UCT Open Access Journals (Univ. of Cape Town)
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40 Years of Real Estate Development history and its Implications for Real Estate Research in Africa
Full text linkThis paper weaves together forty years of real estate development history with the research agendas highlighted by academics over the years and interviews with prominent African real estate professors to provide insights into the most important topics in African real estate. The development history captures highlights from four editions of Professional Real Estate Development: the ULI Guide to the Industry written by the author every ten years. Each edition captures lessons from the most recent real estate crash as well as the evolution of the development industry in the United States. Based on interviews and an analysis of the literature, the major topics fall into the following buckets: housing, finance, discrimination, data, sustainability, infrastructure, land reform, and digitisation. The conclusions highlight the most important real estate issues facing African urban and real estate development – the evolution of mortgage markets including secondary markets and public investment vehicles; the institutionalization of the industry both with respect to individual developers and finance companies; urban development cycles and their impact on real estate value; government policies with respect to land development, infrastructure, transportation, and globalization; and sustainability and climate change. Of particular importance are how to deliver more affordable housing, smart growth with respect to planning and construction, climate change and its impact on flooding, fires, insurance, and resettlement, land regularization, information and data sharing, and mortgage market evolution and credit availability. While the evolution of real estate development in the United States and western countries is instructive for the course of development, Africa faces a unique set of challenges and opportunities. The topics presented here represent a consensus of some of the leading academics in Africa and offer a roadmap for up-and-coming scholars
How Demographics and Perceived Motivators Shape Real Estate Students' Entrepreneurial Intentions: : A Theory of Planned Behaviour Analysis in an Emerging Market
Full text linkIn most emerging economies, students’ perception that entrepreneurship is desirable and feasible is often reinforced by the difficulty in securing paid employment. However, the realities emanating from the motivators and demotivators and demographic influences usually influence students’ entrepreneurial decisions. With a focus on Nigeria, this study examined the factors affecting the entrepreneurial intentions of real estate students and the relationship between the perceived motivators and demotivators, and demographic factors on real estate students’ entrepreneurial intentions in an emerging market. The study adopted a total enumeration of all final-year real estate students in three purposively selected federal universities in Southwest Nigeria. Closed-ended questionnaires were distributed to all 231 final-year real estate students in the three institutions, and 160 questionnaires, representing 69.26% were retrieved and analysed. Data on students’ intention and preference for real estate business, and the motivators and demotivators were collected on a five-point Likert scale and analysed using frequencies, percentages, RII, factor analysis, correlation analysis, and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Despite the students’ high intention for real estate business data-driven aspects of the profession, such as feasibility and viability appraisal, valuation, and market analysis/data management, were the least preferred. While the motivators include financial freedom/flexibility, personal preference/fulfilment, economic factors, and prestige/status, lack of support system/market environment, the demotivators include finance, registration/information barriers, and risk perception/socio-cultural barriers. These had statistically significant relationships with demographic factors such as gender, family status, fathers’ educational background, and occupation. This article highlighted the importance of market environment, mentoring, and familial support systems in fostering the venture creation potential of real estate students. Subjective norms, shaped by familial support, mentorship, and socio-cultural barriers, underscore the influence of demographics on students’ intention. The results showed that financial, regulatory, and market challenges may impact perceived control, diminishing students’ confidence despite high entrepreneurial intentions.
From Timber to Steel: : Socio-demographic Drivers Underlying Homeowners’ Change in Roof Truss Preferences in Ghana
Full text linkHomeownership is an important factor in wealth-making and socio-economic mobility. However, decisions about construction materials, especially roof truss systems, are less studied in developing economies. The shift from timber to metal trusses in Ghana echoes wider economic, socio-demographic, and sustainability concerns. We investigated the socio-demographic factors that influence homeowners’ choices for truss materials to provide information for sustainable housing policy and market development. Survey data were obtained from 300 homeowners purposively selected across two major urban cities. Logistic regression shows that marital status, gender, income, education, and third-party advice had significant effects on material preference. Women, unmarried individuals, and lower-income and less educated homeowners are more likely to select wood for truss construction. On the other hand, homeowners who received third-party advice and have higher levels of education and earnings above US$200 had greater odds of selecting metal trusses. Our findings indicate that socio-demographic micro-level considerations play a notable role in shaping timber-to-metal transitions by private residential builders
Innovative and Strategic Approaches for Overcoming Challenges in the Construction Industry
Full text linkThe construction industry, a major contributor to economic development, continues to face challenges and opportunities. This December 2024 issue of the Journal of Construction Business and Management features diverse research articles, bringing new perspectives and solutions to pressing issues within the construction industry, particularly how project success is shaped by the ethos of fair financial and contract practices, leadership, technology and price escalation. These articles were contributed by a total of 17 authors from Malaysia, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia, highlighting the pathway towards enhancing the sustainability, integrity, and performance of the construction industry. Although the articles are contextualised on issues that are prevalent in developing countries, researchers worldwide would find these articles useful for their additionality to theory building, scientific rigour and construction as a global discourse
Navigating Construction Challenges, Claims, Contracts, Materials and Consumer Choices in Emerging Markets
Full text linkWelcome! This is Issue 1 of Volume 8 of the Journal of Construction Business and Management. The Issue brings together diverse studies that examine emerging-market contexts and how they shape construction management practice. Studies reported in the focus on topical issues ranging from contract drafting and claim handling to material choices and drivers of consumer behaviour. The papers collectively highlight the interdependencies among legal frameworks, project governance, market dynamics, and sustainability imperatives that define emerging markets and developing-country construction landscapes. These articles were contributed by 14 authors from Nigeria, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand and the United Kingdom
Publications relating to biodiversity on Robben Island
Full text linkThis bibliogaphy lists 200 publications providing baseline knowledge, historical context and perspective, information relating to long-term data sets, and also insights into species, ecosystems, and human impacts on Robben Island, a protected area and UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. This platform of knowledge will enable researchers to design better studies, avoid redundant work and measure change. It will also help to identify knowledge gaps, and to guide policy and management decisions
How dare you? Broad-billed Rollers Eurystomus glaucurus usurp a threatened Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus from a nest cavity in the Limpopo province of South Africa
Full text linkThis study documents the first recorded instance of interspecific competition for nesting cavities between the endangered Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus and the Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus. Both are secondary cavity-nesters occupying overlapping habitats in southern Africa. Despite the Cape Parrot’s earlier breeding season, which theoretically affords it priority access to cavities, a roller pair was observed attempting to use an actively occupied Cape Parrot nest. This rare interaction reveals potential interspecies conflict where nest-site selection overlaps. Additional examples from both African and Australasian regions suggest that breeding season timing and cavity characteristics often mitigate competition among avian species. The impact of the roller usurping a Cape Parrot nest was significant as only three out of 13 known nest sites were active in 2024 and only one was known to be successful. Therefore, with Cape Parrot populations having dwindled to fewer than 2,000 individuals and breeding success vulnerable to habitat damage and predation, understanding all limiting factors, including interspecific interactions, is vital for conservation. Long-term monitoring across regional nodes underscores the importance of protecting preferred nesting sites to ensure reproductive success and species longevity
An initial re-assessment of the population and distribution of the coral Anomastraea irregularis within the Watamu Marine National Park, Kenya, June 2018
Full text linkAnomastraea irregularis, the crisp pillow coral or irregular honeycomb coral, occurs in intertidal rockpools and along reefs It had anIUCN classification of Vulnerable from 2008 to 2023, but in 2024 it was re-assessed as least concern. It is relatively common in the Watamu Ma-rine National Park. Kenya. The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event in 1998 resulted in the loss of c. 60–90% of corals along the Kenyan coast. The coral reef is slowly recovering. During June 2018, we tried to survey all suitable habitat for A. irregularis colonies during the spring low tides. A total of 57 A. irregularis colonies were located and mapped. The individual colony size ranged from 0.5×0.5 cm to 8.4×4.0 cm. The distribution map provides a baseline for future sur-veys of the distribution of A. irregularis within the park
Successful nesting of a pair of Grey Herons Ardea cinerea in Kollam, an urban agglomeration in India
Full text linkThe Grey Heron Ardea cinerea is a large wading bird indigenous to temperate areas of Europe, Asia and Africa; it plays a vital role as an environmental indicator due to its status as a top predator in freshwater ecosystems. Despite the presence of numerous heronries in India, breeding records for this species are notably limited. This study reports the first successful urban nesting of the Grey Heron in South Kerala, India. Observations were carried out at Ashtamudi Lake, recognized as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, where a pair successfully raised three fledglings on a Samanea saman tree in a busy urban setting. This breeding event, which occurred outside the conventional monsoon season and in an urbanized area, emphasizes the species' adaptability and potential for successful synurbanization. The findings offer insights into the breeding ecology of the Grey Heron, its nesting behaviors in urban environments, and its resilience in the context of human-induced changes
Impact of Consultant Performance Indicators on Project Success in Public Construction Projects
Full text linkThis research examines the impact of consultant project performance indicators on project success in public construction projects and projects specific to public tertiary institutions in Bauchi State. The paper adopted a questionnaire survey. A structured questionnaire was administered to 144 construction professionals to elicit information on consultant project performance factors that impact the successful delivery of projects, out of which 125, representing 86.8%, correctly filled questionnaires were analyzed. The study deployed descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation for data analysis. The result shows resource adequacy, understanding of client’s requirements, competency and experience, commitment and flexibility. The study concluded that the adequacy of resources and understanding the client's requirements are the main elements for evaluating consultant performance and are mostly considered for measuring the project's success. Therefore, the research recommended improving project success by improving the project performance indicators. Also, competent and experienced professionals should be entertained in awarding projects to achieve cost effectiveness, quality work, and timely delivery of projects. Therefore, consultants should communicate effectively and involve clients at every stage of the project cycle to achieve project success. Consultants should ensure adequate communication and allow the participation of every professional during the implementation of public projects