Ecasa 2017 online by European Association of Electrical Contractors

Foreword

Achieving what you set out to do is the

ultimate reward T

o be elected President of the ECA(SA) is a huge honour – and, it goes without saying, that the position comes with a great deal of responsibility. When I was elected two years ago, I never thought that so much would be accomplished in this short space of time. I have learnt that experience cannot be bought; it’s a process of learning and growing and I give my grateful thanks and appreciation to my predecessor, Michael Straton and our National Director, Mark Mfikoe, who have helped me with the important decisions and who have supported me during my term of office. There’s an old saying, “Time flies when you’re having fun” and that is precisely how I feel about 2017. When you’re passionate about what you do, every step of the journey is exciting and at the end, achieving what you set out to do is the ultimate reward. The stones on the road are soon forgotten but the friends and colleagues who supported you along the way are always valued and appreciated. The vision of establishing our own in-house magazine and launching it at our annual Presidential Excellence Awards is a now a reality. This first issue of SA Electrical Contractor has been accomplished with a great deal of hard work and dedication. We are proud of it and hope that you will enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together. Thank you to all the advertisers who invested in this launch issue and who believed in the dream. The idea of producing our own publications began at the European Association of Electrical Contractors (AIE) 2016 conference in Oslo, Norway in September, 2016. Mark Mfikoe found out what the ECAs in other countries were doing and he came back inspired to do the same in a South African context. At the next National Executive Committee meeting it was decided that we had the capability to establish our own publications and, with the committee’s approval, work on the publications began in earnest in February this year. In June this year, we launched Wired, our electronic newsletter that goes live on the first and third Tuesday of every month – and judging by the analytics, Wired has gained popularity and is widely read and enjoyed by ECA members and non-members in the electrical contracting industry.

www.ecasa.co.za

Johnny Cunniff, President, ECA(SA)

To the star behind our publications, Erika van Zyl, you are too young and too ambitious for your age. Your ability to keep your focus on the finishing line is astonishing. I wish you many years in good health so you can witness these babies, Wired and South African Electrical Contractor, grow into the giants we know they will be. The reach of our publications goes beyond the borders of South Africa, and will also be read by our electrical contracting industry friends in the international community.

We cannot be the same as we were yesteryear. We will climb. We do so knowing that the opportunity to fall exists. But we will climb, anyway, even though we know that we cannot fall if we do not climb. We are also in agreement that, there is no joy in living your whole life on the ground. You must rise and live a little. Welcome to the South African Electrical Contractor. Johnny Cunniff, President, ECA(SA) 1

s t n e t n o C 04

Management at work for the ECA(SA) Membership

Mark Mfikoe National Director, ECA(SA)

Clarity on unlawful termination

The history of the Electrical Contractors’ Association of South Africa 1950 – 2017

Advertorial:

Transforming your cables through innovative solutions

If you cannot measure it, you have no way of finding out whether you have arrived

Destined to play an important part in the development of the electrical contracting industry in this country

When well-intended policies have unintended consequences...

Mufaro employee benefits – flexible, cost effective and competitive

Social security benefits in the electrical contracting industry By Mark Mfikoe, National Director, ECA(SA)

The electrical contracting business: towards a legacy-creating and a multigenerational sustainable leadership perspective By Dimatkatso Matshoga, Atafala Consulting

Easy9 Circuit Protection range safeguards consumers and adds style The range offers easy-to-install miniature circuit breakers, residual current devices, switch disconnectors, surge protection devices and comb busbars and is compliant to relevant SANS standards.

Novare® Actuaries & Consultants

Aberdare Cables, a BEE Level 1 contributor with a 71year record of cable supply in South Africa and other countries, pursues on-going technology development programmes, and through active association with its local and overseas affiliates, continues to remain at the forefront of technology and product development.

By Stephen Khola, National Labour Relations and HR Director

By Lucas Bowles, Regional Director – ECA (SA) East / South Cape

Safehouse Association’s warning: Ignorance is deadly

Earthing for South African conditions

Project disruption and its invisible cost to electrical contractors All-weather voltage detectors

The ECA(SA) Presidential Awards – Conceived under a tree in Jericho By Mark Mfikoe, National Director, ECA(SA)

Presidential Excellence Awards 2012 - 2016

The panel of judges for the ECA(SA) 2017 Presidential Excellence Awards

Nestlife – yours for life Tailor-made solutions for the electrical contracting industry

Electronic CoC – as easy as 1-2-3

Hard work and dedication is key to winning apprentice of the year award

Legrand Ysalis range of switches and sockets – style and convenience

SA Electrical Contractor

Down to Earth

New Veti range of switches and sockets – affordable elegance

New generation time switches for temperature control

Simple, high quality, flexible and safe circuit breakers

The simplest, most accessible way to monitor and secure all your electrical assets Smallest wireless energy sensor provides a simple and cost-effective solution to the very complex challenge of adding wireless connectivity to a miniature circuit breaker, and enabling real-time energy measurement and asset management at a more granular level.

Power towers for modern homes

Wireless lighting control system reduces electricity bills Break away from reliance on the power grid – go solar

IE3-compliant DRN motors supplied to E.Cape wastewater treatment plant

Motor starter solutions deliver simplicity, flexibility

Mitigate summer lightning strike risk and tick insurance compliance boxes for your thatched roof

Off to a strong start: ELPA aims to build up the lightning protection industry in SA

The ECA(SA) has the electrical industry covered in South Africa

Cool Tools

58 61

Decorative and practical outdoor lighting Mobile lighting towers – light where you need it New classic Victorian LED luminaire

From the editor

ast October, Mark Mfikoe, the National Director, told me that he had returned from Oslo, Norway, where he had been at a European Association of Electrical Contractors (AIE) conference. He had learnt that every ECA in Europe has its own magazine, and these are accessible through the AIE’s website that lists all the members’ magazines. Aside from all the European members, the website lists the ‘Corresponding Members’ – electrical contractor associations from Australia, Asia, the US and the ECA South Africa – a global community of electrical contractor associations. “I want the ECA(SA) to have its own publications,” Mark told me over lunch. He described how he visualised these publications and what was needed to fulfil this dream. I know it may sound corny but I could ‘see’ what Mark wanted … and I realised that I really wanted to be a part of that journey. I bid a bittersweet farewell to my friends and colleagues at Crown Publications and started at the ECA on 1 February this year. Even though I was the editor at Sparks Electrical News for 10 years, I have to admit that I still don’t know the difference between a volt, a watt and an amp … but I do know how the electrical industry works – and I have a fair idea of how the ECA(SA) works. Most importantly, I understand the problems and frustrations that electrical contractors encounter every working day. When Lucas Bowles, Regional Director for the South/East Cape, wrote an article defending the call out fee there was a huge reaction on the ECA’s Facebook page. Within days, 4 694 people had been reached and there had been 41 shares of Lucas’ article – it had touched a raw nerve and it showed us what our readers want – straight talk. Our publications are intended to fill the communication gap – to educate and inform, to offer industry specific advice to small business owners and apprentices alike – and to publish on-point articles and up-to-date news on industry developments. With those good intentions, Wired – powered by the ECA(SA) – was launched on June 20 this year and we’ve put out two issues every month since then. If you are one of the nearly 5000 people in the electrical industry who receives Wired on the first and third Tuesday of every month, you will also be on the mailing list for the ECA(SA)’s new magazine, SA Electrical Contractor, which you will receive six times a year and will be able to read online – on your pc, tablet, Android phone, or iPhone. You can subscribe to Wired on our website. This launch issue has been printed as a special limited edition for our guests at the ECA(SA)’s Annual Presidential Excellence Awards and for our advertisers, who took a gamble and supported this first issue. My grateful thanks to all of you for your unwavering support – I appreciate it more than you can imagine. Take care out there. Erika van Zyl National Communications Manager, ECA(SA)

Cost-saving standard LED lamps

Extended range of lights, work lights, pendants and fans

Directory

www.ecasa.co.za

Production Editor: Erika van Zyl Consultant: Mark Mfikoe, National Director ECA(SA Contributors: Johnny Cunniff, Mark Mfikoe, Stephen Khola, Lucas Bowles and Dimakatso Matshoga with additional information from Pieter du Toit, Pierre Foot, Chris Koen, Cecil Lancaster and Shantonette Pillay National Financial Manager: Tembe Mwemba Advertising sales: Erika van Zyl and Mark Mfikoe Layout and Design: Janine Louw Publisher: Contact Media & Communications

Comment

If you cannot measure it, you have no way of finding out whether you have arrived

goal is something that fills you with a deep sense of pain if you do not achieve it. It should be clear, specific, ambitious, achievable, measurable, big and bold. This is a lesson from my mother Dikeledi Christinah Mfikoe, who taught me: “If you cannot measure it, you have no way of finding out whether you have arrived. It would be like a marathon without a finishing line”. She was a thinker and pragmatist, yet the history of this country made her a domestic worker somewhere in the suburbs of Johannesburg. Fortunately, her talent was not wasted because she shared it with her children and instilled it in me. We set a goal in November 2016 and said we would launch our magazine at the 2017 Presidential Excellence Awards and we have achieved that goal. We set a goal of establishing the publications and communications division of the ECA(SA) at the NEC meeting in November 2016. Prior to that meeting, I had lunch with Erika van Zyl, then the Editor of Sparks Electrical News. I had a plan to run a publications department and I wanted someone to run it with me. I chose Erika because we had a relationship of mutual respect from my very first encounter with her in 2010, after I was elected President of the ECA(SA). We both knew after that lunch that Erika would soon be my team member. At that time, I was visited by a publisher who argued strongly against me setting up this publications department. Thankfully, one of the greatest innovative thinkers of all times, Albert Einstein, whispered quite loudly in my ear: “If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.” It is the nature of disruptive thinking that it will not follow the rules that say it cannot be done. I read somewhere that, “a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do, a woman must do what he can’t”. Erika, thank you for being such a significant value-add. Today we can celebrate a goal. Fortunately for us, we will set another one soon but, for now, this is our goal and we can be happy. To the advertisers and our partners on this journey, thank you for believing in this concept. You believed in a product that you had never seen. You did so because you had faith in our ability to deliver what we promised and in our brand. We value your contributions. This is the ECA(SA) – the home of your trusted electrical contractors. We bring to you, the South African Electrical Contractor – Powered by the ECA(SA)!

Mark Mfikoe National Director, ECA(SA)

SA Electrical Contractor

History of the ECA(SA)

The history of the Electrical Contractors’ Association

of South Africa 1950 – 2017 Destined to play an important part in the development of the electrical contracting industry in this country

he Electrical Contractors’ Association of South Africa was founded in 1949 and formally incorporated in 1950. The ECA(SA) was established by electrical contractors for electrical contractors to represent its members in labour relations and in the technical and regulatory mechanisms governing the electrical industry. It was during the 1940s that electrical contractors, who were members of the Master Builders Association – at the time, every branch of the MBA had an ‘electrical section’ – held serious discussions with Seifsa about joining that body but those negotiations broke down because the electrical contractors believed they would lose their identity.

Dire need Electrical contractors believed their interests were not being looked after and after the Seifsa negotiations fell through, discussions went on among the branches at the various centres. In the Witwatersrand and Pretoria, a group of contractors got together because they believed there was a dire need for an association that would cater to their specific interests.

1951 Establishment of Industrial Councils in Pretoria, Witwatersrand and Cape Town. 1954 Establishment of Industrial National Apprentice/Workmanship Committee.

Establishment of the first Industrial Board for East London.

The original committee in the Witwatersrand consisted of Jimmy Fraser, Bert Silver, Fed Gibson, Charlton Campbell, Horace Townsend, Ernie West and Bob Lavery. Monthly meetings were held at Gaynor’s – which was known as ‘the Electricians’ Mess’, where ways and means of forming their own association were discussed. The idea of an autonomous body was first mooted by Piet Malherbe who, in 1945, had joined the Federation of the Master Builders’ Association as assistant director. He dedicated himself to the Association and is often referred to as the ‘father’ of the Association. Malherbe was enthusiastic about the idea of an association for electrical contractors and there were ongoing discussions at Federation meetings until, finally in 1950, the ECA(SA) was registered as an autonomous body.

Five guineas Another person who helped establish the Association was Fred Gibson and together with Malherbe and Jimmy Fraser, the three travelled the length and breadth of the country to propagate their ‘cause’ amongst electrical contractors.

Many years later, ‘Uncle Jimmy’ Fraser, who had long been retired from contracting, recalled that “one of the greatest values of getting involved in the administration of organisations such as the ECA, lies in the exchange of ideas among members and the establishment of mechanisms to solve disputes in the industry”.

1974 A new membership procedure is adopted.

1967 Establishment of the Rustenburg branch of the ECA(SA). 1968 The ECA(SA) expands and the Lowveld branch is established.

The Kimberley branch of the ECA(SA) is established. 1975 The ‘Pay when Paid’ principle is instituted. 1978 The ECA(SA) de-affiliates from the Building Industries Federation of South Africa.

The ECA(SA)’s Coastal and Natal Midlands branches amalgamate.

Supervisory and foreman training is instituted. 1979 A system of shortened apprenticeship periods is accepted in the electro-technical contacting industry.

1958 A Code of Conduct for electrical work is created.

Even before the ECA was established, in 1947, electrical contractors negotiated their own wage agreement with the Electrical Workers Association – and since then, this has been the case.

1966 The Boland branch of the ECA(SA) is established.

1956 Merchants admitted as ECA(SA) members for the first time.

1950s

Exchange of ideas

1970 The South West Africa/Namibia branch of the ECA(SA) is established.

The ECA(SA) becomes independent of the National Federation of Building Trades Employers (NFBTE).

1950s

In the minutes of the meeting held in East London on April 27, 1949 under the chairmanship of the first president, Jimmy Fraser, it was decided to increase the membership fee to five guineas – which was a considerable sum in those days.

1960 The Durban branch of the ECA(SA) is established.

1955 A uniform system of measurement is compiled for electrical work.

They finally succeeded and the ECA(SA)’s first National Executive Committee meeting was held in 1949. Total membership comprised 162 members: 83 from the Witwatersrand; 36 from Cape Town; 27 from Pretoria; 12 from Port Elizabeth; and four from East London.

1960s 1960s

1970s 1970s SA Electrical Contractor

History of the ECA(SA)

From the beginning, the ECA could claim a fairsized membership of electrical contractors and most of the ‘big contractors’ were members. The main task of the ECA was dealing with issues such as wage negotiations, conditions of work and bills of quantities. Much of that still holds true today, although the activities of the ECA have expanded significantly. It is, therefore, undeniable that the formation of the ECA was destined to play an important part in the development of the electrical contracting industry in this country.

Unique On the occasion of the ECA(SA)’s 50th Anniversary, then director, James Baker said:

“This industry is unique in many respects not least because, unlike other industries like civil engineering and building, it has not developed from a single concept, but rather from such diverse occupations as heavy engineering, transport, manufacturing and maintenance, for example.” He said that, as a result of this diversity, “the electrical contracting industry has had to develop its own unique systems of manpower management and training, as well as the legislation and infrastructure needed to control its own future growth”. Baker pointed out that as electrical contracting evolved into an independent industry, the need for a representative body – one that would be

1980 The first video training programme based on the Code of Practice for the Wiring of Premises is launched.

1990 A system of guaranteed payment for sub-contractors in the electrical industry is proposed.

1991 South Africa participates in the World Youth Olympic Body.

Guarantee of Works Scheme is implemented for ECA(SA) members.

1981 The Zululand, Pietermaritzburg and Vaal Triangle branches are established. 1982 The Klerksdorp branch is established.

1992 Input from the ECA(SA) is given concerning the improvement of the Machinery and Occupational Act.

Electrical Wiremen and Contractors Act is incorporated into the Factories, Machinery and Building Act.

1993 The Code of Practice for the Wiring of Premises is revised.

Code of Practice for the Wiring of Premises becomes compulsory.

1983 The Northern Boland Branch is established.

1995 The Electrical Development and Training Fund and the Industry Training Board are dissolved.

1996 Involvement in training programmes for unemployed and work creation.

Diploma Course in Electrical Contracting Management is introduced.

1994 The FSAI disbands.

1984 Eastern Free State and Southern Cape branches established.

A new National Education and Training Act is introduced.

1985 Establishment of WOK approval.

The ECA(SA) introduces long- distance learning.

The ‘Safety in the House’ campaign is launched.

A national affirmative action policy is compiled for the ECA(SA).

The ECA(SA) gets its own website.

1986 The Lowveld branch of the ECA(SA) is established.

The Electrical Contracting Board of South Africa is founded.

1987 A Code of Conduct for the Wiring of Premises is included in Education Schedules. 1988 The Federation of Sub-Contractors and Allied Industries (FSAI) is established.

An Industry Training Board is established.

1989 Courses are adjusted to be presented as correspondence courses.

The Electrical Development and Training Fund (EDTF) is established following the dissolution of the then Development and Training Fund (DTF).

1980s 1980s www.ecasa.co.za

1997 The ‘Pay when Paid’ principle is replaced by the ‘Paid when Money is Due’ principle. 1998 Development of a system of on-site training and work assignments

A National Bargaining Council for the Electrical Industry is formed.

exclusive to the industry and not tied by natural loyalties to other disciplines – grew and gave rise to the establishment of the ECA(SA). Today, it operates from its head office in Meadowdale and six regional offices in Pretoria, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London, Bloemfontein and Cape Town.

Leading role player Over the past 67 years, the ECA(SA) has emerged as a leading role player, active in the administration of electrical contracting, as liaison between its members and the many bodies involved in the formulation of labour legislation, industry technical standards, contractual documents as well as other documentation.

2000 The Electrical Development and Training Fund and the Electrical Industry Training Board are replaced by the Energy Sector Education and Training Authority. 2001 Zeph Dlamini is elected as the first black President of the ECA(SA). 2003 Zeph Dlamini dies of a heart attack and is succeeded by First Vice- President, Dave Nagin. 2004 Dave Nagin is re-elected as President of the ECA(SA) becoming the first Indian President. 2005 Contractor registration and grading system introduced by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIBD). 2006 The new ECA(SA) logo is launched. 2008 The Electrical Contracting Industry is faced with its first labour strike. 2009 The New Electrical Installation Regulations are promulgated together with the new Certificate of Compliance and Test Report. 2012 Launch of Presidential Excellence Awards 2016 The ECA(SA)’s electronic CoC (e-CoC) is introduced. 2017 The Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA) grants the ECA(SA) accreditation for Electrical Fence Installer Training.

The Certificate of Compliance for electrical installations comes into practice.

Electronic newsletter Wired – Powered by the ECA(SA) launches on June 20.

1999 A central membership database for the ECA(SA) is compiled.

The ECA(SA)’s magazine, SA Electrical Contractor, launches on 16 November.

1990s 1990s

2000s 2000s 7

ECA(SA) Labour

When well-intended policies have

unintended consequences... By Stephen Khola, National Labour Relations and HR Director

ection 23 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act, no. 108 of 1996 enshrines the right to fair labour practices. The Labour Relations Act, 95 as amended, in giving effect to this constitutional right, prescribes in section 185 that employees have the right not to be unfairly dismissed. Schedule 8, The Code of Practice: Dismissals, requires a dismissal to be for a fair reason after a fair procedure has been followed. Section 191 of the LRA indicates the various fora that may deal with unfair dismissal disputes and section 193 deals with remedies for unfair dismissals. This means that an employee has a statutory right not to be unfairly dismissed and the statute also prescribes the relevant fora to deal with allegations of unfair dismissal (for example, the bargaining council, CCMA, labour court). It is significant to note that the Labour Relations Act (LRA), when dealing with dismissals, refers only to the fairness of dismissals and never to the lawfulness of such dismissals.

Workplace policies Employers develop workplace policies that regulate, amongst others, the terms and conditions of employment, performance assessments, as well as the conduct of employees. These policies are intended to inform employers and employees of their respective rights and obligations, thus creating certainty regarding what is acceptable and what is not, as well as processes to be followed in dealing with breaches of such policies. At face value, there is nothing wrong with this approach. However, what is often not appreciated is the fact that, in addition to the statutory rights that the employee enjoys - which are prescribed by legislation - the employer now creates an additional set of contractual rights contained in these policies. For example, an employer’s disciplinary policy ordinarily encapsulates the process to be followed during a disciplinary hearing. The problem the employer faces is that should it fail to comply with all or some of the provisions within its disciplinary code and subsequently dismisses an employee, such employee, instead of challenging the fairness of his dismissal, may now challenge the lawfulness of the dismissal, a remedy it does not have under the LRA.

Personnel Regulations formed part of the employees’ contracts of employment as per clause 1.5 of such disciplinary code. The said code prescribed that a “formal hearing had to be held in respect of any transgression the sanction of which may be stronger than a verbal warning to be presided over by a disciplinary panel and chaired by a line manager or another manager.” It is common cause that the SABC had failed to follow its own disciplinary code. Dealing purely with the failure to hold a formal disciplinary inquiry, the court agreed that SABC’s failure to hold same rendered the dismissals of the employees unlawful and thus invalid. An invalid dismissal means that such dismissal is treated as if it never took place.

Conclusion Policies are necessary to regulate the employment relationship in a transparent manner. However, it is important to note that these polices create new contractual rights for employees. As a result, an employer would then be forced to comply with the provisions of their own policies, failing which an employee would have a contractual right to approach the Labour Court for relief, thus compelling an employer to act in line with the contractual arrangement. I doubt that when these policies were developed, the employer’s objective was to create new contractual rights for the employee. This is a classic case of wellintentioned policies having unintended consequences. But then again, who would have thought that Hlaudi Motsoeneng would be the Chief Operating Officer at the SABC?

This position is clearly demonstrated in Solidarity and others v SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), unreported case no J1343/2016 [2017] 1 BLLR 60 (LC). In this matter, the SABC charged several employees for recording their disagreement with the SABC’s decision not to cover the Right2Know protests in line with its decision to no longer broadcast footage of destruction of public property during public protests. The SABC gave the affected employees notices to appear before a disciplinary inquiry. When the employees continued with, amongst others, actions the SABC had wanted them to desist from, the SABC wrote a letter to the affected employees asking them to make written representations in response to the allegations that the SABC had made against the employees. The employees were subsequently dismissed in writing.

Unlawful The employees then approached the Labour Court seeking their dismissals to be declared unlawful and set aside, based on the SABC’s failure to comply with their contractual rights to a disciplinary hearing before they were dismissed. The SABC’s disciplinary code as well as 8

Stephen Khola

SA Electrical Contractor

Advertorial

Mufaro employee benefits – flexible, cost effective and competitive

ufaro Employee Benefits has been in existence since 2003 and has been providing consulting services to several blue-chip companies for the past 14 years. Mufaro is an independent black-owned and managed Employee Benefit Consulting Company and is licensed by the Financial Services Board.

maximum benefits to members. Trustees are becoming wary of the ‘one-stop’ approach and are increasingly using a variety of service providers in order to minimise any potential conflicts of interests. None of our key individuals, representatives or staff are associated with any life insurer, asset manager or financial product provider.

We believe our staff are the most important asset we have and put a high premium on employing a high calibre of people.

Mufaro strives to be 100% compliant with all relevant statutory and legislative requirements, policies and procedures and subscribes to the Code of Good Governance contained in the various King Reports. Our employees understand and abide by Mufaro’s code of confidentiality by safeguarding all client information with access only to those with a legitimate right to know.

We ensure that our recommendations are: • Holistic and simple to set up, administer and communicate. • Flexible, cost effective and provide for economies of scale. • Competitive with maximum overall efficiency. We believe in aligning our interests with those of the members and trustees of the retirement funds we look after, thus ensuring

The ever-evolving retirement funds industry requires consultants who are up-to-date with the changing environment to enable them to advise retirement funds to operate relevantly in the industry. Mufaro was formed to meet the need for an independent professional black-owned and run Employee Benefit Consultancy firm.

Mufaro prides itself in its unique expertise in providing independent consulting advice and working to ensure a better tomorrow for working and retiring fund members. More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 958 2329 www.mufaro.co.za

Mandla Mbukwane AFP™ CEO – Mufaro Employee Benefits

ECA(SA) Employee Benefits

Social security benefits

in the electrical contracting industry By Mark Mfikoe, National Director, ECA(SA)

critical component of the success of the electrical contracting industry is the people who work in it. The workers are the unsung heroes of many a bottom line and results column of every contracting business in this industry. As a caring employer organisation, the ECA(SA) is proud to be party to a suite of benefits that take care of the employees who work in this industry, not only during their time as employees but beyond that, too. We manage to even look after the employees in our industry beyond their living days; as we look after those that they leave behind, as well. It is a statement of care and compassion for a fellow human being: Motho ke motho ka batho, (loosely translated – a person is a person with people) is how we capture this humane disposition in Setswana. No law, no government and no regulation drove us to do this – we are driven by compassion for our fellow human beings. Some may be called contractors others may be called workers, but we have one thing in common: we are all humans and we fall sick, retire, die, become disabled and sadly, our spouses as well as our children, die. With the blessings of the One Above, we get to retire and enjoy life beyond active employment. I share with you in this article, how the ECA(SA) and its partner in employee relations deliver the humane side of business and deliver the social security benefits to our people in this industry. If an employee falls sick in the electrical contracting industry, he or she enjoys the financial support of the National Sick Benefit Fund. The Sick Benefit Fund Agreement has been extended to non-parties until February 2022 by the Minister of Labour. This is how it works: For the first 10 days of being sick, the fund pays the full actual wage or salary of a scheduled employee in good standing. From day 11 up to day 30, the fund pays 60% of the employee’s salary or wages and, from day 31 up to day 130, the fund pays 33% of the employee’s salary or wages. If you contrast this with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) where sick leave is provided for 12 days per year in every three-year cycle, you would realise that this cover is a massive improvement and confirms that the employees that we employ in the electrical industry are in a far better space than those that enjoy cover under the BCEA. In addition to the replacement wages earned, the employees are covered 100% for their contributions to the retirement funds as well as risk benefits for the entire 130 days.

www.ecasa.co.za

The implications are that if an employee is sick for an extended period, his/her retirement benefits would not be affected. He/she also remains covered for death, funeral and disability. If an employee who is covered by the National Bargaining Council for the Electrical Industry (NBCEI) of South Africa policies suffers a disability, such an employee gets paid 50% of his salary at the time of disability, until retirement, recovery, or death, whichever comes first. This amount then improves by 5% every year until recovery, retirement or death. The Council’s benefit cover in this respect includes a premium waver benefit for funeral cover and death cover. Importantly, the beneficiary remains a member of the fund and his/her contributions are paid in full. Even when a member is receiving a disability benefit and his/her spouse dies, the fund will provide funeral cover to bury the spouse. This applies also in the unfortunate event that a member’s child below the age of 21 dies. These benefits are available for all the employees covered by the NBCEI (SA). The industry also offers death cover so that the loved ones of the deceased employee can mitigate the negative financial impact of the loss of what is ordinarily the breadwinner. Beneficiaries would include the people whom the deceased would legally be liable for their support and people who were factually dependent on the deceased member. In this way, the industry looks after the employees’ loved ones even after the demise of the members. These social security benefits tell a great story about our country and must be celebrated and encouraged. This is the contribution of citizens and your trusted electrical contractors. We take comfort when a employee retires knowing that we have made a telling contribution towards a quality retirement. The challenge remains though, that when these employees change employment or their employment is interrupted, they tend to withdraw their money. This compromises the amount of money available at retirement. We allow this, though, because people must live and they need money to live. Ideally, we would prefer everybody to preserve their retirement benefits to take care of members when their capacity to be productive has been reduced by age. It is a great suite of social security benefits and we are proud to make our contribution in this regard. 11

ECA(SA) News

The electrical contracting business:

towards a legacy-creating and a multi-generational sustainable leadership perspective By Dimatkatso Matshoga, Atafala Consulting

he Electrical Contractors’ Association of South Africa, ECA(SA), has survived well over six decades; and it has seen the leadership of 36 presidents representing the electrical contracting (EC) industry. Through advocacy in regulatory framework; education, training and development; advisory services; labour-related representation; as well as marketing publicity and strategic linkages, the ECA(SA) continuously ensures that its esteemed EC members are kept abreast of all new industry developments. Why does the ECA(SA) even bother doing all this? The answer is simple: To committedly ensure and assure that electrical contracting businesses get to a point where the contractors exude an uncompromisingly competent business ethic. This the ECA(SA) will achieve by creating and promoting an environment that fosters the efficiency and profitability of the EC trade. This will in turn ensure the sustainability of the EC business, to the benefit of both the valued ECA(SA) members and their clients. With all the various changes in the country’s economic climate over the last quarter of the century, the definition of business sustainability might merit revisiting. The pertinent question is: “What will it take to ethically sustain the electrical contracting business across generations in this unpredictable economic climate?” Industry stakeholders such as the National Bargaining Council for the Electrical Industry, the unions in this trade, for example, the South African Equity Workers Association (SAEWA), the ECA(SA) at a strategic level, the training and development element, as well as the prominent client/government will be engaged in brief, exploratory dialogues over a series of publications to gain their insight and perspective on ensuring the EC business advances well into the second and third generation, as a minimum legacy. The articulated vision of the kind of comprehensive legacy each EC business leader aspires to pass onto upcoming generations, the rich information on lessons learnt in the past experiences of individual EC businesses, and their perspectives towards a multi-generational thinking paradigm will be collected, analysed and disseminated in ECA(SA) publications as we work towards enhancing service quality and excellence. This will foster an environment of individual and business integrity and respect, which can only be attained through superior leadership. This is the kind of business leadership that will, through a commitment to continuous improvement, take the electrical contracting trade to soaring heights both in excellence and in longevity! This is very likely what the heartbeat of every electrical contracting business is all about: creating that long-lasting value. Dimatkatso Matshoga

SA Electrical Contractor

ECA(SA) News

Easy9 Circuit Protection range

safeguards consumers and adds style The range offers easy-to-install miniature circuit breakers, residual current devices, switch disconnectors, surge protection devices and comb busbars and is compliant to relevant SANS standards.

James Calmeyer, VP Building Business Unit, at Schneider Electric South Africa.

Easy9 Switchboard

chneider Electric offers installers Easy9, a stylish, practical and affordable range of circuit protection that gives added value to the homeowner or small office user through its safety features. As homeowners and small office users add more electrical gadgets to their systems, the loads become higher and, when compounded by summer lightning strikes, electrical surges and the load shedding experienced in South Africa, this can represent a fire and safety hazard. Circuit protection is therefore vital – it safeguards consumers’ property against surges, short circuits, overloads and possible electric shocks. Schneider Electric has created a range that offers installers high quality and long-lasting protection, while its user-friendly design, availability and affordability is what makes it attractive to the homeowner. “Thanks to technology, today’s lifestyle is quickly evolving. Customers’ comfort, leisure, safety and home business are completely dependent on electronics. This technology-driven lifestyle

www.ecasa.co.za

comes with some risk due to Nature and the severe threat of a lightning strike. For example, in the event of a strike near supply lines, voltage rises from 230 to several thousand volts. In a few microseconds, electronic components can be destroyed and all precious appliances damaged and left out of order,” explains James Calmeyer, VP Building Business Unit, at Schneider Electric South Africa.

the 1920s, Schneider Electric has engineered Easy9 to be affordable without compromising on safety and reliability. All Easy9 products are manufactured in ISO 9000-certified plants belonging to Schneider Electric and are approved by independent authorities as compliant with local electrical safety standards. Easy9 has found its place in homes, industry, hospitals, airports and small offices.

“Just one Easy9 surge arrester, however – located in the distribution switchboard and coupled with surge protection at the plug outlet – will protect equipment in the home from overvoltage caused by lightning strikes. If installed correctly and by an accredited person, the surge arrester damps the spike, so that the voltage never reaches a level that would damage electronic appliances.”

“It answers electricians’ requests for robust products that are widely available and will help them complete installations swiftly and professionally, with consistent design and connection features. It is a high-end device available at a mid-range price.

The Easy9 range includes switch-disconnectors, surge protection, earth leakage protection, as well as a full range of C-curve miniature circuit breakers. In addition, the curved edges add to the elegance of a home or office. A leader in switchgear technologies since

“We work closely with electricians worldwide to help bring safe electricity to homes and buildings around the globe. With Easy9, electricians can take pride in delivering the improved safety and peace of mind that their customers deserve. And it’s a high-end device available at a mid-range price,” concludes Calmeyer. More info: +27 (0)11 254 6400 Website: www.schneider-electric.co.za 15

Advertorial

Dr Mzwandile Zwane, Nestlife

Yours for life

Tailor-made solutions for the electrical contracting industry

estLife understands that the success of the built environment is intrinsically linked to the people who work in it, in whatever capacity. We also know that the most vulnerable of these people are the labourers employed in this industry. The employees employed by members of the ECA(SA) are no different. We are inspired by care and compassion. NestLife is a relationship-driven 100% black-owned specialist group risk assurer. Our mission is to provide needs-based, tailor-made solutions to our clients. It is this clarity of purpose that allows us to tailor our product offering to such a wide range of industries including the electrical contracting industry. The overarching thread that links all our products is the desire to unburden our customers of the weight of the Four Ds: Death, Disability, Disease and Debt. NestLife’s holistic offering of customisable assurance products is packaged to collectively provide comprehensive protection against the 4 Ds for group members and where applicable, for individuals.

The electrical contracting industry benefits from the following NestLife products: NESTLIFE DEATH BENEFIT (Group Life Assurance) The NestLife Death Benefit provides life cover. The primary value proposition is to provide emotional comfort, by ensuring that the member’s beneficiaries are not left financially destitute in the event of the member’s death. 16

NESTLIFE FUNERAL BENEFIT (Funeral Cover) NestLife Funeral Benefit helps ease the burden of burial, by allowing family and friends a degree of latitude to mourn their loss without the worry of funeral expenses and logistical arrangements. NestLife has an extensive network of funeral service providers available to assist to this end. It is a product that provides some degree of comfort to those who need it most. NESTLIFE INCOME REPLACEMENT BENEFIT (Disability Cover) The NestLife Income Replacement Benefit gives members the comfort of knowing that they will still receive an income if they become disabled. This cover applies when a member is declared medically disabled. The affected member is paid on a monthly basis until retirement age or death. NestLife thinks of itself not only as a specialist group risk insurance provider, but as a provider of comfort. To the end consumer, this means comfort in knowing that they, and their loved ones, are protected from the Four Ds, and that their loved ones are looked after when they are no longer around to do so. Crucially, from NestLife’s direct clients’ perspective, the comfort in knowing that their members are taken care of through the benefits of NestLife’s products and services. We walk the journey with our clients and are like a dependable 4x4, we are designed for any terrain. Yes – We are ‘Yours for life’. More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 268 1311 www.nestlife.co.za

SA Electrical Contractor

ECA(SA) News

Hard work and dedication are key to

winning Apprentice of the Year award

ellermannTyton sponsored the category, Apprentice of the Year (overall) at the past three ECA(SA) Annual Presidential Excellence Awards.

The future of the electrical industry in South Africa is inextricably bound to today’s young apprentices who have chosen to become electricians – and HellermannTyton knows that these youngsters need all the help they can get. “HellermannTyton is extremely proud to be a partner of the ECA and to have been given the honour of the Apprentice of the Year sponsorship. We look forward to assisting in shaping the future of our young apprentices and being part of the Electrical Industry for many years to come,” says Claude Middleton, Director: Sales and Marketing, HellermannTyton.

2016 Apprentice of the Year Last year’s winner, Malokwane Maraba is an apprentice at the SABC. Being named Apprentice of the Year meant a great deal to Malokwane and he says that winning this prestigious award proved to him and his peers that “if you work hard, you do succeed”. “Winning this award has opened doors of opportunity for me and the R30 000 worth of prizes has helped me,” he says. He’s especially happy with the multimeter because it helps him to work safely. He believes that he won the award because he had achieved his N6 in electrical engineering and had passed his installation rules exam, as well as being awarded his electrical construction certificate in low and medium voltage.

2015 Apprentice of the Year Another hard worker, Corné Jansen of Blitz Electrical in Pretoria won Apprentice of the Year in 2015 and this, he says, encouraged him to work “even harder”. He also took home a comprehensive HellermannTyton tool kit – and he says he’s used all the tools and finds the digital clamp tester to be the most useful. When asked which tool or instrument an apprentice should buy first, he said he was told to buy a good screwdriver set because you cannot fasten, loosen, open or close anything without a good screwdriver set. He says he now understands why this is so important. His advice to this year’s entrants is to “never give up”. “Yes, it’s hard physical work and every day has its own challenges but the ‘end product’ is always nice to see – and you learn so much.” Once Corné has finished his apprenticeship, he says he’d like to go as far as he can in the electrical industry and eventually become a teacher so he can help future generations of electricians to reach their dreams and goals. His success in the competition, he says, is because of the help and guidance he’s received from his boss and the staff at Blitz Electrical who have taught and guided him through his apprenticeship. “A very special thanks to the HellermannTyton staff with whom I worked for a year for all their patience and kindness. They are all pretty awesome!”

Malokwane says that his advice to this year’s entrants in the Apprentice of the Year category should not only study and work hard but that they should be smart, too. He says he plans to continue studying and one day he’d like to own his own electrical company.

Claude Middleton, Director: Sales and Marketing, HellermannTyton with Corné Jansen (2015 Apprentice of the Year)

Johnny Cunniff (ECA President) with Malokwane Maraba (2016 Apprentice of the Year) and Claude Middleton, Director: Sales and Marketing, HellermannTyton.

2014 Apprentice of the Year The first year that HellermannTyton sponsored the Apprentice of the Year award, the winner of the trophy was Dewald Prins of MLE Electrical Contractors. He says that “hard work and dedication will always pay off” in the end. Dewald also won tools and instruments and these have helped him enormously. “The most useful tool for me is the TBM878 digital multimeter,” he says. 18

Michael Straton, Dewald Prince (2014 Apprentice Of The Year) and Claude Middleton, Director: Sales and Marketing, HellermannTyton

SA Electrical Contractor

ECA(SA) News

Management at work for the ECA(SA)’s members Mark Mfikoe – National Director Mark holds the qualifications BA (Unisa); HED (Unin); BA (Hons) (Unisa); Dip Industrial Relations (CAMDEV); Post Grad Dip Marketing Management (Unisa); and LLB (Unisa) He lectured at the University of South Africa from 1991 to 1997 and worked as a Training Co-Ordinator at the Foundation for Peoples Centred Development. He established Mfikoe Consulting CC, where he was sole member. In 1998, he was appointed Group Human Resources Manager for Stantronic Group Holdings Ltd and served on the Bargaining Council for the Electrical Industry of South Africa (NBCEISA). In 1999, he was promoted to Group Human Resources Director at Stantronic. He was appointed HR manager

at Standard Electrical and Managing Director of Tlhabollo Electrical in 2003. In 2010, he was appointed HR Director of Standard Electrical and Operations Director in 2013. In the same year, he was a trainer in Industrial Relations at the ECA(SA). He has been a negotiator at the NBCEISA since 2000 and, from 2002, he has in alternate years been chairperson/vicechairperson of the NBCEISA. Mark is also an accredited Skills Development Facilitator. He served as President of the ECA(SA) from 2010 to 2011 and was appointed as National Director of the ECA(SA) in 2012. More info: Email:

+27 (0)11 392 0000 mark.mfikoe@ecasa.co.za

Stephen Khola – National Labour Relations and Human Resources Director Stephen joined the ECA(SA) as Regional Director of the Highveld Region in 2004. He subsequently moved to his current portfolio where he leads the ECA(SA) service offering in labour relations and coordinates the employers’ negotiation team for all collective agreements. He holds a Diploma in Labour Law (GIMT) and has been in labour law practice for more than 15 years, having worked for the Department of Labour, the Public Servants Association (PSA), and Sasol Wax where he handled the labour relations portfolio. Stephen is the executive secretary of the National Labour Committee,

Tembe Mwemba – National Financial Manager Tembe is a professional accountant who holds the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants’ (ACCA) qualification with exposure to financial and management accounting experience in line with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and Generally Acceptable Accounting Practices (GAAP). Tembe has been with the ECA(SA) for five years. Tembe sits on the ECA(SA) National Executive Committee; the ECA(SA) Finance Committee; the ECA(SA) Marketing Committee; the ECA(SA) Training Committee as well as the Joint Project Management Committee. More info: Email:

+27 (0)11 392 0000 tembe@ecasa.co.za

He is a member of the NBCEISA’s Regional Executive Committees, the National and Regional Finance Committees, and the Exemption Committee. He is also Trustee and Chairperson of the Electrical Industry’s Pension and Provident Funds’ Board of Trustees and serves on various other sub-committees of the Board. More info: Email:

+27 (0)11 392 0000 stephen@ecasa.co.za

Cecil Lancaster – Regional Director, Bosveld Region Cecil is a Registered Engineering Technician and holds an NHDip (Electrotechnical Engineering – heavy current); Installation Electrician (IE); and Master Installation Electrician (MIE). He is a member of the SA Institute of Electrical Engineers (MSAIEE); and member of the Chamber of Engineering Technicians (MCET). He is also an assessor for the Electrical Skills Education Training Authority (ESETA) and serves on some 20 SABS technical committees and workgroups and other committees and associations. He started his career with Yskor in 1976 as a millwright apprentice, qualifying in 1979. He continued to upskill himself as a technician in the electrical industry. He was a self-employed ‘grass-roots’ electrical and mechanical contractor for many years and spent several years with consulting engineers in the electrical building services, industrial and reticulation fields. Cecil joined the ECA(SA) as an ordinary member in 1986, and as an employee in 2002, when he was appointed Regional Director of the Bosveld (Pretoria) region, taking over from Fanie Steyn. Cecil is the Technical Advisor and Secretary for the ECA National Technical Committee and serves on most of the ECA(SA) National Committees. Email:

and acting Regional Manager of the Bargaining Council for the Electrical Industry.

infopta@ecasa.co.za

SA Electrical Contractor

ECA(SA) News

Pieter du Toit – Regional Director, Free State/Northern Cape Region Pieter holds a B. Proc and had 12 years’ experience in legal practice before joining the ECA on 1 June 2009 as Regional Director at the ECA’s offices in Bloemfontein. It was a tough time because the then National Financial manager of the ECA(SA) passed away suddenly a week later and there had been no full-time regional director in the Free State since January that year. Pieter represents members on the ECA’s National Standing Financial Committee; National Standing Labour Committee; National Standing Marketing Committee;

and National Standing Contractual Committee; NBCEI Bloemfontein Sub-Committee; NBCEI Region A Committee; NBCEI Region A Finance Committee; NBCEI National Council; and Ad Hoc, the ECA National Standing Technical Committee. Pieter is secretary and member of the Regional Executive Committee of the Free State and Northern Cape region. He is also a member of the ECA’s National Executive Committee. Email:

pieter@ecasa.co.za

Lucas Bowles – Regional Director, East/South Cape Region Lucas joined the ECA(SA) on 1 June 1983 as Regional Director at the ECA’s offices in Eloff Street, Johannesburg, and was tasked with looking after the interest of members in the old provinces of Transvaal, Orange Free State and Northern Cape. Lucas took up the position of General Manager of the NBCEI between 1999 and 2002 and rejoined the ECA(SA) on 1 April 2002 as Regional Director of the Highveld Region.

He also represents the ECA(SA) as a delegate on the following committees: • NBCEI Region B. • Sick Benefit Fund (SBF), Region B. • Specialist Engineering Contractors Committee (SECC). • Joint Building Contracts Committee (JBCC) Technical Committee.

He transferred to the East/South Cape region on 1 June 2004 as the Regional Director.

• Master Builders South Africa (MBSA) Joint Practice Committee, Port Elizabeth/East London.

Lucas represents ECA(SA) members on all the National Standing Committees of the ECA(SA).

Email Port Elizabeth: Email East London:

adminpe@ecasa.co.za adminel@ecasa.co.za

Pierre Foot – Regional Director, Western Cape Region Pierre joined the ECA (SA) in February 1982 on his return home to Cape Town after serving in the Diplomatic Corps. As Regional Director of the Western Cape he administers the Cape Town, Boland and North Boland Branches of the ECA. In addition to his all-encompassing duties as Regional Director, he has represented the region as a delegate on the Bargaining Council for the Electrical Industry of South Africa and its various sub structures for the past 35 years. He was also a Trustee on the Regional Sick Pay

Fund until its dissolution with the establishment of a National Sick Pay Fund in May 2017. Pierre serves on various Regional and National Committees and is one of the employer Trustees on the Electrical Contracting Industry Pension and Provident Funds (Cape). Pierre was instrumental in the establishment of the first ECA Training Centre in Cape Town in 1985 and still oversees its operations. Email:

ecact@iafrica.com

Shantonette Pillay – Regional Director, KwaZulu-Natal She represents ECA(SA) members on all the National Standing Committees of the ECA; is a delegate at the Regional NBCEI Region C; and is an Employer Trustee on the Pension Fund and two sub-committees: the Claims Committee, and the Risk and Governance Committee. As Shantonette is one of three people at the ECA(SA) with a legal degree, she participated in the recent wage negotiations in which a five-year collective agreement was signed.

Shantonette is an attorney by profession and obtained an LLB Degree from the University of Natal. She left practice to join the ECA(SA) on 1 May 2010 as Regional Director in KwaZulu-Natal, tasked with looking after members in the region that includes Richards Bay, Ladysmith, Pietermaritzburg, Port Shepstone and Durban.

www.ecasa.co.za

Chris Koen – Regional Director, Highveld

Shantonette is the representative stakeholder at Master Builders South Africa (MBSA), CIDB, and the Department of Labour.

Chris is an Installation Electrician (IE), Master Installation Electrician (MIE), and holds an NDip (heavy current); and Marketing Certificate (Unisa) and has undergone all the relevant NOSA courses. Chris came out of retirement to take over as Regional Director of the Highveld Region when industry legend, Louis Pretorius, retired in February 2017. Chris serves on the ECA(SA) National Executive; ECA(SA) Regional Management Committee as well as several SABS Working Groups, sub-committees and technical committees; and sits on the ECA(SA) National and Regional Technical Committees. Chris is a master member of SAIEE and presents numerous courses, including the Certificate of Compliance course, the Installation Rules and MIE Installation Rules courses.

Email:

She represents members at all conciliation, mediation and arbitration disputes and offers a comprehensive labour service to her membership and also assists members with litigation claims.

ecakzn@ecasa.co.za

koenc@ecasa.co.za 21

ECA(SA) News

Clarity on unlawful

termination By Lucas Bowles, Regional Director – ECA(SA) East / South Cape

• Subcontractor removes all temporary buildings, plant etc.

This was the predicament in which a member recently found himself and asked the ECA(SA) for clarity.

• Principal agent to commence and complete N/S final account.

hat do you do when an engineer does a valuation on the work done by you as a nominated/selected subcontractor and issues an interim certificate for such work after the unlawful termination of the N/S Agreement only to revise the certificate to a nil value later?

• Execution of work to cease.

• Principal agent compiles report on status of work done by subcontractor.

Just to make sure we are all clear on what happened:

• Employer is liable to subcontractor for cost of materials and goods ordered before termination.

• The principal contractor terminated the Nominated/Selected subcontract unlawfully.

• Contractor is liable to subcontractor for damages due to termination.

• The electrical engineer certified money for the Nominated/Selected electrical contractor after the date of termination of the contract. • This interim valuation was based on work done prior to the termination of the contract. • The quantity surveyor then instructed the electrical engineer to issue a revised valuation for a nil amount based on clause 36.5.10 of the Nominated/ Selected Subcontract Agreement, which reads as follows:

• Principal agent to continue certifying value of work done by subcontractor for payment by employer. • Security expires and to be returned by employer to subcontractor. • Latent defects liability period ends. Note: The right to terminate may not be exercised where the subcontractor is in material breach of his contract.

“The principal agent shall continue to issue interim payment certificates in a nil amount until the issue of the final payment certificate.” (Joint Building Contracts Committee (JBCC) N/S S/C Agreement – Edition 5 – Code 2102 – July 2007) Question 1: Was the correct procedure followed by the engineer and quantity surveyor? Answer:

In theory, yes, but payment must be certified in terms of the agreement.

Question 2: Must the electrical contractor wait until the final account for work to be certified? Answer:

No, the appointment as N/S subcontractor remains in force. Regular payments must be certified and paid to the N/S subcontractor. He is also entitled to default interest from the due date for payment until the date on which payment is received.

Question 3: Seeing that the termination was unlawful, must the principal agent and his agents act in accordance with clause 38 or clause 36? Answer: 22

If the N/S subcontractor chooses to terminate the contract, clause 38.5 will apply, i.e.

Lucas Bowles

SA Electrical Contractor

Advertorial

t Novare, we offer institutional investors peace of mind by alleviating the risk and pressures associated with making difficult investment decisions. Our independent investment consultants take the time to understand your needs and will provide clear and honest advice to help you create the best solutions for your members.

About Novare Founded in 2000, Novare has a proud 17-year track record of innovation and performance excellence. These notable achievements have distinguished us as one of South Africa’s leading independent asset advisory firms. Novare Actuaries and Consultants is an independent advisory business providing investment consulting services to institutional clients throughout Southern Africa. In 2007, we expanded into Africa with our first satellite office in Gaborone, Botswana where we act as the investment consultants to the Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund. Recognised as an industry pioneer, we provide investment consulting services to institutions throughout South Africa. We have more than a decade’s expertise in asset management and advising clients and boards of trustees. Our combination of expertise and vital insight allow us to offer practical guidance on a wide range of investment matters. Our implemented investment consulting solution provides clients with the benefit of world-class systems, coupled with a dedicated consulting service team to ensure access to and

execution of innovative asset management and portfolio construction techniques and solutions. Our talented team of independent investment professionals will work closely with you to craft bespoke investment solutions specific to your investment needs and risk appetite. As such, our support framework extends all the way through the investment process – from the initial advisory stage to execution and ongoing monitoring. “As a private firm with an independent charter, we have the ability to operate with agility, unbiased decision-making and focus on performance.”

Our Value Proposition Truly independent: We do not have any financial services companies as shareholders. This ensures that there is no conflict of interest when promoting product providers. We also do not provide advice to investment managers. Dedicated to transformation: We are a boutique investment advisory company with strong Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) credentials. Sound advice: Our established team with hands-on experience in investment management ensures that our advice is based on actual experience rather than the latest investment theory. Passionate about innovation: We are passionate about innovation and the development of solutions to meet specific client needs. Progressive ways of working: Benefit from effective integration of first-class systems into

By Romeo Makhubela, Chief Executive Officer

all working processes and the expertise of a diverse team across various actuarial and investment disciplines. Proven track record: Our implemented consulting adds value through active asset allocation based on precise market assessment analysis. We are proud of our track record in superior risk-adjusted returns. Client satisfaction: Our dedication to valueadded service delivery means that we have one of the highest client retention rates in the country. “At Novare, we are committed to providing unbiased, conflict-free investment consulting and financial advice.”

HEAD OFFICE

JOHANNESBURG OFFICE

BOTSWANA OFFICE

Third Floor, The Cliffs Office Block 1

First Floor

6D, Sixth Floor, ITower, CBD

Niagara Way, Tyger Falls, Carl Cronje Drive

30 Jellicoe Avenue, Rosebank

Gaborone, Botswana

Bellville 7530, Cape Town, South Africa

Johannesburg 2196, South Africa

Tel: +267 390 0628 Fax: +267 390 0629

Tel: +27 21 914 7730 Fax: +27 21 914 7733

Tel: +27 11 447 9605 Fax: +27 11 447 9405

P O Box 1454, Gaborone, Botswana

P O Box 4742, Tyger Valley, 7536, South Africa

This document is confidential and issued for the information of the addressee and of clients of Novare Actuaries & Consultants (Pty) Ltd (Registration No. 2001/008015/07) only. It is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced in total or in part without the prior written consent of Novare Actuaries & Consultants. There are risks involved in buying or selling any financial product and past performance of a financial product is not necessarily indicative of the future performance. The value of financial products can increase as well as decrease over time, depending on the value of the underlying securities and market conditions. NAC is an Authorised Financial Services Provider in terms of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, No. 37 of 2002, FSP No. 815.

SA Electrical Contractor

Cables

Transforming your cables through innovative solutions

Aberdare Cables, a BEE Level 1 contributor with a 71-year record of cable supply in South Africa and other countries, pursues on-going technology development programmes, and through active association with its local and overseas affiliates, continues to remain at the forefront of technology and product development.

ne can say that without product and service innovation, a manufacturing company such as Aberdare is at risk of compromising its long-term economic viability. Keeping abreast of market considerations, Aberdare is engaged in a number of areas of business to improve the value offering to its customers, as discussed in this article.

Systems Aberdare successfully made the transition from ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environmental) and ISO 18001 (health and safety) standards and achieved certification via British Approvals Service for Cables (BASEC) to the latest 2015 versions of these standards through the implementation of a completely new integrated Quality Management System. Customers reap the benefit of this effort to adhere to the latest global ratings in quality, environmental and safety system standards. Aberdare patented the Abertrack system, which resulted from a three-year internal initiative to improve the control of production, stock and distribution of its cable products across all operations. This system, integrated with the company’s ERP system, is made available to customers who wish to improve their control of drummed cable on construction sites, distribution and warehouses.

Electricity transmission A special high-temperature aluminium conductor steel supported (ACSS) overhead conductor has been developed for applications where high temporary or constant loading is required on critical transmission lines where aluminium conductor steel reinforced (ACSR), all aluminium conductor (AAC) or all aluminium alloy conductor (AAAC) are not suitable.

Power distribution Water penetration and moisture between the elements of the cable pose a serious threat to the lifespan of these assets. Offered on MV XLPE cables, Aberdare’s cost-effective longitudinal water-blocking solution provides added security aimed at achieving long reliable cable life.

Mining Rubber trailing cables are subject to extremely harsh operating conditions and often suffer from outer sheath damage, which reduces cable life and results in costly power outages, which directly lead to mining output losses. Development work has resulted in Aberdare offering tough Polyurethane sheathed MV cables with reflective spiral-wound tapes for improved visibility and toughness as well as high tensile extra tear resistant CR sheathed cables.

Rail industry A range of cables has been developed for use in rolling stock, electric and diesel locomotives, which range in rating from 300 V DC to 6 kV DC. Aberdare is also the approved supplier of cables to South Africa’s state-owned rail, port and pipeline company, Transnet, and Gibela Rail Transport Consortium for the rolling stock replacement programme.

www.ecasa.co.za

Renewable energy Aberdare offers solar photovoltaic cables, to SANS 1507 safety standards, with flexible copper conductors and XLPE PVC construction rated at 900/1,500V.

Cable accessories Responding to customer requests, Aberdare now includes LV and MV cable accessories from respected OEMs in its product range, along with the supply of vulcanising machines used in the repair of elastomeric trailing cables in the mining sector.

Training The company is proud to offer customers Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA) accredited training courses in High Voltage Regulations, Cable Testing and Cable Fault Finding. By the end of 2017, these courses will include MV Cable Jointing and Termination Training. More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 396 0000 www.aberdare.co.za 25

Advertorial

Safehouse Association’s warning:

Ignorance is deadly

hether at home or at work, electricity is inherently dangerous. For this reason, electrical installations are subject to regulations to protect the occupiers of buildings. The governmental authority in this regard is the Department of Labour. Its Certificate of Compliance (CoC), completed by the electrical contractor, is designed to provide assurance of such protection. For several reasons, users are not always protected in this way. The SAFEhouse Association has established guidelines to avoid the purchase and use of sub-standard, dangerous electrical products and services.

“There are many sub-standard products and services on offer in South Africa, usually at seductive prices and in contravention of the laws, which are promulgated to protect people. Providing such products and services is a crime. Using them is irresponsible.” These guidelines include: • Buy brands you know and can trust. • Buy products from reputable distributors and outlets. • Beware of copies of prominent brands. • Be suspicious of prices substantially lower than for other similar products or services on offer. • Try to contact the seller’s supplier and judge responses critically. • Be suspicious of lack of information on or with the product packaging and on the product itself. Specifications require certain minimum markings and packaging should describe the electrical capacities and the correct application of the product. Look out for contradictions in the data provided, such as different voltage ratings for the same product. • If the purchase warrants it, ask the supplier for references to other users – and make the effort to contact them. • When dealing with an electrical contractor, ask for proof of registration and about his/her membership of the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) and contact the ECA in your region to check credentials. • Be critical of a suspect installation or a Certificate of Compliance (COC) that is issued too easily. • Ask suppliers to prove compliance with regulations: At the very least a National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) approval in the form of a Letter of Authority (LOA) for the products used, which are subject to regulation (see the SAFEhouse guide for a list of these products). 26

• Look for certification marks such as SABS, VDE and UL (note that the SABS mark is not necessarily a substitute for the LOA). • Beware of fraudulent use of well-known certification emblems, such as the SABS mark. • A ‘CE’ mark is not proof of independent testing and not necessarily proof of conformity. • Report any electrical product failure to the dealer, manufacturer, the NRCS and, if applicable, the National Consumer Commission. Sub-standard electrical products and services can cause fire, injury and death. The latest available statistics* indicate that annually, over 3 500 fires in South Africa are classified as ‘electrical’. Fires may be caused by using sub-standard electrical products, employing incompetent contractors to carry out electrical installations, or both. There are many sub-standard products and services on offer in South Africa, usually at seductive prices and in contravention of the laws, which are promulgated to protect people. Providing such products and services is a crime. Using them is irresponsible. In the interests of users’ safety, SAFEhouse has produced a range of free guides to help you avoid the purchase and use of sub-standard, dangerous electrical products and services. These guides are available on the SAFEhouse website and can be downloaded at no cost. * 2013/2014 statistics from the Fire Protection Association of South Africa

More info: Barry O’Leary E-mail:

+27 (0)11 396 8251 barry.oleary@safehousesa.co.za

Pierre Nothard +27 (0)11 396 8140 Email: pierren@safehousesa.co.za Website:

www.safehousesa.co.za

SA Electrical Contractor

Tech Talk

Earthing for

South African conditions

arthing means ‘to connect an electrically conductive part to an earthing system, which in turn, is connected to earth’. An earthing system that has been adequately designed should provide a low impedance return path to the ground in order for fault current to be detected, isolated and, or dissipated. In certain countries ‘earthing’ is also called ‘grounding’. Earthing of equipment improves the correct operation of electrical networks and provides a barrier of safety to keep operators, end-users and equipment safe. With the rapid growth of electrical networks, which include a growing number of non-linear loads and embedded renewable energy generators, a clear understanding of earthing principles is becoming increasingly important.

Earthing and bonding • Provides safety for human and animal life by limiting touch and step voltages to safe values, (protective earthing, earthing of work).

Earthing and its application in electrical systems General earthing / bonding requirements Correct earthing system design is intended to achieve a required earth resistance (impedance) value as well as ensuring satisfactory surface potential distribution by selecting equipment that is both reliable and suitable and will ensure equipment and operator safety during varying operating conditions. The intention is for the earthing conductor arrangement to provide a connection to earth. Equipment and conductors being used for this purpose should therefore be: • Reliable • Suitable to carry earth fault currents without »» Thermal

• Ensures good power quality through the correct operation of the electricity supply network (power system earthing).

»» Thermo-mechanical

• Limits electromagnetic disturbances and improves electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) levels.

»» Electromechanical stresses arising from normal operational as well as fault currents.

»» Chemical and;

• Protects buildings and electrical installations/networks against lightning and surges.

The construction and effectiveness of an earth electrode is dependent on factors, such as:

Creating a path to earth

• The value of the expected fault current.

Designing and installing a grounding/earthing system that is in contact with the earth creates a path to earth. Electrodes, rods, earth mesh, metallic re-enforcing bars or copper spikes are used as a means of achieving an effective path. The effectiveness of a ground electrode system is measured by the lowest possible resistance between the ground electrode system and the earth mass. A number of factors determine the effectiveness of this design, such as soil resistivity and type of electrodes used. Metallic parts of an earth electrode have direct contact with soil and for this reason are affected by natural elements potentially limiting the life of the earthing system. The earth electrode conductors should, therefore, conform to minimum criteria in order to withstand: 1.

Mechanical stress during installation and operation.

Fault or lightning currents.

Corrosive attack by acidic conditions in soil.

These three parameters are interdependent when choosing the electrode material and its cross-section. For the majority of commercial and domestic power installations, the lifetime of an earthing system can exceed 25 years and for power lines, 35 to 50 years. An earthing system should be included in repair and maintenance cycles with an annual testing regime to ensure continued performance. 28

• Ground conditions on site where the earth electrode is planned.

Different types of electrodes 1.

Horizontal earthing rods1

Simple horizontal earth electrodes are metal rods, strips or pipes placed horizontally under the ground surface at a given depth t, which is usually in the range from 0.6m up to 1 m deep. In regions where the ground freezes, these electrodes may be placed deeper than 1 m as horizontal electrodes should be mounted beneath the freezing line. 2.

Vertical earthing electrodes

Simple vertical earth electrodes are metal rods or pipes placed vertically in the ground. The typical length of rods is in the range from 3 m up to 30 m and could, in extreme cases, be even longer/deeper. They are usually mounted as a set of rods with the length of about 1.5 m, placed successively one over other and driven into soil with a mechanical hammer. Vertical earth electrodes have considerable advantages as the rod passes through various layers of soil when it is embedded into the ground. Water or moisture content generally increases with depth of soil. A stable temperature can also be expected at increased depths below ground level. Thus, the resistance to earth of a vertical rod electrode is more stable than when compared to horizontal electrodes.

SA Electrical Contractor

Tech Talk

This is due to sensitivities as a result of weather and ground conditions.

Another advantage is that a smaller surface area is required to install the vertical rod electrode. Vertical rods are recommended in dense building areas, or where the surface is covered with asphalt or concrete. Vertical earth electrodes are often also used in addition to horizontal rods in order to supplement and improve the resistance of existing horizontal electrodes. A disadvantage of vertical rod electrodes is unfavourable surface potential distribution.

Meshed electrodes are:

Foundation earth electrodes

Foundation earth electrodes are recommended as a practical solution to building earthing and are constructed from conductive metal parts embedded in the concrete of the building foundation. Concrete buried directly in the ground has natural moisture content and can be considered as conductive matter with conductivity similar to that of earth. Because of the large area of this type of electrode, low resistance can be achieved. Furthermore, concrete protects metal parts against corrosion; and steel electrode elements embedded in the concrete do not need any additional corrosive protection. In practice, there are two basic foundation earth electrode constructions: • A foundation without concrete reinforcement • A foundation with concrete reinforcement • In both cases, the earth electrode is made from: • Steel strip, usually with rectangular cross section not less than 30 mm x 3,5 mm, or • Steel bar, usually with round cross section not less than 10 mm diameter. The steel elements can be galvanised (i.e. with a zinc coating), but this is not necessary if the layer of concrete covering the electrode is greater than 50 mm, because the concrete ensures sufficient protection against corrosion. In a foundation without concrete reinforcement the electrode usually follows the contour of building foundation, i.e. it is placed under the main walls. In buildings with extensive foundations, the electrode is usually installed in the form of multiple loops covering the parts of foundation outlines, and connected to each other. In a foundation using concrete reinforcement the earth electrode is placed over the lowest layer of wire-mesh reinforcement, thus ensuring adequate corrosion protection for the electrode. The electrode should be fastened to the reinforcement mesh with wire strands at intervals of not more than 2 m over the electrode length. It is not necessary to make a sound electrical connection at each point because the main electrical connection is via the concrete. If the foundation is constructed as separate panels connected to each other with expansion joints, the earth electrodes of each panel should be galvanically connected to each other. These connections must be flexible and must be located so that they remain accessible for measurement and maintenance purposes. 4.

Meshed electrodes

• Designed as a grid of strip or rods placed horizontally in the ground. Strip is normally the preferred material as it has a larger surface for a given cross-section and is considered to have superior performance at higher frequencies due to a slightly higher capacitance when installed in soil. • Mainly used in earthing arrangements where multiple devices in a specific area are installed within close proximity of one another. In power systems, a typical example is the power substation. Meshed electrodes are usually rectangular in shape and constructed in such a way that the size of the rectangle corresponds to the size of the object area. In this way, the earthing arrangement ensures a favourable and approximately uniform, surface earth potential distribution throughout the object area. A significant advantage of the meshed electrodes is a favourable potential distribution in the earth’s surface. During an earth fault, meshed electrodes increase the surface area that experiences a voltage rise as the result of current flow to the earth electrode. Although an equipotential exists over the area of the mesh, there is a potential gradient at the periphery of the electrode. Due to the mesh extending beyond any metal structure by more than one metre, it is unlikely that there would be any touch potential during fault conditions, however, dangerous step voltages could occur. In order to avoid this phenomenon, the outer elements of the meshed earth electrode should be placed at a greater depth than the rest of the grid. A disadvantage of the meshed earth electrodes is that, due to the large area, which is covered by the grid system, it is not practical to bury the earthing system very deep, hence this type of system is more susceptible to changes in soil moisture content. Improved stability of resistance can be achieved by including a number of long vertical rods in the mesh. The resistance to earth of meshed electrodes is approximated to be proportional to the resistance of a plate electrode buried into the soil. 6.

Natural earth electrodes

Metallic pipes (e.g. water pipes) embedded in the ground as well as foundation earth electrodes, are sometimes also called ‘natural’ earth electrode systems. Information supplied by: Copper Development Association Africa

More info: Website:

info@copper.co.za www.copperalliance.org.za

ref Leonardo Energy . . . . “Typical earth electrode construction”

Using armoured cable as earth

An armoured cable’s metal shield can be used as a means of providing leakage to earth with efficiency similar to that of a strip earth electrode. These types of installations are mainly used as earth electrodes in power electrical substations supplied with cable lines as well as other infrastructure networks. Additionally, it can be connected with the foundation earth electrode of the substation building. In other cases, an additional earth electrode system may need to be installed in order to satisfy the fault current values. The impedance to earth of a single cable line depends on the cable length and the electric resistivity of soil.

www.ecasa.co.za

Tech Talk

Project disruption and its invisible cost to electrical contractors

lectrical contractors are often disadvantaged – both operationally and financially – when their planned contribution to a construction or engineering project is disrupted, but are seldom able to claim compensation for their losses. Disruption to contractors is becoming an even more common occurrence as a result of budget cost cutting on projects, resulting in inadequate engineering and lack of planning early on in the project. According to Russell Drake, general manager operations at Zest WEG Group company EnI Electrical, disruption occurs when a disturbance or hindrance interrupts the normal working methods of the electrical contractor, reducing their productivity on site.

project. In theory, there is recourse to the employer for compensation when disruption leaves the contractor ‘out of pocket’ – if the expense resulting from the contractor’s loss of productivity is caused by disruption events for which the other party is contractually responsible. “The problem is that many of the factors behind lower-than-anticipated productivity do not justify a legal claim for compensation for disruption,” says Drake. “These include poor supervision or planning, re-work due to defects, or the inadequate coordination of sub-contractors.” EnI Electrical highlights, for instance, the negative effects of piecemeal access to the work site, where access ‘on the ground’ does not match the access projections promised by the employers. This disrupts the production environment and destroys the validity of the assumptions contained in the original guidelines and rules of the contract – placing the contractor in a difficult position.

“When a contractor bids for work, their price is based on a scope of works in a clearly defined environment – where the employer’s guidelines and rules are clearly defined,” says Drake. “The contractor expects to carry out the work in terms of a specific set of norms that determine each unit installation rate.” This rate is set in line with the ‘bill of quantities’ for rateable works, which are industry norms; the price that is estimated assumes that production will be continuous – in other words, it makes no provision for disruption. “This tender price also assumes that the management and supervision team performs in the manner necessary to complete the project with the operational resources allocated over a period of time,” he says. “This role is carried out according to the ‘direct field labour’ planned for the

“If the access is forecast to be delayed for some time, the contractor may choose to terminate their excess labour – but this is not often done due to the cost, time and effort,” says Naude. “Another option is to remove the surplus labour from the site, and submit a claim for standing time; the danger here is that some progress is lost – and at a higher cost to the contractor and indirectly, the employer.” He also points out that the labour force could become negative when some have to work and others stand idle. “This negativity further compounds unproductivity.”

View of the milling circuit at Loulo Gold Mine in Mali where EnI Electrical undertook work.

SA Electrical Contractor

Tech Talk

Creative cabling rack installation by EnI Electrical at Maseve Platinum.

“The option often taken by the contractor is to continue applying their resources as best they can, in an attempt to meet the employer’s completion dates,” he says. “However, the process is inefficient and costs more than what the contractor provided for in their tender.” So, while it is possible for a contractor to demonstrate where disruption of their work has occurred – by applying analytical methods and techniques to quantify the financial loss – they will often delay the disruption claims in an effort to maintain the relationship with the employer. Unfortunately, this can result in even more disputes. “Electrical contractors who rely on relationships with their customers can become exposed to contractual risks and lose revenue as result of disruptions,” says Drake. “The risks are exacerbated if the client and contractor do not timeously identify and agree on the impact of potential disruption. The longer the delay, the greater the risk to the contractor’s profitability and the client meeting its completion dates.”

EnI Electrical as a contractor is committed to transparency and to manage the ‘inevitable scope changes’ where these are exploited by many contractors to benefit financially. The company is working to transform the culture of the local contracting fraternity, and spends significant time and effort in developing its teams with strong business and ethical leadership. “We are on a concerted drive to improve industry practice through the way it approaches its contracts – from bidding through to completion of the works,” he says. “Teams will reflect the size of the project, but EnI Electrical teams’ leadership differentiates the company on site; they are not only technically competent, but also understand the business of construction and are effective in multiple areas. This, the company says, is vital to successfully manage and complete projects.” More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 723 6000 www.zestweg.com

All-weather voltage detectors enhance safety of electrical installations

EHN Africa has introduced the new PHE4 series of voltage detectors to improve safety during maintenance of electrical systems and installations. The detectors provide reliable information in all weather conditions – wet and dry – and can be used both indoors and outdoors. The voltage detector PHE4 series verifies the presence/absence of voltage on every electrical pole that has been installed from 1 kV to 420 kV. A test function on the PHE4 series allows the required functional test to be performed before and after using the voltage detector. All the live parts are tested – from the indicator right up to

www.ecasa.co.za

the test probe. In addition, the control panel is large enough to safely and easily operate the device while using protective gloves. After conducting the functional test, the voltage detector remains operational for four minutes. Both a visual indication and an acoustic signal indicate whether voltage is present or not. If a larger distance is required to ensure safety, or if the length is not sufficient to reach the point of contact, an extension handle can quickly and easily be attached through the plug-in coupling system by DEHN Africa. More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 704 1487 www.dehn-africa.com

DEHN Voltage Detector

ECA(SA) Presidential Excellence Awards

The ECA(SA) Presidential Excellence Awards –

Conceived under

a tree in Jericho

t the ECA(SA), we have huge respect for our trade. Electrical energy is a fascinating phenomenon made common only by the fact that it has become commonly used. It is an essential commodity through which governments or political organisations seeking to govern are able to promise it to people in an endeavour to win their votes. When it is not available due to load shedding and similarly named phenomena, you hear that business confidence has gone down, that business infrastructure spend will reduce or that there are negative sentiments from business. When electricity availability is interrupted in a village where families are preparing for funerals and weddings alike, the people feel less comfortable and dare I say, angry with those in power for wasting their hard-earned resources that now results in spoiled food. It was one of these villagers who challenged me when I became ECA(SA) President in 2010 to do something about recognising practitioners of the electrical trade. His argument, as I recall sitting under a tree in Jericho enjoying watermelon, was simple. He asked me: “Why is it that as artisans – and electrical artisans in particular – we, as champion installers, are not recognised with awards of some sort? Yet a person plays a guitar and the world sits up and gives him a standing ovation as he gets universal recognition for playing the notes well. Another sings a few beautiful songs or does makebelieve on television and there’s a huge ceremony to recognise that he acted well. When are you going to recognise the artisan?” It occurred to me at the time that I was, in fact, the president of an organisation of artisans. When musicians and actors receive universal or national awards, these events are transmitted

through the work of the artisan. It is the artisan who provides the lighting, his work powers the plugs in private homes, the wiring in the aeroplane for this artist to travel to the awards ceremony was performed by the artisan, the bus he rode on was worked on by the artisan, the clothes he wears were manufactured using the electrical energy that was installed safely by the artisan … and yet the world does not recognise this artisan. Should the musician or actor become ill and require an operation and have to go into a hospital theatre, an artisan called a master installation electrician would have done the installation and issued the requisite Certificate of Compliance without which the massive qualifications of the medical specialists would be useless to save the musician’s life. They can play his music to soothe the pain, maybe. Not even, they would still need electrical power to do that. By the way, this artist also happens to use an electric guitar. Recognise the artisan, my friend pleaded. I took the organisation to a strategic conference at Doorndraai in early 2011 where we were hosted by the late Dawie Cronje, may his soul rest in peace. Amongst the resolutions emerging from that strategic session facilitated by John Theo, was a firm decision to establish the Presidential Excellence Awards and I was the first President to host the awards, which were held at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in 2012. I have attended all the awards ceremonies since then and I have been a winner twice with Standard Electrical. It is an amazing feeling when you win these awards. The tough part is that every entrant expects to win. When they do not win, there is almost an expectation that you should explain why they didn’t.

“We celebrate excellence and we have the responsibility and obligation to deliver excellence and to recognise it.” 32

At the inaugural awards, DC Electrical and Standard Electrical competed for the Most Energy Efficient building of the year. I knew Gary Abrahamson believed that he was going to walk it. He had calculations and all sorts of fancy technologies that were cutting edge stuff, as he would put it. What I didn’t know is that Dawie had similarly strong expectations. You can imagine how these two men felt when a shower heads installer came ahead of them to snatch the award and they came second. I never got to hear the end of it back at Standard Electrical and whenever the opportunity arose in many of my encounters with Dawie. I have witnessed extreme pleasure and satisfaction from the winners and I am sure you will acknowledge that it is difficult to be humble when you are on top. We have seen that at these awards and this will not change. We celebrate excellence and we have the responsibility and obligation to deliver excellence and to recognise it. Our work is not just aesthetics and beauty and wonder. It is an essential service with huge importance placed on safety. It is for this reason that our entire trade is regulated under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. We are proud to deliver this commodity, a mystery still to others, in a value adding and safe manner. We measure our success by how well we deliver this to the nation without compromising life and limb. Yes, when we celebrate, we will raise a glass of wine, whisky or beer and dance a bit to the sounds of the guitarists. What a journey! We want to thank all those who have walked this path with us. It has been a journey of friends with all arrows facing in the same direction. Every year is a challenge that we conquer with love. We celebrate artisans and the artisan from Mmakgabetlwane village who planted the seed in my head back in 2011, Happy Rakole, is a delighted artisan and so are all of us in the trade. Congratulations to all participants as well as past and future winners of the ECA(SA) Presidential Excellence Awards.

SA Electrical Contractor

Pic: Shutterstock

By Mark Mfikoe, National Director, ECA(SA)

ECA(SA) Presidential Excellence Awards

2012 PRESIDENTIAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Standard Electrical took top honours for the category ‘Installation of the Year – Office Blocks and Hotels’ for their work on the Menlyn Maine Falcon Building. Mark Mfikoe – ECA(SA) President; Gary Abrahamson – Standard Electrical; and Lucas Bowles - ECA(SA) Regional Director, Eastern and Southern Cape).

The winner of the Reticulation Contractor of the Year went to Designer Lighting. Mark Mfikoe – ECA President, Masuxole Poni – Designer Lighting; and Stephen Khola – ECA(SA) Labour Relations and HR Director.

The award for Woman-Owned Business of the Year went to Khosi Nyezi of NUBJ Connections for the project Eskom/Naledi Extnsion 2 DP Houses Electrification Project. Tembe Mwemba – ECA(SA) Finance Manager; Khozi Nyezi – NUBJ Connections; and Mark Mfikoe – ECA(SA) President.

All the winners • • • •

Installation of the Year – Housing: M & L Electrical Contractors Installation of the Year – Shopping Centres: Edison Power and Electrical Installation of the Year – Office Blocks and Hotels: Standard Electrical Installation of the Year – Industrial: Cato Ridge Electrical

• • • •

Best Contributor to Energy Efficiency: The Magnet Group Reticulation Contractor of the Year: Designer Lighting Apprentice of the Year: Masuxole Eric Poni Woman Owned Business of the Year: Khosi Nyesi, NUBJ Connections

2013 PRESIDENTIAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Lucas Bowles (Regional Director, Eastern Cape); Rika Nel (Training Co-Ordinator, Bosveld region); Cecil Lancaster (Regional Director, Bosveld region); Ria du Preez (Office Manager, Bosveld region); George Senekal (Regional Training Manager, Highveld region); William Maraba (Training and Marketing Administrator, national office); Pierre Foot (Regional Director, Western Cape) accepting the award for Michelle Digre (Western Cape); and Shantonette Pillay (Regional Director, KwaZulu-Natal).

All the winners • • • •

Installation of the Year – Industrial: Edison Power Group Installation of the Year – Office blocks: Standard Electrical Reticulation Contractor of the Year: Cato Ridge Electrical Best Contributor to Energy Efficiency: Besamandla Electrical Engineering and Construction Company (Western Cape) • Apprentice of the Year: Phuti Donald Kobe (Cato Ridge Electrical) • National Safety Award: Brand Engineering SA • Employer of the Year: Cato Ridge Electrical

www.ecasa.co.za

Mark Mfikoe (Standard Electrical); Elrid Pillay (Brand Engineering); Clint Erasmus (Besamandla); Gahmiet Aysen (Cato Ridge Electrical); and Bazil Govender (Edison Power).

The ECA(SA) presented additional awards to the following members: • Regional Director of the Year: Lucas Bowles, Regional Director, Eastern Cape • Regional Excellence Award: Shantonette Pillay, Regional Director, KwaZuluNatal region ECA Employees of the Year Award: • Rika Nel (Training Co-ordinator, Bosveld region); • Cecil Lancaster (Regional Director, Bosveld region); • Ria du Preez (Office Manager, Bosveld region); • George Senekal (Regional Training Manager, Highveld region); • William Maraba (Training and Marketing Administrator, national office); and • Michelle Digre (Western Cape region). 33

ECA(SA) Presidential Excellence Awards

2014 ECA(SA) PRESIDENTIAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

The President of the ECA(SA), Michael Straton; Calli Pieterse of Edison Power, recipient of the Life Membership Award; and Mark Mfikoe, ECA(SA) National Director.

ECA(SA) President, Michael Straton; Lucas Bowles (Regional Director of the East/South Cape region) accepting the award for the East South Cape region; and Mark Mfikoe, National Director, ECA(SA).

Michael Straton, President of the ECA(SA); Blayne Burke CEO ARB Electrical; Prasanna Rajendran, Operations Manager, Edison Power; and Brandon Pandaram, Operations Manager, Edison Power.

All the winners • Life membership Award: Calli Pieterse • Regional Excellence Award: East/South Cape region • Installation of the Year – Residential: Vautons Electrical and Mechanical Installations • Installation of the Year – Office Blocks and Hotels: Brand Engineering • Best Energy Efficiency project: Besamandla Electrical Engineering • Reticulation Contractor of the Year: Edison Power

• • • • • •

National Safety Award: Edison Power Installation of the Year – Industrial: B&W Instrumentation and Electrical Installation of the Year – Retail: M&L Electrical Contractors Installation of the Year – Shopping Centres: M&L Electrical Contractors Female apprentice of the Year: Katlego Rachidi Male Apprentice of the Year: Dewald Prins

2015 ECA(SA) PRESIDENTIAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Avesh Mohanlall (Edison Power Johannesburg); Herman Kriel (Brand Engineering); Derrrick Trend (Edison Power KwaZulu-Natal); and Pierre Foot (ECA national executive committee).

Shantonette Pillay (Regional Director, KwaZuluNatal); Samkelo Mthembu (Nestlife); Suren Naidoo (Edison Power Johannesburg).

ECA(SA) past president, Dirk Engelbrecht; Levine Warries (Copper Development Association Africa);): Ghamiet Aysen (Cato Ridge Electrical Contractors); Kobus Labuschagne (Besamandla); and Kyle van Tonder (Milne Electrical).

All the winners • • • •

Life Membership Award: Dawie Cronje (DC Electrical) ECA(SA) Regional Office of the Year: Bosveld Region Installation of the Year – Residential Properties: Elektro Trust, Bloemfontein Installation of the Year – Office Blocks and Hotels: Edison Power KwaZulu-Natal • Installation of the Year – Retail: Brand Engineering • Installation of the Year – Special Innovative Projects: GPA Pools Electrical • National Safety Award: Edison Power Johannesburg 34

• • • • • • •

Woman-Owned Business of the Year: Katshesa Engineering Reticulation Contractor of the Year: Brand Engineering Male Apprentice of the Year: Corné Jansen (Blits Electrical) Female Apprentice of the Year: Nomakazi Mntunu (Edison Power) Overall Apprentice of the Year: Nomakazi Mntunu Best Contributor to Energy Efficiency: Besamandla Installation of the Year – Industrial: Besamandla

SA Electrical Contractor

ECA(SA) Presidential Excellence Awards

2016 ECA(SA) PRESIDENTIAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

2016 Group Winners

All the winners • • • • • • •

Regional Office of the Year: Highveld Region National Safety Award: Reliant Electric Installation of the Year – Residential: H&S Electrical Installation of the Year – Complexes: Electrotrust Installation of the Year – Hotels and Hospitals: Electrotrust Apprentice of the Year – Female: Tanganedzani Mukwevho Apprentice of the Year – Male: Malokwane Maraba

• • • • •

Best Contributor to Energy Efficiency: Edison Power Gauteng Reticulation Contractor of the Year: Brand Engineering Installation of the Year – Office Blocks: Edison Power Gauteng Installation of the Year – Industrial: Cato Ridge Electrical Installation of the Year – Retail and Shopping Centres: Standard Electrical • Special Innovative Projects Award: Reliant Electric

The ECA(SA) Regional Office of the Year Award went to the Highveld Region. Mark Mfikoe – National Director, ECA(SA); Johnny Cunniff – President, ECA(SA); Highveld Regional Director, Louis Pretorius (winner); and Giel Labuschagne – first vice-President, ECA(SA).

Finalist, Dominique Hoshe – SHEQ manager, Edison Power, Gauteng (finalist); Johnny Cunniff – ECA(SA) President; Ranier Venter – SHEQ manager at Reliant Electric and Brett Harrison – MD at Reliant Electric (winner); Vusi Sithole – CEO Nestlife; Herman Kriel – Brand Engineering (finalist); and Mark Mfikoe – National Director, ECA(SA).

Johnny Cunniff – ECA President; Tanganedzani Mukwevho (winner); Fezeka Bani – Brother; Elizabeth Kgofelo (finalist) and Quinten Dorman – Brother.

Dave Alcock accepting the certificate for Namasthethu (finalist); Martin Jacobs – Edison Power Gauteng (winner); Zanelle Dalglish – Schneider Electric; Agreement Buti Leburu – Schneider Electric; and National Director of the ECA(SA), Mark Mfikoe.

www.ecasa.co.za

ECA(SA) Presidential Excellence Awards

The panel of judges for the

ECA(SA)’s 2017 Presidential Excellence Awards Tlepe Mpe Tlepe Mpe, general manager of Zamori Engineering Services, started out at Randfontein Estates Gold Mines and has advanced in the industry at various mining companies over the past 26 years. He holds a NDip Electrical Engineering (Cape Peninsula University of Technology); Higher Diploma Electrical Engineering (Vaal University of Technology); a postgrad Dip Business Management (UKZN Business School; a certificate in Advanced Project Management (UNISA School of Business Leadership); and has completed an Executive Preparation Programme: Introduction to Mining and Minerals Certificate (University of Johannesburg in collaboration with the Mining Qualification Authority).

Rob Anderson Rob Anderson holds a Higher National Diploma in Heavy Current Engineering and started his career at Murray and Roberts. He moved into consulting engineering in 1983. He holds a Pr Tech Eng qualification and, at CA du Toit and Partners, was involved in the refurbishment of the Natal Playhouse. Rob started his own consulting practice in 1997; obtained his Pr. Eng. Qualification in 2000; and is a Fellow of the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE). He was involved in the 2010 World Cup’s security and people counting system, which was extended to the COP 17 bicycle management system for which Rob won an SAIEE design award. Rob presented a course on measuring electrical quantities for architecture students at UKZN; and was moderator for the Electrical Machines 2 and 3 courses at DUT.

Carel Ballack Project consultant for the Copper Development Association, Carel Ballack has been involved in the Energy and RE sector for more than 17 years. He qualified as artisan in the electrical, plumbing and gas disciplines, Carel has been involved in data training, report writing and various programs centred around the development of the PV and RE sector since 2000. Carel provides information and data aiding for-profit organisations, NPOs, commercial entities and stakeholders to develop strategies around business growth for the RE sector into SA and Africa using verified data as a basis. He has trained over 2 000 candidates in solarrelated technologies and has developed a quality assurance programme for financial institutions that reduces the risk associated with RE projects for the rooftop sector.

Molebogeng Leshabane Lebo Leshabane, BSc Eng (Wits University) started at BT Mongwe & Associates in 2002 and, in 2003, joined Transnet Freight Rail providing technical advice, quality assurance and scope management for a rail rehabilitation plan. In 2005, Lebo joined SAA and was responsible for project and programme management for the upgrading of SAA business class lounges for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. In 2007, she was elected Deputy President of the National Society of Black Engineers and, in 2009, was appointed as a council member of the Engineering Council of SA (ECSA). She sits on the Board of the Gauteng Partnership Fund (GPF). In 2011, Lebo was MD at Black Jill’s Engineers and, in 2016, joined iX Engineers – a partial merger between Worley Parsons PI business and Black Jill’s Engineers consulting business – as CEO.

Dimakatso Matshoga Dimakatso Matshoga is a professional electrical engineer who runs an engineering projects and strategy consulting company. She has more than 15 years’ engineering and projects work experience in the electricity generation and transmission; telecommunications; rail; defence; electrical contracting and consulting industries. Her skills include formulating programme strategies; managing projects; project finances; contracts, and technology leadership. Her experience encompasses strategy formulation and execution; technical and regulatory compliance; corporate governance; and stakeholder management. She has a passion for constructive and strategic leadership that upholds continuous improvement; and for fostering holistic and systematic approaches to business sustainability. She has extensive experience in developing, reviewing and editing technical documents, compiling engineering research papers, technical training; conducting technical audits and incident investigations, due diligence and financial investment motivations in projects.

Rorisang Morake Rorisang Morake is a qualified electrical engineer at Dihlase Consulting Engineers. He completed an Electrical Heavy Current B-Tech Degree (University of Johannesburg); a project management Diploma (Wits University); and is studying towards a Mechanical Degree at UNISA. Rorisang has more than eight years in the electrical industry; he’s worked in the electrical panel manufacturing sector and has been in the electrical consulting industry for over seven years. He’s worked on many projects: building of substations, electrification, electrical distribution, energy management; access control; fire detection; and building services. Rorisang believes in innovation and technology and follows technological trends closely and is dedicated to improving electrical protection and efficiency. He is passionate about quality enforcement and the implementation of SABS and SANS standards in all projects. 36

SA Electrical Contractor

Training

The ECA(SA)’s Electronic

Certificate of Compliance – as easy as 1-2-3

he ECA(SA)’s IT Manager, Steville Hattingh, developed an electronic Certificate of Compliance to meet the needs of the electrical industry in South Africa. The e-CoC makes easy the tasks of completing, storing and retrieving CoCs. To make it even easier, the ECA(SA) provides five free samples for each member for testing purposes. For your free samples, contact your closest regional office. The IT department provides support for users of the electronic CoC (e-CoC) and answers users’ questions such as how to purchase e-CoCs and access the e-CoC platform; and also helps end-users should information not display correctly. “All queries sent to IT support are usually resolved the same day,” says Hattingh, adding that the ECA(SA) IT support also interacts with regional administrators when required. He says that he is also asked more general questions, such as how the e-CoC compares to the ‘usual’ CoC and whether any special software is required to use the platform. “The e-CoC is an ongoing long-term project that evolves as technology demands or as regulations may require. Users of the e-CoC can be

assured that they will always have the latest up-to-date Certificate of Compliance in their possession,” he concludes. A valid ECA(SA) membership and an internet connection is all you need to use this tool. To get started, contact your nearest regional office and confirm that all your information on the ECA(SA) database is correct. You will then be given your own unique username and password as well as further instructions. In an easy-to-follow tutorial, Cecil Lancaster, the Regional Director of the Bosveld region, demonstrates the e-CoC’s functionality to members and shows them where to insert information and how to complete the document in about five minutes. As easy as 1-2-3. Steville holds e-CoC courses during the year and to find out when the next e-CoC course will be held, email him at steville@ecasa.co.za Cecil’s tutorial is available on the ECA(SA) website https://ecasa.co.za/member-support/the-ecasas-electronic-certificateof-compliance-as-easy-as-1-2-3/attachment/cecil-ecoc/ More information:

+27 (0)11 392 0000

ECA gets accreditation for Electric Fence

System Installer (EFSI) course Persons who wish to register for RPL as an Electric Fence System Installer should:

he Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA) has given the ECA(SA) accreditation for Electrical Fence Training for those who wish to register as an Electric Fence System Installer (EFSI) as per Regulations 12 – 15 (p.14 – 17) of the Electrical Machinery Regulations. Electric fence installations may only be done (and a Certificate of Compliance therefore issued) by persons registered as Electric Fence System Installers (EFSI).

• Be over the age of 16;

• Pre-assessment of attendees (please read above entry requirements).

• Be a qualified electrician (must have passed his/her trade test);

• Course on Electrical Fence Installations.

• In possession of a Wireman’s Licence in Single Phase or Installation Electrician or Master Installation Electrician; • Must have at least two years’ working experience as in Electric Fence System Installer.

Course outline Unit Standards: • Electric Fence Installations • Demonstrate an understanding of electric fencing

Course description

• Apply cabling methods

The Electric Fence Course is an RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) course for persons who have been in the Electric Fence Installation field for more than two years. The aim of the course is to accredit Electric Fence Installers with EWSETA and for them to be registered with the Department of Labour (DoL).

• Use elementary electronics as applied to electronic systems

Entry requirements As this is a Recognition of Prior Learning course, it addresses the ‘shortfall’ between Installation Electrician (IE) and Electric Fence System Installer.

www.ecasa.co.za

Included in this course

• Configure an installation • Determine installation requirements • Explain the use of installed systems • Assessment – Day 3

Course duration The course is held over three days – usually from Wednesday to Friday, from 07h45 am to 16h00 daily.

• Copy of SANS 10222, the National Standard applicable to electric fences. • Copy of the Electrical Machinery Regulations 2011. • Training on all the required unit standards (above). If attendees are found competent, application will be made on their behalf for the statement of competency from EWSETA. Once this is received, attendees can apply to the Department of Labour to be registered as an EFSI and the ECA(SA) will provide guidance on this registration process.

Venue The course is currently only being presented at the ECA(SA)’s Meadowdale Training Centre, 91 Newton Road, Meadowdale Ext 2, Germiston, 1401. More info: Leola Peterson: Email:

+27 (0)11 392 0000, leola@ecasa.co.za

Rika Nel ECA(SA) Pretoria: +27 (0)12 342 3242, Email: rika@ecasa.co.za 37

Switches and Sockets

Legrand Ysalis range of switches and sockets –

style and convenience

egrand’s Ysalis switches and sockets, which were launched in South Africa at the beginning of the year, have been well received by the local market.

Feedback reveals that style, convenience and energy saving are key features that add to the popularity of this new range. Ysalis – designed for new and existing installations -provides easy control of lighting and fans and accommodates current and new RSA standards for local plugs. Ysalis is easily adapted to suit European twopin socket appliances. 2400 mA intelligent USB technology provides fast charging of two devices, with balanced load sharing. Universal dimmers control incandescent and halogen loads, as well as LEDs and compact fluorescent lamps. This range is also fully compatible with Legrand trunking systems. White or champagne coloured cover plates, which are slim and curvy shaped, enrich the décor of homes and offices. Switches can be fitted with fluorescent indictors for improved comfort and safety in the dark. Electrical installers are impressed with these compact mechanisms, where there is more space in the back box for easy wiring. For improved safety, a spacer separates high and data currents. Installation is also effortless. Data sockets are fitted with tool-less connectors, eliminating the need for punch down tools.

The modular design allows any configuration of Ysalis to be adapted to suit present and future needs. With this system, it’s not necessary to damage the wall to increase, remove or change the number of lighting points or connections – the same box and support frames are used to accommodate all modifications. Various modules are available – from one to three modules, up to six modules – with double or triple pole switches. Legrand’s commitment to its local customer base encompasses the ongoing launch of products to meet exact market requirements. Ysalis wiring devices suit standard market segments looking for sophisticated, yet affordable fittings, with safe and reliable control features. Ysalis is available throughout the country from Legrand and its extensive distributor network, as well as in in pre-packed kits from Builders Warehouse outlets. More info: Email: Website:

+27 (0)11 444 7971 legrand.south-africa@legrand.co.za www.legrand.co.za

SA Electrical Contractor

Switches and Sockets

New VETi2 range of switches and sockets –

affordable elegance M

ajor Tech’s new stylish range of Veti2 switches and sockets was designed to satisfy industry and market demand for affordable elegance. In true Major Tech style, a great deal of thought went into the monoblock design and concept of the Veti2 range. It’s the first socket in South Africa to accommodate a switched socket with one standard RSA socket, two V-slim sockets, and two USB ports – now that’s forward thinking.

Innovation Pat Shaw, CEO at Major Tech, is justifiably proud of the new Veti range, which, he says, was specifically designed to provide an upmarket design and superior quality – and at a price that is affordable. “Major Tech places huge emphasis on innovation, embracing new technology and promoting industry best practices – and, importantly, we are reactive to our customers’ demands. We do not underestimate customer feedback because it’s an important and 40

valuable source of information and, because it’s our philosophy to work with industry specialists, we can ensure that Major Tech’s product offerings will always exceed expectations,” says Shaw.

Veti 2 product offering and specs: • Available in a complete monoblock offer. • Available in white and charcoal. • Perfectly flat and ultra slim design keeps it flush with the wall surface. • Manufactured from a Polycarbonate and ABS blend, at the highest quality raw materials ensuring an approved flame retardant product. • Easy to connect terminals. • Easily removable covers to attach product to the wall. • IEC and SANS compliant. • LOA certificates on entire range

Veti 2 switches: • Perfectly flat switch whether in an ‘on’ or ‘off’ position. • One-way switches available in one- to four-lever. • Two-way switches available in one-lever only. • All switches come with a single live input. • Includes a florescent locator.

Veti 2 sockets: • Wide variety of sockets available which include 10 different socket outlet combinations. • Red: dedicated sockets – single and double. • USB 2.1 amp (cumulative). • Communication sockets include data, satellite and TV. • Data socket has a CAT6 speed. More info: +27 (0)11 872 5500 Website: www.major-tech.com

SA Electrical Contractor

Switches and Sockets

New generation time switches for temperature control

egrand’s new generation of programmable time switch technology encompasses AlphaRex³ and MicroRex time switches for precise temperature control in domestic, commercial and industrial environments.

“Legrand’s Rex time switches, with analogue and digital dials, are ideally suited for OEM’s and panel builders who can pre-programme the time switch during installation. At a later stage when the panel or product is connected to power, all the end-user has to do is set the real time,” says Sonja Leibbrandt, marketing and pricing manager, Legrand South Africa. “These programmable time switches ensure high clock precision, optimum reliability, maximum safety and enhanced aesthetics. “In temperature control applications, these devices are used to switch an electric circuit on or off at selected times during a pre-programmed time period. These time switches also have an automatic return facility and a permanent forced switching on or off override control.

MicroRex analogue and digital modules are 24-hour and seven-day time switches for DIN rail and wall-mounting, with a 100-hour running reserve. These units have the capability for multiple programmes, which ensures optimum time setting flexibility. MicroRex time switches have an LED status indicator, a precision clockwork of 0.2 s/day and are controlled by either a quartz or synchronous motor. For increased safety and user convenience, there is an automatic and manual and advance/over-ride facility. An analogue defrost switch is available for short periods of controlled defrosting. The timer can repeat one or two settable short programmes within 24-hours and the defrosting time is from one to 60 minutes per contact. More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 444 7971 www.legrand.co.za

“Typical applications for time switches in heating and cooling installations include water heaters, air conditioners, heating and ventilation systems and swimming pool heaters.” AlphaRex³ programmable time switches have a userfriendly standardised text guided programming facility, with a high resolution digital display and backlight. There is a standard, single data key for all devices in this range to allow quick and easy transfer of programmes to other time switches and for creating back-up copies. These time switches are available with standard and multiple functions, with a daily or weekly programme facility and a clock working reserve of six years. Programming with clock precision to the second is controlled directly on the time switch, or outside the distribution board using a PC and Legrand’s AlphaSoft programming software. Other features include an EEPROM memory which prevents settings being lost and the facility to programme the clock prior to despatch. Once the unit has been programmed, the information will remain installed even if the switch is not connected to power. The battery can be removed without having to uninstall the time switch from the distribution board. MicroRex time switches offer easy plug-and-play installation for daily and weekly programming. By simply setting the analogue switching dial during start up, the time is automatically set using the fast-run mode. In the event of a power failure, the time is automatically reset.

SA Electrical Contractor

Switches & Sockets

Simple, high quality, flexible and safe

circuit breakers

“Construction and upgrade budgets have become much tighter” Christo Janse van Rensburg, Offer Product Manager

Robust Adjustable thresholds and a service breaking capacity rated at 100% of the ultimate breaking capacity enhance the reliability and life cycle of the products while reducing servicing costs. Its compact, modular design and field-installable accessories shared with other offer ranges help to simplify ordering, stocking and installation.

chneider Electric offers the EasyPact CVS range of Class II, moulded case circuit breakers, which are precision engineered to help make installations safer and more reliable, while offering essential capabilities with exceptional quality and value. Manufactured from premium materials in ISO 9001 and ISO 14000 certified production plants, the range of circuit breakers are fully tested and certified by national, international and third party organisations to all relevant safety standards. EasyPact CVS is the easy choice for most common electrical distribution applications in medium sized commercial and industrial buildings. They provide an exceptional feature set at their price point, including extended current limiting capacity and adjustable thermal protection. As a cost-effective investment, customers pay for only what they need and do not have to settle for lower grade alternatives. With simplicity of selection, purchasing, stocking and installation designed into every breaker, the

www.ecasa.co.za

range delivers unbeatable value throughout their life cycle.

Boost uptime and cut costs This range is fast to install and easy to use, and offers the utmost in operational safety. Engineered to match common electrical distribution applications, the range delivers exacting design and a focus on scrupulous manufacturing quality to ensure it remains cost-effective over the long run. “Construction and upgrade budgets have become much tighter,” explains Christo Janse van Rensburg, Offer Product Manager (Low Voltage Power Breakers) at Schneider Electric South Africa. “The new range of circuit breakers will help contractors adapt to customers’ budgets, while delivering required capabilities and the brand quality of a global leader in energy management and protection. The range leverages our expertise in precision design and manufacturing for our customers.”

The robust circuit breakers are suitable for isolation, guaranteed to the IEC 60947-2 standard, and provide a highly visible and lockable contact position indicator to ensure operator confidence. Extended current limiting and thermal protection can greatly reduce the stresses on equipment due to short circuits and their associated effects. Earth leakage protection can be added by installing a Vigi CVS option module. In the event of a circuit fault, simple visual indicators help maintenance personnel quickly locate the tripped breaker and take steps to correct the problem.

Modular design “To ensure a low total cost of ownership, the range features a modular design that adapts to changing needs. Basic accessories and a logical part-numbering scheme are shared with the rest of the company’s MCCB range, helping optimise stocking while reducing effort and the potential for ordering errors. Products in the range also feature a compact footprint similar to other Schneider Electric MCCB ranges, which can help reduce switchboard dimensions and installation times,” concludes Christo. More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 254 6400 www.schneider-electric.co.za 43

Switches & Sockets

The simplest, most accessible way to monitor

and secure all your electrical assets

chneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management and automation, has recently introduced PowerTag®, the smallest wireless energy sensor available, designed to enhance the monitoring of electrical assets. PowerTag is built to easily connect to a miniature circuit breaker, in order to add connectivity, and to provide building owners and facility managers with precise, powerful, and realtime data to increase the health of a facility’s strategic assets. Designed for any type of building, the energy sensor easily monitors and measures currents, voltages, power, power factor and energy. This first-of-its-kind connection enables greater availability of electrical assets by providing the ability to better manage critical loads – leading to higher reliability and efficiency of the electrical installation. Data is sent wirelessly to a concentrator to display the data via inbuilt webpages or provide

Pic: Schneider Powertag

The smallest wireless energy sensor provides a simple and cost-effective solution to the very complex challenge of adding wireless connectivity to a miniature circuit breaker, and enabling real-time energy measurement and asset management at a more granular level. data for larger energy management systems or building management systems (BMS). Data can also be leveraged to create customised e-mail alarms to assist facility managers with remote monitoring of assets. “More and more, customers are demanding new solutions to meet the critical challenges of building asset and energy management,” says James Calmeyer, Vice-President for Buildings South Africa at Schneider Electric. “PowerTag provides the innovation to make asset and energy management simpler. The majority of circuit breakers can now be tagged bringing electrical distribution connectivity to a new era. PowerTag can easily be fitted without the need for complex wiring or additional space requirements; in reality it’s a five-minute installation to add a PowerTag and you’re on and connected.” The compact, space-saving auxiliary fits easily into new and existing distribution boards.

PowerTag is natively integrated into Schneider Electric’s Acti 9 Communication System to provide customers an all-in-one monitoring and control solution. PowerTag is available directly through Schneider Electric, or Schneider Electric authorised distributors. For more information about PowerTag, including technical specifications, visit: www.schneider-electric.com/powertag More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 254 6400 www.schneider-electric.co.za

Power towers

for modern homes

hodam Evans, product manager at Major Tech believes that, in today’s competitive market, sockets and switches are more than just a practical solution for an everyday application.

“South Africans just accept that adaptors and extension cords are necessary for them to use products with different plug tops and generally, they don’t place enough emphasis on the installation of socket outlets,” he says. Today’s modern lifestyle along with the many time-saving appliances – juicers, coffee machines, slow cookers, air fryers, blenders and bread ovens – along with a family’s numerous electronic devices – have made more plug points a necessity and not merely an extravagant option. “Major Tech offers the VETI Pull Up Power Tower that provides the perfect solution: an innovative patented design that offers supreme functionality; and the tower can be stored out of sight even when it’s

www.ecasa.co.za

being used. A spring-loaded handle ensures that the tower can be easily pulled up to allow for the user to assemble electrical and data connections and then push the Power Tower down with all the cables still connected,” explains Evans. The VETI Pull up Power Tower range has a two-year guarantee and is available as a preassembled offer for standard installations. The range comes standard with two RSA V-Slim socket outlets, two RSA standard socket outlets, one thermal overload switch and a 1.6 m standard SA plug extension. In addition, the VPT2 and VPT3 come standard with dual USB chargers to charge smart phones, iPads, tablets and cameras up to 2.1 A. More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 872 5500 www.major-tech.com 45

Energy Efficiency

Wireless lighting control system reduces electricity bills

agnet’s locally designed and manufactured wireless lighting control system – Lite-C – has been developed for installations in commercial buildings, warehouses and distribution centres, as well as parkades. “This new wireless control system, which is easily integrated into light fittings for automation purposes, offers a reduction in electricity bills of up to 43%,” says Ryan Groger, head of projects at Magnet Energy. “Lite-C sensors operate efficiently, using radio frequency (RF) technology that allows input devices to communicate with and control output devices up to 200 m, without the need for cabling over long distances. “Occupancy sensors are coupled with these

wireless controllers, which are particularly well suited for operation at heights, to detect movement of an object at floor level (for example, a forklift truck in a warehouse) and communicate with other devices. At this point, the first bank of lights automatically switches on. Motion of the object is then detected by the second sensor, triggering the next set of lights to turn on, while the previous lights remain active. “If no movement is detected by the sensor after a certain time period, the lights are automatically switched off.” With this plug-and-play system, the input signal can be from various sources, but most commonly from an occupancy sensor. The addressing of the input vs output is done via a

Magnet Lite C wireless lighting control

10-channel dip switch which allows the unit to be preprogrammed off-site or at ground level prior to installation. Modifications to the self-configurable system, which is designed for manual set up, can be made without the need for re-wiring or having to use access equipment at height. Magnet’s team of lighting specialists has extensive experience in identifying energy saving opportunities and implementing appropriate eco-friendly solutions to reduce wasted electricity. The new Lite-C lighting management system forms part of the company’s range of energy saving solutions.

Before and after images show how Magnet’s wireless Lite-C system controls lighting by ensuring lighting is turned off when aisles of this warehouse are not occupied.

More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 274 1998 www.magnetgroup.co.za

Break away from reliance on the power grid – go solar

ith Eskom dangling a possible 20% tariff increase over consumers’ heads, it isn’t surprising that more South Africans are looking for ways to generate power at a cost lower than that supplied from the National Grid. While there is an initial outlay cost, it takes an average of about five to eight years, depending on the extent of the solar product installed, to recoup the cost of the solar investment and thereafter, your connection to the sun is free – that is, apart from general maintenance to the system.

unused power to the municipality at a reduced tariff, making their power bill cheaper. This type of installation is ideal for businesses that trade during daylight hours.

The South African climate is ideal for solar power generation as we have one of the highest solar radiation yield per square metre in the world – so solar energy is a great investment for your home or business.

Director at Electrozone, Shahed Essack, says, “Electrozone is a ‘typical’ electrical wholesaler but what makes us different is that we are venturing into a full range of solar products such as solar panels, batteries, inverters, mounting structures, and cable accessories.”

There are two solar installation options that are commonly used: Grid-tied: Many utilities are currently allowing grid-tied installations to feed back into the utility power grid and users will be able to ‘sell’

Off-the-grid/hybrid solar system: This system functions as a normal grid-tied system but has a battery backup. Excess power will be drawn from the batteries in the evenings or when there is no sun. This system is quite effective but the return on investment is longer due to the capital cost of the battery.

More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 833 1075 / +27 82 762 6811 www.electrozone.co.za

SA Electrical Contractor

Energy Efficiency

IE3-compliant

DRN motors

supplied to E.Cape wastewater treatment plant

n important feature of the SEW-EURODRIVE motors for wastewater treatment applications is their IP 65 rating, says the company’s Rudi Swanepoel, South Africa Head of Projects. A total of six units are being supplied, with two gearboxes fitted with 75 kW DRN motors, two with 45 kW DRN motors, and the remaining two with 37 kW DRN motors. These specific units will be used for aerator applications. “With aerator and mixing applications, our projects and engineering teams have to double check all of the loads and bending moments. These loads are supplied to us by the client, based on their designs. We then have to ensure that the gearboxes that have been selected are suited to the application at hand,” Swanepoel explains. SEW-EURODRIVE employs a special program designed specifically to determine if the gearbox selection is adequate, based on the loads and bending moments. This is particularly important when it comes to aerators and mixers. SEW-EURODRIVE therefore selects the optimal gearbox for the application at hand. “We supplied similar gearboxes and motors to the same client for a wastewater treatment plant in the Vaal Triangle. The client has displayed confidence in both our technical support and our technology, which

www.ecasa.co.za

is how we nurture such long-standing relationships,” Swanepoel comments. “These two major projects in quick succession represent a foothold for us in this burgeoning industry, which is definitely picking up in terms of business.” Wastewater treatment plants represent a particularly arduous application for these DRN motors, which means auxiliary instrumentation such as PT100s to measure temperature, and thermistors, which are a cutout failsafe measure when the motor temperature reaches a set high point, are often required. Accessories included strip heaters for colder conditions, and rain canopies. SEW-EURODRIVE now offers its energy-efficient DRN motor series as standard across its entire product range in order to reduce the total cost of ownership, which means the payback period is much quicker, and also the return on investment is that much higher. “We have always remained at the forefront of new technological and regulatory developments, and keeping the South African industry up to date is important to us and to our customers,” Swanepoel concludes. More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 248 7000 www.sew.co.za 47

Motor Starter Solutions

Motor starter solutions

deliver simplicity, flexibility B

ased on its 90-plus years of motor starter experience, Schneider Electric has produced the new EasyPact TVS range of motor starter solutions that delivers exceptional simplicity, flexibility, reliability and value for the majority of common applications. Also known as TeSys E, the EasyPact TVS includes a wide choice of contactors, relays and circuit breakers, providing the essential features required to address 80% of the most common AC1 and AC3 motor applications, such as HVAC, Pumping and material handling. “The EasyPact TVS range is precisionengineered to give contractors, OEMs and panel builders a motor starter solution that perfectly balances performance, costeffectiveness and quality,” says Victor Strobel, Marketing Offer Manager for Motor Starting switchgear business for Schneider Electric SA. “We have expanded on the successful TeSys E series by including nine sizes of contactors that cover an even broader range of current ratings. These are well matched to a choice of thermal overload relays, control relays and a new motor protection circuit breaker.” The capabilities of the range have been application optimised, so that customers pay only for what is needed to meet each project requirement. A clear reference system makes selection and ordering easy, while a maximised number of solutions within one range helps reduce stocking requirements and simplifies design. The components are designed for compatibility and ease of installation, either in new or existing motor control panels. Direct mounting of the contactor and thermal overload relay further reduces cabling and installation time, while saving panel space and enhancing reliability. Manufactured from premium materials in ISO 9001 and ISO 14000 certified production plants, the range is fully tested and certified by national, international and third-party organisations to all relevant safety standards. More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 254 6400 www.schneider-electric.co.za

SA Electrical Contractor

Earthing and Lightning Protection

Mitigate summer lightning strike risk and tick insurance compliance boxes for your thatched roof

t is no longer necessary to install a 30-metre high mast as the only option for lightning protection for residential or commercial thatched roof structures. This is thanks to DEHN’s external protection system for installation on thatched buildings – a high voltage resistant Insulated (HVI) lightning protection system, which is compact and more aesthetically pleasing then a traditional 30 m mast. Kirk Risch, sales and marketing director at DEHN Africa, an expert in surge and lightning protection, notes that with DEHN Africa’s alternative lightning protection option, the vulnerability of a thatched roof to lightning strikes is substantially mitigated, without the need to erect the typical mast that we are so used to seeing in South Africa. He says, “Thatched roofs are very popular in South Africa and are to be found in rural communities, many urban developments, both commercial and residential, as well as in game lodges. They are regarded as being aesthetically pleasing, especially where there is a desire to make the structures ‘blend’ into the environment.” “Of course, thatched roofs are also known to be far more susceptible to catching alight as a result of a lightning strike than any other roof type, as outlined by the South African National Standard, SANS 10313. Many local areas are prone to high incidents of lightning strikes, including Gauteng as well as the northern regions and some coastal areas of the country, and so this makes a thatched roof even more susceptible to this danger. In addition to considerations around the protection of human life, this increased fire risk also has implications for the insurance industry.” Risch points out the enormous loss to property sustained in the Cape St Francis fires of November 2012, in which around 80 thatched roof residential properties were destroyed or badly damaged from a fire that very quickly raged out of control. He notes that while this fire was

not caused by lightning, it shows just how flammable thatched roofs can become, and how quickly they can catch alight without proper protective measures in place. “This was a huge story in the insurance industry at the time. A large percentage of insurance claims on thatched roof houses are, understandably, fire-related and a house can burn to the ground in 10 minutes so, from an insurance perspective, the claim often becomes a total loss. The 2012 St Francis fires showed the necessity for the owners of thatched roof buildings to make sure that their properties are adequately insured, as well as adequately protected. “There are various fire retardant treatments available in the market, which are effective in delaying the spread of a fire over an entire thatched roof. In addition, the installation of a DEHN lightning protection system (LPS) on a thatched roof offers protection from lightning strike and peace of mind from the perspective of insurance cover requirements.” Risch says DEHN Africa can assist homeowners and business owners to enjoy the aesthetics provided by a thatched roof structure, while knowing that they can avoid lightning-related disasters through the provision of LPS components for use specifically on thatched roofs. “DEHN Africa recommends the HVI lighting protection system for all those in South Africa living in thatched risk structures. The LPS is easy to install on new constructions and simple to convert for existing structures that previously relied on the traditional lightning rod,” he concludes. More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 704 1487 www.dehn-africa.com

SA Electrical Contractor

Earthing and Lightning Protection

Off to a strong start: Pic: Trevor Manas

Pic: Rikki pic

ELPA aims to build up the lightning protection industry in SA

Trevor Manas, National Director

t has only been a part of the lightning protection landscape in South Africa for a few months, but it is already evident that the Earthing and Lighting Protection Association (ELPA) has got off to a promising start.

ELPA was formed by a group of influential persons in the lightning protection industry from around the country, after more than two years of hard work. The intention was to create an umbrella body, which would bring together experts and interested parties from various areas of the lightning protection arena. This body would assist with providing industry training, certification, benchmarks for quality of design and installation, and information and education to assist all interested parties who want to protect their buildings and the lives of those who live in or use them.

He adds that the modular nature of the accreditation programmes will equip ELPA-certified specialists in aspects of contracting, including quality control programmes, risk identification, analysis and management. “Our involvement with certification and compliance will help to improve technical competency within the industry, especially among installers, designers and assessors, and this will assist in improving safety standards within the lightning protection industry,” Manas concludes. More info: Email: Website:

+27 (0)11 704 1487 or +27 (0)76 516 8964 Claudelle Pillay on info@elpasa.org.za www.elpasa.org.za

Certification and compliance ELPA’s stated aim is to improve and empower those in the lightning protection industry in order to protect life as well as property. The organisation’s motto is ‘Achieving certainty through certification and compliance’. The association will offer certification of qualified designers, installers and inspectors, with the support of various institutions such as Wits University, the Electrical Contractors Association of South Africa (ECA) and the Department of Labour. This will have positive repercussions for the protection of structures across all industry sectors and there is an intention to further assist regulation and claims in the insurance industry.

Accredited installers Under the leadership of National Director, Trevor Manas, who has some 25 years-plus experience in the lightning protection industry – having been previously managing director of Pontins Earthing and Lighting Protection, and currently owner and CEO of Lightning Protection Concepts – ELPA is already working on the second re-print of its installation handbook and has held its first successful set of certification exams for lightning protection installers, which was fully booked out over all four days. Manas clarifies, “During this first set of exams, 82 people qualified and became part of the elite group of ELPA’s first accredited installers.” Due to high demand, a second such event for installers is already in the calendar, with a course for designers following in February 2018, and a course for testers/assessors to be held in March.

Competency The ELPA Installers examinations are based on the SANS lightning protection standards and consist of a written multiple-choice examination paper and an interview with one of ELPA’s facilitators. An 80% pass mark is required to become an ELPA-accredited lightning protection installer. Manas says, “This is to ensure that ELPA-certified installers will adhere to the very highest levels of competency on all installations. Further, to maintain these high installation levels, ELPA will carry out random inspections of the installations of its accredited installers.”

www.ecasa.co.za

ECA(SA) Regions

The ECA(SA) has the electrical industry covered

in South Africa

he ECA(SA) is an employers’ organisation registered in terms of the Labour Relations Act and, since its inception in 1950, the association has seen exceptional growth and currently represents electrical contractors in six regions. Each region has its own unique history with its fair share of industry legends – men and women who were passionate about a compliant industry and who shaped the future of the ECA(SA) and contributed to its successful growth.

Highveld Region Regional Director, Chris Koen: In the early days of the ECA(SA), the Transvaal Region covered a vast area and included parts of the Orange Free State and stretched as far as Upington. The national offices were housed in the Fedsure Building in De Villiers Street in central Johannesburg and then moved to offices in Eloff Street. In the 1970s, James Baker became National Director with Fanie Botha as Secretary. Fanie left the ECA(SA) in 1983 and Lucas Bowles took over the reins. At the end of the 1970s, the Transvaal Region was split into Northern Transvaal and Southern Transvaal and Fanie Steyn, who was Financial Director at the time, started the Bosveld region while Lucas Bowles was Secretary for the Highveld region.

Bosveld Region

Free State/Northern Cape Region

Regional Director, Cecil Lancaster: Around 1988, the Transvaal Region was split into Northern Transvaal and Southern Transvaal regions, and Fanie Steyn, who was National Financial Director at the time, started the North and West Provinces Region in rented offices in Sunnyside, Pretoria.

Regional Director, Pieter du Toit: The region covers the whole of the Free State and Northern Cape from Upington to Harrismith and from Kroonstad to Aliwal-North. The furthest point is Springbok – 980 km from Bloemfontein.

In 1994, the region purchased a property in Hatfield and this became the ‘home’ of the region. The house was upgraded in the late 1990s and again in 2004 to provide professional offices and currently, the Bosveld Region is in the process of acquiring an adjacent property, which will be incorporated as a training venue. In the 1990s, the North and West Provinces’ Region was renamed the ‘Bosveld’ Region and, today, the Bosveld region has around 800 members and covers the areas of Platina, Coalfields, Pretoria, Letaba, Limpopo, and Lowveld (the northern half of the old Transvaal). At the time of establishment, the region consisted of three branches, which were expanded to the current six in the interests of improved service delivery. Over the years, at least seven Presidents have hailed from the Bosveld region. More info:

+27 (0)12 342 3242

The Highveld region currently has 1040 members and its offices are located at the Head Office in Meadowdale, Germiston. More info:

Regional Director, Lucas Bowles: The region covers the eastern and southern areas of the country from the Free State and KZN borders in the north to the Western Cape. The East London branch was first established in 1967 by Alec Rooney and Ernie Brough. Established in 1974, the Port Elizabeth branch battled in the early years due to the influence of the Building Industrial Council over the activities of electrical contractors in the region. When Neels van Rooyen was appointed as the first Regional Director for the area in 1987, the membership was: East London (12); Port Elizabeth (5) and South Cape (9). Neels slowly increased membership and, when he retired in 2004, Lucas Bowles, who was transferred from the Highveld region, was mandated to resolve the ongoing jurisdictional dispute between the Building and Electrical Bargaining Councils. In 52

The constituted branches of the region are the Bloemfontein branch, Northern Cape branch, Upington branch, Northern Free State branch and the Eastern Free State branch. The Kalahari branch is a non-constituted branch but meetings are held there three times a year.. One of the biggest challenges for the region is that the NBCEI still doesn’t have jurisdiction in Kimberley where the Building Bargaining Council still has jurisdiction over the electrical contractors based within a 20 km radius of the main Post Office in Kimberley. In 2009, the region was at a low point with about 65 members but since then, the region has grown steadily and membership currently stands at 225 members. More info:

+27 (0)11 392 0000

East/South Cape Region

When this region was established in 1984, the first Regional Director, Neels van Rooyen, was tasked with building the region from scratch, which he duly did until he was transferred to Port Elizabeth in 1987 to take over the East/South Cape region. After Neels, several people occupied the position including Danie de Lange, Frans Buter, the late Lorraine Easingwood and Arrie Scheepers.

+27 (0)51 447 0859

2008, the Labour Court granted jurisdiction to the Electrical Bargaining Council (NBCEI) to regulate employment conditions of employers in the Electrical Industry and today, 88 magisterial districts in the Eastern and Southern Cape resort under its jurisdiction and the ECA(SA) is recognised and registered as the sole representative organisation for electrical contractors. The regions current membership is East London (118); Port Elizabeth (166); and South Cape (52) – a total of 336 members. The region is financially self-sufficient and, in 2016, the NEC approved the purchase of property for the building of its own offices in Port Elizabeth. The day-to-day assistance to member companies in the region is managed by a staff of three dedicated and loyal employees, supported by a visible and committed executive committee. More info:

+27 (0)41 363 1990

SA Electrical Contractor

ECA(SA) Regions

Western Cape Region

KwaZulu-Natal Region

Regional Director, Pierre Foot: The Boland branch of the ECA(SA) was established in 1966 and today, the Western Cape region has a membership of 367 and is home to three ECA branches: Cape Town, Boland and North Boland Branch. In 1982, when Pierre Foot joined the Association, the ECA Cape Town office was located in the Tulbagh Centre on the Foreshore and it was also the location of the first ECA training centre, which was opened by the then Mayor of Cape Town, Alderman Sol Kreiner in July, 1985. After 32 years, the training centre still plays a vital role in the industry. With the growth of the Region, the ECA Cape Town Executive Committee lobbied the ECA(SA)â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s NEC for the Association to purchase its own property and the first ECA property was purchased in Cape Town in 1987 and still serves as the home of electrical contractors in the Region.

Regional Director, Shantonette Pillay: The Durban branch in the then province of Natal was established in 1960 in Harvey Road, Morningside. The branch later moved to Sutton Square and then to the current premises in Lilian Ngoyi Road (formerly Windermere Road). The building was previously owned by TEC Electrical, which is a member of the ECA. In this region, we have contractors who have been members of the Association for than 50 years!

Pierre has served with several dedicated chairmen of branches over the past 35 years: the late Ralf Pinto, the ECA President who, in the 1970s, took the Association out of BIFSA. Another who left his mark was the late Robert Jung, who petitioned the purchase of the Cape Town building and was a strong proponent of training. Other notable chairmen are Mike Lewis, Bunny Wener, Sammy Isaacs, Glyn Manley and the current incumbent, Thursdon Duncan. Representation at regional level sees the association involved with a host of industry and related bodies: Bargaining Council, supply authorities, media, and the Industry Pension and Provident Funds. An active regional executive committee and its sub-committees continually deal with matters in the interests of members and the industry.

In 1978, the coastal and Midlands branches amalgamated. In 1981, the Zululand and Pietermaritzburg branches were established. The KwaZulu-Natal region has around 560 members throughout KwaZulu-Natal, with its biggest membership in Durban, followed by Pietermaritzburg, Richards Bay, Port Shepstone and Ladysmith. Three of these branches (Durban, Pietermaritzburg and Richards Bay) are constituted branches but general meetings are held at all five branches during the course of the year. Apart from specialised legal expertise, the KwaZulu-Natal region has a well-equipped technical and training division. The region is financially self-sufficient and in 2016 operated on a fair surplus. The KwaZuluNatal property is free hold. The day-to-day assistance to member companies in the region is managed by a staff of four dedicated and loyal employees, supported by a committed executive committee. More info:

+27 (0)31 312 6313

The ECA Cape Town office and training centre has a staff complement of seven of whom four have combined service of 116 years. More info:

+27 (0)21 465 6319

www.ecasa.co.za

Cool Tools

High quality

thermal imagers with picture-in-picture function naked eye, are essential tools for predictive maintenance inspections at electrical and mechanical installations in large facilities, factories and in houses.”

ajor Tech’s affordable range of easy-to-use thermal imaging cameras allows users to obtain high quality thermal images and information, says Werner Grobbelaar, sales manager at Major Tech. “This range of high performance thermal imagers identifies abnormal temperatures, which are an indication of high risk areas and latent problems – and the early detection of these issues reduces risk, downtime and, ultimately, operational costs,” he explains. “Thermal imagers, which detect potentially dangerous situations not visible to the

Grobbelaar says the thermal imager market has grown considerably over the last few years and more electricians are using thermal imaging cameras. “This has resulted in a demand for higher quality images and a need for better performing systems,” he adds.

Thermal and visual camera, laser pointer Major Tech’s point-and-shoot thermal imaging cameras are rugged, full featured instruments with image quality that ranges from 80 x 80 pixels (MTi13) and 160 x 120 pixels (MTi15/ MTi50) to 384 x 288 pixels (MTi60). The imagers are equipped with an IR-optical focus system that ensures optimum clarity and scanning potential, and the MTi60 features a 32 x continuous digital zoom. LED lights on

the front of the camera assure quality visual images even in dark environments. “These high performance thermal imagers also come with a laser pointer so that the user can associate the hot or cold spot on the thermal image with the real physical target in the field,” says Grobbelaar, adding that wide angle and telelenses are also available.

Full featured camera Thermal Imagers come with a ‘picture-inpicture’ function for laying the thermal image over the visual image. Additional features include text and voice annotations; the easy transference of images from the camera to a removable SD card; and software for the analysis, reporting and keeping track of inspection locations by adding digital images and important information about the surrounding areas. More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 872 5500 www.major-tech.com

Wiha tool kits – workshops on the go

hether working at a client’s residence or at a remote site, it is essential to have the tools you need close to hand. The Wiha 80- and 115-piece toolkits are compact, handy, and robust – and they ensure that you have access to all the tools you require at any time and in any situation. Compiled to accommodate varying requirements and applications, Wiha toolkits include high quality ergonomically designed tools for easy and efficient working. Made of durable materials and tested to rigorous standards, the tools and toolbox are ideal for electricians and electrical contractors. The wide range of tools available increases work efficiency; the sturdy dustproof, airtight and watertight toolbox with its lid-lock function satisfies safety requirements; the right tool at hand reduces costs by protecting against damage and rework; and all-in-all, the toolbox set helps protect the electrician’s well-being as the ergonomic design of the tools helps to prevent occupational injuries. Each of the award-winning VDEinsulated tools is individually tested to 10 000 V ac, to offer users full protection and improve their working lives. Enquiries: +27 (0)11 396 4065 Email: garry@glimports.co.za

www.ecasa.co.za

Cool Tools

Enhanced troubleshooting capabilities in

compact test tool

ocally represented by Comtest, Fluke now has the Fluke 787B and 789 Process Meter that doubles the troubleshooting capabilities by combining the power of a safety-rated, digital multimeter and mA loop calibrator into a single, compact test tool. Based on the trusted measurement capabilities of the Fluke 87 DMM, the new 787B and 789 add the ability to measure, source and simulate mA with the accuracy and resolution that can be expected from a Fluke mA loop calibrator, giving users the ideal tool for troubleshooting and calibrating current loop applications.

The 787B and 789 key features: • 20 mA dc current source/measure/simulate • Simultaneous mA and % of scale readout • DMM designed to meet 1000 volt IEC 61010 CAT III and 600 V CAT IV standards • Precision 1000 V, 440 mA true-rms digital multimeter • Frequency measurement to 20 kHz • Min/Max/Average/Hold/Relative modes • Diode test and continuity beeper • Manual step (100%, 25%, Coarse, Fine) plus Auto Step and Auto Ramp • Externally accessible battery for easy battery changes

• The 789 has the additional features of 24 V loop power supply and HART mode setting with loop power (adds 250 ohm resistor). • Fluke Connect compatibility for wireless data logging (with IR3000FC module) saves time and improves the reliability of maintenance data by wirelessly syncing measurements using the Fluke Connect system. Preventive maintenance is simplified and ‘reworks’ are eliminated. • Data-entry errors are eliminated by saving measurements directly from the tool and associating them with the work order, report or asset record. • Maintenance decisions are made with trustworthy and traceable data. • Access baseline, historical and current measurements by asset. • Move away from clipboards, notebooks and multiple spreadsheets with a wireless one-step measurement transfer. • Share measurement data with Team using ShareLiveTM video calls and emails. More info: Website:

+27 (0)10 595 1821 www.comtest.co.za

Brushless EC motor doubles the lifespan of popular tool

he addition of a brushless EC motor to the Bosch GSB 18 V-EC Professional has doubled the lifespan of this popular compact tool.

“This forms part of the ‘dynamicseries’ from Bosch, a series of compact tools with a long battery runtime based on tried-and-tested models, Campbell Mhodi, Bosch Professional Power Tools Senior Brand Manager,” explains. “They have a much longer lifespan thanks to the EC technology, and this makes these compact tools especially suitable for serial applications.” Bosch’s brushless EC motors are maintenance-free, unlike conventional dc motors with carbon brushes. In addition, the former operate at an efficiency rate of 80%, as opposed to the 60% to 70% efficiency rate of the latter. “This high efficiency also means the tools do not get as hot, and can perform up to 30% more work per battery charge,” Mhodi says. In addition, Electronic Motor Protection (EMP) protects these compact tools against overload by shutting the 56

motor down immediately if it stalls. The EC technology also allows for a compact and lightweight design. Optional accessories for the GSB 18 V-EC include CYL-9 multi-purpose drill bits for a range of diverse construction activities. These drill bit feature an active centring tip for active cutting in concrete, fine-grade highly-durable carbide, extra-long life and best wear resistance, and diameteroptimised brazing and hardening technology to increase the robustness of the drill bits, and also to reduce vibration during drilling. More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 651 9600 www.bosch.co.za

SA Electrical Contractor

Cool Tools

Pocket-sized clamp meters rated for

hazardous work conditions

hen buying a new clamp meter there are two important considerations, says Werner Grobbelaar, Major Tech’s sales manager. “Firstly, consider the ‘worst case scenario’ you may come across in your work and then look for a clamp meter with an amperage rating and category that matches your needs.”

He explains that modern clamp meters are designed to meet the IEC 61010-1 standard and carry the category information and the maximum voltage rating. “Major Tech’s range of clamp meters includes CAT IV 600 V-rated clamps with non-contact voltage (NCV) detectors, and range from high resolution dc mA measurement for process loop up to 3 000 A ac for heavy industry.” He adds that the clamp meters are available in ac/dc, true-RMS and average reading. The range includes various jaw sizes from a 6 mm process current clamp and a 10 mm open jaw clamp to a 150 mm flexi clamp. These CAT IV-rated clamps are ideal for hazardous and arduous work conditions. Major Tech’s pocket-sized MT750 slimline clamp meter measures ac current to 1 000 A as well as ACV and DCV resistance. It features a continuity buzzer and the teardrop-shaped jaw makes it simple to use, even in crowded cable areas. “A clamp meter is the ideal tool for conducting ‘spot checks’ and verifying system conditions before deploying more specialised tools and incurring additional costs,” says Grobbelaar, adding that the MT750 is designed, manufactured and tested to IEC 61010. More info: Website:

+27 (0) 11 8725500 www.major-tech.com

Lightweight torch with

heavyweight features

very electrical contractor needs a torch that isn’t going fail at an inconvenient time. Garry Lumpe Imports stocks the Unilite PS-IL3R – a powerful rechargeable inspection light that has a multitude of features. The white Samsung SMD LEDs provide 300 lumens of power and is perfectly optimised for close inspection work – and there is also a 100 lumen torch function, which provides focused light on small and hard-to-reach areas. The beam reaches a distance of 42 m. At only 127 g, the torch is ergonomically tailored and has a moulded grip that provides some useful hands-free options, such as its 360-degree positional magnetic hanging hook. Charging is conducted via the DC-USB (Included) cable, which connects to the rear charging point allowing for 12/24 V charge, smartphone or computer charging. The PS-IL3R is a super bright SMD LED inspection light and IP54 fully weatherproof for all conditions and it’s impact resistant to 1 m. The Unilite PSIL3R offers superb beam clarity unrivalled performance, power and portability. Enquiries: Email:

+27 (0)11 396 4065 garry@glimports.co.za

www.ecasa.co.za

IR thermometer that takes heat, dust and water ...

and a three-metre drop

epresented locally by Comtest, Fluke has just launched its 64 MAX IR thermometer with internal memory, unattended monitoring, improved accuracy, increased battery life, as well as the precision needed to do the job accurately. Designed and tested to survive a three-metre drop, this lightweight, compact infrared thermometer works in the harshest of environments – even when unattended. Applications include industrial maintenance, electrical and HVAC industries.

The Fluke 64 MAX IR features: • Precise laser technology for more accurate and repeatable measurements. • Temperature accuracy of up to ≥ 0 °C: ± 1 °C or ± 1 % of reading, whichever is greater with 20:1 distance to spot ratio (64 MAX). • Flashlight (64 MAX) and large, easy-to-read backlit LCD display for easy viewing even in dark environments. • IP54 rated for extra protection against airborne contaminants. • Set time and desired interval between measurements and Auto Capture will capture spot temperatures unattended (64 MAX). • 99 data point logging (64 MAX) . • Displays the minimum, maximum or average temperature, or the difference between two measurements. • Hi and Lo alarms for rapid display of measurements outside set limits. • The 62 MAX+ has dual rotating lasers to help identify area to be measured. The measurement area is the spot between the dots (62 MAX and 64 MAX have 1). More info Website:

+27 (0)10 595 1821 www.comtest.co.za 57

Lighting

Decorative and practical

outdoor lighting O

utdoor luminaires have two ‘lives’ – one as decorative garden elements during the day and, second, as practical and functional security lighting at night.

The Lutec range of outdoor fittings combine innovation and practicality, with performance as a key design element. There is a wide selection of shapes and styles, from traditional bollards to edgy wall lights.

The Ublo wall family Compact and elegant, the six fittings in the Eurolux Ublo wall family offer perfectly uniform and homogenous warm white LED light – without casting any shadows. The fittings on each of the six pieces are made of die-cast aluminium with polycarbonate lenses. The connection on each is easily accessible by simply removing the click-on front plate. Power: 6.3 W; luminous flux: 280 lm; colour temperature: 3 000 K; Beam angle: 113 degrees.

Mini LED spot Available as a one- or two-head version, the Eurolux Mini LED Spot can rotate 320 degrees, making it the ideal outdoor spotlight. The graphite colour gives it a modern look and feel, and with the fitting made in die-cast aluminium and the lens of polycarbonate opal, this lamp is as durable as it is hard working. Power: 9 W; luminous flux of 605 lm; colour temperature: 4 000 K; beam angle: 40 degrees. More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 528 8400 www.eurolux.co.za

Mobile lighting towers –

light where you need it

ert Energy, specialists in electric power generation, now distributes mobile LED lighting towers that provide dependable lighting exactly where it’s needed, for optimum productivity and enhanced safety.

“The Allight range of trailer-mounted lighting towers can be easily moved from site to site in diverse applications, including mining, construction, road and railroad works, as well as in agriculture and outdoor field events,” says Ryan Robertson, director, Vert Energy. “The MSGEN2 LED lighting towers, which have been developed by Allight in Australia, offer over 50 000 hours of light per unit and only require re-fuelling every two weeks, on the basis of 12 hours of operation every night. “The use of LED in mobile lighting applications in arduous environments, such as in construction and mining – has efficiency and economy advantages compared with towers that use gas-filled metal halide lamps. These eco-friendly LED lighting towers have integrated fluid spillage protection bunds as standard, for environmental compliance.” The flexibility of this range includes various mast options, a specially designed high-wall overhang system and carefully 58

selected light assemblies, for the exact lighting requirements of every project. Components, including lamps and lights, are integrated into the mast design for maximum output reach. The MSLED168K-9 lighting towers, with extra low voltage (ddc) are powered by Perkins two-cylinder water-cooled diesel engines. Six 300 W LED low glare lamps produce 168 000 lumens, with no delay of warm-up or cool down time. Each LED floodlight provides 28 000 effective lumens after stabilisation. Individually adjustable lamps enable precise focusing of the light. The total control system encompasses an easy start/stop facility, location tracking and performance monitoring via a notepad or smart phone. These units have been designed for low maintenance requirements, with 500-hour service intervals. Large doors enable quick and easy service access and the plug and play system, with no hard-wired componentry, ensures easy servicing and parts replacement. Vert Energy’s extensive range of reliable electric power generation (EPG) components also includes Leroy Somer alternators, DEIF controllers; ASCO automatic transfer switches; API Covrad radiators and Avtron and Froment load banks, as well as customised control panels. The company offers a technical advisory, maintenance and support service throughout Africa. More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 453 9669 www.vertgroup.co.za

SA Electrical Contractor

8 Discovery Drive, Crown Mines Tel: +2711 833 1075/ +2782 762 6811 Web: www.electrozone.co.za Email: sales@electrozone.co.za

Extra Special prices on Bulk Deals

Valid Until 22/12/2017 or while stocks last

R205.00 Ex Vat

•Suppliers to the Wholesale and Retail Market •11 years in the Industry •100% Black Woman owned

R19.50 Ex Vat

R233.70/B incl Vat

R22.23 Incl Vat

20mm Conduit Pipe

5W GU10 LED Coolwhite/ Daylight LED Floodlight

R16.95 Ex Vat

R17.50 Ex Vat

R19.32 Incl Vat

R19.95 Incl Vat

6W A60 LED Lamp BC only

11/14W Osram Energy Savers BC/ES

10W- R55.00 Ex Vat R62.70 Incl Vat

20W- R100.95 Ex Vat R115.08 Incl Vat

50W- R174.95 Ex Vat

R199.44 Incl Vat

LED Open Channel *Excluding tubes*

R18.50 Ex Vat

4ft –R65.95 Ex Vat

R21.09 Incl Vat

R75.18 Incl Vat

5ft- R73.95 Ex Vat

Readylight *NO Lamp*

R84.30 Incl Vat

Trunking

LED Daylight Tube

16x16 (2m)- R5.95 Ex Vat

R6.78 Incl Vat

R14.50 Ex Vat

16x25(3m)- R11.95 Ex Vat

R16.53 Incl Vat

R13.62 Incl Vat

16x40(3m)- R18.95 Ex Vat

PVC Weld

4ft –R49.95 Ex Vat

R56.94 Incl Vat

5ft- R69.95 Ex Vat R79.74 Incl Vat

R21.60 Incl Vat

25x40(3m) - R22.95 Ex Vat R26.16 Incl Vat

40x40(3m) - R28.50 Ex Vat R32.49 Incl Vat

40x100(3m) - R59.95 Ex Vat

R68.34 Incl Vat

R189.95 Ex Vat

R36.00 Ex Vat

Mini Rail Earth Leakage

Gland Joint IP67

R216.54 Incl Vat

R41.04 Incl Vat

*No Hassles* No Resin* Ideal for joining cable: Flat Twin, Surfix, Cabtyre

Lighting

New classic Victorian LED luminaire launched

frica’s leading manufacturer of energy efficient luminaires, BEKA Schréder, recently introduced a new classic LED luminaire into the South African market.

During the Victorian era, major improvements in the fields of science and engineering led to a huge expansion in industry. Having previously been restricted to candles and firelight, the effect of introducing controllable light to society was enormous. The Victorian passion led to the creation of oil and gas lamps. The Valentino LEDs aesthetic design reflects this era and, under its classical exterior, the Valentino LED luminaire incorporates leadingedge LED technology. The new Valentino LED is stylish, highly efficient and contributes to the well-being and safety of people in public spaces. This classic LED luminaire is particularly suited to lighting parks, squares, pedestrian areas, city centres or residential areas. It is also suitable for decorative lighting of business parks, golf estates and wine farms with its Victorian charm. The Valentino LED is designed to operate LED light sources of up to 75 W. It can be offered with a classic Gardone column in cast steel or with a wall bracket for suspended or posttop mounting. An embellishment conceals the mounting nut while providing a smooth

finishing surface at the base of the luminaire. Different protector options, namely clear, structured or opal, are available for various effects. It is offered in most RAL or AKZO colours which helps create an atmosphere that is elegant. Its use of LEDs not only minimises power consumption but permits low height installations without intrusive light for inhabitants of buildings. With no upper flux, the Valentino LED limits light pollution. Its long-lasting design, made of recyclable materials, guarantees a responsible use of natural resources. It can operate with a photocell, a scheduled dimming system, constant light output or a remote Owlet management system. It can also be equipped with a motion detection unit. BEKA Schréder’s ambiance selection provides efficient lighting systems in cities to help improve the quality of life. Lighting must fulfil not only aesthetic criteria but also requirements related to photometric performance. BEKA Schréder offers an extensive range of highly efficient decorative luminaires, from contemporary to traditional designs, using conventional or LED light sources. More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 238 0162 www.beka-schreder.co.za

Cost-saving M

standard LED lamps

ajor Tech’s innovative range of LED lighting provides costeffective solutions in tough economic times, says Werner Grobbelaar, sales manager at Major Tech. He says the price of LEDs has dropped steadily over the past few years and LEDs are becoming more affordable. “Choosing LED lighting will most certainly pay off in the long run as they are energy efficient and last much longer than any other lamp thereby also minimising maintenance costs,” he says, adding “and LEDs are kind to the environment as they do not contain mercury.” Grobbelaar says it is easy to improve lighting by replacing standard lamps with Major Tech’s standard LED lamps. “Major Tech produces a range of retrofit lamps that fit existing lamp sockets and, in most cases, it is possible to retrofit a like-for-like LED bulb with the similar shape, base fitting, and light output.

www.ecasa.co.za

Features include: • Low power consumption and a long life of up to 25 000 hours. • A 360° light beam angle for effective illumination. • Low power consumption. • Reduces labour and maintenance costs. • Easy to install. • Available in warm white 3 000 k and cool white 6 000 k. More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 872 5500 www.major-tech.com

Lighting

Extended range of lights, work lights, pendants and fans

Legrand has extended its range of DIY products to incorporate new everyday electrical components, including lamps, work lights, wall fixtures and pendant fittings, as well as extractor fans. Feedback from home enthusiasts indicates a need for safe, affordable and reliable light fittings, that are easy to install. The HPM range, which adheres to stringent quality and safety specifications, meets all requirements for home lighting, including energy efficiency, flexibility and enhanced aesthetics. HPM lighting devices encompass LED work lights and floodlights, as well as wall fixtures and cylinder, round and square pendant fittings. Lamps with cool or warm illumination, are available as dimmable and non-dimmable options. Ventilation systems in this range include square and round extractor fans for installation on walls or ceilings. The newly launched HPM DIY lighting and ventilation range completes Legrand’s extensive DIY portfolio, which also includes security products, switches, sockets and plugs, boosters, chargers and extension outlets as well as MCBs, distribution boards and mini trunking. Legrand has recently introduced an interactive online and printed DIY guide for end-users and retailers. This efficient product manual – where HPM, Arteor and Ysalis pre-packs have a one-part number – ensures easy product identification and alleviates the complication of constructing modular systems. More info: Website:

+27 (0)11 444 7971 www.legrand.co.za

SA Electrical Contractor

www.ecasa.co.za

DIRECTORY OF ADVERTISERS COMPANY

ABERDARE CABLES

TELEPHONE

WEBSITE

PAGE

+27 (0)11 396 0000

www.aberdare.co.za

ARB ELECTRICAL WHOLESALERS

+27 (0)31 9100 200

www.arb.co.za

COMTEST

+27 (0)10 595 1824

www.comtest.co.za

COPPER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION AFRICA

+27 (0)11 824 3916

www.copperalliance.org.za

EARTHING AND LIGHTNING PROTECTION ASSSOCIATION

+27 (0)10 534 6186

www.elpasa.org.za

EUROLUX

+27 (0)21 528 8400

www.eurolux.co.za

GARRY LUMPE IMPORTS

+27 (0)11 396 4065

www.knipex.com

HELLERMANNTYTON

www.wiha.com

+27 (0)11 879 6600

www.hellermanntyton.co.za

LEGRAND

+27 (0)11 444 7971

www.legrand.co.za

MAJOR TECH

+27 (0)11 872 5500

www.major-tech.com

MUFARO

+27 (0)11 958 2329

mufaroemployeebene.wixsite.com/mufaro

NESTLIFE

+27(0)11 268 1311

www.nestlife.co.za

NOVARE

+27 (0)11 447 9605

www.novare.com

RADIANT LIGHTING

+27 (0)11 386 0000

www.radiant.co.za

SAFEHOUSE

+27 (0)11 396 8251

www.ssafehousesa.co.za

+27 (0)11 254 6400

www.schneider-electric.co.za

+27 (0)12 653 2135

www.sensorelectrical.co.za

+27(0)11 879 2000

www.voltex.co.za

SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SENSOR ELECTRICAL SERVICES VOLTEX

39 IFC/OBC

5 14,41,44,49

IBC 23

CONTACT DETAILS FOR ECA(SA) REGIONAL OFFICES AREA OFFICE

TELEPHONE

FAX

Johannesburg

+27 (0)11 392 0000

+27 (0)11 974 9402

info@ecasa.co.za

Pretoria

+27 (0)12 342 3242

+27 (0)12 342 3455

infopta@ecasa.co.za

Durban

+27 (0)31 312 6313

+27 (0)31 312 0851

ecakzn@ecasa.co.za

Bloemfontein

+27 (0)51 447 0859

+27 (0)51 430 2355

pieter@ecasa.co.za

Port Elizabeth

+27 (0)41 363 1990

+27 (0)41 364 0162

adminpe@ecsasa.co.za

East London

+27 (0)43 726 6359

+27 (0)43 726 6740

adminel@ecasa.co.za

Cape Town

+27 (0)21 462 2690

+27(0)21 465 6319

ecact@iafrica.com

NATIONAL HELP DESK

Website: www.ecasa.co.za

087 944 4555