The rapid rail link between Sandton and OR Tambo International Airport is likely to be ready in time for the Soccer World Cup in June, Gautrain said.

Raubex’s operating profit rise 10,6% to R440m in the six months to August, with the road construction earnings up 10,2% to 159,4c compared to the first half.

Strong government infrastructure spend saw Raubex Group’s operating profit rise 10,6% to R440m in the six months to August, with the road construction group’s headline earnings per share up 10,2% to 159,4c compared to the first half.

In an interim results statement, Raubex Group predicted “a strong performance in the second half” after reporting first-half revenues of R2,27bn, a rise of 1,8% from the corresponding period last year.

Declaring an interim dividend of 35c per share, Raubex reported a “stable” order book of R5,2bn, up from R4,9bn in the first half.

Profit before tax increased 11,4% to R429m from the corresponding period last year, with the group’s operating margin up from 17,8% in the first half to 19,4%.

Francois Diedrechsen, financial and commercial director of Raubex, said: “It’s a pleasing set of results — the world’s been in a fairly difficult period over the last six months, but we’ve still managed to achieve double-digit growth. We primarily operate in road infrastructure, which is government-driven business, so our exposure to the private sector is reasonably small, which has stood us well.”

Raubex’s road rehabilitation division, Roadmac, recorded a 19,9% fall in turnover to R944m from the first half, although it remained the largest contributor to group revenues. The division’s operating profit decreased 9,8% from the first half to R198,2m.

Raubex blamed the decline on “a change in the segmental mix as Roadmac’s resources are being deployed on various contracts in Namibia and Zambia, increased competition resulting in a lower rate of tender successes … as well as the effect of rise and fall clauses as declining input costs were passed on to the clients.”

Diedrechsen said “40% of Roadmac’s costs are oil price- related; a lot of the tenders we reported on were when oil prices were much higher, before the subsequent deflationary period”.

He also cited the appreciation of the rand against the Zambian currency, the kwacha, as affecting the group’s cash flow.

The statement said “in order to secure new work locally, current operating margins in the Roadmac and Raubex divisions will continue to be adjusted to account for the increased competition, particularly in the light road surfacing sector”.

The government has paid an extra R288m to fund the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link, due to cost overruns caused by higher than expected inflation.

Interest in commercial livestock and irrigation farms in the central Cape provinces – predominantly the Karoo and Kalahari regions – is now coming to the fore, says Wayne Rubidge, manager for Pam Golding Properties in these regions.

Certain elements of infrastructure construction will pick up from the fourth quarter as the 2010 World Cup projects accelerate and near completion.

The future of East London’s harbour is in doubt and business has been challenged to put forward a plan to rescue it.

Construction company results and higher steel demand show infrastructure is proceeding and will help the economy recover from the recession.

The Competition Commission had received applications for corporate leniency from construction companies for collusive practices with respect to certain construction projects.

Eskom is confident it can save at least 10% of the costs of building the Medupi and Kusile power stations, chief officer for generation Brian Dames said.

Group Five is one of the construction firms that have continued to see growth in earnings, benefiting largely from the government’s multibillion-rand spending on infrastructure.