THOUSANDS of builders stand to lose their jobs this year since the real value of projects undertaken (at constant prices) plunged 20,8% (R1,04-billion) to R3,95-billion in the first six months of 1999 against the same period last year, Statistics South Africa announced on Wednesday. Statistics SA reports declines in the value of construction projects in six of the country’s nine provinces for the first six months compared with the same period last year. : Gauteng by 40,4%, Northern Province 60,1%, North West 37,4%, KwaZulu-Natal 15,9%, Mpumalanga 15,4% and Free State 8,5%. The Western Cape saw growth of 10,2%, Eastern Cape 20,3% and Northern Cape 23,6% or R 11,6-million