Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon makes the contracting business look easy - until you look at the performance of its peers in the construction sector

South Africa's civil engineering sector, hit by a slump in revenues as contracts fall, could shed thousands of jobs this year, a key industry official warned yesterday.

CONSTRUCTION and building materials retailer Iliad Africa's earnings rose steeply in the year to December, following its acquisition of Corpbuild from Corpcapital, and amid organic growth.

Construction and engineering group Murray & Roberts Holdings (MUR) have reported headline earnings per share unchanged at 71 cents for the six months ended December.