Task team established to assist construction sector
A Covid-19 Construction Rapid Response Task Team has been established to help the sector amid the downturn due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The sector has been brought to a standstill by the 21-day national lockdown.
The task team has been established with participation from key industry bodies to look at the recovery of the industry after South Africa's lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19 ends.
John Matthews, who is the chairperson of the newly established task team, says the lockdown and the credit rating downgrades both pose serious risks to the sector.
"We have realized that that the current situation requires a collective approach. Hence we would like to urgently engage all our key stakeholders, particularly government and the private sector, to invest in infrastructure development.”
He says the sector’s sustainability is a major concern.
"The team aims at identifying opportunities where the construction and built environment can assist in the national disaster and relief efforts. Both on a volunteer and professional basis and discuss interventions for the recovery of the industry.”
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Roodt was speaking on Thursday at a briefing hosted by the Institute for Race Relations (IRR). It has been 14 days since the nationwide lockdown, with only essential businesses such as pharmacies and supermarkets operating. "We have to get this economy growing as soon as possible.