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COMMENTARY : Circular economy model needed in built environment for net zero transition

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If the built environment wants to decrease both waste and emissions while keeping up with growing demands, it needs to rethink its approach to construction. One way to approach this is for the industry to adopt and maintain a circular economy model – which prioritizes the regeneration and reuse of building materials. According to Summit Rosenberg an associate at KOMPAS VC, industries like concrete and aluminum are demonstrating the economic, sustainability, and efficiency benefits of adopting a circular economy model. The concrete and cement industry, for example, has successfully integrated waste streams from other industries into its supply chains, enhancing its circularity. Despite the industry's existing circularity, with 75% of produced aluminum still in use, stakeholders recognize the need to address the remaining unrecycled low-grade aluminum scrap. Scaling reclaimed materials and ensuring their safety and compliance with building codes pose significant challenges. To overc
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INSIGHT: South Africa’s big mafia problem is getting worse

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In the vibrant heart of Cape Town, a menacing shadow economy looms over various enterprises, including spaza shops, bustling nightclubs, construction projects, and transportation companies. Within this clandestine realm, individuals and businesses alike find themselves facing exorbitant demands for money, services, and goods that exceed legitimate channels.

According to a study by Jenni Irish-Qhobosheane for the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC)the rise of extortion in Cape Town can be attributed to both local and national factors, with a significant influence stemming from the city's long-standing history of gangsterism.

The COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 significantly curtailed extortion revenue for criminal organizations, as business closures and curfews disrupted their operations. However, as restrictions were gradually lifted, extortion activities exhibited a marked increase in both aggressiveness and frequency due to the following key factors:
  • The construction industry has become a target of extortion, which has expanded beyond foreign-owned businesses and taxis. This shift is influenced by trends observed in regions like KwaZulu-Natal and reflects a broader pattern of extortion practices.
  • Increasingly sophisticated gangs perceive extortion as a key revenue stream due to its low-risk and high-reward potential.
  • In a state characterized by porous security measures and low levels of trust among communities, gangs have taken advantage of the situation, resulting in a pervasive culture of extortion as a means of securing protection.
In January 2023, Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis expressed concerns about the potential consequences of the ongoing issue of extortion in the city and South Africa at large. During a meeting with the Standing Committee on Human Settlements in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, he warned that if the problem is not adequately addressed, Cape Town and South Africa risk becoming "mafia states" where all economic activities, both in the private and public sectors, would require payment of "protection money" to criminal elements.

The full hardhatINSIGHT article was published by Business tech

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