Spatial Tactics” extends beyond the materiality of space. In their view, they are ultimately about people—the communities we build, the dignity we restore through housing, and the diverse and inclusive environments we create in which lives can unfold and flourish. Savage and Dodd’s work speaks to an architecture that is responsive, adaptable and holistic; an architecture that not simply has poetic presence, but engages with the social, cultural and environmental realities that shape it. Their work reminds us that architects can have agency—that design can be an instrument for upliftment, transformation and change, and that the built environment has the power to open possibilities where there were once constraints. This spirit was beautifully captured in their exhibition displayed at the Oliewenhuis Art Museum, where an evening dedicated to architecture became more than a celebration of buildings and ideas. It became a reflection on the role of architecture in society, and a celebration of the many ways South African architects continue to shape, challenge and enrich it. Architect Monica Albonico Sack /GIFA President 4 SAIA convention and 37th Sophia Gray Memorial Lecture. On 27 August, SAIA Board members convened in Bloemfontein for the SAIA Convention and Gold Medal Award Ceremony. This well-attended event provided an important platform to recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions in various categories to architecture across the SAIA regions. Events were hosted across a range of venues activating significant cultural spaces across the city and demonstrating the potential of architecture to contribute to a city's cultural life and sense of place.

Reclaiming the Drawing Board InResponsetothe InandaStructuralCollapse This presentation examines the systemic challenges facing South Africa’s built environment sector in the wake of the Inanda structural collapse and the earlier George building collapse. It highlights the critical role of registered built environment professionals in ensuring public safety, quality, compliance and accountability throughout the planning, design and construction process. The presentation explores the relationship between regulatory oversight, professional responsibility and the economic pressures affecting the built environment, including the impact of competitive fee structures and procurement practices on the quality and sustainability of professional services. It further considers the decline in professional registration, the challenges experienced by graduates and young professionals, the rise of unregistered practitioners, and the financial pressures facing voluntary professional associations. The presentation argues that these issues collectively threaten the development of professional expertise, mentorship and long-term capacity within the sector. Drawing on international approaches to professional regulation and protection, the presentation calls for stronger collaboration between government, statutory councils, professional bodies and industry stakeholders to strengthen professional standards and ensure that public safety remains central to infrastructure development. Ultimately, the presentation emphasises that building safety begins long before construction starts and that investment in competent professionals, effective regulation, ethical practice and sustainable professional development is essential to protecting communities and strengthening South Africa’s built environment. 5

career day 1.0 Mothutlung Career Guidance day fanuel motsepe johan prinsloo (Techustaff) Dana Moyal Titus (Surventis) Admiral (Dr) asiel Kubu - Military Science - Nancy Hamity GIfA career day 2.0 Thethe & the other school Career Guidance day Arch fanuel motsepe, Arch Pablo Corroto Pradillo , johan prinsloo (Techustaff) Sanjee Maharaj (Attorney) Nancy Hamity GIfA career day 3.0 Open Studio - DHK, Batley Associates, and Gass Architects Career Guidance Day GIfA Team - Wits and UJ University Students 6 Architecture month Career Day

, 7 1.0 Mothutlung Career Guidance Day: Fanuel Motsepe, Johan Prinsloo (Techustaff), Dana Moyal Titus (Surventis), Admiral (Dr) Asiel Kubu (Military Science) - Nancy Hamity GIfA career day 1

Rankotea: Building a Sustainable Community Through Agriculture, STEM and Technical Skills By JohanPrinsloo A sustainable community is built when people have the skills,resources and opportunities to shape their own future. For Rankotea, the opportunity lies in connecting community agricultural assets with the industrial knowledge, markets and investment found across the neighbouring Ga-Rankuwa, Rosslyn and Madibeng economy. The proposed Rankotea Agricultural Development Programme provides a starting point. Its broader potential is to bring agriculture, science, technology and technical training together, creating pathways from learning to production, employment and local business ownership. Understanding the history behind the opportunity Ga-Rankuwa’s history is closely connected to apartheid displacement and the development of industrial areas around Pretoria. During the 1960s, people forcibly removed from Lady Selborne were among those resettled in Ga-Rankuwa. Historical research records how these removals disrupted livelihoods, community relationships and people’s connection to their environment. Ga-Rankuwa also developed as a residential base for workers serving the nearby Rosslyn industrial area. This relationship placed communities close to manufacturing activity, while apartheid planning restricted their access to land, education and economic opportunity. That history matters when considering development today. Communities should have the opportunity to participate as skilled professionals, producers, business owners and decision-makers. Their contribution to the regional economy should translate into lasting benefits within their own neighbourhoods. Ga- Rankuwa’s industrial park is another part of this economic story. In 2019, government announced the launch of its first phase of revitalisation through a R28-million investment intended to support manufacturing, attract investment and address inequality. It demonstrated recognition of industrial parks as platforms for wider regional development. The next challenge is to connect such industrial investment with community capabilities and viable local enterprises. Connecting Rankotea to the regional economy Rosslyn’s automotive heritage provides a strong foundation for technical skills development. Production at what became BMW’s Rosslyn plant began in 1968, and in 1973 it became BMW’s first manufacturing facility outside Germany. Its evolution into an international production operation illustrates the value of sustained investment in technology, skills and quality. The wider Madibeng economy brings together agriculture, mining, manufacturing and tourism. These sectors create a broader setting for Rankotea’s development, extending beyond Rosslyn’s automotive cluster into agricultural production and the surrounding mining economy. These activities can reinforce one another. Farms require irrigation systems, equipment maintenance, transport and reliable markets. Manufacturing requires technical competence, quality control and disciplined production. Mining operations and their contractors purchase goods and services that suitably prepared community businesses could compete to supply. The opportunity is to build these connections deliberately. Agriculture as a foundation for local livelihoods The attached draft mandate describes a proposed programme involving participating landowners from a group of 117 private landowners in Rankotea. It identifies underutilised agricultural parcels and potential access to the Hartbeespoort Dam irrigation canal as assets to investigate and develop. Its stated objectives include income for landowner families, employment for women and young people, and durable local enterprises. The proposal remains subject to consultation, verification, feasibility and funding. Nevertheless, it offers a useful principle: development should strengthen community participation while protecting landowners’ interests. Agricultural success will require careful decisions about soil suitability, water availability and quality, production costs and customer demand. Training should therefore cover the full business of farming— from crop planning and irrigation to recordkeeping, food safety, pricing and delivery. A productive field is one part of a sustainable enterprise. Farmers also need working capital, mentorship and customers who pay reliably. Production should be planned around verified market opportunities, with clear agreements on volumes, standards and payment terms. STEM learning rooted in real community challenges Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics—STEM—can become more accessible when learners see how it applies to daily life. 8

A community agricultural site could provide practical learning opportunities. Learners might measure soil moisture, calculate water use, compare plant growth, build simple irrigation controls or explore solar energy. These activities connect classroom knowledge with useful local applications. A proposed STEM learning space could introduce school learners to electronics, robotics, coding and design while giving adults opportunities to develop digital and problem-solving skills. Through organisations such as STEMstars, practical learning could help young people discover interests that lead towards agriculture, engineering, manufacturing or entrepreneurship. The aim should be a continuing pathway, with age-appropriate activities, mentorship and opportunities to progress. Technical training that supports production and employment Agriculture and industry share many technical needs. Pumps, motors, pipes, electrical controls, machinery and vehicles all require skilled installation, operation and maintenance. A community training pathway could develop capabilities in welding, mechanical fitting, plumbing, electrical work, irrigation maintenance and automotive servicing. These skills could support local agricultural operations while preparing participants for opportunities in nearby businesses. Training providers such as TECHUSTAFF could contribute practical programme design, workplace readiness and coordination with employers. Where formal qualifications or artisan pathways are intended, programmes should involve appropriately accredited providers, supervised workplace experience and recognised assessment. Employers should help identify the skills they need before training begins. This improves the prospect that learning will lead to useful work, further study or a viable service business. How industry can help create lasting change Industry can support Rankotea through a coordinated development partnership with clear responsibilities and measurable outcomes. Mining companies could consider suitable agricultural and enterprise projects through their community development programmes. Automotive manufacturers and suppliers could contribute technical expertise, workplace exposure, mentoring and appropriately selected training equipment. Agricultural businesses could support production planning, inputs, extension services and market access. Practical contributions could include: Funding a phased demonstration farm and community learning facility. Providing mentors, instructors and supervised workplace placements. Helping local businesses meet procurement, safety and quality requirements. Supporting suitable irrigation, workshop and production infrastructure. Developing purchasing arrangements with capable community suppliers. Potential funding channels include corporate social investment, enterprise and supplier development, and eligible mining social and labour plan programmes. Each contribution would need to align with the relevant company’s commitments, project requirements and approval processes. Procurement deserves particular attention. A training certificate becomes more valuable when it connects to a workplace opportunity. A farming enterprise becomes more sustainable when it has dependable customers. Industry can help build both connections. Community ownership and accountability The draft mandate proposes landowner participation in governance, representation for women and young people, and a controlling economic interest for landowners in a future project vehicle. These provisions express an important intention: the community should help direct its development. Implementation should make that intention visible through understandable agreements, transparent budgets, regular reporting and accessible channels for community feedback. Progress should be measured through results: land brought into viable production, sustained income, training completion, workplace placements, functioning businesses, repeat customers and responsible water use. Rankotea’s opportunity is to connect land, learning and industry into a practical development pathway. Ga-Rankuwa’s history reminds us why access and participation matter. Rosslyn’s industrial experience shows what sustained skills investment can achieve. With committed partners and community leadership, agriculture can provide productive learning spaces, STEM can open new possibilities, and technical training can turn those possibilities into useful work. Real change happens when a community gains the capability—and the opportunity—to build and sustain its own future. Johan Prinsloo [ MANAGING DIRECTOR ] 9Johan@techustaff.co.za | 064 793 8386

Designing Futures: Connecting STEM, Skills and Community Development ByJohan Prinsloo | TECHUSTAFFand STEMstars When we think about design, we often picture a building, a drawing or a finished product. In our work at TECHUSTAFF and STEMstars, we also see design as a process of creating possibilities: helping a young person discover a career, enabling an artisan to develop practical skills, or shaping a learning environment that responds to the needs of a community. Architecture Month provides an opportunity to reflect on these connections. Every building, workshop and public space brings together ideas, materials, technology and people. Behind the finished structure are many different skills, from planning and engineering to bricklaying, welding, electrical installation and carpentry. Developing those skills is an essential part of building our future. Where curiosity becomes practical learning Through STEMstars, our focus is on making science, technology, engineering and mathematics accessible, practical and relevant. We want learners to see how these subjects connect to the world around them—and to recognise that they can help shape that world. A simple design challenge can open this conversation. How do we make a structure stronger? How does a circuit work? What makes a robot move? How can we use energy more effectively? These questions encourage learners to investigate, sketch, build, test and improve. They also introduce an important lesson: a first attempt does not need to be perfect. Learning happens when we examine what worked, understand what failed and try again. Practical activities involving electronics, robotics, model construction and renewable energy provide ways to connect classroom concepts with real applications. Learners can begin to understand the relationship between a drawing and an object, between a calculation and a measurement, and between an idea and a working solution. The value extends beyond technical knowledge. Working through a design challenge develops communication, teamwork, patience and confidence. It gives young people 10

the opportunity to contribute, ask questions and discover abilities they may not yet recognise in themselves. Connecting ideas with the skills to build them TECHUSTAFF brings a complementary focus through human resource development, technical education, artisan development and workforce skills. A design becomes useful when people have the competence to bring it to life. A well- planned building depends on skilled execution. Electrical systems need careful installation, plumbing requires sound workmanship, and fabricated components must meet their intended purpose. Our work connects learning with practical tasks and workplace expectations. In technical education, projects involving welding, woodwork, electrical systems, electronics, plumbing and construction can help learners understand how different occupations contribute to the built environment. A small woodworking project, for example, requires more than cutting and assembling timber. It involves interpreting a drawing, selecting materials, measuring accurately, planning a sequence and checking the result. These are design decisions as well as practical skills. The same principle applies across technical disciplines. We want learners to understand why a task is performed in a particular way, how quality is assessed, and how their workmanship affects the people who will use the finished product. Designing opportunities within communities Community development is central to the direction we are pursuing. Access to equipment, guidance and practical learning opportunities can influence whether someone sees a technical career as achievable. Our vision for community-based STEM learning spaces is to create places where school learners and adults can explore technology, develop skills and connect with further learning opportunities. Such spaces can bring together educators, industry partners, training providers and communities around shared needs. These environments should themselves be thoughtfully designed: welcoming, safe, adaptable and suited to hands-on learning. Their success depends on both the physical space and the learning opportunities created within it. Partnerships are essential. Schools contribute educational insight, industry helps identify practical requirements, and communities bring knowledge of local challenges and priorities. Together, these perspectives can shape learning that is relevant and useful. 11

Building a pathway from curiosity to contribution My experience inskillsdevelopment and workforcedevelopmenthas reinforced the importance of connecting education with opportunity. Young people need exposure to the range of careers involved in designing, constructing, maintaining and improving our surroundings. Through TECHUSTAFF and STEMstars, we are working towards a pathway that begins with curiosity, develops through practical learning, and leads towards informed career choices and meaningful participation. For us, design includes the opportunities we create for people to learn and contribute. When we invest in those opportunities, we help develop the people who will build, maintain and improve our communities. That is the future we want to help design. Johan Prinsloo Johan@techustaff.co.za [ MANAGINGDIRECTOR ] | 064 793 8386 12

Beyond the Surface: Designing Careers Through Colour, Craft and Innovation ByDANA GOPAL - SURVENTIS When we thinkaboutdesign, we oftenpicture abuilding, a drawing ora beautifully furnished space. Yet design also shapes the vehicles we drive, the surfaces we touch and the practical skills that bring an idea to life. A vehicle’s finish offers a powerful example: its colour and texture influence how we experience its shape, while the coating helps protect the material beneath it. For Architecture Month, Surventis offers an opportunity to explore this connection between appearance, performance and craftsmanship—and the careers that make it possible. Where science meets creativity Surventis, formerly known as BASF Coatings, brings together coatings technology, surface treatment and colour expertise. Its work demonstrates how design extends beyond the initial concept into the materials and processes that turn that concept into a finished product. Consider the difference between imagining a vehicle in a particular colour and producing that finish consistently. The designer’s intention must translate into a surface that looks right, performs reliably and can be maintained throughout the vehicle’s life. In automotive refinishing, this becomes particularly visible. After damage or wear, a repair must restore both the appearance and performance of the surface. Surventis combines colour matching, material science and technical support to help repairers achieve consistent results. There is creativity in this work, but also discipline. A successful finish depends on careful preparation, sound judgement and attention to detail. The craftsperson must understand how each stage contributes to the final result. Making technical careers visible My work in technical education and skills development has reinforced my belief that young people need opportunities to discover the many forms their abilities can take. Some learners express their creativity through drawing. Others discover it through making, repairing, assembling or improving something. Automotive refinishing brings these strengths together. It offers a practical meeting point between visual awareness, technical knowledge and craftsmanship. A learner who enjoys colour and detail may find a direction in refinishing. Another may be drawn to materials, equipment or the organisation of a workshop. Exposure to these activities can help learners recognise interests that are difficult to identify through classroom discussion alone. This is why practical career exposure matters. Seeing a professional at work, handling suitable training materials and following a process from preparation to inspection can make an unfamiliar occupation feel achievable. Designing a meaningful learning experience The training environment itself deserves careful design. A strong learning programme should help learners understand the purpose of each task, practise it safely, receive useful feedback and progressively build confidence. Demonstrations should connect theory with real workplace expectations. Assessment should reveal what a learner can do and where further practice is needed. The physical space also influences learning. Preparation areas, equipment access, lighting, ventilation and the movement of people and materials all deserve consideration. A well-planned workshop can support clearer demonstrations, orderly working habits and a better learning experience. For me, this is an important connection with architecture: spaces influence behaviour. A training centre should encourage care, curiosity and pride in workmanship. Preparing for a changing industry Technical training must also respond to the tools and processes used in industry. Surventis’s Refinity platform brings together digital solutions for automotive refinishing, including colour management, training and business support. This creates opportunities to introduce learners to the relationship between hands-on craft and digital information. Surventis also supports skills development through its partnership with WorldSkills International, contributing technical expertise and training opportunities through its Glasurit brand. Such partnerships help connect learning with professional standards and international practice. The broader lesson is that career preparation requires collaboration. Educators, technical specialists and employers each contribute something essential: a foundation for learning, current industry knowledge and insight into workplace expectations. A finish—and a future—with purpose Design has its greatest value when it improves both products and people’s lives. 13

Johan@techustaff.co.za Through Surventis’s work, we can show learners that a finished surface represents much more than paint. It reflects decisions about colour, materials, protection, process and quality. Behind those decisions are people with skills that can be learned, developed and recognised. During Architecture Month, I would like us to celebrate these less visible forms of design alongside the buildings and spaces around us. By introducing young people to the craft behind the finish, we can help them imagine a place for themselves in industry—and begin building the skills to get there. Johan Prinsloo [ MANAGING DIRECTOR ] | 064 793 8386 14

Directors: Mr Enki Pitsoe (CEO), Ms Khumo Shongwe (Chair), Professor Robert Balfour, Dr Elmie Castleman, Kgosana Dingaan Mekgwe, Mr Marc van Olst, Mr Thato Huma, Ms Stacy-Lee Bolon, Professor Relebohile Moletsane Company Registration Number: 2008/002319/08 Bridging Aspiration and Practical Experience: The RBI One-House-a-Year Project Exposing learners to careers in architecture, engineering, and construction is a vital first step, but true capability is forged through hands-on practice. To bridge the gap between the classroom and industry experience, the Royal Bafokeng Institute (RBI) initiated the One-House-a-Year project, now entering its second year. This initiative serves two goals: 1. It offers RBI Construction School Students an invaluable work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunity. 2. It provides suitable, dignified living environments to deserving community members in need of housing. In its inaugural year, learners built a home in the village of Mamerotse, successfully providing a local grandmother with a safe, conducive environment to live in. The project is designed to find affordable, sustainable, and alternative ways to house the community, focusing instead on dignity, empowerment, and upliftment. Piloting Innovation: The Pre-Cast Housing Model Building on last year's success of the One-House-a-Year project, this year the RBI is piloting the construction of a pre-cast home—often referred to as a "stop-nonsense" house—at its soon-to-be-established centre for agriculture education and training. The house is: • • designed as a two-bedroom family home; it will accommodate employees at the centre and members of the broader RBI community who need housing to fulfil their operational functions. cost-effective and scalable - beyond this initial pilot, the pre-cast housing model is designed to be extended to the wider community, offering sustainable and dignified housing to the RBN residents in need for just under R200,000. a platform for holistic learner involvement and development. Learners from across the various trades of our construction school are involved from the very inception of the building process—from drawing plans, planning and preparing the construction land, and building up walls, all the way through to completion and post-occupation maintenance. • Shaping the Built Environment Together Ultimately, our work in career exposure, hands-on trades, and sustainable housing design connects back to a much bigger vision. It is about a Royal Bafokeng learner who can look at these opportunities and see themselves designing a building, managing a construction project, becoming an engineer, qualifying as an artisan, or establishing a construction business. It is about creating the capability within the Nation not only to occupy the spaces that are built, but also to imagine, design, construct, maintain, and shape those spaces ourselves. As Architecture Month celebrates the many dimensions of design and the built environment, RBI’s contribution is rooted in a simple yet important idea that if we want to build a sustainable future for the Royal 15

17 GIfA’s Table Visitors

Building Joburg | Opening Doors to Rebuilding Johannesburg 1818:00 EVERY WEDNESDAY 919 FM 3.0 Open Studio - DHK Architects, Batley Partners Architectures & Design, and Gass Architecture Studios - Wits and UJ University Students - GIfA Open Studios Open Studios: Opening Doors to Our Profession GIfA’s Open Studios initiative was a wonderful success, welcoming more than 120 students, alongside parents, schoolchildren, fellow professionals and sponsors from across different industries. Brought to GIfA by DHK Architects, the initiative builds on an established Open Studios tradition in Cape Town. By bringing this idea to Johannesburg, we are opening the doors of architectural practices to students, the public and colleagues, creating opportunities to explore architecture, meet practitioners and experience the profession firsthand. Promotion through 919 FM’s Building Joburg programme helped attract visitors and extend the initiative’s reach. Together, we are building more than awareness of architecture—we are supporting our profession, our professionals and our future. Our sincere thanks go to DHK Architects, GASS Architects and Batley Partners for welcoming visitors into their studios, sharing their work and inspiring the next generation. Thank you also to everyone who attended and supported the initiative. Several other practices expressed interest but needed more time to arrange their participation around office commitments. We look forward to planning earlier and welcoming even more studios next year. Thank you for helping us open doors and build connections. We look forward to the next Open Studios!

19Open Studios

20TUNE IN TO BUILDING JOBURG TUNE IN TOTUNE IN TO BUILDING JOBURGBUILDING JOBURGOpen StudiosEVERY WEDNESDAY 919 FM - 18H00

21GASS Architects Mention

ARCHITECTURE BEYOND BUILDINGS Lessons from Leonardo da Vinci Exploring the connections between art, science, technology and the built environment. Architecture has always been about more than designing buildings. It is about understanding people, solving problems and imagining possibilities for a better future. Few historical figures demonstrate this multidisciplinary approach as beautifully as Leonardo da Vinci. Born in Italy in 1452, Leonardo was a Renaissance artist, inventor and thinker whose interests extended far beyond painting. He explored anatomy, mathematics, engineering, nature and architectural design, constantly searching for connections between different fields of knowledge. His famous Vitruvian Man illustrates the relationship between human proportions, geometry and design, reminding us that understanding people is fundamental to creating meaningful spaces. THE POWER OF COLLABORATION Like Leonardo, today's architects must look beyond the boundaries of their own profession. Successful buildings and communities are shaped through collaboration between architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, urban planners, landscape architects, environmental specialists and many others. Each discipline contributes a different perspective, helping transform ideas into places that are functional, sustainable and responsive to human needs. In South Africa, this collaborative approach is particularly important. Our built environment must respond to diverse communities, climate challenges, unequal access to resources and the need for safe, inclusive and dignified spaces. Addressing these challenges requires professionals to work alongside communities, government, industry and educational institutions. 22 INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION Leonardo's curiosity offers an important lesson for architecture students and young professionals: inspiration can come from anywhere. Art, mathematics, technology, history and nature can all inform the way we imagine and design our surroundings. By encouraging young people to explore different disciplines and engage with their communities, we can nurture new ideas and broaden their understanding of the opportunities within the built environment. A VISION BEYOND BUILDINGS During Architecture Month, the Gauteng Institute for Architecture (GIfA) celebrates not only the buildings around us, but also the people, ideas and collaborations that make them possible. Leonardo da Vinci reminds us that creativity flourishes when knowledge crosses boundaries. His legacy encourages us to embrace architecture's wider relationship with art, technology, nature, culture and society. Architecture is not merely about creating places in which people live. It is about shaping places in which people can thrive. This Architecture Month, let us imagine beyond buildings and shape a future that inspires, connects and uplifts our communities. (by GIfA’s Team)

MUNICIPAL SUBMISSIONS, PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY, AND YOUR EXPERIENCE. Two concerns raised by GIfA members have prompted a conversation about how professional responsibility is verified when building plans are submitted: 1.One member reported being told by a municipal lodgement desk approximately 18 months ago that a SACAP registration number was not required to register. The member intends to check whether this remains the practice. This raises a question about the distinction between registering to lodge plans and verifying the professional responsible for them. 2.Another member questioned the volume of drawings reportedly submitted under a single SACAP registration number within a short period, asking how professional involvement and adequate supervision are confirmed. These reports have not been independently verified. A registration number appearing on multiple projects does not, on its own, indicate misconduct. GIfA welcomes responses from SACAP and municipal building-control officials on the safeguards in place and how concerns can be reported. The members who raised these concerns have not been identified. Our purpose is to encourage constructive dialogue, strengthen accountability and support a better- built environment. 23 WHO IS BEHIND THE PLANS? GIFA CONNECT | A CONVERSATION FROM PRACTICE Have you encountered similar situations, or examples of effective verification? Please include the municipality, approximate date and supporting correspondence. Remove confidential client information and indicate whether your comments may be published anonymously. Contact executivemanager@gifa.org.za; membership@gifa.org.za Have your say Share your experiences and suggestions with GIfA:

A42 House: Museum for Creative Repair Redefining African heritage for Generation Next A42 stands for Africa 42% — by 2030, 42% of the world's youth will live in Africa. We exist to make African heritage theirs. A42 House is the pilot property for a pan-African network of micro heritage-resarts, each of which include exhibitions, stays, and experiences, under the A42 brand. A42 also powers izimpande- wellness and beauty sanctuaries which offer individual and group healing drawing on ancestral, embodied, and holistic African healing traditions. Every stay and experience funds artist support, and ongoing research, conservation and documentation of African heritage, culture and knowledge. 24

25 Explore the A42 Museum@A42

26 There is a particular frustration in architecture that I have come to appreciate more since graduating: knowing what you want to create, but not quite knowing how to communicate it. Sometimes the idea is clear in your head. You can picture the building, the light, the materials and the atmosphere. You understand how you want someone to experience the space. But translating that image into a drawing, an explanation or a convincing visualisation is another challenge entirely. I have been using artificial intelligence to bridge that gap. Recently, I returned to one of my architectural projects, a timber apartment building. I had envisioned a façade of layered timber battens, with glass concealed behind them. During the day, the building would read predominantly as timber. At night, when the apartments were occupied, warm light would emerge through the gaps, allowing the façade to come alive. I had the concept in mind, but communicating it visually was difficult. Using AI rendering tools, I began testing the idea. Within minutes, I could see interpretations of something I had struggled to bring to life. They were not always accurate. Sometimes the software removed the very timber I wanted to preserve, misunderstood the construction or altered the architecture. I had to correct it, explain the concept again and try another iteration. artificial intelligence, and finding my footing after university. The Things I Could Imagine, but Couldn't Yet Explain On architecture,

27 But that process became interesting in itself. I was no longer using AI simply to produce an attractive image. I was using it to investigate an idea. I began thinking about what else was possible. Could I use it to develop an axonometric drawing that explained a complicated architectural concept? Could it help me improve a site plan, communicate the intention behind a sketch or visualise something that, a year earlier, I might not have known how to express? Could it help me explain my own work more clearly, even when my understanding was still developing? The answer, increasingly, was yes. Yet there is something unsettling about how quickly these things can happen. An image that might once have required hours of modelling, material adjustments and rendering can now be approximated in minutes. A sketch can be interpreted, an explanation drafted and an idea presented in a way that feels almost complete. Almost. The image can look convincing without being architecturally correct. The explanation can sound intelligent without fully understanding the design. AI can suggest solutions, but it does not automatically know which details matter, which decisions are intentional or what must never change. That responsibility remains with the person directing it. This is where I have started to reconsider my relationship with the technology. I do not see it as a replacement for learning a software, understanding construction or developing the ability to draw and communicate. I see it as another way of exploring the distance between what I imagine and what I can currently produce. There is also a more personal reason this matters to me. University gave me a framework, deadlines and projects with defined outcomes. Graduating removed that structure. Suddenly, there was a different kind of uncertainty: what to do next, how to develop professionally and how to keep learning when nobody was setting the next assignment. Perhaps that is why I have found myself returning to old projects. They give me somewhere to begin. I can revisit a design, question a decision, test an idea and discover something I did not see the first time around. AI has made that process faster, but the curiosity that drives it is still mine. Even this article has become part of the experiment. I am using AI to help me organise my thoughts and express them in a voice that feels like my own. I want to be transparent about that. These words have been developed with AI, just as the visualisations have. In fact, a magazine like this could, in principle, be produced almost entirely with AI: the writing, the images, the layouts and perhaps even the ideas connecting them. If that is possible, what exactly are we contributing when we make something ourselves?

28 I do not think I have a definitive answer. But I have started to distinguish between producing something and knowing why it should exist. AI can help me generate an image. It cannot guarantee that the result expresses what I intended, that the design makes sense, or that I have learnt anything from the process. Those things require attention, judgement and a willingness to question the result. Perhaps the real value of these tools is not that they allow us to do everything effortlessly. It is that they let us explore possibilities that once felt beyond our reach, provided we remain involved enough to understand what we are looking at. I am still learning how to communicate my ideas. I am still discovering what kind of architect I want to become, and what my work might look like beyond university. AI has not resolved that uncertainty. If anything, it has given me more possibilities to consider. For now, I am content to keep experimenting, returning to a drawing, testing a façade, asking a better question, correcting an image and trying again. Sometimes, seeing an idea come to life is enough to help me understand it better. And perhaps that is a reasonable place to begin. Methembe Ngqola B arch ( graduate)

Web: Facebook: LinkedIn: Contacts ProfJohn Smallwood Mobile No.: +27 83 6592492 E-mail: john.smallwood@mandela.ac.za Programme Introduction Registration Fees (VAT not applicable) Commercial Opportunities Continuing Professional Development (CPD) ACHASM 2026 One-Day Summit ‘Preventing Collapses in Construction: The Struggle Continues’ Intaka Island Eco-Centre, Cape Town, 27 October 2026 Summit Alert 2 (Version 08 October 2026) Theprogramme accompanies this communication. ACHASM Corporate Members ACHASM Members ASAQS / MBSA / SAFCEC / Saiosh Members / SACPCMP Registered Persons Other delegates Exhibitionstands,andsponsorship opportunities can be availed of. www.achasm.co.za https://web.facebook.com/ACHASMSA https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4413476/ Mr Yaseen Francis Mobile No.: +27 74 367 3460 E-mail: R1 000.00 R1 050.00 R1 100.00 R1 200.00 Theregistration link is: https://achasm.glueup.com/event/achasm-2026-one-day-summit-preventing- collapses-in-construction-197209/ TheSouth African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Saiosh) has accredited the Summit, and ACHASM is in the process of securing CPD accreditation from the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS), and the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP). The objective of this physical / ‘face-to-face’ summit is to provide a forum for construction industry role players to address the scourge of continuing structural and support work collapses, and hence the theme. To this end, the summit will address a range of issues, namely: the cost of collapses; lessons from a Section 32 Inquiry and investigations; managing excavations as a process as opposed to an activity; the role of temporary works; monitoring; GVK-SZ’s approach to preventing collapses; the SACPCMP’s view with respect to preventing collapses; the role of ISO 45001; the projectisation of H&S intelligence, and industry, organisation, and project-related interventions. The summit will be of relevance to architects, clients including developers, construction managers, construction project managers, construction H&S agents / managers / officers, contractors, engineers, inspectors (municipal, NHBRC, and DEL OH&S), interior designers, landscape architects, materials manufacturers, plant providers, project financiers, quantity surveyors, and other construction role players. yaseen.francis.yf@gmail.com 29

Association of Construction Health and Safety ManagementCPD AccreditationLunch (12h50 – 13h40)Session 3 13h40 – 14h10Topic TheSACPCMP’s view with respect to preventing collapses in construction The role of ISO 45001 in preventing collapsesRefreshments (11h00 – 11h20)Session 2 11h20 - 11h50 11h50 - 12h20 12h20 - 12h50Topic Therole oftemporary works in preventing collapses What should monitoring entail? GVK-SZ’s approach to preventing collapsesRefreshments (15h10 – 15h30)Session 4 15h30 – 16h00 16h00 – 16h30 16h30 – 16h40Topic Preventing the collapse of buildings and structures: Industry, organisation, and project- related interventions Discussion ClosureRegistration and Refreshments (08h15 – 08h50)Session 1 08h50 – 09h00 09h00 – 09h30 09h30 – 10h00 10h00 – 10h30 10h30 – 11h00Topic Welcome and Introduction The cost of collapses Lessons from the Injaka Bridge Collapse OHS Act Section 32 Inquiry Preventing collapses in construction: What investigations indicate Managing excavations as a process as opposedChair: TBC Mr Yaseen Francis Executive Director, ACHASM Mr Zuneid Sayed Regional Manager, FEM Cape Region Mr Larry Larry Kloppenborg, Quality and Safety Management Consultant Mr Lennie Samuel, Forensic Investigator, KZN, DEL Mr Deon Bester OH&S Manager, MBAWC Chair: TBC Mr Devan Venter Senior Project Engineer, Peri Mr Yaseen Francis Executive Director, ACHASM Mr Craig Laskey, Group SHEQ Manager, GVK-Siya Zama Construction Chair: TBC Ms Sharon Shunmugam President, SACPCMP Dr Brett Williams, OHSE Management Consultant Mr Fabio Companie, Head: Construction Management, City of Cape Town Chair: TBC Prof John Smallwood, Emeritus Professor of Construction Management, NMU DelegatesASSOCIATION OF CONSTRUCTION HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT14h10 – 14h4014h40 – 15h10toanactivityThe projectisation of H&S intelligenceNPC 2007/012791/08) PO Box 40108, Walmer,PortElizabeth, 6065 • Tel: + 27 74 367 3460E-mail: info@achasm.co.za•Web: www.achasm.co.zaThe South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Saiosh) has accredited the Summit, and ACHASMis in the process of securing CPD accreditation from the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS), and the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP).Programme ACHASM 2026 One-Day Summit ‘Preventing Collapses in Construction: The Struggle Continues’, Intaka Island Eco-Centre, Cape Town, 27 October 2026 (Version 081026) (This is a Physical / Face-to-Face’ Event)30

GIfA and UJ Work Integration Programme W.I.L. 32 GIfA is committed to supporting the next generation of architectural professionals. Through this ongoing partnership with UJ, GIfA contributes to mentorship, practical skills development and professional preparation, helping students gain meaningful workplace experience and a better understanding of how to navigate the architectural profession early in their academic journey. Designing Future Skills Connecting the Classroom to the Built Environment GIfA, represented by architects Olivier Galenge and Vikram Desai , continues to support University of Johannesburg (UJ) architecture students through practical learning and mentorship. Through educational visits to projects around Johannesburg, including apartment developments in Sandton, students are encouraged to observe buildings, explore key construction details such as basements, and sketch what they see. These experiences are particularly valuable as students prepare for examinations and project submissions, helping them connect classroom theory with real- world architectural practice. Guided by the saying, “There is nothing new under the sun,” the initiative encourages students to recognise that much of what they study can be observed, understood and documented in the built environment. By bridging theory and practice, GIfA continues to help students develop their technical understanding, observational skills and confidence as future architectural professionals.

33 12 14 21 28 OCTOBER EVENTS2026MON 22 13 20 7 16 23 26 27 19TUEWEDTHUFRI 29 15 02 30 03 04 05 06 8 9OPEN STUDIOS ROSEBANK 17:00 - 19:00 WIL Programe with UJ at GIfA 8:30 - 16:00Reclaiming the Drawing Board 17:00 - 18:30 6508:30 - 16:00 919 FM G. Alexander 17h00 - 19h00919 FM G. Alexander 17h00 - 19h00919 FM G. Alexander 17h00 - 19h00919 FM G. Alexander 17h00 - 19h00 WIL Programe with UJ at GIfA 8:30 - 16:00919 FM G. Alexander 17h00 - 19h00 T.B.CWIL Programe with UJ at GIfA 8:30 - 16:00Serpentine Pavilion 2026: An Exclusive Screening Corobrik - BioscopeKayla Pashiou - Labour Law WIL Programe with UJ at GIfA 8:30 - 16:00Mancom & Committees Meeting online - Year Review 16:00 - 17:30 WIL Programe with UJ at GIfA 8:30 - 16:00Circular Economy master class with CSIR 15:00 - 17:00An Afternoon with a Legend at GIfA Arch Francois Pienaar 16:30 - 18:30WIL Programe with UJ at GIfA 8:30 - 16:00WIL Programe with UJ at GIfA - 8:30 - 16:00Inside the Architectural Practice: People, Projects, Business & Leadership Arch Martin & Arch HenningsAn Afternoon with Rodney Grosskopff (GLH Architects) Share my Story WIL Programe with UJ at GIfA 8:30 - 16:00Professional Breakfast Meeting 07:15 - 09:00SANS 10400 FENESTRATION - Peter Wyness Sanjee Maharaj Incorporated - How to Be a PA SAFAL Factory Tour - Boksburg 9:00 - 12:00The Coffee Break with Adri Neuper Nursery Tour 10:00 - 12:30 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

18 1917 2 3Professional Breakfast Meeting at Doppio Zero - Nine Yards - Rosebank 307:15-09:00 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 34 9 11 25 NOVEMBER EVENTS2026MON 10 4 13 20 23 24 16TUEWEDTHUFRI 26 12 30 27 1 02 5 6 Professional Breakfast Meeting 07:15-09:00Arch MIRA FASSLER Share my Story - Former GIfA’s President15:00 - 16:30AGM & Colosseum Awards UJ Auditorium 2 Sanjee Maharaj Incorporated - How to Be a PA 08:30 - 16:30919 FM G. Alexander 17h00 - 19h00919 FM G. Alexander 17h00 - 19h00919 FM G. Alexander 17h00 - 19h00 919 FM G. Alexander 18h00 - 19h00 WIL Programme with UJ at GIfA 8:30 - 16:00 WIL Programme with UJ at GIfA 8:30 - 16:00WIL Programme with UJ at GIfA 8:30 - 16:00WIL Programme with UJ at GIfA 8:30 - 16:00WIL Programme with UJ at GIfA 8:30 - 16:00WIL Programme with UJ at GIfA 8:30 - 16:0017:00 - 20:30BUILD What’s Next Industry Showcase & Built Environment Summit - Exhibition and Experience Center TourBUILD What’s Next Industry Showcase & Built Environment Summit - Exhibition and GALA Dinner with VIP’s guests09:00 - 20:3009:00 - 18:00What you need to know about Labour Law in your business / Practical and Theory09:00 - 12:30 WIL Programme with UJ at GIfASanjee Maharaj - JBCC Training 8:30 - 16:30

15A Riley RoadCato Ridge Bedfordview, Germiston 2007admin@claybrick.org.za +27 11 805 4206 www.claybrick.org/Thank you for Supporting GIfA and the Built Environment 36

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