Despite the National Infrastructure Maintenance Strategy (NIMS), the Government Immovable Asset Management Act (GIAMA), and the National Immovable Asset Maintenance Management (NIAMM) framework, the condition of South African public sector infrastructure remains unsatisfactory, as evidenced by national ‘report cards’ and the three ‘Drop’ reports that appeared in March 2026. The problem is that there has not (until this article) been a study in South Africa that contrasts the high-level NIMS and its associated NIAMM, on the one hand, with the condition of public sector fixed infrastructure, on the other – and has asked why this strategy and this framework have had hardly any practical effect. This article adopts a qualitative, policy- and practice-oriented approach, drawing on documentary evidence, comparative policy review, and practitioner-informed insight. It investigates the adequacy of implementation of South Africa’s infrastructure asset management guidance, and explores whether peer countries achieve better outcomes through alternative mechanisms. Data were collected through a desktop review of relevant overseas strategies, legislation, and guidelines, supplemented by correspondence with practitioners and professional networks in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and (to a lesser extent) a few other countries, where documents in English could be obtained. Analysis focused on identifying the presence and effectiveness of governance mechanisms, supportive institutions, and enabling cultures that influence infrastructure maintenance outcomes. Findings indicate that, while South Africa possesses documentation or legislation broadly comparable to that of peer countries, the main reason for these countries’ better infrastructure condition is their prioritising accountability, competence, adequate budgets, and supportive organisational cultures. By contrast, South African strategy and frameworks, largely unsupported and unpublicised, have limited impact. The article highlights implications for strengthening infrastructure asset management policy and practice in South Africa. It does not set out an explicit reform blueprint.
Construction projects in Zimbabwe continue to experience performance challenges arising from persistent safety constraints. This study examines how the Last Planner System (LPS), a key Lean Construction tool, can be applied to reduce these safety-related barriers. The aim is to provide construction stakeholders with practical, evidence-based guidelines for implementing LPS to improve safety performance on project sites. A quantitative survey was conducted among contractors registered with the Construction Industry Federation of Zimbabwe (CIFOZ), yielding 130 valid responses. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics, mean score analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Results show that LPS significantly alleviates two major categories of safety constraints, namely technical and managerial inadequacies, and employee-related and project delivery concerns, supported by p-values below 0.05 and path coefficients of 0.409 and 0.520, respectively. From these findings, practical LPS implementation guidelines are proposed. It emphasises multilevel planning (master, phase, look-ahead, and weekly), systematic identification and mitigation of safety risks, enhanced worker participation to strengthen ownership of safety practices, and improved workflow reliability to prevent last-minute changes that commonly lead to accidents. Although the study is limited to Zimbabwean projects and relies primarily on quantitative data, it demonstrates that LPS offers a viable and impactful strategy for improving construction site safety. Broader adoption of LPS can support performance enhancement across the sector and aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 9 and 11.
The built environment is responsible for roughly 40% of global carbon emissions, compelling the need for targeted strategies that address impacts across the building life cycle. Early-stage building design still lacks integrated optimisation frameworks that quantify how material choices and envelope configurations influence life-cycle emissions and thermal comfort. This gap is critical in tropical climates, where the interaction between thermal mass, envelope performance, and operational loads is complex. Each stage of a building’s life cycle generates different carbon profiles. Designers often rely on single-metric assessments, leading to design decisions that appear sustainable but perform poorly across the full life cycle. This study develops a combined multi-objective optimisation (MOO) and life-cycle assessment (LCA) method to evaluate and balance these competing objectives across alternative design scenarios. A DesignBuilder (V6) MOO algorithm was applied to an existing tropical case building constructed with sandcrete blocks. Two optimised substitutes were developed: one combining burnt brick external walls with a clay slate roof, and another with burnt brick external walls with a green roof. Preliminary simulations show that, although material substitution reduced embodied carbon, it increased operational carbon and worsened thermal discomfort. The optimisation processes generated 626 iterations and yielded 57 non-dominated solutions, with Pareto front analyses revealing a complex interplay between design variables and performance outcomes. Subsequent LCA of the buildings using OneClick LCA revealed that horizontal structural elements accounted for up to 89% of embodied carbon in the A1-A3 (materials) stages. While embodied carbon represented 19% of total life-cycle emissions in the case building, operational carbon dominated overall impacts, reaching 87% in the second optimised building. The study concludes that Pareto-based multi-objective optimisation presents a robust framework for navigating conflicting design goals. However, it must be integrated with life-cycle evaluation to identify design interventions that can deliver the greatest environmental and thermal performance gains.
This study investigates the influence of ten organisational determinants on ten dimensions of performance among local contractors in Kenya’s construction sector. Grounded in the Resource-Based View and Contingency Theory, the research adopts a multidimensional framework to assess profitability, growth, technical capability, business efficiency, employee satisfaction, financial stability, client satisfaction, product quality, managerial capability, and safety performance. Data were collected from 378 valid responses, using structured questionnaires administered to contractors and consultants. Multiple regression analysis was employed to model the relationships between each performance dimension and the ten determinants, culminating in a composite model of overall organisational performance. Findings reveal that strategic planning, contractor innovativeness, supplier effectiveness, organisational structure, and quality of service are the most consistent and significant predictors across performance dimensions. The composite model yielded an adjusted R² of 0.819, indicating strong explanatory power. External factors such as government support and competition showed limited but context-specific influence, while performance measurement practices exhibited paradoxical effects. The study underscores the primacy of internal strategic and operational capabilities in driving performance and offers actionable recommendations for contractors, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. These include strengthening planning systems, supporting innovation, optimising supplier networks, and reforming performance measurement frameworks to support strategic learning and continuous improvement.
On-site labour productivity is a critical determinant of project performance for small and medium‑sized enterprise (SME) contractors, who play an important role in South Africa’s economic development and employment creation. Many construction projects continue to incur productivity losses, due to inadequate site management practices, skills shortages, ineffective supervision, and material supply disruptions. This study examines strategies to enhance on-site labour productivity among SME contractors within the context of sustainable construction project delivery. A quantitative research design was used, and data was collected through survey questionnaires from 155 site-management personnel, including directors, construction managers, quantity surveyors, site agents, and foremen, from SME contractors registered under cidb grades 1 to 6 in the General Building category. Mean rating scores and factor analysis were applied to identify the most significant productivity-enhancing strategies. The findings indicate that SME contractors prioritise effective supervision, regular quality inspections, consistent progress monitoring, timely decision-making, and appropriate task delegation. The adoption of smart technologies such as drone monitoring, telematics for equipment tracking, and blockchain systems for labour payments was also recognised as increasingly valuable. Additional strategies include proper material-handling training, monitoring material usage, efficient waste management, hiring skilled equipment operators, routine machinery maintenance, and maintaining spare machinery parts. Principal component analysis revealed three overarching components for improving labour productivity: site control, smart technologies for productivity enhancement, and site management. This study offers evidence‑based strategies for SME contractors and policymakers, presenting an operational framework designed to minimise project inefficiencies and strengthen sustainable performance in the construction sector.
Infrastructure and housing conditions are increasingly recognised as key determinants of public health, yet evidence from Zambia remains limited and fragmented. This scoping review maps research on how WASH infrastructure, service provision, and housing quality influence health outcomes. Following the Arksey and O’Malley framework, strengthened by Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidance and reported in line with the PRISMA-ScR checklist, searches across Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and organisational sources identified studies published between 2012 and October 2025. From 4,525 records and 141 full texts, 32 studies met inclusion criteria and were synthesised thematically. Four themes emerged: water and sanitation services, where inadequate or poorly maintained systems drive contamination and disease; WASH access, highlighting persistent inequalities linked to socio-economic status, settlement type, and rapid urbanisation; WASH and health outcomes, showing consistent associations between poor sanitation, limited drainage, water scarcity, and communicable diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea; and housing and malaria, demonstrating how structural features like wall and roof materials, ventilation, and openings affect vector exposure. Across studies, weak sanitation, inadequate drainage, overcrowding, and poor housing quality heightened vulnerability to cholera, diarrhoeal diseases, respiratory conditions, and malaria. Evidence gaps include measuring housing quality, integrating infrastructure factors into health research, and representing peri-urban areas. Findings underscore the need for improved, context-appropriate WASH systems, housing interventions, and standardised assessment approaches, while embedding public health considerations into housing and urban development policies to reduce preventable disease burdens in Zambia.
This fourth article in a series being published in this Journal on the condition of South Africa’s public sector fixed infrastructure describes what it identifies as the primary causes of this condition. The first two articles dealt with efforts to monitor the condition, and with studies of the condition and their findings. The third discussed some consequences of that condition. For this article, qualitative research methods were employed, primarily through the application of desktop research and data analysis of grey literature. The findings on the primary causes of infrastructure condition of ten sets of documents dating back to 2006 were reviewed to identify the commonly cited causes of failure (among them, skills shortages, budget constraints, weak systems, poor data, and poor governance) and to understand if there could be underlying factors common to multiple elements on this list of usual suspects. In its findings, the review suggests that factors of leadership and institutional capacity, socio-economic context, and culture underlie the commonly cited causes – that is, the commonly cited causes are profoundly shaped by these underlying factors.
The global climate crisis is compelling nations to adopt building resilience practices to facilitate the transition to a low-carbon and sustainable future. In tropical regions, where the impact of climate change is predicted to be most adverse, elevated outdoor temperatures may render existing housing unliveable. In Nigeria, much attention is not paid to designing climate-responsive buildings, making new and existing buildings vulnerable to extreme future climates. This study evaluates Nigeria’s readiness to transition to low-carbon and climate-responsive housing, using a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative data. Weather data for 2020 and future projections for 2100 (based on RCP 8.5 scenarios) were generated using Meteonorm (v8) and analysed using Python in Jupyter Notebook. In addition, 68 peer-reviewed references were sourced from reputable online databases and informed a thematic analysis. The results show an average temperature increase of 5.2°C by 2100, with significant regional variability, highlighting the urgent need for climate-responsive building strategies. The thematic analysis identified financial constraints, weak policy frameworks, as well as technological and knowledge gaps as the primary barriers to sustainable building adoption in Nigeria. The study concludes that, for the habitability and sustainability of buildings, future-proofing strategies must prioritise solar shading, thermal mass insulation, passive cooling and ventilation, renewable energy integration, and low embodied energy materials. These measures must be supported by robust policies, incentives, and an effective building assessment framework to ensure the resilience and sustainability of Nigeria’s housing supply.
To remain resilient amid technological disruption and economic volatility, the architectural field must adopt entrepreneurial mindsets and methods. Design Thinking and Designerly Thinking have been the subject of comparison and analysis in the academic literature. However, their application in architectural practice and architectural entrepreneurship is vague. This article applies case-study research methodology to gain insight into how architects might apply their skills in new fields. This research adopts a qualitative approach, combining a comprehensive literature review with primary data collection through a semi-structured interview. The case study focuses on Al Stratford – an award-winning figure in architecture, product, and furniture design – who has successfully transitioned into entrepreneurship and industrial design. Thematic analysis was used to interpret both the literature and the interview transcript. The analysis considers what the thinking and design processes applied by Al Stratford in architectural design, product design, and business design are, how they differ, how they differ from the theoretical standard, and what the causes for any differences might be. The study suggests that architectural Designerly Thinking processes are often distinct and context specific, differing from broader notions of Designerly Thinking, while occasionally incorporating elements of Design Thinking. The key findings indicate that, for designers, the entrepreneurial process can align closely with Designerly Thinking, making the latter more suitable than Design Thinking in architectural contexts. Importantly, architects and designers are encouraged to identify entrepreneurial opportunities that emerge organically within the designerly process itself. In doing so, they should emulate Stratford’s commitment to addressing concrete, context-specific needs with appropriate and innovative solutions. This integration of creativity, contextual responsiveness, and problem-solving within the design process can serve as a foundation for entrepreneurial innovation in architecture.
The construction industries in South Africa and Nigeria face severe disruptions from non-state actors such as the South African construction mafias and Nigeria’s Omo Onile. These groups impede project progress and impose heavy economic costs through extortion and violence. This exploratory comparative study investigates their characteristics, operational methods, and impacts on construction projects and the wider industry. A qualitative research design was adopted, drawing on both primary and secondary data. In Lagos State, Nigeria, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 landowners and 19 government officials, using purposive and snowball sampling. Due to safety and access limitations, South African data were obtained through a systematic review and thematic analysis of 25 documents and 3 multimedia sources. Data were analysed thematically, using manual coding and ATLAS.ti software. Findings show that both groups derive social and political legitimacy and employ self-help tactics to extort and disrupt construction activities. Key traits include localised operations, political support networks, and claims of legitimate representation. Their actions cause injuries, fatalities, property damage, investor withdrawal, project delays, and inflated costs. Economically, this leads to cost overruns, shrinking profit margins, and weakening sector performance. While both countries have introduced laws and enforcement initiatives, effectiveness remains limited. The study concludes that holistic solutions, combining legal reform, stronger institutions, community engagement, economic inclusion, and improved governance are essential.
The evaluation of user satisfaction in temporary housing units, particularly in the container city established in Diyarbakir following the Kahramnmaras earthquake on 6 February 2023, presents a critical area of study in post-disaster recovery efforts. The aftermath of natural disasters often necessitates the rapid deployment of temporary housing solutions such as container cities. However, there is a significant gap in the comprehensive and timely evaluation of user satisfaction in these newly established settlement, particularly in the context of the recent Kahramanmaras earthquake in Turkey. This research aims to address this knowledge gap, by assessing user satisfaction levels across various aspects of the container city in Diyarbakir, including social amenities, technical infrastructure, housing units, and sociocultural relations. By examining these factors, the study seeks to provide valuable insights for disaster management authorities, urban planners, and policymakers involved in post-disaster recovery. The study seeks to identify specific areas of high and low satisfaction among residents, analyse the relationship between physical design elements and user satisfaction and explore the sociocultural factors influencing residents’ experiences. The findings of this research are expected to contribute to the improvement of future temporary housing solutions, emphasising the importance of considering both physical and sociocultural aspects in disaster recovery planning. Through this comprehensive evaluation, the study aims to enhance the overall effectiveness and user experience of temporary housing initiatives in post-disaster scenarios.
The adoption of decentralised waste-water treatment systems presents a viable solution to the growing sanitation and infrastructure challenges faced by developing countries. Among these systems, constructed wetlands (CWs) have gained attention as cost-effective, environmentally sustainable options for treating domestic waste water. This study aims to develop an adoption framework to guide the implementation of CWs as a decentralised waste-water treatment approach in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. A quantitative research design is employed, using a structured, closed-ended questionnaire distributed to 120 professionals, including civil engineers, planners, local authority officials, government representatives, community leaders, and non-governmental organisations. To identify respondents, the study employs a snowball sampling technique, which is effective for accessing specialised or hard-to-reach populations through participant referrals. Ninety valid responses (75% response rate) were analysed using SPSS for descriptive statistics, reliability testing (Cronbach’s alpha), Relative Importance Index (RII), One-way Anova, and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). The EFA results reveal three principal dimensions influencing CW adoption, namely institutional and public health factors; financing, regulation, and technical capacity, as well as human and contextual conditions. The findings have significant theoretical, practical, and policy implications – advancing understanding of decentralised waste-water adoption and offering guidance for institutional reform, funding strategies, and community engagement to support sustainable sanitation infrastructure. The resulting framework, which integrates PESTLE factors, stakeholder roles, and procedural steps, provides a replicable tool to inform decision-making for decentralised waste-water management in developing urban contexts. Although limited to Bulawayo, the framework provides a replicable model for similar urban contexts in developing countries.
As a recognised disability, deafness affects speech, language, and cognitive development, influencing educational access and employability. While suitable physical environments for learners are well studied, limited research addresses architectural design for deaf learners. The concept of ‘DeafSpace’ extends universal design principles to reflect how deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals experience and communicate within space. When architectural designers overlook these spatial differences, it can hinder the developmental, social, and emotional needs of deaf children, leading to isolation and stigmatisation. In South Africa, deaf learners are accommodated in specialised schools; however, the effectiveness of these environments remains underexplored. This scoping review employs the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology to map existing literature addressing architectural provisions and spatial challenges within schools for the deaf. Eleven studies from six countries are identified, with 72.7% originating from North America, indicating a marked geographical and cultural bias. Three principal architectural paradigms are discerned, namely universal design, inclusive design, and DeafSpace, reflecting divergent epistemological positions on general accessibility versus specificity of deaf experience. Consensus emerges around key spatial parameters: visual connectivity (100%), lighting quality (81.8%), and acoustic management (72.7%). Nonetheless, significant implementation gaps persist, particularly concerning post-occupancy evaluation, economic analysis, and cultural contextualisation. The review further identifies an overreliance on technical rather than sociocultural approaches, with minimal participatory engagement of deaf users. This article highlights the absence of South African architectural research on deaf education and identifies urgent priorities for empirical validation, cross-cultural adaptation, and practical frameworks bridging theory and implementation.
The construction sector has a significant impact on the environment, yet the uptake of green construction in Kenya remains low, partly due to barriers in accessing green construction finance (GCF). This study evaluates the key determinants influencing GCF uptake in Kenya’s construction industry. Using quantitative research methods, a survey of 69 registered developer firms was conducted, evaluating eight key determinants, namely awareness; availability and accessibility; institutional and regulatory factors; financial and cost-related aspects; environmental considerations; technological and technical factors; risk, and sociocultural influences. Findings revealed moderate awareness of technical aspects but poor understanding of financial mechanisms, incentives, and application processes. While GCF is perceived as available, bureaucratic and regulatory barriers limit accessibility. Long-term financial gains and environmental benefits are recognised, yet high upfront costs, regulatory uncertainties, skill gaps, and low public awareness constrain adoption. Technological readiness and certification bodies are crucial for GCF uptake, but sociocultural attitudes, trust deficits, and inadequate policy coherence remain significant barriers to widespread GCF adoption, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. The study contributes to research and policy, by providing recommendations to guide strategies (e.g., combining capacity-building programmes, streamlined institutional and regulatory frameworks, financial incentives, technological support, risk mitigation, and social advocacy) that can improve green finance accessibility and promote sustainable construction practices in Kenya.
Cities often lack accessible green spaces, limiting opportunities for residents to connect with their surroundings. Urban parkettes – mini or pocket parks – provide small but vital spaces that deliver recreational, aesthetic, biodiversity, and environmental benefits, while supporting place dependence among users. Yet, few studies in the African context examine how landscape values shape place dependence within these spaces. This exploratory study investigates parkettes in the Central Business District of Kigali City. It analyses user perceptions of landscape values, examines relationships between these values and place dependence, identifies the most influential values, and reviews key constructs of place dependence alongside spatial attributes of the parkettes. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining surveys of 185 on-site respondents, 13 interviews, and field investigations through photography and mapping. Findings reveal varying landscape spatial attributes with sizes ranging from 382 m2 to 6,034 m2, with total parkette green network of 11,124 m2. Regression analysis identified air quality, recreational, and therapeutic values as significant predictors of place dependence, while economic value was least important. Correlation analysis revealed moderate positive associations between landscape values and place dependence. The study recommends enhancing place quality through parkette naming, signage, shade trees, bollards, and small shops to improve user satisfaction and place dependence outcomes. A conceptual framework linking principles, place quality, place expectations, and outcomes is proposed to guide future research. Findings offer actionable insights for policymakers and urban planners to create people-centred urban green spaces that strengthen attachment and encourage regular use.
Following years of hyperinflation, Zimbabwe’s construction industry has grown rapidly since 2017, often without adequate safety measures, resulting in increased injuries and fatalities. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have globally transformed safety management in construction, yet their adoption in Zimbabwe remains limited. While existing literature highlights general barriers to advanced technology uptake in developing countries, specific impediments to GIS adoption in Zimbabwe are underexplored. This study investigates the key barriers to GIS implementation for safety management in Zimbabwe’s construction sector. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative data from 86 professionals, including project managers, engineers, architects, and safety officers, via a web-based survey, with qualitative insights from 12 in-depth interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, particularly principal factor analysis, while qualitative data were examined thematically. Four major barrier components emerged, namely industry fragmentation and resource constraints; standardisation, legal, and user preference issues; management-related challenges, and technological complexity and security concerns. The study recommends government intervention through supportive legal frameworks, infrastructure development, and financial incentives to promote GIS adoption. In addition, awareness campaigns via workshops and conferences are essential to support professional engagement. Given the moderate sample size, findings are indicative rather than generalisable but offer valuable insights for enhancing construction safety through GIS in Zimbabwe.
This article investigates mentorship within South Africa's architecture profession, a field grappling with retention and demographic transformation amidst historical socio-political complexities. While mentorship has evolved from discretionary to a near-mandatory practice prescribed by the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP), its actual impact on the architecture profession remains understudied. Employing a pragmatic mixed-methods approach, this study integrates document reviews and survey results from 430 participants, and 46 key informant interviews to explore perceptions surrounding mentorship. The study reveals that positive, neutral, and negative mechanics and sentiments on mentorship co-exist, highlighting the contingent and variable effects of mentorship on career trajectories. These findings challenge the conventional ‘mentorship-is-good’ paradigm, suggesting that traditional mentorship models may inadvertently perpetuate hierarchical relationships, thereby hindering transformation efforts. The implications point to a need for intensified scholarship to underpin mentorship approaches that are relevant, effective and informed, address power dynamics, and promote equitable professional development in post-apartheid South Africa. The identified lack of research on the nuances of mentorship dynamics on professions fields - especially from a global south perspective - shows a need for the profession to engage more critically with the topic. This could pave the way for mentorship to be less a symbolic or outdated practice and serve as a tool for more meaningful progress.
Stabilised sandcrete (sand-cement) and latscrete (clay/mud-cement) blocks are the most commonly used materials for masonry building walling material in Port Harcourt metropolis. Despite the hot, humid tropical climate in this region, the interior thermal comfort benefits of selecting suitable walling materials for buildings are frequently overlooked. In addition to the interior thermal comfort in buildings, rising energy usage is also a cause for concern. The choice of material for wall building is influenced by cost, strength, and durability. However, interest in employing sustainable green architecture and thermally comfortable building materials has increased in recent years. Selecting appropriate wall materials that can be energy efficient and lower cooling load is necessary, since external walls play a significant role in thermal insulation. Therefore, the study evaluated indoor thermal comfort, comparing commonly used stabilised latscrete blocks as walling material in two model buildings. To evaluate the characteristics of the two walling materials, a series of tests were performed to determine the water absorption rate, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength, following the standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Readings of relative humidity and indoor temperature of the two buildings were respectively taken and recorded for a period of twelve months. The data were collated and analysed using the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI), Heat Index (HI), and Effective Temperature Index (ETI). To compare the thermal comfort performance of the building models, the ASHRAE 55-2020 standard scale was used. Latscrete was found to be a better thermal comfort performer than sandcrete and was, therefore, recommended as an alternative local walling material for building in the study area.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is transforming industries globally, including the construction sector, through Construction 4.0 (C4.0). The study investigates the critical role of graduate attributes (GAs) within the to develop a framework that enhances collaboration between industry and academia, equipping graduates with the skills and adaptability needed for C4.0. Adopting an explanatory sequential, mixed-methods approach, the data were collected from 288 registered Quantity Surveyors (QSs), Construction Managers (CMs) and by qualitative insights from ten in-depth interviews. The findings reveal that GAs such as adaptability, critical thinking, and problem-solving are essential for navigating the technological and collaborative demands of C4.0. Despite the significant focus on knowledge and skills in current curricula, the study emphasises the critical importance of attributes in supporting lifelong learning, resilience, and innovation. Using the CHAT as an analytical lens, this research offers a framework to realign higher education curricula with industry needs, emphasising the interrelation of KSCA. The study contributes to global discussions on aligning educational outcomes with industry requirements in the context of 4IR. It provides insights to recalibrate South African higher education curricula, ensuring graduate preparedness, and enhancing the employability of future construction professionals.
South Africa faces a persistent water shortage crisis, with the City of Cape Town severely affected between 2015 and 2018. Construction projects, particularly housing developments, are known for their intensive water consumption; yet water conservation practices during the construction phase remain underexplored. Despite the recognition of limitations in sustainable construction knowledge and practices, inefficiencies in water usage persist in the low-cost housing sector. This article investigates water-conservation methods during housing construction in Cape Town, aiming to identify sources of water use, assess current conservation practices, and propose actionable solutions to optimise water efficiency. A mixed-methods research approach was employed, integrating both qualitative and quantitative methods for a holistic analysis. Data was collected through a self-designed questionnaire distributed to 104 construction personnel, including private contractors and government project managers. Responses were analysed using IBM SPSS, employing descriptive statistics. The findings highlight a notable deficiency in current water-conservation practices during construction, highlighting the necessity for stricter monitoring, the adoption of innovative technologies such as closed-loop
