Papers by Nthatisi Khatleli
In public procurement, most contractors view the qualifying procedures they are obliged to follow... more In public procurement, most contractors view the qualifying procedures they are obliged to follow as time consuming and wasteful. For one category of public clients, EU rules offer an alternative to qualifying for each project. Public clients operating in the water, energy, transport or telecommunications sectors may establish and operate a so-called ‘qualification system’. This offers contractors the opportunity to qualify for a period of time rather than an individual project. The reasons for applying such a qualification system seem traditionally to be rooted in reducing transaction costs, particularly where the administrative demands are significant relative to the typical value of contracts. As such, it may seem self-evident that a client’s choice between the two approaches should be based on cost efficiency considerations. However, cost efficiency may not be the only motive behind employing a qualification system. A case study is presented here that examines the evolution of s...
IntechOpen eBooks, Sep 25, 2019
Proceedings of International Structural Engineering and Construction, Nov 1, 2015
The extension of the PPP procurement method to custodial services was met with a lot of resistanc... more The extension of the PPP procurement method to custodial services was met with a lot of resistance and disapproval from some quarters within and without the government circles in South Africa. The model utilized in the two facilities currently in operation is design, construct, finance, operate and maintain. The recent invocation of a “step-in” clause in one of the facility was regarded as a vindication that private operators are contextually unsuitable to manage the correctional facilities in South Africa. This research interrogated the monitoring mechanisms set up to oversee the running of the facility and the operational management pitfalls that necessitated this intervention. Through interviews with the private operators, consultants, government officials and the PPP Unit, proper insight was garnered about what could have gone wrong. It was demonstrated that private management is not foolproof against the challenges of managing a facility housing dangerous convicts. Because of the operational challenges encountered by private operators there was a strong advocation for an adaptation of the PPP model where there is a hybrid in management, since South Africa initially entered into PPP arrangements due to lack of finance not due to ineffective management acumen. The study is instructive to future correctional services facilities and inspirational to other jurisdictions where the arrangement is currently mooted.
Journal of the Construction Division and Management, May 1, 2018
AbstractRisk allocation has been a focus of interest in the construction industry for some time b... more AbstractRisk allocation has been a focus of interest in the construction industry for some time because of its effects on disputes, claims, tensions, quality shortfalls, and time and cost overruns....
Proceedings of International Structural Engineering and Construction, Jul 1, 2022
Claims in the construction sector result from, but not limited to, poor contract performance, del... more Claims in the construction sector result from, but not limited to, poor contract performance, delays, conflicts and force majeure. The use of Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques are proposed in construction-related decision-making and prove advantageous in ensuring that claims management processes are effective. This paper provides an overview of existing MCDM techniques proposed for construction claims management. A narrative literature review is performed where Google Scholar and EBSCO host are used to identify relevant articles for the study and 49 articles were selected. From literature, some of the proposed techniques in construction claims management are AHP, ANN, NN, MAUT, SWOT, TOPSIS and VIKOR. Findings from the study indicate that the outdated nature of traditional standalone MCDM techniques has seen the use of hybridised models in construction-related decisionmaking more useful. Supplementing MCDM techniques with techniques such as BIM is rather relevant since BIM alone has the potential to reduce claims emerging from large construction projects.
Proceedings of International Structural Engineering and Construction, Nov 1, 2022
The study appraises the features in the South African construction projects supply chain that are... more The study appraises the features in the South African construction projects supply chain that are amenable to blockchain technology. An integrative review of purposively sampled extant literature from multidisciplinary databases: Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, Sage, Taylor & Francis, and Emerald Insight were adopted. Descriptors for literature search are "integrative review", "black economic empowerment", "building information modelling", and "blockchain technology application in the South African construction sector". The study is in a bid to determine the South African story regarding the adaptability of her infrastructure supply chain using blockchain technology. The study establishes the need for a paradigm shift where figments of science have become reality, and technology synthesis is the main driver. Thus, guaranteeing that technology preference is ideal and to the benefit of everyone. Results show that South Africa is willing to try new technologies including blockchain technology however; there is need for the human workforce and stakeholders within the construction sector to be trained to attain technical and personal skills capabilities. The study proposes the need to integrate blockchain technology concepts into the current education system, especially in developing countries.
American Journal of Applied Sciences, Jul 1, 2017
Appropriate risk allocation influences positive project delivery on construction projects while i... more Appropriate risk allocation influences positive project delivery on construction projects while inappropriate allocation results in disputes, quality shortfalls, time and cost overruns. The existing body of knowledge provides guides on how risks should be allocated between the contracting parties. Nevertheless, the full appreciation of risks allocation is rarely given as risk allocation is more than just which party should bear a risk. This study provides a conceptual model of the various ways risks could be allocated. Furthermore, the FIDIC-Redbook (1999), NEC3 (2005/2006) and JCT Major building contract (2005), JBCC (2014), JLC (1972) and open national bidding contract (2013) are used to demonstrate the practicality of the conceptual model. An understanding of risk allocation prerequisites might help to mitigate risks that influence project performance negatively. The use of this conceptualization may help to assign a risk with more than one treatment option to maximize a positive outcome of a negative risk factor.
Proceedings of International Structural Engineering and Construction, Jul 1, 2017
Since 1994 the post-Apartheid new dispensation introduced policies that sought to affect equity i... more Since 1994 the post-Apartheid new dispensation introduced policies that sought to affect equity in all spheres of life, Mega Projects have become indispensable as their sheer size could have an immediate impact on the intended beneficiaries. However the widespread public protestations and rolling juristic disputations are the objective of this study to assess their impact on the projects' implementation. The two biggest Mega projects in the energy sector, Medupi power station and Kusile power stations are used as case studies to assess the delays caused by the endemic protests in the country. Interviews were held with, local communities, top government officials and professionals involved in the implementation of these projects. It was observed that most of these projects are hastily implemented with abnormally heavy pressure from the authorities in order to avoid political embarrassment. The rushed implementation leads to superficial public consultation which results in a lack of psychological contract with the local communities. Some of these protests could be attributed to downtime, picketing, intimidation of workers, sabotage and general disruptions in order to demonstrate disaffection with the implementation of the projects. If consultation could be all-encompassing, meaningful and target critical stakeholders much better improved project delivery could be achieved.
Proceedings of International Structural Engineering and Construction, Jul 1, 2021
Construction claims remain unavoidable in any megaproject contractual relationship and can quickl... more Construction claims remain unavoidable in any megaproject contractual relationship and can quickly escalate to misunderstandings, disputes and litigations if not appropriately managed. Disputes pose a significant risk in hindering project progress; they are characterised by lengthy legal battles that consume substantial time and financial resources. This study identifies the causes of claims encountered by clients, contractors and consultants in transport and energy sector mega construction projects in South Africa. A semi-systematic literature review was used to identify, select and appraise existing literature on this issue. Content analysis using NVivo 12 was used to identify factors causing claims in the construction sector, particularly in MCPs. Findings of the study revealed that construction projects occurring outside of South Africa experienced a delay in payments, time and cost overruns, change orders, inadequate project and drawing specifications, natural risks or force majeure. In South Africa, delays and cost overruns (due to insufficient experience and expertise of project managers and engineers) frequent to be the causes attributable to claims.
IntechOpen eBooks, May 25, 2022
Mega-projects have unfortunately gained a bad name the world over. The electronic-tolling project... more Mega-projects have unfortunately gained a bad name the world over. The electronic-tolling project in Johannesburg called the GFIP (Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project) is one such project. The perfunctory consultation initiative in an environment where the legislation is not robust and the corporate governance is still fledging led to opportunistic behaviours characterised by malicious compliance. The take home lesson especially in these high dollar projects is to be prescriptive on the consultation process that is backed by a well-thought-out legal framework. The scrutiny of documents and interviewing all the stakeholders was insightful and instructive even to other jurisdictions. Notably that a shallow and limited consultation drive is counter-productive. For a consultation drive to yield desired results it has to be deliberate, aggressive and tailor-made to suit contextual exigencies.
Springer eBooks, 2020
There is a notable engineering skills deficit (ESD) in South Africa. Among other interventions, t... more There is a notable engineering skills deficit (ESD) in South Africa. Among other interventions, the proliferation of skills development policies, engineering skills development programmes (ESDPs), and the use of expatriate engineering professionals in Mega Construction Projects (MCPs), have been the main interventions promulgated by the government. This study sought to investigate the effectiveness of expatriate professionals in transferring engineering skills to candidate engineers in South African MCPs. This study is of particular significance to the construction industry in South Africa, and can contribute towards addressing the current ESD. Due to the nature of questions which this study pursued to answer, a case study strategy was adopted. A mixed-method data collection was used in the form of a survey questionnaire, follow-up interviews and secondary document data. Quantitative data involved numeric scores from questionnaires and secondary document data, while qualitative data included transcribed data from follow-up interviews. Findings from both the questionnaire and the interviews indicate a consensus that the dawn of South Africa's skills development policy framework such as the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) of 1997 is by no doubt linked to the apartheid legacy. Findings from document secondary data indicate that the throughput of black candidates and professional engineers has been consistently increasing over the period 2009 – 2017. The central conclusion to be drawn from the study is that there is a need to establish an effective institutional and regulatory framework with clear delegation of roles and responsibilities between expatriates, local beneficiaries and the different institutions involved in the provision of ESDPs in South African MCPs.
Recommendations • Encourage SADC members to establish functioning and politically independent PPP... more Recommendations • Encourage SADC members to establish functioning and politically independent PPP units to deliver transparent procurement processes that will attract foreign players. • The energy, transport and water sectors are very important in a developing region, and the structuring of sustainable projects could yield financially lucrative opportunities to all parties. • Understanding the political climate in the region is crucial, as it seems that in most countries projects also have to deliver on skills transfer, job creation and the inclusion of local businesses. Encourage openness and transparency regarding the expectations of the host government early in negotiations. Executive summary The adoption of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in developed countries could be instructive to developing economies with tight fiscal constraints that want to develop infrastructure with broader social developmental aims. PPPs are an opportunity for the state to benefit from private sector management approaches and technological innovation that provide quality services to the general populace. The benefits of PPPs can be attested to in several jurisdictions. However, there are instances in SADC where relations have been difficult, and the optimal performance of PPPs has not been reached. This policy briefing makes recommendations on how PPPs can be strengthened in SADC based on practical examples in the region.
Proceedings of International Structural Engineering and Construction, Jul 1, 2017
The opening up of the invisible barriers after the fall of apartheid in South Africa led to massi... more The opening up of the invisible barriers after the fall of apartheid in South Africa led to massive internal migrations and relocations to bigger cities. Johannesburg as the biggest economic hub not only in South Africa but in Africa, pulled the majority of the new opportunity seekers from across the Africa continent. This uncontrolled influx led to overcrowding, increased crime and grime in the city center of Johannesburg. The loss of value of property in this part of the city led to a lot of corporate organizations relocating to budding economic nodes in and around Johannesburg. The study seeks to understand the processes that were applied in deciding the suitable new Headquarters for these blue chip companies. The new nodes that accommodated the new relocators have over time assumed identities of their own in terms of the type of companies that are mostly found in these areas. Although these identity nuances are not pronounced at first glance, they are accentuated with greater scrutiny. The study sought to see if there is a fit between the independent observation of the characteristics of these locations and the perceived attractors to the blue chip firms. This was achieved by interviewing the executives of these companies and sending emails to some in order to understand the processes and triggers affecting their decisions. It was generally observed that prestige and locational characteristics that complemented the company's ethos were the overriding triggers in deciding on the final nodal destination.
Proceedings of International Structural Engineering and Construction, Jul 1, 2017
Obsolescence is a major challenge in Infrastructure implementation around the world. South Africa... more Obsolescence is a major challenge in Infrastructure implementation around the world. South Africa has been implementing PPPs close to 20 years now and some of the first projects will soon come to closure as the end of their term is drawing nigh. Obsolescence is generally mitigated by stipulating that there should be a general overhaul of the facility very close to the end of term in order to preserve and elongate the economic life of the project. However, the health projects are very much dependent on the ever-changing technological developments for their optimal performance. Some of the new technological equipment might require infrastructural adaptations. Through interviewing designers, managers and clients the research sought to garner information that could be helpful for future projects in this sector and that could be adapted to other sectors as well. Although it was found that obsolescence was not properly catered for, the experiences of the aforementioned respondents were valuable in proposing general considerations in future projects. It is hoped that lessons will be instructive and beneficial to the other countries which are new to the PPP procurement method, especially when it comes to the implementation of the health facilities.
Proceedings of International Structural Engineering and Construction, Jul 1, 2021
Projects supply chain is overwhelmed with unethical practices. Managing construction projects sup... more Projects supply chain is overwhelmed with unethical practices. Managing construction projects supply chain, which is traditionally void of transparency, has led to issues of corruption, vested interest, clientelism, ghosting, bid rigging and poor professional ethical standards. The centralized nature of data management in the construction industry is characterized by the lack of visibility and transparency of details and this lack of visibility is a major cause of inefficiency in construction project delivery. The objective of the paper is to assess the indicators for adaptability of projects supply chain using blockchain technology. The article adopts a bibliometrix strategy to extract qualitative data from existing peer-reviewed articles. The research design is a combination of different approaches, including bibliometric and visualization, bibliometric and content analysis, as well as bibliometric, visualization and content analysis. Data was obtained from articles indexed on SCOPUS and Web of Science. R-studio was used for data analysis, while VosViewer was used for visualization. The paper is a part of an ongoing research. The research is exploratory and adopts a pragmatist approach. The research is expected to develop a framework that will introduce transparency and provenance in projects supply chain using blockchain technology. Findings from this review show that there are indicators for adaptability of construction projects supply chain using blockchain.
Corporate Governance - Recent Advances and Perspectives
Mega-projects have unfortunately gained a bad name the world over. The electronic-tolling project... more Mega-projects have unfortunately gained a bad name the world over. The electronic-tolling project in Johannesburg called the GFIP (Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project) is one such project. The perfunctory consultation initiative in an environment where the legislation is not robust and the corporate governance is still fledging led to opportunistic behaviours characterised by malicious compliance. The take home lesson especially in these high dollar projects is to be prescriptive on the consultation process that is backed by a well-thought-out legal framework. The scrutiny of documents and interviewing all the stakeholders was insightful and instructive even to other jurisdictions. Notably that a shallow and limited consultation drive is counter-productive. For a consultation drive to yield desired results it has to be deliberate, aggressive and tailor-made to suit contextual exigencies.
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Papers by Nthatisi Khatleli
technological innovativeness and management acumen. However due to the dynamism of technological
developments, equipment that still serves a purpose for which it was designed, could be rendered obsolete
within a very short space of time. PPPs have very rigid contractual arrangements that most of the times
are designed to ensure compliance and to minimize contractual entropy. The hospital PPPs pose a special
problem as the cutting edge equipment that is critical to save lives could unexpectedly be introduced into
the market blind siding long standing plans into the management of the facility. Using three PPP Hospital
projects in South Africa, the issue of equipment obsolescence management was investigated. Using mixed
method approach where questionnaires were sent to professional consultants and government officials
assessing their appreciation and knowledge of obsolescence management. Interviews were also conducted
with 3 key personnel who had an intimate knowledge of the intricacies of the contract the information
they gave was also augmented with the perusal of the availed documents. All the data was analysed using
thematic analysis for interviews, content analysis for the documents and statics for the quantitative data.
What transpired from the study was that there are a lot of challenges in PPPs, which makes
competitiveness very difficult especially when it comes to managing obsolescence of equipment.