Commercial property growth is stagnant and likely to grow marginally in the next few years. No downward movement in interest rates expected in the short term.

The end of 2011 saw the construction industry record its biggest improvement in activity in over a year and a half. The persistent recovery in activity has slowed retrenchments within the industry and employment has declined to its slowest pace in two years

Construction companies hoping to cash in on government's R1-trillion infrastructure spending spree have been left sorely disappointed

It has been a case of feast to famine for South Africa’s construction industry since the World Cup boom.

International credit insurer Coface said that the construction industry is facing one of the most difficult periods and not showing any signs of recovery.