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NEWS: To what extent are we leveraging human ingenuity and innovation to develop effective urban solutions?

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A recent study has revealed a concerning vulnerability confronting coastal cities worldwide. Steadily rising sea levels are altering groundwater, rendering it shallower, more saline, and corrosive. This gradual deterioration represents a substantial threat to the extensive networks of underground urban infrastructure that underpin modern city life. A recent study revealed a grave threat faced by coastal cities worldwide due to rising sea levels. This phenomenon is causing coastal groundwater to become shallower, saltier, and more corrosive, damaging buried city infrastructure designed for stable groundwater conditions. This leads to foundation weakening, pipe leaks, and electrical problems, resulting in costly repairs, health risks, and city disruptions. Over 1,500 major cities are already experiencing the negative impacts, with over a billion people at risk. The study urges proactive measures such as early warning systems, developing corrosion-resistant materials, and reimagining city
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OPINION:The Construction Mafia requires effective law enforcement from the start for proper management.

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Jennifer Smit believes the construction mafia, is influenced by social issues. Initially, legitimate demands for local procurement and transformation .However, over time, the mafia has resorted to violent behaviors such as carrying guns, implementing lockouts, and obstructing roads. This shift in behavior has become a defining characteristic of the construction mafia.


The expansion of the construction mafia syndicates across South Africa is causing concern. Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has called for increased police protection of construction sites. Earlier, developers withdrew from the Cape's largest housing project due to extortion threats.
 
Jennifer Smit, Director and Head of Construction & Engineering at Werksmans Attorneys, says it appears the extortion is not being strategically addressed through legislation or targeted policing. Companies being extorted usually take the legal route as a last resort. Police in remote areas may fail to act due to fear of intimidation by the extortionists. Smit suggests that contractors strategize to take into account the community near the project site, including labor deployment and community engagement.

The full article on Jennifer Smit hardhatOPINION was published by EWN

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