Page 16 - Landscape SA Issue 107

FEATURE

PAVING THE WAy TO A SUSTAINAbLE

GREEN INDUSTRy IN SOUTH AFRICA

The Institute for Landscape Architecture in South Africa
(ILASA) recently held a webinar to discuss the above
topic. It was hosted by landscape architect karen botes,

who posed questions to the following participants: Ida-
Marie Strydom of Life Green Group, Jenneth Prinsloo of
Plantwise, Gail Dreyer of Tshala Plant brokers and Leon
Scholtz of Bristle Cone Nursery.

Karen Botes, landscape
architect and webinar host

Q1: What has changed over the past in a price war. This has forced us into a state this brings a risk to our operations. Time
five years? of limbo and we end up undercutting each delays, no access to the site and time spent
Ida-Marie: The biggest threat for contractors other. driving up and down leads to smaller profit
and growers is the dramatic decrease margins. In the government sector there is
in available work due to the country’s Leon: The pandemic has had a very bad always politics, competition with salaries
economy, recession and depression. There effect and in addition, weather patterns have and SMMEs that have no experience – all
is much less work than before and everyone been a big problem, such as the drought in of this affects the project negatively. Also,
is competing for the same, small amount the Western Cape. Some municipal areas are fixed tender prices eat into profits.
available. Also, the industry is losing talent doing ok and allow for landscaping.
because companies cannot afford to retain Gail: Clients have reduced their budgets but
good people. Growers are growing less Q2: What is the biggest threat for at the same time have unrealistic expectations
plants and as a result, the quantities required growers and landscape contractors? of what their money can buy. To secure work,
are often not available. Ida-Marie: Clients’ budgets have forced us to we have to discount plants and products,
work very hard for very little money and we and wait a long time for payment at reduced
Jenneth: The whole contracting environment are forced to do more with less budget. The margins. This eats into our small profits. Also,
is suffering due to market challenges and in scope of work makes it difficult for us to carry our services aren’t valued. Growers are at the
the case of government contracts, tenders out good quality work with tight budgets and bottom of the chain and this is a threat to our
are often disqualified on the grounds of we have to do much more with less in order industry.
“not being correct”. There has been a huge to keep them happy.
reduction in public spaces and with less Leon: The finances of a business must be
money available, there is little consideration Jenneth: The challenges of public tenders healthy. Even if stock is ready, it can be lost
for landscaping. There is also increased means that there is a high risk of non- due to hail or severe cold. However, clients
commercial risk for sub-contractors. payment and late payment, and this can don’t seem to understand this so we need
really affect cash flows. Even with the JBCC to focus on contract growing and planning;
Gail: The failing economy has led to a lack of agreements, there are shortcomings with we need to know what to grow a year in
work and the whole of the green industry is regard to the landscaping discipline and advance because demand is unpredictable.

14 Landscape SA • Issue 107 2021