The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) groundbreaking 3D Housing Print Project took centre stage at the 2025 National Construction Summit in Boksburg yesterday, with State President, Honourable Cyril Ramaphosa touring its exhibition site.
The Summit, hosted by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), is more than just a gathering. It is a national call to action to prioritise delivery, accountability, ethical leadership, and performance in construction, one of the most critical industries in the world. This year’s two-day summit was held under the theme: Unlocking Infrastructure Delivery for South Africa, which is both a reflection and a rallying point for quality in the delivery of service.
On Day One of the summit yesterday, UJ became the centre of attention because of its pioneering 3D Housing Printing Project on display. Such was its popularity that it also caught the attention of President Ramaphosa. During his engagement with the UJ team, the President expressed great enthusiasm for construction 3D Printing as a technology of the future. He engaged keenly with the demonstration, inquiring about the cost of the 3D printer, the comparative cost of construction versus traditional methods, and the types of materials used in the printing process.
The President also showed a strong interest in the academic dimension of the project — particularly the involvement of undergraduate and postgraduate students who are contributing to advancing this pioneering research. The 3D printer uses a specific type of cement that dries faster than normal cement used in the construction industry. It can print almost any structure. It can complete a full house in one day – quicker than traditional construction. For any additional elements, such as a bench or pot for the garden, the design is simply loaded into the machine, which then creates it out of the cement.
Professor Jeffrey Mahachi, Head of the School of Civil Engineering and The Built Environment at UJ said the University was honoured to have the President engaging with our groundbreaking 3D Housing. “Our engagement with the President at the National Construction Summit affirms UJ’s commitment to research that delivers real, tangible impact — innovation with purpose. As UJ, we are proud to stand at the forefront of technological innovation that directly addresses South Africa’s housing and infrastructure challenges, he said.
Added Prof Mahachi: “Through our Sustainable Materials and Construction Technologies (SMaCT) Research Centre, we have demonstrated how Construction 3D Printing can transform the way we deliver human settlements and infrastructure — faster, more sustainably, and with greater precision. This innovative project showcases the faculty’s commitment to advancing sustainable, rapid, and affordable housing solutions through technology and engineering excellence.”
The National Construction Summit is a collaboration between academia, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). Under the leadership of Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, the Summit reflects the collective will to do better, and the pressing need to turn plans into progress, and policies into projects.
Watch the proceedings of the Summit below:
