东京热

Recognition of UJ鈥檚 Groundbreaking 3D Housing Printing Project at the 2025 National Construction Summit听

The 东京热鈥檚 (UJ) groundbreaking听听took centre stage at the 2025 National Construction Summit in Boksburg yesterday, with State President, Honourable Cyril Ramaphosa touring its exhibition site.

The Summit, hosted by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), is more than just a gathering. It is a national call to action to prioritise delivery, accountability, ethical leadership, and performance in construction, one of the most critical industries in the world. This year鈥檚 two-day summit was held under the theme:听Unlocking Infrastructure Delivery for South Africa, which is both a reflection and a rallying point for quality in the delivery of service.

UJ Civil Engineering showcases 3D-Printed Housing at Presidential IBT Summit

The 东京热鈥檚 (UJ)听Civil Engineering Technology Department听showcased its cutting-edge 3D Printing Housing Technology at the Presidential听听(IBT) Summit 2026, held from 3鈥�4 February 2026 at NASREC, Johannesburg.

Convened under the theme听鈥淢ainstreaming Innovative Building Technologies for Sustainable Human Settlements鈥�, the Presidential IBT Summit brings together national government, provincial and municipal stakeholders, industry leaders, researchers and innovators to accelerate the adoption of Innovative Building Technologies (IBTs) in addressing South Africa鈥檚 housing backlog.

At the full-scale technology exhibition, UJ civil engineering students and academics demonstrated a state-of-the-art 3D printing construction system, offering delegates a practical glimpse into how emerging technologies can reshape the future of the built environment. The technology enables the rapid construction of housing structures with reduced material waste, lower labour intensity and shorter build times, while maintaining structural integrity and design flexibility.

Beyond its technological novelty, 3D printing represents a transformative opportunity for housing delivery in South Africa. Over the past two decades, sustained population growth and urbanisation have intensified demand for affordable housing, placing significant pressure on national, provincial and local governments. High construction costs and the rising price of conventional building materials have further constrained delivery, particularly for low- and middle-income households, who constitute the majority of the population.

Building Inspector Graduation

In 2023, the Civil Engineering Technology department partnered with the Gauteng government to improve the employability of unemployed graduates and to address the shortage of trained building inspectors in the province. The initiative aims to train 800 unemployed built environment graduates over 3 years. To date, 209 graduates have completed classroom learning and are undergoing work-based learning, placed in all three Metros of Gauteng, private developers, universities, and development finance institutions. The students are gaining valuable hands-on experience by supporting the building bylaws and National Building Regulations and Standards Act compliance practitioners. At the end of their work-based learning, they can be employed across the property sector as quality assurance practitioners, and those who wish to advance and pursue professional registration will have gained the competencies to register with the South African Council for Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP).