With the 2010 World Cup Football Finals just over 12 months away, South Africa is still experiencing very positive construction activity and is determined to attract the right construction professionals to maintain output in the next three years.

While it has suffered in the wake of the global downtown there are still numerous large-scale construction projects going ahead in South Africa and neighbouring countries. In addition to soccer stadia for the World Cup, there are also major construction job opportunities arising on a number of major infrastructural projects.

Rail project

These projects include the Gautrain rail network to link Johannesburg, Pretoria, and OR Tambo International Airport in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Work started on the 80km line in 2006. It is being constructed in two phases, one to be completed in 2010, the other in 2011.

Mining

There are also numerous mining related construction projects ongoing across the country. The North-South Corridor project is a new initiative to improve transport links between African mining producers by creating a reliable and efficient transport network along the two main trading routes. Faster border crossings, improved railways and highways will improve the access of producers, especially in landlocked countries, to regional and international markets. The first route is set to run between the South African port of Durban and the copperbelt area of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia, with a second route running from the copperbelt of Zambia and DRC to the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam. Eight countries would be involved in the project: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, the DRC, Malawi, Botswana and Mozambique.

Elsewhere in South Africa, Transnet, a huge South African logistical organisation that specialises in freight logistics and delivery chains, has announced plans for a US$420m programme to widen and deepen Durban Port's harbour entrance. Transnet’s divisions include port, freight, rail, pipeline.

So huge construction opportunities, and the country of South Africa as well as the region's  construction industry is desperate to fill high level posts with the right construction professionals. Priority positions remain project managers and construction managers.

Click here for the latest construction jobs in South Africa

Click here for the latest construction jobs in Africa