Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC)

15/09/2026

This aquatic facility is built to cover a 100-metre pool without a single internal column. It features sweeping curved steel rafters spanning up to 48 metres and seamless roofing rolled on site to cover 2 650 m².

Located at St Charles College in Pietermaritzburg, this pool complex incorporates curved cellular beams supplied by Macsteel and fabricated by Cousins Steel International, supported on a reinforced concrete ring beam designed to absorb horizontal thrust.

The St Charles Pool Complex project has been nominated for the Steel Awards 2026 by .

Read the full project overview here:
https://ow.ly/8fl550ZNblb

14/09/2026

We would like to recognise our main partner for the Steel Awards 2026, Unica Steel & Iron for their foundational role in contributing to a sustainable steel industry through local manufacturing.

Their partnership with us is progressive, and together we strive to strengthen supply chains for construction and infrastructure. They demonstrate true commitment to quality, resilience and long-term industry growth, and for that we say thank you!

Learn more about their continued investment in steel production here: https://ow.ly/OoUO50ZNbJH

14/09/2026

Designing a warehouse is about more than getting the structure to stand.

Structural efficiency, cost, constructability, cladding, drainage and connections all need to work together — and poor coordination can quickly become an expensive problem.

The SAISC Design of Warehouse Buildings Course takes a practical, real-world approach to designing efficient and robust industrial steel structures.

Ideal for:
▪️ Structural engineers
▪️ Engineers and designers working on warehouse and industrial buildings
▪️ Professionals looking to strengthen their practical steel design knowledge

The course covers structural and lateral stability systems, typical connections, cladding considerations, rainwater removal and drainage, with worked examples and practical design decision-making throughout.

📅 5 November 2026
📍 Auckland Park, Johannesburg
🎓 1 CPD point
⏰ Registration closes 30 October 2026

👉 Book your place: https://ow.ly/fksu50ZHAaW

14/09/2026

Designed with non-linear, multi-planar geometry, this modern residential entertainment pavilion uses a dual-function exterior sheathing board across its 320 m² surface to achieve complex folded planes while eliminating heavy sub-framing.

The House Visser Glasroc X Lapa in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, combines a back-to-back angle iron primary frame with light steel frame panels and a dry-build envelope system that minimises on-site water usage while delivering high thermal, acoustic, and fire performance.

The House Visser Glasroc X Lapa project has been nominated for the Steel Awards 2026 by Saint-Gobain Construction Products SA.

Read the complete case study and full project details here:
https://ow.ly/40U350ZN7SX

11/09/2026

SAISC featured in To Build 🏗️

We’re pleased to be featured in the latest edition of To Build, sharing SAISC’s perspective with the wider built environment and construction community.

As we celebrate 70 years of the SAISC, it’s an important opportunity to keep the conversation around steel construction, industry capability and the future of our sector visible across the broader built environment.

Thank you to the To Build team for the feature and for continuing to create a platform for the people, projects and organisations shaping South Africa’s construction industry.

👉 Read the latest edition of To Build online:
https://ow.ly/QLej50ZHAcu

10/09/2026

70 years of strength, innovation, and dedication. 🛠️✨

We want to raise a glass to you! To everyone who has been part of creating, supporting, and carrying this industry through seven decades of depth and growth. You are the true legacy.

"It always seems impossible until it's done." — Nelson Mandela

Thank you for building the foundation of our past and continuing to shape our future. 🥂

10/09/2026

Symbolising rebirth and revitalisation, this 5-ton tubular steel structure rises from a central lift shaft to form a flower canopy overhead.

Every individual branch tube is rolled to a unique radius derived from a 3D scan of the existing building.

The Lilly is an architectural steel feature installed in The View atrium at Fourways Mall, Johannesburg. Constructed with rectangular and square hollow sections, the assembly integrates perimeter window frames, LED lighting, and composite panel cladding, connecting to the venue's existing roof via precision-engineered hangers and clamps.

The Lilly at the Fourways Mall has been nominated for the Steel awards 2026 by CADCON.

Read the complete case study here:
https://www.saisc.co.za/listing/fourways-mall-the-lilly/

09/09/2026

Giving the next generation a view of steel in action. 🏗️

For a group of third-year Wits civil engineering students, a recent SAISC-facilitated industry visit took learning beyond the lecture theatre and onto the workshop floor.

SAISC Verified Members VIVA Engineering and Macsteel opened their facilities to give students a practical look at the steel value chain, from processing and supply to fabrication and real-world application.

Experiences like these help connect engineering theory with industry practice, while giving future engineers valuable exposure to the people, processes and career opportunities within our sector.

A big thank you to Engineering and Macsteel for investing in the next generation of steel.

👉 Read the full story: https://ow.ly/HOEL50ZHA2w

SAISC took 122 Wits engineering students through Macsteel and VIVA Engineering, connecting classroom theory with real steel industry operations.

09/09/2026

When a fire destroyed the original entrance at Shambala Private Game Reserve, the replacement needed to capture the character of the 10 000-hectare reserve while providing an unobstructed, clear-span opening for vehicle access.

Inspired by traditional Zulu-hut architecture, the new gatehouse features a striking clear-span entrance constructed from 9 tons of tubular steel finished in thatch. Utilising primarily Circular Hollow Sections, the design seamlessly blends traditional organic forms with modern engineering precision and durability.

The Shambala Private Game Reserve Gate House project in Limpopo has been nominated for the Steel Awards 2026 by CADCON.

Read the complete case study here:
https://www.saisc.co.za/listing/shambala-private-game-reserve-gate-house/

08/09/2026

[𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐒 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒] The 2026 Steel Awards take place within a tough operating environment and during industry body the Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC)’s seventieth anniversary year, which makes the event “particularly significant”, says SAISC CEO Amanuel Gebremeskel.

“The [. . .] sector is operating in a challenging environment. There are real concerns around material availability, tariff pressures, infrastructure delivery, competitiveness and consistent material quality, and SAISC is actively engaged in many of those discussions. At the same time, we need to make sure those challenges do not become the only story being told about the industry."

The awards will take place on October 29, at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg.

This week's SA Institute of Steel Construction feature has more information> https://bit.ly/4xf6qy2