Sawmilling South Africa News
Sawmilling South Africa News
As we roll down the hill towards the end of the year, it's that time of the month again when we reflect on the past month and share any interesting news with you.
A very encouraging observation, particularly down here in the southern Cape is the increasing number of sawn board and timber-loaded trucks on the roads. This must mean that millers are sending more timber than they were a few months ago.
I've been talking to sawmillers from all over the country, and it seems like this observation stands true. Sawn lumber is moving in greater volumes again. This is great news, and we hope it's sustainable and that the run will continue into the end of the year.
On a more serious note, let's not forget that we're only now entering the most critical month of the year for fire. Firefighters in Mpumalanga were busy battling fires over the weekend. The fires broke out in Barberton, Ermelo, and along the N4 between Witbank and Mbombela, as well as near the R536 Road in Sabie.
We need to be extra vigilant and take all the necessary precautions. Our farmers and growers need all the support we can give them during this time.
In less than two weeks, our friends at the University of Pretoria will host their annual Growing Timber Connections colloquium and conference.
Both events brings together expert voices from the built environment and beyond from architects, timber builders, developers, marketers, sustainability specialists, and academics. Seats are being snapped up so don’t delay.
There are also two WoodApp workshops that will run alongside the above events:
Workshop 1: Timber Frame Design & Construction
- Date: 8 September 2025
- Venue: Future Africa Campus & Engineering 4.0 Building, University of Pretoria
- Presenters: Werner Slabbert (Green Block Group) & Richard Stretton (Koop Design)
- CPD: 1 validated CPD point (Category 1, Cape Institute of Architecture)
Workshop 2: Timber in Fire & Structural Grading
- Date: 9 September 2025
- Venue: Future Africa Campus & Engineering 4.0 Building, University of Pretoria
- Presenters: Marcus Human (Stellenbosch University) & Prof Brand Wessels (Stellenbosch University)
- CPD: 1 validated CPD point (Category 1, Cape Institute of Architecture)
Cost: R950 per workshop (includes lunch)
Registration: from 08:00 daily
Book your place here: Workshop Registration Form
Seats are limited, so we encourage you to secure your spot early. These workshops promise practical insights, case studies, and demonstrations that will help you make the most of timber in the built environment.
“As ever, don’t stop cutting straight and drying flat.” A number of people have asked me why I keep adding this line to all our newsletters. Well, that’s easy. If you take the care to employ first-class saw doctoring, set up your machine correctly, and pay the utmost attention to your kiln drying, you will produce consistent, superior-quality lumber that will not only sell but will ensure your profitability. This is exactly why David Crickmay coined the phrase in the first place.
Cheers,
Roy Southey
Executive Director: Sawmilling South Africa
Source: SSA Newsletter – August 2025
