IMIESA October 2015 by 3S Media

www.infrastructurene.ws

IMESA The official magazine of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT • MAINTENANCE • SERVICE DELIVERY

INDUSTRY

INSIGHT

Taking social responsibility seriously

Dinesh Chaithoo

BMK Engineering Consultants

IMESA Host City City of Cape Town – Know your city

Partners in Infrastructure

Bridging the delivery gap

Municipal Focus Steve Tshwete Local Municipality

NATIONAL ASPHALT

A bold and innovative approach

IN THE HOT SEAT We are delivering the best technology available in the world – along with the backing of the finest research and development, technical expertise, and quality machinery the world has to offer.” Rocco Lehman MD, Ammann SA ISSN 0257 1978

V o l u m e 4 0 N o . 1 0 • O c t o b e r 2 0 1 5 • R 5 0 . 0 0 ( i n c l . VAT )

CONTENTS 25 www.infrastruc

turene.ws

IMESA HOST CITY City of Cape Town

IMESA The officia l magaz ine of the Institu te of Munici pal Engine ering of Southe rn Africa

A) is a n Africa

INFRASTRUCTURE

IND US TRY

IGHT INS Chaithoo Dinesh

BMK Engineering

MAIN DEVELOPMENT •

TENANCE • SERVI

CE DELIVERY

Taking social responsibility seriously

Consultants

Regulars

IMESA Host City – City of Cape Town Know your city

Partners in Infrastructure gap ry Bridging the delive Municipal Focus

ALT NATIONAL ASPH ch tive approa A bold and innova

Steve Tshwete Local Municipality

IN THE HOT SEA

along with ble in the world – best technology availa cal expertise, and We are delivering the development, techni finest research and Ammann SA the backing of the Rocco Lehman MD, the world has to offer.” • R50.00 October 2015 quality machinery e 40 No.10 • 8 ISSN 0257 197

( i n c l . VAT )

Vo l u m

National Asphalt’s continuing focus on quality, innovation, and practical solutions has enabled it to become an integral part of the bus route projects currently underway in the eThekwini and Tshwane metropolitan areas. P8

Editor’s comment President’s comment Africa round-up Index to advertisers

5 7 10 144

Cover Story National Asphalt – A bold and innovative approach

IMESA Host City – City of Cape Town Bridging the technology gap Prioritising Cape wastewater treatment Facing down the final stretch SAFCEC Western Cape listing

12 16 25 33

Hot Seat Ammann – Valuable development

PARTNERS IN

Partners in Infrastructure

HOT SEAT Ammann SA’s value to the development of Southern Africa’s road infrastructure is far more complex than its ability to provide access to the world’s leading road making equipment. In this edition’s Hot Seat, managing director Rocco Lehman provides insight into how the company ensures that its products and services are of optimal benefit to customers. P34

Divisional Cover: Gautrain – Catalyst to an integrated public transport system Municipal Engineering: IMESA Northern Provinces Branch Seminar and AGM Industry Insight: BMK Engineering Consultants – Taking social responsibility seriously Divisional Hot Seat: SAFCEC's Webster Mfebe Consulting Engineering: Building sustainability into a complex project A tender time for civil contractors

INFRASTRUCTURE

Consulting Engineers | Finance | Civil Engineering Contractors

GAUTRAIN Integrating public transport networks

50 56

INDUSTRY

INSIGHT TAKING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY

P44

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE Gautrain – Integration catalyst

Dinesh Chaithoo, Director, BMK Engineering Consultants

“The delay in government’s expenditure on critical economic infrastructure poses a serious challenge for not only suppliers to the industry but also to the economy as a whole.” Webster Mfebe, CEO of SAFCEC

P50

in the

HOT SEAT

VOLUME 40 NO. 10 OCTOBER 2015

123

LEADING LOCAL

Leading Local Government Divisional Cover: Indra Technology South Africa – Unlocking the power of integration Human Settlements: Eliminating shacks Divisional Hot Seat: Driven by vision Energy Efficiency: Energy savings for municipal buildings Water & Wastewater: Delivering quality water

Municipality in focus: Steve Tshwete

Eradicating informal settlements P64

Energy efficiency in municipal buildings

P70

Quality, cost-effective engineering P73

62 64 68

INDRA TECHNOLOGY SOUTH AFRICA

Unlocking the power of integration

70 74

“It is a top priority for us to diversify our economic activity. We need to achieve financial stability in the face of concerns about mine closures.” Make Masina, Executive Mayor, Steve Tshwete Local Municipality

81 82 86

Pipes & Pipelines Saving water with plastic pipes Forewarned is forearmed

Construction Vehicles, Equipment & Logistics

GOVERNMENT

Roads A durable approach to the N4 upgrade Sabita listing Sabita work-zone safety

CEMENT & CONCRETE Linking the islands

90 94

Sustainable Cities Harvesting a city's natural wealth 103

Infrastructure Finance Sustainable building – A challenge for quantity surveyors 107 A pilot project for transparent tendering 108

P68

Staring down a sluggish market Easing electricity costs through enhanced lubricants Catering for the needs of emerging contractors Doing business like champions A loaded offering Stepping up workplace safety Giving team sponsorship a lift ‘Skidding’ into the market Revved up renovations

127 128 130 131 132 134 134 135 137

in the

HOT SEAT

CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES

& EQUIPMENT Compaction | Crushing & Screening | Lifters & Mixers

Cement & Concrete Readymix Conference round-up Gearing up for multibillion-rand infrastructure projects Putting quality back in quality management Linking the islands Business is booming

118 121 122 123 124

CONMESA

Reflecting on market conditions

CEMENT &

CONCRETE Readymix | Precast | Aggregates

Catering for the needs of emerging contractors P130

Stepping up workplace safety

P134

'Skidding' into the market P135

Skills & Training Building skills Close collaboration for CPD

113 115

Technology & Innovations A new view on road maintenance CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards

SHEQ Awarding safety, saving lives

116

LEADING LOCAL GOVERNMENT Eliminating shacks Readymix Conference round-up P118

Gearing up for multibillion-rand projects P121

Putting quality back in quality management P122

131

138 141

CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES Doing business like champions

IMIESA October 2015

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

Building integration

PUBLISHER Elizabeth Shorten EDITOR & ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Nicholas McDiarmid SENIOR JOURNALIST Beatrix Knopjes JOURNALISTS Liesl Frankson, Frances Ringwood HEAD OF DESIGN Beren Bauermeister DESIGNER Ramon Chinian CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Tristan Snijders SUB-EDITOR Morgan Carter CONTRIBUTORS Duncan Daries, Thegaran Naidoo CLIENT SERVICES & PRODUCTION MANAGER Antois-Leigh Botma PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Jacqueline Modise FINANCIAL MANAGER Andrew Lobban MARKETING & DIGITAL MANAGER Esther Le Roux MARKETING SPECIALIST Philip Rosenberg ADMINISTRATION Tonya Hebenton DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Nomsa Masina DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Asha Pursotham SUBSCRIPTIONS subs@3smedia.co.za PRINTERS United Litho Johannesburg +27 (0)11 402 0571 ___________________________________________________

HE DEVELOPMENT OF public infrastructure and service delivery is highly politicised in South Africa, and, despite the historic and social reasons behind this, it is often to the neglect of the engineers and skilled technicians who plan, build, and operate such infrastructure. The fact is that, if politicians looked to engineers for more guidance on how best to deliver on their election promises, they would make their own lives much easier. This is not to say that this engagement doesn’t happen; subjectively, it seems to have increased quite a bit over the last 24 months. But, it still occurs in political silos at national level, with local developmental needs not fully understood. The theme for this year’s IMESA Conference, which remains the most important conference of its kind in the country, is ‘Changing the face of the municipal engineer’ and it picks up on some of the central issues that emerged at the 2014 conference. Sustainable, sound development cannot happen without due reference to the skills and wisdom of the municipal engineer, and achieving this is a process. Finding out where we are in that process will help take it further, and we can anticipate some robust debate and, perhaps, some clearer answers.

ADVERTISING SALES Jenny Miller Tel: +27 (0)11 467 6223 E-mail: jennymiller@lantic.net ___________________________________________________

PUBLISHER: MEDIA No. 9, 3rd Avenue, Rivonia 2056 PO Box 92026, Norwood 2117 Tel: +27 (0)11 233 2600 Fax: +27 (0)11 234 7274/5 E-mail: nicholas@3smedia.co.za www.3smedia.co.za ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: R550.00 (INCL VAT) ISSN 0257 1978 IMIESA, Inst.MUNIC. ENG. S. AFR. © Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. ___________________________________________________ IMESA CONTACTS HEAD OFFICE: Manager: King Singh P.O. Box 2190, Westville, 3630 Tel: +27 (0)31 266 3263 Fax: +27 (0)31 266 5094 Email: admin@imesa.org.za Website: www.imesa.org.za

When elections drive delivery

BORDER Secretary: Celeste Vosloo Tel: +27 (0)43 705 2433 Fax: +27 (0)43 743 5266 Email: celestev@buffalocity.gov.za

The focus on next year’s municipal elections has had the expected consequence of putting all the focus on the big ticket seats of power. The most contested of these are, of course, the ones that generate the most revenue and are the most populous. Tshwane, Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela Bay (including Port Elizabeth), Buffalo City (including East London), and Tlokwe (with Potchefstroom) are, to a lesser or greater degree, rather well-developed metros dealing with issues of growth. For most citizens of these metros, access to electricity, water, transport, social services, and even housing is something almost taken for granted. The questions really revolve around the reliability of these services, and most understand that no government can afford to compromise them too much. Failing to focus on the less developed cities – the secondary metros – at this time, is, however, hugely problematic and potentially leads to the unintended consequence of actually compromising the

EASTERN CAPE Secretary: Susan Canestra Tel: +27 (0)41 585 4142 ext. 7 Fax: +27 (0)41 585 1066 Email: imesa.easterncape@gmail.com KWAZULU-NATAL Secretary: Penny Pietersen Tel: +27 (0)31 266 3263 Fax: +27 (0)31 266 5094 Email: imesakzn@imesa.org.za NORTHERN PROVINCE Secretary: Rona Fourie Tel: +27 (0)82 742 6364 Fax: +27 (0)86 634 5644 Email: imesanorth@vodamail.co.za SOUTHERN CAPE KAROO Secretary: Henrietta Olivier Tel: +27 (0)79 390 7536 Fax: +27 (0)86 629 7490 Email: imesa.southcape@gmail.com WESTERN CAPE Secretary: Erica Albertse Tel: +27 (0)21 444 7114 Fax: +27 (0)21 444 9470 Email: Erica.albertse@capetown.gov.za FREE STATE & NORTHERN CAPE Secretary: Wilma Van Der Walt Tel: +27 (0)83 457 4362 Fax: +27 (0)86 628 0468 Email: imesa.fsnc@gmail.com

effective development of the major ones. Earlier this year, IMIESA published a series of articles about the infrastructure implementation strategies of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), and much emphasis was placed on the catalytic effect of targeted and well-placed infrastructure interventions. Taking the North West province as an example, the impact of engineering and building infrastructure and developing the local service delivery capacity in secondary metros would have an incredible national impact, which is often completely ignored at national level. It would eventually make these metros selfsufficient; with assets on their books and reliable revenue streams from services delivered and their reliance on grants and funding from National Treasury would end. Frankly, even if this were achieved in just two or three geographically strategic secondary cities, the potential flow of these benefits to the nearest district municipalities – and, from there, a significant number of rural municipalities would have profound national impact. While it’s good to see this sort of direction from the likes of the DBSA, one has to wonder how much sooner we would get there if consultation with municipal engineers was at the level at which it should be. This is truly a bumper edition of IMIESA, and it has seen us reaching out to a very broad level of stakeholders, both in areas of discipline and geography. Starting down south, we take an in-depth tour of IMESA Conference host-city Cape Town’s infrastructure, before launching our new Municipality in Focus division, with some insights into how Steve Tshwete Local Municipality is achieving such great delivery results. Our Partners in Infrastructure division is now a regular feature in IMIESA, and always gives new insights into how our private sector stakeholders can better support the needs of public sector delivery. All in all, this issue is an omnibus celebrating public infrastructure today. For those not able to attend the conference in Cape Town this year, look forward to full review in our November edition.

Nicholas McDiarmid

To our avid readers, check out what we are talking about on our website, Facebook page or follow us on Twitter and have your say.

@infrastructure4

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All material herein IMIESA is copyright protected and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without the prior written permission of the publisher. The views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa or the publishers.

Nicholas McDiarmid, editor and associate publisher

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Water and Sanitation Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd (WSSA) is a specialised provider of sustainable water services in Southern AfricaRY INFRASTRUC

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NATIONAL ASPHALT

We are delivering the best technology available in the world – along with the backing of the finest research and development, technical expertise, and quality machinery the world has to offer.” Rocco Lehman MD, Ammann SA

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Cover opportunity In each issue, IMIESA offers advertisers the opportunity to get to the front of the line by placing a company, product or service on the front cover of the journal. Buying this position will afford the advertiser the cover story and maximum exposure. For more information on cover bookings contact Jenny Miller on tel: +27 (0)11 467 6223.

A bold and innovative approach

IN THE HOT SEAT

IN THE

Infrastructure News

IMESA

The official ine

magaz e of the Institut pal of Munici Engine ering rn Africa of Southe

ISSN 0257 1978

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IMIESA October 2015

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PRESIDENT’S COMMENT

IMESA

Construction

HE MAIN ISSUE resides around the obtaining of a construction work permit from the Department of Labour and the appointment of a competent health and safety agent to act on behalf of the client. The legislative framework is found within the Occupational Health and Safety Act (85/1993) with the first Construction Regulations published in 2003. Incidents, such as the 2013 shopping mall collapse in Tongaat, KwaZulu-Natal, have resulted in the Department of Labour analysing the reported statistics and reviewing the Construction Regulations. It was found that 3 areas covered 83% of all incidents within the construction industry, namely: • motor vehicles • falling persons • falling objects. Fatalities and structural collapses dominated the incidences as well as the lack of competent health and safety agents for the design, construction, and handing over phases, and the lack of management and supervision of health and safety in construction work. In order to eliminate fatalities and incidents within the construction sector, the department has, in the reviewed Construction Regulations 2014: 1) changed the culture by introducing a construction

Regulations

The Construction Regulations of 2014 have a fundamental effect on how infrastructure projects are to be delivered in future.

work permit for all projects, if the intended construction work will: a. exceed 180 days b. involve more than 1 800 person days of construction c. exceed R13 million in value or have a Construction Industr y Development Board (CIDB) grading of level 6 2) forced the parties to be involved in all stages of the project cycle and cooperate on all aspects relating to occupational health and safety on the project 3) obligated the client to appoint a competent health and safety agent for all projects requiring a work permit 4) stated that agents must be registered, with a statutory body as approved by the Chief Inspector, as qualified to perform the functions 5) approved the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions as the statutory body. The new regulations were deemed to come into effect 18 months after being released, i.e. 7 August 2015. However, cognisance had

to be taken of the number of health and safety professionals actually registered or in the process of registering with SACPCMP. This has, therefore, influenced the Chief Inspector to issue stepped exemptions until 2018, whereby the criteria for applications for construction work permits increased and gradually reduced as below: • on or after 7 August 2015 exceeds R130 million works value or CIDB grading level 9 • on or after 7 August 2017 exceeds R40 million works value or CIDB grading level 8 • on or after 7 August 2018 exceeds R13 million works value or CIDB grading level 7, exceeds 365 days, or will involve more than 3 600 person days of actual construction work. Presently, there is uncertainty within the client, consulting, and contracting fraternity as to what the exemption is and to what extent it applies. Clarity from the Department of Labour needs to be obtained with respect to the following: • Are all health and safety agents expected to be professionally registered with SACPCMP, no matter the value

Duncan Daries, IMESA president

of contract, its contract period, or CIDB grading? • Are all health and safety agents who lodged their applications for registration on, or before, 7 August 2015 deemed to have been registered for all intents and purposes of the Construction Regulations? • SACPCMP paints a picture that the examination pass rate for applicants is in the order of 95%, whereas feedback from other sources differs. Only two persons are registered in the Cape Town region. It is, however, acknowledged that applications may be incomplete and the capacity to evaluate them is not yet in place. Health and safety is paramount, and the country needs to get this right. We can only continue to apply ourselves diligently, but we also need the assurance that the skills and capacity are actually in place to be able to comply with the legislative environment. The onus, therefore, comes back to municipalities and provincial and national government bodies to continue investing in skills such as engineers, technologists, and technicians in the built environment fields, which are recognised qualifications for those wanting to become registered health and safety agents, among other options.

IMIESA October 2015

COVER STORY

NATIONAL ASPHALT National Asphalt’s continuing focus on quality, innovation, and practical solutions has enabled it to become an integral part of the bus route projects currently underway in the eThekwini and Tshwane metropolitan areas.

LL OF THE projects call for an innovative and bold approach to asphalt design. National Asphalt has proved over the years that it has the capacity to take on demanding projects and to produce the desired results. It is prepared to ‘take the lead’ and meet the challenges of these projects. In all instances, its technical expertise is proving to be at the highest level. Once again, this experience and expertise is coming to the fore with its involvement in a number of the key projects currently being undertaken for the rapid transport network.

EME methodology The Go! Durban projects, in the eThekwini region, involve the supply of various different mixes, one which uses low-penetration 10/20 grade bitumen. “Recently, there has been a lot of debate around the pros and cons of the use of a high-modulus asphalt mix using the French EME methodology and, earlier in the year, a study tour was organised, by Sabita, to France, in order to learn

A bold and innovative approach

PROJECTS IN ETHEKWINI

National Asphalt is currently involved in four projects in the eThekwini region, which include: • The supply of 67 000 tonnes of mix for the section of work currently being undertaken by WBHO, from Anderson to Dinkelman roads in Pinetown. Crossmoor Transport is the paving subcontractor for the project and the mixes supplied include 42 000 tonnes of EME20, together with a further 25 000 tonnes of an AP1 and AE2 modified base. • The supply and paving of 5 000 tonnes of EME20 to the contract awarded to Africon Construction from Dinkelman Road on the newly constructed MR577 in the KwaDabeka region. This project has been carried out as a joint venture between the eThekwini Municipality and the Department of Transport KZN. • The supply of all mix for the section being constructed by Group 5 from the Umgeni River Bridge to the M25 on the newly constructed M577. This supply includes 27 500 tonnes of EME 20 and 23 000 tonnes of an AP1 and AE2 modified base. • The supply of 35 000 tonnes to Crossmore Transport, who have secured the paving subcontract work for the section being constructed by Steffanuti Stocks from the M25 to Inanda in the Newlands area. This project includes 22 000 tonnes of EME and 14 000 tonnes of AP1 and AE2 base and the work is also programmed to commence in the next month. Drum storage

Bitutainer ABOVE Bela Bela Asphalt Plant situated 34 km from Martins Drift on the road to Selebi-Phikwe RIGHT Bitumen storage facilities alongside Ciffdale Plant

IMIESA October 2015

COVER STORY

from the European experience. National Asphalt, having sent two delegates on this tour, have put this learning experience to good use in the development and design of the mixes currently being used for the bus route projects in eThekwini,” explains Wynand Nortje, the technical manager for National Asphalt. Together with this, National Asphalt recently successfully completed a section of work for Sanral on the N3, from Paradise Valley to Candella Road outside of Durban, using EME methodologies. This was the first project undertaken on a national route using this methodology and preliminar y results indicate that this will provide a sound footing for further projects of this nature to be undertaken. To date, there has only been a limited supply of the 10/20 base bitumen from the local refineries and the majority of the product used on the N3 and the bus routes had to be imported into the countr y.

PROJECTS IN TSHWANE

Currently, three major projects are being undertaken in the Tshwane municipal area and National Asphalt is involved in the supply of the mix to two of these contracts, namely: • The project awarded to Lonerock Construction for the section from Venter to Pretorius streets. Mixes used on the project include an AP1 base and medium-wearing course together with an open grade used for Salviacim as a support layer, which is a strong, multipurpose, semi-rigid industrial surfacing being used for the bus stops. • The project awarded to Mivami Construction for the section from Louis Trichardt to Venter. The mixes used are the same as those used for the Lonerock section above. All these projects are integral to the transport network within these regions and National Asphalt’s involvement is key to the successful completion of all of these projects. “The continual drive to innovate, explore new ideas, learn from experience, and be an integral part of the road infrastructure network in the South African market is paying dividends,” Pretorius says.

This comes with its own logistical challenges; however, National Asphalt rose to the challenge and has set up a state-of-the-art decanting facility at its plant in Cliffdale to enable it to handle and manage this imported product. Going forward, the Sapref refiner y has indicated that it will be in a position to supply this product to the local market.

Expansion Recently, National Asphalt has moved into the Western Cape market, with the acquisition of an asphalt plant from Mokwena Road Sur facing in the Portland quarries outside of Cape Town. Together with this, the company has recently opened an asphalt manufacturing and supply company in Botswana, named Bela Bela Asphalt. The company has secured its first contract with Felix Construction, a locally based construction company, and the project involves the full, manufacture and paving of 35 000 tonnes of asphalt for a project on the Sefophe to Martins Drift section of the road to Selebi-Phikwe. “It is a new venture for us,” explains Pretorius. “As always, we will adopt a cautious approach to these new markets.”

TOP The newly constructed MR577 in the KwaDabeka region MIDDLE Hydro cutter preparing track for Top Gear Festival at Moses Mabhida Stadium

www.nationalasphalt.co.za

ABOVE BRT bus routes in Tshwane

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IMIESA October 2015

AFRICA ROUND-UP

INFRASTRUCTURE NEWS FROM AROUND THE CONTINENT congestion of major roads along the corridor, increasing the efficiency of road transport, facilitating trade and regional integration.

CAMEROON Second railway investment plan due in three months The Inter-ministerial Ad Hoc Committee in charge of drawing an investment plan for the second phase of the project, PQ2, to modernise railway infrastructure has three months to submit the final document. The task was handed down to the committee by the president of the Inter-ministerial Committee in charge of railway infrastructure, Comifer, who is also the Minister of Transport, Prof Robert Nkili. He told committee members that they have until December 2015 to submit a feasibility report on the 2016â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2020 investment plan. The context of railway infrastructure development in Cameroon has changed, with the country rejoicing over the ownership of a railway master plan. The plan provides for the extension of the country's railway line to neighbouring Chad. The first Railway Investment Plan, PQ1, was from 2009 to December 2013, and saw the rehabilitation of over 25 km of the total 175 km on the Batchenga-Ka'a rail line.

GAMBIA $10 million road project agreement The Gambia's government, in partnership with the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (Badea), has signed a financing agreement of $10 million, earmarked for the construction of the LaminkotoPassamas Road. Abdou Kolley, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, says that the Gambia, though small, has great ambitions. He indicated that the country has development finance needs

IMIESA October 2015

MOZAMBIQUE New mobile cranes to increase Port Maputo productivity

TOP The context of railway infrastructure development in Cameroon has changed, with the railway master plan making provision for the extension of the country's railway line to neighbouring Chad ABOVE A modern dual-carriage bridge connecting Nigeria to Cameroon is to be completed before the end of this year

and, therefore, the support and continual collaboration of its development partners is highly desirable in the march towards meeting the objectives set. Dr Sidi Ould Tah, director general of Badea, says the bank is totally dedicated to supporting developments in sub-Saharan Africa and has played an instrumental role in mobilising resources for the current projects. He disclosed that Badea's total commitment to the Gambia in June 2015 was $119 million.

geared towards facilitating the movement of goods and services in the region. The second component of the project is the upgrade of airports and building capacity of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, which will take up $60million of the projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total amount of $500 million. The Northern Corridor, which runs from the Port of Mombasa to the Ugandan border at Malaba, is expected to ease

The port of Maputo will cut 24 hours off the time taken to load or unload a 40 000 tonne ship, thanks to the arrival of two new mobile cranes. According to a statement from the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC), the privateled consortium operating the port, loading time will fall from three-and-a-half to two-and-a-half days, resulting in a significant increase in productivity. The LHM550 mobile harbour cranes were manufactured by the Switzerland-based Liebherr group to Mozambican specifications, adapted to the operational needs of Port Maputo. They have a lifting capacity of 144 tonnes. The new cranes are equipped with Patronic technology, which is a hybrid system that increases operational efficiency through

KENYA Road upgrades to boost regional trade Construction of the Northern Corridor, which has cost $440 million, will be completed in December, giving a boost to trade between Kenya and the landlocked countries of Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. According to the Kenya National Highways Authority, the multibillion World Bank-funded roads improvement under the Northern Corridor Transport Improvement Project (NTCIP) is

Port Maputo will cut 24 hours off the time taken to load or unload a 40 000 tonne ship, thanks to the arrival of two new mobile cranes

AFRICA ROUND-UP

Zimbabwe has initiated processes for the dualisation of the Harare-Beitbridge road

the accumulation of energy. The cranes can operate in tandem with just one operator.

NIGERIA NigeriaCameroon bridge for completion this year A modern dual-carriage bridge connecting Nigeria to Cameroon is to be completed before the end of this year. The construction of the bridge, which is being financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), is geared towards facilitating trade and socio-economic relations between both countries. Multinational construction giant China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), which is already handling many construction megaprojects across the African continent, is the firm handling the construction of the bridge. The bridge contract, which commenced two years ago, is expected to go over the Cross River at the Nigeria/Cameroon border at Ekok/Mfum, with an approaching road for easy vehicular movement. Rwanda's only cement manufacturer, Cimerwa, recently unveiled a new plant that is expected to increase production and boost export revenues

The length of the bridge across the river is expected to be about 276 m, with an approach singlelane road of approximately 1.5Â km in length on either side of the bridge.

RWANDA New plant for cement exports Rwanda's only cement manufacturer, Cimerwa, recently unveiled a new plant expected to increase production and boost export revenues. The new state-of-the-art plant in Muganza sector, Rusizi district, is worth $170 million and has the capacity to produce six times the current capacity of 100 000 tonnes per year. Speaking at the launch, Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi

said the new plant presents an opportunity for the country to start exporting cement to its neighbours, while creating employment opportunities for Rwandans. Increasing production capacity, according to Murekezi, makes it possible for the plant to export up to 30% of total production (200 000 tonnes) to other countries, such as the DRC and Burundi. This, according to the premier, will help drive sustainable economic development and poverty reduction.

ZAMBIA Government warns local contractors The government has urged local contractors to improve their performance if they wish to continue undertaking various projects around the country. Transport, Works, Supply, and Communications Deputy Minister Dr Mutaba Mwali said foreign contractors had continued to prove that they were more committed and capable of executing government projects compared to local counterparts. Mwali said this following a tour of the construction works in the newly created Limulunga District of Western Province. "Our Zambian contractors keep on giving excuses. These contracts were awarded to contractors at the same time and

a Chinese company, Walltech, has managed to work within the stipulated period," he said. Mwali said the government was committed to ensuring that all works were completed within the specified timeframe and this was the reason why all the contractors were given their advance payments. He said that as much as the government wanted to empower Zambians, it would not hesitate to terminate their contracts based on shoddyÂ performance.

ZIMBABWE Harare-Beitbridge road dualisation begins The government has initiated processes for the dualisation of the Harare-Beitbridge road, with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development inviting interested engineering firms to submit their bids. The services under the project include a full preliminary design for the dualisation of the road (including all bridges and drainage structures), covering technical, economic, environmental, and social issues. This will provide the Department of Roads with sufficient information for decision-making on the preferred alignment and proposed dualisation of the road, and the preparation of the detailed engineering designs, drawings, and cost estimates for the dualisation (including bridges and drainage structures) of the regional trunk road. Zim-Asset, among other priorities, singles out the dualisation of the Beitbridge-HarareChirundu highway as one of the major projects that must be undertaken to facilitate economic development.

IMIESA October 2015

IMESA HOST CITY | ITC

Bridging the technology gap The City of Cape Town’s broadband infrastructure

OST-EFFECTIVE AND high-speed access to telecommunication ser vices, computer ser vices, Internet-working, and cloud computing have become fundamental to economic development. So much so that broadband connectivity – and access to it – is essential to creating an inclusive society. The technology that many middle-class individuals take for granted on a daily basis is alien and inaccessible to impoverished communities; this hampers their economic opportunity and deepens the divide between the haves and have-nots.

With regards to the city’s partnership with the Western Cape Provincial Government (WCPG), 45 WCPG buildings are already live and fully operational via the city telecom broadband fibre. The high capacity of the network has allowed high-bandwidth services, such as distributed use of highly sophisticated city resource management systems and video conferencing, to be introduced. When fully implemented, this network will effectively improve the city’s internal ability to provide fast and efficient services to the residents of Cape Town.

Phase 2 Broadband infrastructure The City of Cape Town has set aside R222 million, over the next three years, towards the R1.3 billion required for the proposed roll-out of broadband infrastructure throughout the city. This is in addition to the R51 million allocated and spent in the past financial year. The focus of this roll-out is to reduce telecommunication costs and improve high-speed converged services – such as data, voice and video – to municipal facilities.

Completion of Phase 1 The first phase of the city’s broadband project has been completed. A total of 350 km of fibre-optic cable has been installed in the city’s own duct network, which has more than 980 manholes. Phase 1 of the project has achieved the following milestones: • 9 0 city buildings connected via broadband fibre • 25 city clinics are connected by selfprovisioned high-speed telecommunications ser vices – either fibre-optic or wireless • 12 switching rooms constructed • 103 city buildings connected via selfprovisioned microwave links.

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Phase 2 of the project aims to: • spread the fibre-optic infrastructure throughout the Cape Town metropolitan area • expand the existing metro area broadband network to over 400 public buildings, including clinics and libraries as well as administrative buildings • form the backbone of a wireless network in underserviced areas. This will bring Internet connectivity and other telecommunications services to over a million people living in disadvantaged and underserved areas • install a further 800 km of core and local cable; and construct five additional switching centres and 90 aggregation sites • deploy point-to-point wireless connections where fibre-optic cable is not viable • connect approximately 470 city buildings and 112 WCPG buildings, including hospitals and clinics, to the network. In terms of these commercial interests, the city is currently in negotiations with a range of Internet service providers. By offering competitive tariffs, the city is enabling smaller operators to enter the market, generating competition in the ISP sector and

stimulating economic growth in the Western Cape private sector.

USTDA In addition to bringing down telecommunications costs and enhancing service levels, the city is investigating how to broaden affordable network access to residents in under-served areas in Cape Town. To this end, the city has recently concluded a feasibility study, funded by a grant of $315 000 from the United States Trade and Development Association (USTDA). This grant enabled the appointment of a number of international and local specialists with the necessary experience to conduct an evaluation of the suitability of the City of Cape Town’s fibre-optic backbone as a basis for creating an affordable Wi-Fi network in Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain to reach businesses and households in those areas. The USTDA feasibility study has proved that a sustainable model, which is acceptable to the city and feasible in terms of the city’s limitations for providing the infrastructure for wireless Internet connectivity, is indeed possible. Although the potential benefits of establishing such a public access network cannot be disputed, there are many technical, commercial, economic, and social aspects that need to be thoroughly investigated to ensure the suitability of the technological solution and the financial sustainability of the service.

An inclusive city The seven-year broadband project will see the city build a core fibre-optic network to connect city buildings, WCPG buildings, as well as private buildings in the CBD. So far, 240 city-owned buildings, including clinics, libraries, and administrative buildings have been connected through fibreoptics and microwave.

IMESA HOST CITY | ITC

Open city The City of Cape Town has approved an open data policy, as part of the World Design Capital initiative, which aims to showcase how design can be utilised to make cities and governments more transparent. The World Design Capital is a city promotion project – run by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design – which recognises achievements in the field of industrial design by cities around the world. The biennial designation is awarded to a city that uses design to revitalise urban areas and promote design innovation. According to the Cape Town city council, the policy was approved as part of its commitment to ensuring transparent, accountable, and accessible government. Recommendations in the Cape Town design model – built by an IBM design team last year – include how the city can use data optimally, apply change management, manage its social assets better, and apply design thinking. “The city generates a significant amount of data that is potentially useful to residents. In the information age, making public sector data available allows us, as government, to tap into the creativity and innovative thinking of business and society,” says Councillor Xanthea Limberg. Through the open data policy, the city says it will establish and incrementally populate a single online open data portal with information and data that will be free and accessible to members of the public.

Affordable bandwidth is one of the main factors supporting investment and economic growth in developing countries. As such, the City of Cape Town has prioritised its broadband infrastructure, making Internet connectivity widely available to the public

websites, and programs. This enables these stakeholders to use the data in their own creative way,” says the council. The portal will be established within the next three months and the categories of information for release will be considered in terms of their applicability to service delivery, while being matched against current legislation, including privacy laws. A steering committee – which will include members of the public – will monitor the implementation of the policy, as well as approve requests for additional data sets. Information that is determined to be inappropriate by the committee will not be made available on the portal, says the city. “While we are committed to being open and transparent in this process, we need to be mindful of certain data that cannot be placed in the public domain. This will include copyrighted third-party data, information that infringes on the privacy of individual citizens, information the city cannot legally disclose, and information that is deemed to be confidential,” explains Limberg.

Open portal “The open data portal will also create a new opportunity for information technology developers and private sector companies to use the data to create cell phone applications,

IMIESA October 2015

IMESA HOST CITY | WATER & WASTEWATER

Prioritising Cape wastewater treatment

What are some of the reasons that Cape Town’s wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) require regular upgrades? KS Like most cities, Cape Town is experiencing rapid urbanisation and growth; therefore, the necessary infrastructure has to be in place to ensure that these essential services are available and accessible. The City of Cape Town’s wastewater branch has a 10-year master plan that guides its capital improvement programme for the implementation of new infrastructure, as well as the refurbishment or replacement of related equipment. In this regard, several of its 27 WWTWs are either in the process of being extended to increase treatment capacity, or scheduled for upgrade or refurbishment. Besides increasing capacity to meet the needs of Cape

IMIESA October 2015

Several years ago, increased funding led to extensive upgrades at a number of Cape Town’s key wastewater treatment plants. FRANCES RINGWOOD catches up with Kevin Samson, City of Cape Town wastewater treatment manager, to find out about more recent improvements.

Town’s growing population, the WWTWs are being upgraded to meet with Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and Department of Environmental Affairs licence requirements.

Would you please provide a brief description of some of the technologies

employed at your WWTWs? Of the 27 WWTWs, there are three deep-sea marine outfalls. These have preliminary treatment mechanisms, i.e. fine screening and some grit removal. After wards, wastewater is pumped out to sea at a distance of 1.7 km and discharged through a series

of diffusers at a depth of about 30 m. Of the other WWTWs, we have various treatment capacities and technologies, including oxidation ponds, rotating biological contactors, trickling bio-filters, and activated sludge plants. The Zandvliet and Bellville WWTWs also have membrane bioreactors (MBRs).

What are some of the city’s latest WWTW upgrades and plans for the future? Zandvliet WWTW is currently undergoing an 18 MLD (million litres per day) extension, including upgrades to the existing rising main and its associated screening station, and the Macassar pump station. The approximate value of these works is R800 million. In addition, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) investigation is underway for a further 50 MLD extension. The final

IMESA HOST CITY | WATER & WASTEWATER

FAR LEFT The Athlone WWTW (seen from above) is one of the 27 wastewater treatment works operated by the City of Cape Town LEFT Treated wastewater from the Athlone works is released into the Black River â&#x20AC;&#x201C; most of the City of Cape Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s WWTWs feed into rivers, with only three leading to ocean outfalls

basic assessment repor t (BAR) will be submitted to the Department of Environmental Af fairs and Development Planning (DEADP) regulator y authority before the end of the calendar year. At the Macassar WWTW, a 32 MLD EIA investigation is currently underway and the draft BAR is out for comment. A 50 MLD EIA investigation is being carried out at the Athlone WWTW, and the draft BAR will

be released for comment within the next month. Potsdam WWTW is undergoing a 53 MLD capacity extension, which will be carried out over the next three to six years. We will appoint a professional services provider (engineering consultants) and aim to make the appointment early in the next calendar year. At Melkbosstrand WWTW, several contracts will be carried out to address processes at the inlet works, sludge dewatering, and some general building works improvements. Additionally, several tenders are underway to improve the treatment processes at the Wesfleur WWTW, in Atlantis, with respect to aeration blowers. The motor control centre and sludge dewatering tenders will be advertised within the next year. IMIESA October 2015

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Finally, the smaller WWTWs at Philadelphia and Klipheuwel are also undergoing an EIA for capacity extensions and final BARs for both will be submitted to the DEADP shortly.

Could you provide more information on your MBR works? As stated earlier, both Zandvliet and the recently completed Bellville WWTWs (as well as the future upgrades at Potsdam) use MBR technology. These are conventional activated sludge treatment works that use membranes instead of secondary clarifiers to separate the sludge stream from the liquid stream; in doing so, they produce a superior final effluent quality. The advantage is that this water can be readily reused in industrial applications as well as for irrigating golf courses and vineyards. The reuse of the wastewater effluent is presently part of an investigation for the reclamation and further processing to a much higher standard for possible direct or indirect use. In addition, we are limiting the nutrients discharged into the environment. The nutrients captured in the sludge will be part of the sludge beneficiation project, which will realise a sludge quality of Class A1a for the production of biogas. This will be used for energy generation to offset electricity consumption at the plants. Most of the biogas will be used to keep the sludge digestion process sustainable.

Cape Town has a number of innovative systems at its various WWTWs. Can you please describe one of the latest systems aimed at solving a treatment challenge? No two WWTWs are identical, nor do they treat the same

RIGHT The Zandvliet WWTW BELOW Potsdam WWTW

composition of wastewater. A works like Borcherds Quarry, for example, treats high levels of both industrial and domestic sewage. This WWTW also receives human waste via trucks and bakkie tankers from the nearby informal settlements, which presents its own challenges. To date, this plant used manual operation. Borcherds Quarry is noteworthy, as we will

soon be installing an automated system to minimise human intervention needed for cleaning human waste.

How do you monitor municipal outfall water quality?

Weekly sampling is performed on various unit treatment processes at each treatment works. For example, total suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, and ammonias are tested to assess whether these parameters are

compliant with the standards set by the regulatory authorities. In addition, operational monitoring is scheduled for every shift, every day.

What is the capital budget for these

IMIESA October 2015

IMESA HOST CITY | WATER & WASTEWATER

“The capital budget for the extensions and upgrades will be in the region of R2 billion over the next six years – that’s an average of R330 million per year.”

upgrades and how does it fit in with the city’s plans for long-term improvements? The capital budget for the extensions and upgrades will be in the region of R2 billion over the next six years – that’s an average of R330 million per year. The capital budget allocation links in with the city’s strategy for economic growth. Moreover, all planned extensions and

upgrades have been on the wastewater branch’s longterm capital improvement programme and now fall within our existing 10-year budget.

What percentage of your allocated wastewater budget do you manage to spend on average and what would you say is the secret to spending wastewater operation

and maintenance funds well? Our last 15-year average rounded up to the nearest percentage point is 95% net capital expenditure, and our last 13 years’ total operational expenditure, which includes maintenance, is 96%. The key is planning well in advance and good budgeting. But, there is no substitute for dedicated wastewater specialists and passionate officials.

Do you also play a role in regulating industrial outfalls? The wastewater branch, which manages the entire city’s WWTWs, uses the services of the internal division of pollution control inspectors, which monitors industrial effluent sources. If a breach is detected, appropriate actions in the form of further investigations or penalties are undertaken.

IMIESA October 2015

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IMESA HOST CITY | PROFILE

Pump control valve

reinvented

Ultra Control Valves (UCV) has, for many years, represented Maric from Australia. What was originally just a simple and tamper-proof flow control device has evolved to meet many different applications.

HEN THIS VALVE was originally invented by the Schroeder family in Australia, they could not have foreseen the diverse applications that would be discovered – some of which are listed below: • Water authorities: The valve enables better water distribution between different offtakes, and encourages water savings with flow limiting. • Water treatment: Filter water flow control aids optimal control and backwash. • Irrigation: The valve aids sprinkler flow control and ensures uniform flow at different elevations. • Industrial: Fire protection – control correct flow at nozzles, sprinklers, and foam mixing. HVAC – ensures correct flow to condensers. • Mining: Gland service water control – the mining industry has realised that flow control is an ideal way to control the water to slurry pump glands, making it an unofficial industry standard for this difficult application.

A simple and robust alternative Maric provides the ideal solution, as a pump control valve, when one needs to maintain peak pump efficiency, and quite a few of these have been successfully supplied in South Africa and neighbouring countries. “As an alternative to a pressure-sustaining valve, Maric provides the ideal solution, as the valve is simple, robust, and completely tamper-proof,” says Peter Telle, MD of Ultra Control Valves.

Pump control valves for borehole applications In borehole applications, the pump often has to cope with different head levels as the water

IMIESA October 2015

level ‘draws down’. The pump needs to be protected from initial startup upthrust damage, as well as maintaining its efficiency point during normal operation. This function has traditionally been performed by pump control valves with a pressure-sustaining feature, or by setting a discharge In addition to the obvious benefits of using gate valve to provide the appropriate a flow control feature instead of a pressurestart-up restriction. sustaining feature, the Maric valve has the The problem with this, in borehole pumps, is additional benefits of simplicity, robustness, that when the pressure-sustaining set point is and being tamper-proof. determined for start-up TRADITIONAL PUMP It is also not susceptiprotection, it can seriCONTROL VALVES ARE ble to dirt, which means ously limit the pump’s USED FOR: zero maintenance and output at running con• Soft start-up of the pump, an extended life. ditions. A much better where the valve is initially in a Another benefit of solution is to use a flow closed position and then slowly using Maric valves control valve, which conopens to allow gradual flow is that the valve can trols the flow rate instead into the delivery line, without be mounted directly of pressure. creating water hammer or surge problems. on the discharge of a An actual case study, • Control of pressure onto the submersible pump and presented in some pump, to ensure that the pump can operate underwadetail in two parts by does not run off its curve during ter. This prevents the John Tonkin (one of high demand periods. valve seeing high air South Africa’s leading velocities during start-up when mounted on pump experts), and with supporting matethe surface. rial from Maric Australia, shows why a flow In order to get a full understanding of the control feature is much more beneficial than underlying principles, the articles by John a pressure-sustaining feature. This is sumTonkin of JTA and Grant Schroeder of Maric marised below: Australia have to be read in conjunction with The Maric flow control alternative this article. • At pump start-up, the flow is restricted See full versions on the Ultra Control Valves to the pump’s rated flow and prevents website under Pete’s Valves and Hydraulics. upthrusting and cavitation, which can damA video of the Maric valve’s operaage or destroy the pump. tion is also available on the website • At duty point, the pump output is less than www.ultravalves.co.za, under Products/ the rated flow of the Maric flow control valve, Control Valves/Flow Control Valves. The causing it to be wide open and resulting in full Maric catalogue can also be viewed less head loss than a pressure-sustaining and downloaded. valve or gate valve.

IMESA HOST CITY | PROFILE

George de Sousa, chief operations officer, NMC Civils

The NMC Construction Group is a privately owned, multidisciplinary construction group, offering clients integrated building and civils solutions. The company undertakes contracts ranging from individual projects through to longer-term infrastructure projects for both public and private clients.

An enterprising attitude

ITH NATIONWIDE opera- engrained as one of our values – these being pertions and more than sonal growth of staff along with the remaining val1 500 employees, the NMC ues of pride, trust, and discipline,” says De Sousa. Construction Group has the capacity to take on large, complex infrastruc- Turnkey 'design and construct' delivery ture projects. With established offices through- Considering its enterprising attitude and ability out South Africa and Windhoek, it is well posi- to develop its people to meet specific needs, it is able to respond quicktioned to take on projects in er to the changing needs remote areas. CIVIL SERVICES of the market at any given The group has an extensive list The NMC Civils division has time. "While current procureof accreditations and certifications extensive experience in the ment procedures dictate a to give its clients, professional construction of civil services for municipalities across tender process, the NMC teams, and other stakeholders the country. Its scope of Construction Group's ‘design peace of mind that the NMC works includes: and construct' ser vice Construction Group has pertinent • steel water pipelines on offers a holistic approach to experience in the relative fields in concrete plinths any project, including design which it operates. “This affirms • bulk sewer lines • bulk water infrastructure coordination, planning, plan that the NMC Construction Group • municipal sewer and water approval, budgeting, and has policies and procedures to reticulation construction management. ensure that business operations • concrete reservoirs The group has successfully are as efficient as possible and • concrete canals established strategic longthat our safety, quality, and envi• external water supply term partnerships and diverronmental controls are of the high• bulk services • oxidation ponds sified its portfolio across est standards,” explains George • township development the industrial, commercial, de Sousa, NMC Civils COO. infrastructure. retail, agricultural, and NMC Construction Group has institutional infrastructure extensive experience in the private sector, which is considered dynamic, and it has an sectors,” he explains. NMC Civils, a division of the NMC Construction enterprising attitude, versus that of a public sector bureaucracy. “The development and growth of Group, is uniquely positioned to assist govour people is the core of the NMC culture and is ernment with the many challenges it faces in

IMIESA October 2015

TOP Postmasburg housing project ABOVE Rustenberg township development

achieving the National Development Plan (NDP). De Sousa elaborates: “In looking at the continuous and evolving developments in our country, the demand for improved service delivery remains a primary requirement for South Africans. The public sector plays the biggest role in initiating these developments, particularly those in underdeveloped areas. The NDP cannot be achieved and delivered by government alone; it requires a collaborative approach by the public and private sectors.”

An extensive network With over 30 years’ experience in turnkey design and project delivery, the NMC Construction Group has developed the necessary project management skills and secured an extensive network of professionals, including civil, electrical, and mechanical engineers, to be a leader in building and civil engineering construction in Southern Africa. www.nmc.co.za

IMESA HOST CITY | ROADS

Facing down

the final stretch The third and final phase of the prestigious Main Road rehabilitation project is well under way, with contractors and engineers implementing groundbreaking techniques to make this another award-worthy project in Cape Town. BY LIESL FRANKSON

ORK TO REHABILITATE Main Road from Muizenberg to Clovelly began in 2006, when the City of Cape Town appointed Kayad Knight Piésold to undertake an initial assessment of the condition of the road in September 2006. During the assessment, it was determined that, in addition to resur facing and repairing this scenic 4.5 km stretch of coastal road, the underground ser vices – including water mains, stormwater, and both gravity and pressure sewage pipes – were severely degraded and needed to be replaced urgently. The project was undertaken in three phases – due to the size and related budgetar y constraints – of which the Atlantic Road, Muizenberg to Casa Labia, and Kalk Bay Harbour to Clovelly Road is Phase 3. “This phase of the project commenced in Februar y 2014, and was intended to be a three-year phase; however, due to delays regarding approvals from the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), the project is currently due for completion in October 2017,” explains John Craig, Knight Piésold regional manager: Western Cape, the project leader and contract engineer on this project.

Scope of works The scope of works for Phase 3 involved the removal of the existing asphalt wearing course and bitumen treated base

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM Laying the 700 mm ductile iron water main in Muizenberg across existing services Demolishing the existing half of the viaduct in extremely constrained conditions Construction services under very restricted conditions in Muizenberg Main Road with half-width traffic Constructing the stormwater system at night to minimise the disruption to the public

IMIESA October 2015

IMESA HOST CITY | ROADS

Project timeline

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Casa Labia (Muizenberg) to Leighton Road (St James). Work commenced in January 2008 and was completed in September 2011. The contract was carried out by Civils 2000. Leighton Road (St James) to Kalk Bay Harbour. Work commenced in January 2011 and was due to be completed by the end of July 2013. The contract was carried out by Civils 2000. Kalk Bay Harbour to Clovelly Road, and Atlantic Road (Muizenberg) to Casa Labia. Work commenced in September 2013 and is due to be completed by December 2017.

(BTB) layers, as well as the removal and stockpiling of all existing handdressed stone kerbs and channels. The stone kerbs and channels were relaid along the new alignment while the road layer works were reconstructed using a water-bound macadam subbase, BTB, and a continuously graded asphalt wearing course. The work also entailed the replacement of the 300 mm and 500 mm diameter water mains, together with all the necessar y fittings and specials; the relining and/or replacement of gravity and pressure sewer lines; the improvement/replacement of existing stormwater inlets and drainage pipes; and the construction of a new retaining wall to replace the ver y old and dangerously degraded half viaduct at Clovelly.

Groundbreaking techniques In the quest to complete this project as efficiently as possible, and with the least amount of disruption to the travelling public, the construction teams had to use some unique methods to get the work done. One of the methods that stood out was the use of the state-of-the-ar t Uretek soil stabilisation system to form the foundation of the retaining wall at Clovelly. The new retaining wall, which is built ver y close to the main Cape Town to Simonstown railway line, will ser ve as a support structure for Main Road above, as well as all the ser vices running under Main Road. It will make it possible to provide for pedestrian footways on both the mountain and sea sides of Main Road, as well as provide extra embayed parking in certain areas. The other big advantage of this design is that it will enable work to proceed on the ser vices and Main Road behind the retaining wall while traffic runs on

the existing Main Road, thus alleviating the need for disruptive stop-go traffic control on this section. The Uretek system works by injecting expanding geopolymeric structural resins deep into the ground, through small holes. This is done to improve the quality of the foundation soils to the required bearing capacity. It can also be used to raise the level of the retaining wall, should this be required, in order to correct for any settlement. “The ground is quite rocky in this area and the top of the rock is, in places, several metres below the railway line. Normally, we would dig down and form the foundation on the rock but we were concerned about the possibility of a collapse. Since we were not allowed to excavate below the railway line level, we chose to use this technique,” notes Craig. Martin and East, the contractor on this phase, used the trenchless method of pipe cracking to help minimise disruptions that would arise from extensive excavation. The existing clay sewer pipe was replaced, with a new highdensity polyethylene pipe (HDPE). Using this method, a tool called a bursting head is pulled through the existing pipe, breaking it up into little pieces while pulling the new pipe into position behind it.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM Muizenberg Main Road nearing completion, including the new overhead sign gantry The existing services were a nightmare at Clovelly pump station; workers connecting the 700 mm ductile iron watermain Construction of the new retaining wall adjacent to the old Clovelly station

IMIESA October 2015

IMESA HOST CITY | ROADS

“Previously, we have used the pipe-lining method – a flexible liner, saturated with epoxy resin, is pulled into the sewer and then cured into place using ultraviolet light or heat. It is, thus, installed into the interior of the existing sewer pipe, forming the new pipe. The pipe cracking method, however, replaces the pipe with a new HDPE line, which will have a much longer ser vice life.”

The challenges Main Road from Muizenberg to Clovelly sees approximately 19 000 vehicles passing over it daily. With this in mind, working on a project to restore this road to its former glor y would certainly present many challenges. The biggest challenge faced by contractors and engineers, however, was the need to keep ever ything operating. Craig compares the process to doing a heart transplant while the patient is still expected to run around and function as usual. “Maintaining existing ser vices and access to properties meant that the

IMIESA October 2015

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contractor had to ensure that all existHaving them installed behind the retaining ing underground ser vices, such as water, wall was advantageous because it meant sewerage, electricity, telecommunications, we avoided having the stop-go system on and stormwater remained fully operationthat section of the project. It also meant we al at all times. This required extremely didn’t run the risk of damaging the newly careful work procedures to ensure that installed ser vices. Traditionally, the ser victhese fragile and es would be installed PROFESSIONAL TEAM essential ser vices alongside one anothClient: City of Cape Town Roads and were not damaged,” er in the road,” Stormwater Department he explains. says Craig. Consulting Engineer: Knight Piésold Working right next In this phase of the (formerly known as Kayad Knight to the railway line project, the team took Piésold Consulting) presented quite a Contractor: Martin & East (Phase 3) a new approach to Community Liaison Consultants: unique challenge on accommodating trafChand Environmental Consultants this phase of the fic. Throughout the OHS: Engelbrecht and Associates project and special process, Main Road Environmental Consultants: measures had to be had to be kept open Holland & Associates Environmental implemented. to traffic at all times. Consultants (Phase 3) In terms of the For this reason, twoinstallation of new ser vices, these were way traffic was generally controlled using installed under Main Road or behind the a traffic signal stop-go system operated retaining wall while the old ser vices were from a central control office. “In order to left operational on the road. “We made ensure that queue lengths in the opposing sure that we had the new ser vices up and directions were balanced, we previously running before we took out the old ones. relied on patrol officers, equipped with

IMESA HOST CITY | ROADS

two-way radios, on bicycles, to determine the queue lengths and radio this information to the control office. “This time around, we implemented a central control system and also used a state-of-the-ar t camera system to help balance out the traffic. Now, the traffic controller can check the cameras from his control room and act much faster to tr y to ease the traffic situation.” Great care was taken when working close to the railway line and the consulting engineer, along with the contractor, recruited specialised safety people who were on-site full-time to ensure that the work being done presented no danger to the trains.

Taking the community and environment into account From the star t of the project, extensive community liaison and environmental awareness programmes have been run by Chand Environmental, who has been involved with the Main Road project since Phase 1 in 2008.

The community liaison consisted of an open house before the tender stage, in order to ensure that all community and interested and affected party interests and inputs were allowed for in the design and contract stipulations, as much as was possible. The section of Main Road in question ran through the entire Kalk Bay CBD area and, thus, this required special attention. “For this reason, a specialised focus group consisting of 10 elected members of the Kalk Bay business community was established and meetings were held with them to ensure that the interests of the businesses and

Apart from the construction of a new retaining wall above the old Clovelly station, new underground water services are also being installed

IMIESA October 2015

East Coast Asphalt (Much Asphalt is majority shareholder)

Much Asphalt is southern Africa’s largest supplier of an extensive range of hot and cold asphalt products. Our products are supported by world class technology and expertise, extensive laboratory services and specialist advice. With 17 branches and state-of-the-art mobile plants, Much Asphalt offers services anywhere, any time, no matter how big or small the project.

ANYWHERE. ANY TIME. ANY PROJECT. T: +27 21 900 4400 F: +27 21 900 4468 E: info@muchasphalt.com www.muchasphalt.com

YEARS

1965 – 2015

www.avenggrinaker-lta.co.za

Rand Roads

Rand Roads is a specialist division within Aveng Grinaker-LTA, whose service offering covers the full supply chain for road rehabilitation and infrastructure, from bitumen binders’ modification to asphalt production. The business success lies in its ability to apply its expertise in crafting unique solutions to the challenges posed by each new project. Rand Roads’ aim is to deliver a reliable and quality service to the road and infrastructure industry and the country as a whole. Rand Roads’ proud history goes back to 1970, when the business was built on the solid foundation of road surfacing expertise. In response to market and industry changes and developments in recent years, Rand Roads refined and expanded its service offering, and today, it is a fullyfledged manufacturer and supplier of high quality bituminous binders and asphalt products.

Asphalt Two state-of-the-art asphalt plants and a mobile plant are situated in Gauteng, enabling Rand Roads to produce: • Cold Mix Asphalt (CMA) • Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) • Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) • Recycle Asphalt Production (RAP) Bitumen Binders The division’s bitumen binders operation is based Pretoria and Queenstown, while a number of mobile plants are working to service projects in other parts of South Head Ofﬁce Lee Cochrane, General Manager Aveng Ofﬁce Park | Cnr. Jurgens Street & Jet Park Road | Jet Park | Boksburg | 1459 t +27 (11)923 5522 f +27 (11)923 5080 e lee.cochrane@grinaker-lta.co.za c 083 294 0224

Boksburg and Pretoria Asphalt Plants Stefan Botha, Plant Manager 19A Cnr. Van Dyk & Aberdeen Roads Boksburg East Industrial Boksburg | 1459 t +27 (11)914 4095 e stefan.botha@grinaker-lta.co.za c 082 556 7880

Africa. These plants are an invaluable part of Rand Roads’ road construction arsenal, which enables the business to offer its clients the same seamless service and outstanding products – wherever the client is situated. Rand Roads supplies four groups of bituminous products - namely penetration grade bitumen, modiﬁed binders, bitumen rubber and emulsions, and foam bitumen. These products are supplied to the general building, industrial and road construction sector.

Bitumen Binders Pretoria Plant Gert Swindon, Plant Manager 304 Stephenson Road Pretoria West Industrial Pretoria | 0183 t +27 (12)386 1177 e gert.swindon@grinaker-lta.co.za c 082 491 4130

Bitumen Binders Queenstown Plant Charl Potgieter, Plant Manager 7 Stephenson Road | Queendustria Queenstown | 5319 f 086 578 6447 e ccmpotgieter@grinaker-lta.co.za c 082 897 4333

IMESA HOST CITY | ROADS

related parties were looked after in the best way possible,” Craig explains. Community liaison meetings (CLMs) are held at a local church hall venue ever y two months throughout the project. At each CLM, the project team gives a presentation on the current status of the project and all present are allowed to ask questions as well as obtain replies to questions sent to Chand, prior to the meeting. An environmental management plan was drawn up prior to the tender going out and the contractor had to adhere strictly to this. This was enforced by an independent environmental control officer – initially Lynda Muller of Envirowise and, now, Ross Holland and Melanie Weber of Holland and Associates. These environmental control officers have the power to impose

severe penalties on the contractor for any non-conformances. “One extremely advantageous, but previously unforeseen, result of this project was that the quality of the seawater along the False Bay coastline improved markedly after construction,” Craig notes. “Many of the sewers running under Main Road were approaching 100 years old and had virtually corroded away over time. This meant that the sewage was actually running in the ground in many places and, thus, was discharging into the nearby ocean waters. The replacement and/or rehabilitation of the sewers cured this problem and led to a large reduction in the E.coli count in False Bay near the project.” The work carried out on this project has been designed to ensure that the

“One extremely beneficial, but previously unforeseen, result of this project was that the quality of the seawater along the False Bay coastline improved markedly after construction.”

maximum amount of time will pass before ser vices need to be replaced – they have been designed to be in place for a minimum of fifty years, and hopefully a lot longer. IMIESA October 2015

Head Office: 12 Commercial Road, Wadeville, Germiston, 1422 Tel: 011 323 2000 / Fax: 011 902 1112 / Web: www.tosas.co.za Email: quotes@tosas.co.za / Branches: Spartan: 011 974 1971 Worcester: 023 342 0609 / Namibia: 0026 (46) 722 1942 Botswana: 00267 391 4957 / Bloemfontein: 051 435 0214 East London: 043 745 0595 / Hammersdale (KZN) – 082 492 3833

Binder Excellence

EMULCOL Emulsion-based surface dressing The Emulcol process goes on regardless of threatening weather conditions • Rapid, quick setting • Shorter trafﬁc accommodation • Unaffected by unexpected weather conditions after application • Ultra-clean tack coat - no binder pick-up or carry-over by construction vehicles • Environmentally friendly

The Emulcol process is especially suitable for carrying out surface dressing operations during colder, damp conditions, using wet aggregates. Emulcol uses an emulsion in which an additive controls the breaking process. The breaking agent is added during spraying. Emulcol still boasts the same qualities as other emulsions: cold wetting power, passive and active bonding capacity, lower risk of non-sticking when the base or aggregates are damp, as well as energy savings. Emulcol opens up other possibilities for surface dressing and safe working conditions.

de versus

spray gra al cationic

Norm

Branches South Africa Cape Town Durban Johannesburg Depots Bloemfontein East London Hectorspruit Port Elizabeth Also in Kenya Mozambique Namibia Uganda Zambia

www.colas.co.za

cess

Emulcol pro

IMESA HOST CITY | SAFCEC WESTERN CAPE LISTING

Western Cape Listing Company A & R Enterprises ABE Construction Chemicals

Member Type Full Associate

Contact No. 044 878 2904 021 505 2800

Email Address tonyp@lantic.net darrell@abe.co.za

Academy for Construction Skills Aecom Afrifell CC

Associate Associate Emerging

021 976 8059 021 987 4986

ken@conskills.co.za michelle.deklerk@aecom.com afrifell@telkomsa.net

Afriline Civils (Pty) Ltd

Emerging

021 9497889

johan@afriline.co.za

Afrimat Management Services (Pty) Ltd

Associate

021 917 8840

malcolm.knipe@afrimat.co.za

Almagate Projects

Emerging

072 624 2474

shuaib.almagate@gmail.com

Asla Construction (Pty) Ltd

Full

021 845 8335

jeremyd@asla.co.za

Atashe

Associate

021 987 6304

info.atashe@gmail.com

ATN Group (Pty) Ltd

Emerging

021 801 6421

theresa@atngroup.co.za

Attraction Transport & Trading

Emerging

079 659 8642

danielorayn@gmail.com

Aveng Grinaker-Lta Building

Full

021 703 1040

rick.volker@grinaker-lta.co.za

Barloworld Equipment (Pty) Ltd

Associate

021 959 8200

akotze@barloworld-equipment.com

Baseline Civil Contractors (Pty) Ltd

Full

021 905 2545

johan@baseline.co.za

Basil Read (Pty) Ltd

Full

021 946 4664

philip@basilread.ih.co.za

Bell Equipment Co SA (Pty) Ltd

Associate

021 380 9000

johnc@bell.co.za

Blasting & Excavating (Pty) Ltd

Full

021 556 4372

stephan.m@blasting.co.za

Bobi Construction

Emerging

053 832 9074

bobicon@telkomsa.net

Botes & Kennedy Manyano (Pty) Ltd

Full

027 712 1144

hannesm@botken.co.za

Burma Plant Hire

Associate

021 905 8122

tburger@burma.co.za

Carpe Diem (Pty) Ltd

Full

021 906 5765

graeme@cdiem.co.za

Centremark South

Associate

021 905 0210

doug@centremark.co.za

Coetzee Safety Consultants

Associate

021 820 7060

admin@coetzeesafety.co.za

Colas South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Associate

021 531 6406

sameer.munu@colas-southafrica.com

Colven Nkomo Outsourcing (Pty) Ltd

Associate

044 803 9400

kobus@colven.co.za

Comprac Western Cape (Pty) Ltd

Associate

021 913 8730

eps@ohscape.co.za

Concrete Units (Pty) Ltd

Associate

021 386 1923

bcook@concreteunits.co.za

Corkon (Pty) Ltd

Emerging

022 931 2847

kobus@corkon.co.za

Cornfield Construction 2004 (Pty) Ltd

Full

021 692 1107

nigel@corncon.co.za

CTC Plant Company

Associate

021 386 4190

peterg@ctcplant.co.za

Definite Pitch Trading 110 CC

Emerging

021 371 5908

mandisas@mweb.co.za

Distinctive Choice 308 CC

Emerging

021 919 3353

dischoice@telkomsa.net

Doka South Africa

Associate

021 905 3295

david.king@doka.com

Edu Letu Consulting

Associate

021 555 2761

adrian@eduletu.com

Egon Civils

Full

021 553 5547

egoncivils@mweb.co.za

Fairbrother Geotechnical Engineering

Full

021 715 5470

paul@fairbrother.co.za

Franki Africa

Full

021 797 0525

roy.louw@franki.co.za

Group Five Western Cape (Pty) Ltd

Full

021 763 6100

evrooyen@g5.co.za

H Contracting (Pty) Ltd

Emerging

082 566 0029

pathart@pixie.co.za

Hlumantombazana Civil & Construction

Emerging

021 363 1939

hlumantombazana@gmail.com

Infraset

Associate

021 908 1156

mjustice@infraset.com Continues on page 140

IMIESA October 2015

HOT SEAT

AMMANN SOUTH AFRICA

Valuable development In this edition’s Hot Seat, managing director Rocco Lehman provides insight into how Ammann SA ensures that its products and services are of optimal benefit to its customers, and how its unique ability to disseminate the best road building knowledge, skills, and technical support in the world can benefit not only its larger customers but even the remotest of communities.

MMANN SA’S VALUE to the development of Southern Africa’s road infrastructure is far more complex than its ability to provide access to the world’s leading road making equipment. The company is structured within its parent organisation to model its operations, products, and expertise in a way that works for the local market.

What’s been happening for Ammann SA in the local roads construction market recently? RL As your readers may recall, Ammann SA recently installed an Ammann Prime 140 asphalt mixing plant along the N1, which we had locally configured to enable the production of 40% reclaimed asphalt (RA) product. Without rehashing the technical details, the configuration of the plant is an industry first for

IMIESA October 2015

South Africa, and the fact that it is now achieving 140 tonnes per hour – as we promised it would – is very much the product of how we structured the company and established its operations, in detailed consideration of South Africa’s very particular characteristics. Ammann may be headquartered in Switzerland, but Ammann SA is extremely well geared for the South African market, in large part because of the vast experience we collectively have.

In what practical sense has that approach been necessary? South Africa, overall, has a strong reputation for the high quality of the roads we build, and the roads construction industry is highly skilled. The national roads authorities have set high standards, while the market itself is actually very

price-sensitive. The net result is that these high standards must be met within very tight budgets. So, now that the authorities are beginning to require more sophisticated road building methods, like RA, you have to really understand the market inside out in order to find ways of meeting these requirements that will be financially viable for the industry as a whole.

How does Ammann SA’s structure cater to these challenges? The industry has seen far too many instances of good-quality imported machinery delivered to a client, as is, only to find it unsuited to local conditions. There are many factors to this, including variations in climate and materials, logistical considerations, supporting infrastructure, skills requirements, technical support, and affordable access to spare parts. Nothing

ABOVE Rocco Lehman, MD, Ammann SA

was wrong with the equipment itself, but, when you operate purely as a supplier, with little to no technical capacity to localise products, customers are reliant on a foreign company for technical exper tise and components, operating in a very different financial market. The expense of localising these products was prohibitive, and any contractor facing this situation automatically became uncompetitive. We had to find a different approach, if we were to successfully and sustainably introduce Ammann products to this market. Structuring Ammann SA partially as an own-risk entity was a very important part of that solution. It is a structure that has allowed us to provide the market with our highly skilled local professionals at

HOT SEAT

a feasible cost – sometimes even absorbing the costs – to deliver the results our clients need, and not simply a machine for purchase. We have also invested in finding local manufacturing partners that can make some of the structural parts to local specifications, at a fraction of the cost of depending on foreign supply. And, because we are involved to that level, both in the assembly phase and in situ, we can also ensure that the spare parts coming from Ammann itself are available through a very efficient supply chain. So, while we are delivering the best technology available in the world – with the backing of the finest research and development, technical exper tise, and quality machinery the world has to offer – we have achieved a business model that allows us to function effectively in the South African market.

Going back to the standards and specifications, how does this impact on emerging contractors, given the cost challenges faced by the bigger contractors? It is an incredibly challenging question. The emerging contractor will really struggle to deliver RA and it appears, to me, to be an unintended

consequence of these specifications coming out of roads agencies that they exclude the emerging contractors. Realistically, when you balance the benefits of specifying RA against the cost of doing so, I am not sure it is the right thing for South Africa right now. I also find it counterproductive that RA is being used as the bottom layer, when materials of such high quality belong on the top layer.

Wouldn’t the rural road building and road repair segment be a logical space in which emerging contractors can compete and flourish? The problem there is that we are not seeing the wood for the trees. There is such a huge demand for new roads and maintaining old roads (which are a huge national asset) but we are failing in both areas, with an unbalanced focus on our highways. Rural road building and general maintenance are simply not getting the attention they need, which seems contradictor y in terms of national development goals, and enterprise development generally. At this point, I support a backto-basics approach, in which all we need to ask ourselves is: what is going to work and what is best for our country?

What is Ammann SA’s answer to that question? Our capacity for skills transfer and knowledge sharing positions us an ideal partner to smaller contractors and we are always on the lookout for opportunities in this sector of the market. I also want to partner with communities – providing skills, sustained support, and equipment – to help them build their own futures, literally and figuratively.

How would such a partnership be realised? We were recently invited by a district municipality to give a presentation and draft a proposal on how we would participate in a road building civils project. The greatest community benefit is achieved when community members participate directly in building the road, with a company like Ammann SA supplying the equipment and transferring skills and knowledge, and offering support. The community would co-own the equipment with a third-party funder, who would ultimately be bought out by the community through its contract with the municipality. Again, realistic standards and policies based on practical needs and benefits are

essential. Municipalities do not need to build superhighways; these communities will benefit greatly if the roads they need are also the roads they can build. Because we have the skills and expertise required at all levels – from engineering roads all the way through to the machines that make them – we have the ability to transfer all the knowledge and skills a community would require to succeed, as well as the support and backing of Ammann’s global knowledge pool. In this type of structure, these underdeveloped communities are, in fact, using methods and technologies coming from some of the best road-makers in the world.

A very optimistic yet practical vision; how would you like to see Africa’s future? We believe that engaging our communities in their own future is critical in Africa, and the time for it is now.

www.ammann-group.com

IMIESA October 2015

IMESA conference 2015 social events

GrandWest Hotel and Casino 27 OCTOBER 2015

28 - 30 OCTOBER 2015

OPENING FUNCTION SPONSORED BY ILISO CONSULTING

COMPANION PROGRAMME

• GrandWest Hotel and Casino: Networking with exhibitors, other delegates and colleagues • Starts at 18:30 for 19:00

GOLF DAY SPONSORED BY i@CONSULTING • Bellville Golf Club – Shotgun start four ball alliance Starts at 11:30

• Wed 28 Oct to Fri 30 Oct – for spouses to enjoy while partners are at the conference – Kalk Bay with lunch at Brass Bell – Rhodes Memorial – Franschhoek – Chocolate factory – Shopping

• Prize-giving at 17:30

29 OCTOBER 2015 GALA EVENING – SHIMMY’S BEACH CLUB (NAUTICAL THEME) • Ocean front dining, with its breath taking backdrop of Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain; join us for a spectacular fun filled evening of delicious food and entertainment. • Starts at 18:30 for 19:00

Delegates attending FULL Conference: Opening Function and Gala Evening included in full delegate fee. To book any of these social events call Debbie 031 266 3263 or email: conference@imesa.org.za

IMESA ORGANISER THE INSTITUTE OF MUNICIPAL ENGINEERING OF SOUTHERN AFRICA (IMESA)

t +27 (031) 266 3263 email conference@imesa.org.za

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE

Consulting Engineers | Finance | Civil Engineering Contractors

GAUTRAIN Integrating public transport networks

INDUSTRY

INSIGHT TAKING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY

P44

Dinesh Chaithoo, Director, BMK Engineering Consultants

P48

in the

HOT SEAT

It pays to support the payment of small business and co-operatives

If you have been battling to get paid for services rendered or goods provided to the Public Sector, don’t despair. We’re here to help. Contact the Seda Public Sector SMME Payment Assistance Hotline on 0860 766 3729 during the week between 06h00 and 18h00, fax us: 086 680 2113 or email us: smme@eohco.co.za. Provide us with a purchase order number, invoice number, invoice amount and the Department involved and you’ll see that IT PAYS TO PLAY BY THE BOOK.

TOG ETHER AD VA NCIN G S M AL L ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE | INTRODUCTION

Meeting the challenge together The South African government has acknowledged the essential role of its private sector partners in accelerating infrastructure development; significant reforms to the regulations, policies, and systems that define this critical relationship are receiving top priority.

N NATIONAL TREASURY'S 2015 Public Sector Supply Chain Management Review, it was observed that the South African public sector spent R500 billion on goods, services, and construction works. “These supported and enabled the delivery of services to the country’s residents. This is an enormous amount of money. Wisely and efficiently spent, it can be a great force for good. It can ensure that those in need receive services, that infrastructure such as roads and ports is built and maintained, that schools are well equipped, and that health services are widely available. It can also spread wealth to hard-working entrepreneurs who successfully tender for government contracts and, in doing so, create jobs. Even those not directly involved in the public sector supply chain can benefit, as suppliers to government source their supplies and materials from manufacturers, farmers, and many others,” states the report. The report continues to examine the major obstacles to achieving an efficient and productive relationship between the public and private sectors, and proposed several remedies: “It is well known that public sector supply-chain management (SCM) in South Africa is imperfect. There are constant allegations of corruption and inefficiency. Service delivery protests are a sign that people feel that they are not receiving the quantity or quality of services they need. Schools sometimes open at the start of the year without learner support materials. An efficient and intelligent public sector SCM system can help to overcome these problems,” the report continues.

Building relationships As both the essential means of boosting short-term economic activity and the catalyst for sustainable growth, National Treasury notes that without radically improving its functional ability to benefit from private sector services, vehicles, and equipment, the economic picture of the country is bleak. From facilitating transactions to building supplier bases, the report emphasised the value of building its relationship with its private sector partners. “Building relationships with the private sector will enable manufacturers and other service providers to understand government’s current and future purchasing needs so that they can plan accordingly. It will also increase officials’ knowledge and understanding of the goods and services available, and which suppliers can be depended on to provide the best quality and value. This should help with managing risks and costs, and lead to mutual understanding between the public and private sectors to the benefit of all.” With the majority of infrastructure projects realised at municipal level, IMIESA invited key private sector partners to profile their ability to optimise public sector infrastructure spend.

IMIESA October 2015

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE | COVER STORY

Catalyst to an integrated public transport Gautrain is a long-term economic growth project that focuses on growing Gauteng’s economy through infrastructure development. The project is committed to sustainable development and social upliftment, through integration of transport, the environment, the economy, and society as a whole.

AUTRAIN IS life-changing" was a comment given by one of the first passengers when opening the route between Johannesburg and Pretoria on 2 August 2011. This is exactly what the Gauteng provincial government’s vision is with Gautrain. It stands for the sustainable, socio-economic, political, cultural, and environmental development of the province – a lifestyle change. An important part of that vision is the freedom of movement for citizens through an integrated, sustainable, world-class public transport system. Gautrain represents a critical step in the realisation of that vision.

Changing the way we travel With urban space being a limited resource impacting quality of life for all those living and working in a city region, efficient land use, to which public transport such as Gautrain contributes, produces results far beyond the immediate benefit of increased use of public transport. This has the potential to significantly change the way we live and travel,

reducing our individual carbon footprints while preserving and enhancing our mobility. It further encourages people to have a more active, healthy lifestyle, particularly if they are walking or cycling to their stations. The success of Gautrain expands far beyond the thousands of passengers who rely on the system daily as a quick, green, and safe mode of transport. The biggest impact of Gautrain has been the lives of families that have improved as the project provided thousands of jobs and brought new streams of revenue to small businesses. The project has also made a significant contribution to the transferring of skills to local people, as South Africans work alongside their global counterparts. RIGHT One of Gautrain’s fleet of modern, low-entrance, and lowemission buses BELOW Travel patterns and demand levels on the Gautrain are closely and continuously monitored and a number of system capacity enhancements have been implemented to the system

Integrated public transport Gautrain is not competing with other modes of public transport, such as taxis and buses, which all have an important role to play in the total transport system. The service comprises of a fleet of modern low-entrance and low-emission buses with comfortable seating, providing feeder and distribution services to and from the Gautrain stations. The municipal bus rapid transit (BRT) services are also integrated with Gautrain at some of the Gautrain stations. Commuters, therefore, do not have to experience the same frustrations

IMIESA October 2015

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE | COVER STORY

ABOVE Once the upgrading has been completed, Gautrain passengers with a contactless Gold Card will have the choice of topping up their cards online or with a smartphone

Gautrain station platform at the O.R. Tambo International Airport.

Contactless Gold Card and delays as motorists â&#x20AC;&#x201C; e.g. escalating traffic congestion. Travel patterns and demand levels on the Gautrain are closely and continuously monitored and a number of system capacity enhancements have been implemented to the system. These enhancements include the addition of eight-car trains during peak times; the introduction of slightly earlier and later trains between Sandton and the Airport; the planned enhancement of the current automatic fare collection system with the key focus on interoperability; regulatory compliance; and the extension of the

Once the upgrading has been completed, Gautrain passengers with a contactless Gold Card will have the choice of topping up their cards online or with a mobile smart phone. Furthermore, users will also be able to access the Gautrain services with their local or international bank issued contactless credit and debit cards that are compliant with the Europay/MasterCard and Visa standards. The upgrade will cover the entire Gautrain network, including train stations, buses, and parking. With the proposed upgrades, most of the recently implemented BRT ticketing systems in Gauteng will also be accepted by Gautrain services.

The additional functionalities will be implemented in phases and are planned to be fully operational in 2017. The project will be rolled out progressively, starting with a pilot on the East/West link between O.R. Tambo International Airport and Sandton. Thereafter, a full system implementation will take place. The extension of the Gautrain station platform at the O.R. Tambo International Airport is another enhancement, which is currently in its construction phase, and the anticipated completion date is mid-2016. Upon completion, passengers will be able to embark or disembark from a full four-car train set, which, at present, is limited to two cars.

www.gautrain.co.za | 0800 4288 7246

IMIESA October 2015

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE | MUNICIPAL ENGINEERING

IMESA Northern Provinces Branch Seminar and AGM

The IMESA Northern Provinces Branch Seminar and AGM took place on 28 August 2014 in the Council Chambers of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality. BY BEATRIX KNOPJES

ERNER BRUHNS, engineering consultant at the City of Tshwane and chairman of IMESA’s Northern Provinces branch, hosted the event, which was sponsored by Integrity. The day began with the seminar, which consisted of six engaging presentations. These provided insight into a broad area of disciplines, from permeable paving and stormwater management, all the way through to technological innovations in automated detection of road surface distresses. Bruhns, who is serving his second term as branch chairman, says that this annual seminar is open to all IMESA members and colleagues in the infrastructure and engineering industries. “We welcome members and non-members to attend the seminar, which features presentations from a wide range of categories of interest to the industry.” “This is the seventh year that we have hosted the seminar with our AGM. It is a knowledge-sharing exercise, showcasing noteworthy projects and the latest technology,” explains Bruhns. The branch has experienced a 30% growth in membership over the last two terms. “I am excited about the growth in the branch,” enthuses Bruhns. “While the growth is encouraging, we want to be represented in each municipality in our area by members of our branch, especially in local municipalities.”

IMIESA October 2015

Permeable paving Presented by Wietsche Jacobs Increasing urbanisation and rapid run-off have put tremendous strain on conventional stormwater drainage systems. This has resulted in sewers and culverts becoming overloaded during periods of heavy rain, and streams and rivers becoming contaminated. Sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) prevent run-off and flooding by

Atlasville Spruit in March 2015, after construction of the reshaped channel

collecting and cleaning stormwater. Heavy rain infiltrates through a permeable blockpaved sur face into a unique sub-base before being released, in a controlled manner, into stormwater systems and/or watercourses. There are three basic designs: 1. Full Infiltration: Infiltrate the water directly on to a suitable subgrade using a system underlined with a per vious geotextile. 2. Tanked: Attenuate and store water for reuse. 3. Par t Infiltration: Attenuate and release the controlled water into the main drainage system.

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE | MUNICIPAL ENGINEERING

The completed Mthatha Airport in June 2013, when it was officially reopened by the DoT

The compacted sub-base has a voids ratio of approximately 30%, which allows stormwater to be attenuated within the system and released, in a controlled manner, over a period of time. If the underlying subgrade is suitable, water can be infiltrated directly into it. Approximately 30% of water entering the system is lost through evaporation and does not leave in the form of exit water.

Visual surveying platform (VPS) for the automated detection of road surface distresses Presented by Tumelo Motloutsi Road distresses such as potholes can have a negative economic and social impact. The timeous detection and identification of potholes could expedite the maintenance and repair of potholes. The research team previously investigated and reported on the VPS, which is a system that automatically detects and geotags potholes, with a detection accuracy of approximately 82%. At this level of accuracy, errors consisting largely of false positives could result in repair teams responding to non-existent potholes. In order to incorporate the detection system into the existing workflow of one of the municipalities in the Gauteng area, the detection accuracy needed to be improved. The research team modified the system to include a ‘human-in-the-loop’ mode of operation, where the detection system performs a more suggestive function.

The mobile detection system automatically detects potholes in real time and presents the detections to an operator for validation. The validated detections are then introduced into the operational workflow of the maintenance and repair teams. The human-in-the-loop system and the operational workflow are described in detail in this paper.

Atlasville Flood Relief Scheme Presented by Stuart Dunsmore Incremental catchment development has placed strain on the stormwater systems of the suburb of Atlasville in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. Severe flooding since 2006 has led to pressure by the community to push the municipality for a solution. The area at risk was originally a wetland, drained in the early 1980s for township development. The resulting stream corridor offered some parkland value, but the stream itself was an excavated drain with limited habitat value and was difficult to maintain. Furthermore, a large number of properties adjacent to the corridor were in the floodplain, which continued to grow as upstream development expanded and channel conditions deteriorated. The resulting scheme, currently in its second and final phase of construction, employed green infrastructure principles to achieve flood relief and a number of other ser vices such as habitat creation and

recreation value, with reports of improved property value along the corridor. This case study will give a brief overview of the scheme and design criteria, and will explore some of the challenges in implementing green infrastructure solutions over the more standard grey infrastructure scheme. It will also look at the potential of a scheme of this nature to provide a measure of rehabilitation in an urban environment, water resource benefits, and support for climate adaptation, as well as some of the engineering decisions that influenced the landscaping aspects.

Mthatha Airport Construction Presented by Dr Emile Horak This presentation highlighted the challenges of upgrading the runways of the Mthatha Airport in preparation for Nelson Mandela’s funeral. Working under secrecy and potentially tight deadlines, construction faced many design and procurement challenges. The then Minister of Defence, Lindiwe Sisulu, offered the project the chance to be implemented through her Department of National Defence. Ndodana Consulting Engineers had considerable airport design and construction experience in South Africa, thus making them ideally suited to oversee the project. This large roads project offered use of tendered rates via a supplementary agreement as an innovative fast-track contractual mechanism.

IMIESA October 2015

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE | INDUSTRY INSIGHT

Dinesh Chaithoo, Director of BMK Engineering Consultants, explains how a keen understanding of the impact of civil engineering infrastructure assists local authorities and the private sector in driving socio-economic growth.

Taking social responsibility

seriously

Please elaborate on a recent project undertaken by BMK Engineering Consultants. DC BMK was commissioned by the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) to visually inspect and audit the conditions of all stormwater assets (stormwater manholes, kerb inlets, channels, culverts, etc.) on the surface, as well as laser-inspect/audit the internal conditions of these assets using CCTV inspections within the City of Johannesburg. This provided support for the protection of community assets through well-considered maintenance and renewal strategies aimed at furthering the objective of sustainable infrastructure services delivery. Stormwater asset management is the process of decision-making, planning, and controlling the acquisition, use, safeguarding, and disposal of stormwater assets to maximise their service delivery potential and benefits, and to minimise their related risks and costs over their entire life. The nature of the visual and laser inspection/ audit was to determine the full extent of assets owned by the City of Johannesburg, as well as to indicate the need for remedial works to these assets. The inspections were carried out throughout all regions within the City of Johannesburg (Table 1). With the daunting task of capturing and assessing these assets on a very tight time frame, BMK had to streamline current asset management processes and explore new tech-

IMIESA October 2015

nologies during the execution of the works. Stormwater asset management requires a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on knowledge from disciplines such as management and social sciences, engineering, and accounting. Key aspects addressed for stormwater asset management include: • service delivery efficiency and improvement • long-term sustainability and risk management • per formance monitoring and accountability • community interaction and transparent processes • priority development of minimum basic services for all • provision of financial support from central government in addressing the needs of the poor.

Can you tell us more about the work you are doing with the JRA to build pedestrian bridges? Bridges play an important part in our daily lives, as they are essential components of urban and rural transportation between different populations. The abovementioned pedestrian bridges have a direct impact in the transportation of people from one suburb to another.

How does BMK Engineering Consultants

assist municipalities in implementing effective asset management strategies? Infrastructure assets, coupled with community facilities, are complex by nature and require robust management practices. Municipalities are challenged with planning activities around the asset life cycle, such as forecasting future levels of service and demand needs, analysing the gap between the current capability of the assets and that needed to meet future demands, as well as developing a works programme to close the gap. Asset management – towards making sustainable improvements in ser vice deliver y – requires: • sound knowledge • characteristics • estimated lives • capacity and utilisation • cost characteristics • risk exposure • safety requirements.

What are some of the design challenges you faced with these pedestrian bridges and how were these overcome?

The Kaalfontein and Diepsloot pedestrian bridges cross a stream. During adverse weather conditions, flooding occurs and people are left stranded. The Slovo Park and Klipspruit West pedestrian bridges are situated over an existing railway line. Pedestrian accidents along the rail lines, which had been utilised as easy access between the two suburbs, had been reported. Safety in design has led BMK to create and foster innovative solutions in linking the communities to enable harmonious living.

Concerns are emerging over the deterioration of existing infrastructure and the sustainability of the new infrastructure being built, as municipalities pursue the eradication of backlogs in basic services. The problem is worst at municipalities where revenues are under pressure due to large indigent populations, poor debt collection performance, or both. BMK has assisted municipalities by providing professional engineering services. BMK understands that infrastructure asset management is the cornerstone of social upliftment, public health, and safety, and is essential to achieve the increased levels of economic growth through job creation and the establishment of well-serviced areas conducive for economic investment.

How do the planning and design of roads contribute to the integration and efficiency of our public transport network? This is a topic that requires constant interaction between key stakeholders in the transport industry. Some of the key focal points, in my opinion, are: • The integration of different modes of transport to ensure focused utilisation of state funds and the efficient provision of passenger transport services, through the development of transport infrastructure, would enable public transportation to move more efficiently. This would inadvertently bring passengers to as

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE | INDUSTRY INSIGHT

close as 2 km of access to public transport networks. • It should become mandator y for major towns to include plans for multimodal transpor t systems/infrastructure in their spatial development frameworks. • The use of rail passenger services must be promoted and public transport facilities improved. • Intermodal facilities must be constructed. • The scrapping of old and unsafe taxis must be accelerated. • Taxi cooperatives should be established to ensure the taxi industry is self-sustaining. • The number of driver testing facilities should be increased in order to reduce the number of unlicensed drivers on our roads and the backlogs at our testing stations.

What areas will receive the most attention in infrastructure development for both the public and private sector in the following year? Transport infrastructure holds the potential to stimulate economic development while, at the same time, representing substantial investment in people – jobs are created, entrepreneurs developed, and training and skills transfer are ensured. There has to be a strategic shift towards a better balance between road and rail development in both freight

TABLE 1 City of Johannesburg (Regions A to G)

Region A Region B

Region C Region D Region E Region F Region G

Diepsloot, Kya Sands, Dainfern, Midrand, Lanseria, Fourways Randburg, Rosebank, Emmarentia, Greenside, Melville, Mayfair, Northcliffe, Parktown, Parktown North Roodepoort, Constatia Kloof,m Northgate, Florida, Bram Fisherville Doorkop, Soweto, Dobsonville, Protea Glen Alexandra, Wynberg, Sandton, Orange Grove, Houghton Inner City, Johannesburg South Orange Farm, Weilers Farm, Ennerdale, Lenasia, Eldorado Park, Protea South

and passenger transport. There should also be a shift in making rail transport more attractive while imposing and enforcing strict controls on road transport.

What factors do you take into account in planning, design, implementation, management, and maintenance of transport infrastructure? BMK’s consideration for transpor t infrastructure includes, but is not limited to: • road safety • security • economic viability • accessibility and mobility of people and freight • environment • integration and connectivity of the transport system, across and between modes for people and freight • management and operation

• emphasis on the preser vation of existing transportation systems.

BMK Engineering Consultants has a strong focus on skills transfer and capacity building. Why is this important and how is it accomplished? BMK promotes capacity building and skills transfer. BMK provides the opportunity to empower both local labour and young professionals, and has structured a training programme – including career-specific mentorship – for all staff to develop their skills and maintain the quality of work carried out.

What are the advantages of taking a labourintensive approach in project implementation? BMK understands that there are needs of specific communities,

women, youth, disabled, and the marginalised that require participation in developmental activities. During project implementation, the labour-intensive approach creates jobs and stimulates economic development within communities. The labour-intensive approach creates positive attitudes within society and people view projects positively. This helps to bring economic stability.

What do you measure the success of your corporate social investment (CSI) against? Taking social responsibility seriously, in order to make a sustainable contribution to development and economic growth, is important when considering CSI impact. BMK’s measure of success includes an enhanced corporate image, improved employee morale, stabilising the social and economic environment, and – most importantly – being seen as a good corporate citizen. IMIESA October 2015

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE

Rolls of steel plate

he Engineering Council of South Afr ica (ECSA) is a statutor y body established in terms of the Engineering Profession Act, 2000 (Act No. 46 of 2000) (EPA). This Act superseded the Acts of 1990 and 1968 and progressively extended ECSA’s scope beyond the original purpose, namely to regulate Professional Engineers. ECSA and its predecessor have thus regulated engineering practice for more than 40 years. ECSA exists as a regulatory body for the profession of engineering because while engineering activity is essential and beneficial to society and the economy, substantial risks to health, safety and environment accompany it and must be managed by competent professionals. In addition, engineering services must be of high quality in the interests of economy and the public’s safety. With these objectives in mind, the EPA requires and empowers ECSA to perform the following functions: • Establish an engineering standards generating body (ESGB) and develop standards for engineering education and professional competency. • Visit education providers to evaluate and accredit programmes that meet the requirements toward registration in each of the categories. • Register persons in professional categories who demonstrate competency against the standards for the categories. • Evaluate educational qualifications not already accredited or recognised. • Register persons who meet educational requirements in candidate categories. • Establish specified categories of registration to m e e t h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y l i c e n s i n g requirements and register persons in these categories.

IMIESA October 2015

• Require registered persons to renew registration at inter vals and under conditions that the council prescribes. • Enter into international agreements for the recognition of educational programmes and registration. • Develop and maintain a code of conduct supported, where necessary, by codes of practice. • Investigate complaints of improper conduct against registered persons and conduct enquiries and impose sanctions as each case requires. • Annually publish guideline professional fees and scope of work. • Recognise voluntary associations (VAs). • Recommend to the Council for the Built Environment (CBE) the type of engineering work that may be performed by persons registered in any category. In addition, ECSA is empowered to advise government and other parties, and to take necessary steps to protect the public interest, health and safety, improve standards of engineering services, create awareness of the need to protect the environment and conduct research. ROLE OF REGISTRATION Registration of engineering practitioners as professionals or candidates in the categories of engineer, Technologist, technician, cer tificated engineers, and specified categories is a key function of ECSA which is embedded in the Engineering Profession Act (No.46 of 2000). Currently the number of professional, candidate and specified category registrations with ECSA exceeds 40 000. Engineering solutions are necessary for the delivery of infrastructure, goods and services. Because engineering involves

exploiting and controlling natural forces and complex systems and processes, the attainment of solutions is accompanied by risks. Mitigation of these risks requires

Cyril Gamede ECSA President

C y r i l G a m e d e i s t h e Pr e s i d e n t of ECSA and the CEO of Umgeni Water. He was appointed in July 2012. Gamede holds a Mechanical Engineering degree, a master’s in Mechanical/Industrial Engineering as well as an MBA from the University of Cape Town.

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE

Powerlines Koeberg nuclear powerstation

competent and accountable engineering professionals. The registration system has been established by law to ensure this competence and accountability.

Adrian Peters ECSA Vice President

Adrian Peters is the Vice President of ECSA and was appointed in July 2012. Peters is a registered professional e n g i n e e r a n d E C S Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s C o u n c i l m e m b e r). H e hol d s a B S c Ci v i l Engineering degree from University of Natal (now UKZN) as well as an MBA from the University of Wales.

Registration provides public recognition that the registered person has, through e d u c ati o n, tr a i n i n g a n d ex p e r i e n c e, demonstrated competence at an established level. It signals to the public, employers and peers that the person has not only demonstrated competency, but is bound by a Code of Conduct, is accountable for professional conduct and committed to maintaining his or her competency. Titles attached to categories of registration and their abbreviations, for example Professional Engineer (Pr Eng), are legally protected, and it is therefore a criminal of fence for an unregistered person to use them. The intention of the EPA is to require registration for the responsible performance of id e ntif ie d f u nctions. T he re a re, in addition, a number of instances in which registration in particular categories is required by other legislation, for example the National Building Regulations, the Pressurised Equipment Regulations and the Water Act. Engineering is a global activity, with services and technology being exchanged across national boundaries. The standards of engineering education and professional competence are therefore benchmarked internationally. At the educational level, ECSA is a signatory to the Washington, Sydney and Dublin Accords (respectively for the education of engineers, engineering technologists and engineering technicians). These agreements, in addition to periodically verifying ECSAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standards and accreditation processes, also provide for mutual recognition of graduates among the signatories. Registration with ECSA and membership of a VA are complementary. The VA promotes the interests of the discipline and its members and provides services such as continuing professional development.

Call centre: 011 607 9587/9502/9571/9554 Tel: 011 607 9500 Fax: 011 622 9295 Email: engineer@ecsa.co.za Web: www.ecsa.co.za Postal: Private Bag X691, Bruma, 2026 Physical: 1st Floor Waterview Corner, Bruma Office Park 2 Ernest Oppenheimer Ave, Bruma, Johannesburg

IMIESA October 2015

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE | HOT SEAT

South African Forum

of Civil Engineering Contractors What conclusions can be drawn about the challenges generally facing members in the current environment, and what are the priority issues to be tackled right now?

Webster Mfebe, CEO of the South African Forum of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC), discusses some of the challenges and possible solutions for the construction industry in this Partners in Infrastructure Hot Seat.

IMIESA October 2015

WM The industry has been treading water since the heydays of huge spend on the 2010 FIFA World Cup infrastructure, with nil or negative growth once inflation is factored in. From 2009 to 2014, profit margins in the construction industry have been on a downward spiral, averaging a dismal 0.6% in 2014. Industr y transformation is another challenge. In order to develop large black-owned and -managed construction companies, we need a sustained stream of work and greater investment in infrastructure and other capital projects. Projects are brought to market prematurely, with the scope of work being poorly defined, missing a number of regulatory and other approvals, and with little stakeholder consultation and participation. This leads to significant cost and time overruns. Of great concern is the need for alignment between projects put out to tender and the actual tenders awarded. The industry has seen at least a 40%

deterioration in the conversion ratio (tenders converted to projects) in this year. A major cause for many construction companies going out of business is a lack of prompt payment for certified work and services delivered, thereby dissipating the capacity of the South African construction industry. The delay in government’s infrastructure expenditure on critical economic infrastructure – including energy, water, and roads construction – poses a serious challenge for not only suppliers to the industry but also to the economy as a whole.

What would boost confidence levels in the industry and does South Africa have the right people in place to do so? A sustainable and transparent project pipeline that would allow companies to plan 6 to 12 months ahead would greatly assist in increasing confidence levels, as would proper, detailed tender enquiries that minimise cost and time overruns. Reducing the trust deficit between the public and the private sector – through continuous, structured, honest, and open engagement on matters

affecting infrastructure delivery in South Africa – is key to boosting general confidence. It is our considered opinion that the private sector has the technical capacity and capability to undertake infrastructure delivery in South Africa, including megaprojects, as evidenced by the world-class 2010 FIFA World Cup stadium projects, the Gautrain project, and the more recent energy projects such as Medupi and Kusile. There is, however, a need to develop the state’s technical capacity to better understand and oversee complex projects. This would go a long way towards ensuring quicker decision-making in the roll-out of projects.

How would an increase in tenders from public sector be achieved and what needs to happen to realise this? Government – national, provincial, and local – and state-owned enterprises are the primary sources of work opportunities for the civil engineering industry. It is apparent that the traditional, single-stage mode of tendering is not delivering the required results, due to a lack of capacity and expertise and a fixation on the lowest tender price.

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE | HOT SEAT

We need to explore other means of project delivery – design and build, lump sum, framework contracts, and early and continuous contractor involvement during the planning, execution, and maintenance stages of infrastructure projects. Far greater emphasis needs to be placed on collaborative relationships across the entire construction supply chain.

Is there a risk in relying on infrastructure agencies to deliver projects that should be in the domain of local government? Local government is where the biggest lack of project management skills lies. There are a number of initiatives that have been put in place and implementing agencies, such as the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the Independent Development Trust, have been appointed to assist in project deliver y. However, the simple ability to budget and plan a project properly is often missing, condemning the project to failure before it has even started.

How can the industry itself shore up its fortunes? It cannot do so on its own. We need to understand that it is only when we work collectively and collaboratively, as a unified team – employer, contractor, and designer – that we will turn the industr y around. Also of great importance is

for the established sector to ensure a mutually beneficial partnership between itself and emerging contractors, so that they, too, can rise through the ranks in order to increase the capacity of the South African civil engineering industry as a whole.

Emerging contractors should be a powerful target of enterprise development and job creation. Why does this seem to be a limited area of attention in the public sector? Enterprise development is a major component of any public sector tender. However, if there is no continuity of work, the process is bound to fail. While targeting local employment and enterprises ensures that the local community has the benefit of a significant part of the project expenditure, we have to start anew on the next project, and the next. We, therefore, need to seriously address the sustainability of emerging contractors, in order to ensure that they are not limited to the projects in their localities and that newly developed skills do not stagnate and get buried in the local graveyard once a project has ended in that particular locality.

Are there particular adjustments to public policy, legislation, and tender specifications and criteria that could

unlock the potential of emerging contractors? We need to revisit the PFMA (Public Finance Management Act) and MFMA (Municipal Finance Management Act), which make competitive bidding compulsory in government’s appointment of contractors, other than in emergency situations. Early contractor involvement well in advance of any start on-site can lead to significant cost savings and allow for a greater role for emerging contractors. There is a need to review the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act regulations in a manner that does not disadvantage the emerging sector, and this must be conducted in a transparent and inclusive process.

How are your members contributing to the development of new contractors, and what support is SAFCEC providing? SAFCEC has developed a highly successful enterprise development programme, where large and small companies are linked in a mentor-mentee relationship to transfer business skills. The model takes into account the individual developing company’s capacity and needs, in order to enable independent operations at their maximum potential level. SAFCEC’s Diamond Academy offers a variety of highly interactive workshops specifically aimed at the developing contractor. The Diamond Academy's main objective is to present a high-level

learning programme aimed to assist the business manager/ owner of a developing company to run his/her business, as well as to increase business skills and knowledge.

Is the mentorship of younger professionals strong enough in South Africa? SAFCEC members run their own mentorship programmes. The civil engineering industry offers significant oppor tunities to young graduates and professionals. However, it is a fact that civil engineering projects often take place in remote locations, which requires a great deal of sacrifice on the part of these young professionals. If they are able to stick it out, the civil engineering industry offers a rewarding and stimulating career.

Are there any developments, which have taken place or are on the horizon, that could shape the industry and change the outlook for the coming year? Much depends on the roll-out of certain Strategic Integrated Projects, in terms of the National Infrastructure Plan, and the speed with which the municipalities roll out their infrastructure build programmes.

www.safcec.org.za

IMIESA October 2015

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE | CONSULTING ENGINEERING

Building sustainability into a complex project Sasol Mining’s Impumelelo Shaft Project is a highly complex and multifaceted engineering accomplishment that brilliantly highlights the RSV EncoHatch Goba coal joint venture’s commitment to excellence in sustainable engineering solutions.

NE OF THE more complex, multifaceted projects featured in this year’s CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards is Sasol Mining’s Impumelelo Shaft Project – a new 8.5 Mtpa (expandable to 10.5 Mtpa) replacement coal mine complex to its Brandspruit mine, located in the Secunda area of Mpumalanga. Sasol Mining appointed the RSV EncoHatch Goba JV as the engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) consultant, which brought together expertise in materials handling, civil engineering design, mechanical, electrical, shaft sinking, project management, procurement, construction management, and coal mining. The 62-month, R4.6 billion multidisciplinary, greenfield project had an integrated management team at its helm. “The constructed project demonstrates our commitment to sustainable engineering solutions,”

IMIESA October 2015

Kevin Seyfried, AEM mining director at Hatch The JV’s multidisciplinary team had to Goba, comments. interface between the Sasol project team, Specialised package managers were responthe Sasol Mining team, and the Sasol Coal sible for total delivery within their areas of Supply team, which would ultimately run responsibility. “These the entire operation package managers, in and, therefore, had CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURE • Main access road to Impumelelo and their own right, were to be brought up upgrade of 22 km of district road responsible for subto speed with the • An initial 542 covered and 436 future projects – such as technical scope of parking bays infrastructure, minthe project. • Bus/taxi rank and traffic circle at ing, and the materiA techno-economImpumelelo entrance • Brake test ramp als handling system ic review of the • Bins and waste handling – all valued at more project’s feasibil• Fuel and oil storage than R1 billion each,” ity was completed • Wash bay and drop holes Seyfried points out. by the JV in June • Explosives off-loading bay The basic engineer2009, followed by • Cable trenches/ducts ing design packages a detailed engiensured suitability, functionality, constructaneering design phase from July 2009 to bility, operability, and maintainability of the December 2010. Construction began in new mining infrastructure and associated June 2011. Phase 1 construction was materials handling system. All the systems completed in June 2015, with Phase 2 were designed to be energy efficient and scheduled for completion in June 2019. optimised within strict coal degradation and Upon completion, the Impumelelo mine spillage tolerances. will have 13 production seams, with a total shaft depth of 235 m.

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE | CONSULTING ENGINEERING

OPPOSITE PAGE Construction works at Impumelelo FAR RIGHT The Impumelelo mine complex layout during construction RIGHT The Impumelelo overland conveyor and power line BOTTOM RIGHT Impumelelo at night

The project scope entailed the design and development of the complete greenfield mine complex. Therefore, special consideration had to be paid to the buildup of the new operation, in conjunction with the phasing out of the existing coal mining operation. The current Brandspruit mine reser ves are nearing depletion and the new Impumelelo mine will extend the supply of coal to Sasol’s Synfuels complex. It was to be designed and constructed such that it could accommodate the first production section in October 2014, with 13 continuous miner sections and six stonework sections.

Civil infrastructure Civil infrastructure included the Swaeltjie bridge across the Water val River, a roadover-river bridge consisting of four spans (3 x 35 m and 1 x 25 m), totalling 130 m. The substructure consists of reinforced concrete and is founded on a combination of piles and spread footings. The superstructure consists of precast, prestressed U12 beams, made continuous for live load by a cast in situ deck slab and diaphragms. During construction, a temporar y river diversion was made to enable the casting of the centre abutment. Concrete augured piles with an 800 mm diameter were cast in situ through the river bed, to a maximum depth of 15 m, in order to support the new bridge.

SCOPE OF IMPUMELELO EPCM CONTRACT

• Infrastructure (>R1 billion capex) • Site establishment and temporary site infrastructure • Buildings and structures • Water management systems (potable, service, storm, fire, etc.) • HT and LT electrical power distribution systems • Electronic and data systems (control, communication, instrumentation, information management systems, etc.) • Sewer and waste management systems • Support utilities • Shaft systems, including men and material shaft, ventilation shaft, and a decline shaft (>R1 billion capex) • 8.5 Mtpa coal mine development and deployment • Coal materials handling system (>R1 billion capex) • Cable trenches/ducts

27 km conveyor Surge bunker The underground surge bunker beneath 4 Seam provides surge capacity as well as a constant flow of 2 900 tph to the incline conveyor. The live capacity is 1 500 t, aimed at controlling surges during peak production and to feed on to the incline conveyor via vibrating feeders. A double vibrating feeder arrangement will regulate the flow of coal on to the single incline conveyor. The underground surge bunker will still be completed by the client in future.

The longest single-flight overland conveyor in the Southern Hemisphere was constructed on this project. It has a length of 27 125 m and a design capacity of 2 400 tph. Four underground trunk conveyors provide the coal feed from section conveyor belts to the underground surge bunker, with a maximum design capacity of 3 600 tph.

Three shafts Three shafts had to be sunk – two vertical and one decline – to a depth of 240 m, with

the decline being 1 060 m in length. Both vertical shafts were sunk to 4 Seam only and the decline shaft to the 2 Seam coal horizon.

Coal bunker A coal bunker 11.7 m in diameter will be established between the 4 and 2 Seam horizons. Reser ves of 2 Seam were excluded in the shaft area and subdeclines will be developed from the 4 Seam coal horizon at a later stage to establish the necessar y infrastructure on the 2 Seam coal horizon.

IMIESA October 2015

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE | CONSULTING ENGINEERING

Impumelelo's 15 000 tonne bunker and overland conveyor

ELECTRICAL, CONTROL, AND INSTRUMENTATION • 28 km of 132 kV overhead line and 24-core fibre-optic cable • Brandspruit Substation 5213 feed from 11 kV Brandspruit Substation 5000 • Transfer Point Substation 5215 • Impumelelo Bunker Substation 5214 • 11 kV SCS Substation 5216 • Process control network • 11 kV Underground Substation reticulation via boreholes • Incline Substation • Ventilation Substation No. 1 • Power factor correction • High-mast lighting in sensitive areas • 1 000 V distribution • Earthing and bonding

Infrastructure In addition, the scope of works comprised all suppor ting infrastructure, such as a change-house, offices, and workshops; fibre-optics and roads; power and water supply; and sewage treatment. The geographical area of the project extended over 27 km. A 4 000 t coal bunker was constructed at one end (km 27), with the overland conveyor infrastructure at mid-station (km 18). A 15 000 t coal bunker was constructed at the other end (km 0), together with the various ancillar y buildings, dams, and the actual shaft-sinking.

Community involvement The project created significant opportunities for local community involvement, in that local contractors and labour were used wherever possible. There were about 1 300 workers on-site during the construction period up to April 2015, with a peak of 2 122 in November 2013. The project clocked over 13 million man hours. The Impumelelo Shaft Project at Brandspruit mine was one of two commendations received by Hatch Goba in the categor y of ‘Projects with a value in excess of R250 million’ at the CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards 2015, held at the Vodafone Arena on the evening of Wednesday 12 August. Present at the awards banquet were Kobus Louw, Johan Duvenhage, and Willem van den Heever (all from Sasol Mining); Conrad Stark (Hatch Goba); and Alan Wingrove (RSV Enco). “This was a multibillion-rand project with many innovations and several challenges, delivered within the capital budget and, safely, adhering to environmental requirements and dealing with community issues,” Seyfried concludes. Impumelelo forms part of a larger replacement project that will transform the Secunda area into one of the largest underground coal complexes in the world, with total extractable run-of-mine reser ves estimated at 1.3 billion tonnes. In terms of the overall project, Thubelisha will replace Twistdraai and Impumelelo will replace Brandspruit, while Middelbult will be expanded by Shondoni. Hatch Goba’s mining capability ranges from dewatering, infrastructure, shaft sinking, and materials handling systems to hoisting headgear design and dynamic simulation or operational modelling across all of these areas.

IMIESA October 2015

The Preferred and Strategic Practitioners in the Provision of Sustainable Human Settlements

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Roads and Stormwater Bulk Water and Sewage Installations Water and Sewage Reticulation Networks EPWP Projects Structures and Buildings (Facilities) Sport and Recreational Facilities Solid Waste Projects

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Community Centres Multi-Disciplinary Project Management Labour Intensive Projects Township Establishment and Housing Projects Railway Engineering Services Mining Infrastructure Projects

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Lekwa Consulting Engineers

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ALBERTON - Gauteng 118 Hennie Alberts Street | Brackenhurst P.O Box 145851 | Bracken Garden | 1452 Tel: +27 (0)11 868 2494 Fax: +27 (0)11 868 1348 E-mail: lekwainfo@civilnet.co.za

ERMELO - Mpumalanga 67 Fourie Street | Ermelo P. O Box 1903 | Ermelo | 2350 Tel: +27 (0)17 819 1985 Fax: +27 (0)17 819 4017 E-mail: lekwa@civilnet.co.za

NEWCASTLE - KwaZulu Natal 34 Paterson Street | Newcastle PO Box 27 | Newcastle | 2490 Tel: +27 (0)34 315 3232 Fax: +27 (0)86 668 7533 E-mail: lekwainfo@civilnet.co.za

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE | PROFILE

A commitment to

excellence Founded in 1989, GLS Consultingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business to date has focused on water and sewer system modelling and master planning.

HESE SERVICES INCLUDE impor tant aspects that form the basis for long-term investment planning in water and sewer system operation and management, such as water quality modelling, risk-based pipeline assessment and replacement prioritisation analysis, water demand management studies, and water-sensitive urban design. GLS operates from a single office in Stellenbosch, South Africa, serving more than 30 municipalities, including five metros, and is the undisputed leader in its market.

Combining resources In August 2013, GLS became a fully owned business unit of the South Africa-listed company EOH. The joining of EOH provides a great opportunity for both growth and a broadening of services provided by GLS, even outside of South Africa. This is due to several factors, largely related to the ability to provide clients with the service as part of a total multidisciplinary service not only pertaining to engineering, but also IT systems, financial planning, and general strategic support. The strong support provided by EOH also allows GLS to embark on larger contracts and initiatives than before. Becoming part of a truly South African industry leader, being exposed to new, highly skilled and experienced people, has been an invigorating experience for GLS and the company is looking forward to new opportunities growing from its existing, strong platform. As an example, the collaboration opportunities created by this situation have resulted in

TOP Graphically represented hydraulic models and plan books created in an easy-to-use format MIDDLE Customer information provides the manager with knowledge of the system and puts him in the position to provide high-level customer care RIGHT The pipe replacement prioritisation ranking is based on risk assessment

IMIESA October 2015

GLS operates from a single office in Stellenbosch, South Africa, serving more than 30 municipalities, includingÂ five metros, and is the undisputed leader in its market

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE | PROFILE

GLS now being able to, in addition to its and world-leading pipe inspection service services provided in the water sector, also provider Pure Technologies. Through Pure provide the full range of services related to Technologies, GLS now has clients in optimal planning and South East Asia, the EXPERT ADVICE operation in the field USA, and Mexico. In GLS’s commitment to excellence of electricity supthe Netherlands, GLS’s is reflected in the employment of ply. These ser vices ser vices and softhighly skilled people, with over half include evaluating the ware technology have the staff having obtained tertiary impact on electricity been applied in assoqualifications, four of them holding PhDs, and twelve either holding demand and related ciation with the Dutch or in the process of completing revenue due to varicompany Quasset. masters degrees. With more than ous factors, such as 50 staff members working for the Perpetual learning local generation. company, financial and mentoring GLS also has a prosupport is provided at all levels Exclusive gramme of continuous of advanced education. Over and above this, continuous high-level licence research, development, training is provided to staff on The level of expertise and improvement of the sophisticated technology and provided by GLS has skills and technolmethodologies applied by GLS. The attracted clients from ogy, which allows for software training courses provided by across the globe. An state-of-the-ar t and GLS are CPD accredited, so trainees can obtain CPD points. exclusive licence for cost-efficient ser vice the application of to customers. Over the all GLS’s software technology and seryears, GLS has managed to maintain a vices outside of Africa and Western Europe strong position in the market, with large was obtained by Canada-listed company growth potential in its niche. This has

GLS also has a programme of continuous research, development, and improvement of skills been accomplished through its ability to apply internationally competitive software supported by a very high level of expertise and experience. All of GLS’s projects are per formed against a strictly controlled and detailed scope of works and quality control processes. It delivers its services via a structure whereby the client is the responsibility of a specific team, with only a small percentage of the team’s time being taken up by other projects. This results in an ‘always available and informed’ support service to clients, with priority given to the long-term relationships shared with long-standing customers, some of which have lasted over 23 years. IMIESA October 2015

OUR CLIENTS Johannesburg Water City of Tshwane City of Cape Town Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality Buffalo City Emfuleni Municipality All the municipalities in the Western Cape Province Randfontein LM Midvaal LM Lesedi LM Renosterberg LM Ubuntu LM Emthanjeni LM Siya Themba LM

IMIESA October 2015

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE | CONTRACTORS

One of the few sectors not yet contracting, the construction industry is showing extremely marginal growth. What do the power constraints, weakening rand, and recent drama on the international bourses have in store? BY LIESL FRANKSON

HE SOUTH AFRICAN Forum of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC) recently released its second quarter report, the 'State of South African Civil Engineering', increasing its focus on developing trends within small, medium, and large enterprises; the aim of the report is to provide practical, implementable insights. Investment in the construction sector slowed this year to an annualised increase of 0.85% in the first quarter, from 3.5% in the previous quarter, which was an unadjusted increase of 1.9%. Similarly, compensation for employees in the construction industry increased by 5.7% in current prices, compared with an average increase of 7.7% across all sectors. This negative trend is one that was felt by the industry and reflected in the opinions of respondents in questions related to work conditions, tempo of work activity, competition for tenders, profitability, and prices. The net percentage of respondents who were satisfied with working conditions in the current quarter remained in deep negative territory, when compared to the fourth quarter of 2014, but improved from a level of -95 to -71, with close to 70% of firms reporting quiet conditions. Concerning the next quarter, only 9% of contractors expect satisfactory conditions, with the majority of firms expecting negative conditions to continue.

Competition, profitability, and tender activity Competition for tenders has reportedly eased somewhat during 2014, SAFCEC reports. While the number of contractors that reported more than 25 bids per tender increased to 4.6% in the previous survey, it slowed to 2.1% in the current survey. The majority of firms reported competition of between 5 and 10 bids per

IMIESA October 2015

A tender time for civil contractors tender. Tender prices remain under pressure with only 2.3% of respondents saying tender prices were reasonable. In terms of profitability, only 11.6% of firms reported satisfactory levels of profitability, while close to 90% of respondents reported low to very low profitability. According to 39% of firms, the developing trend in profit margins is receding, supported mainly by a more dismal outlook on profitability expressed by the larger firms. Only 13% expect an improvement, the bulk of which are smaller firms. While current business conditions are clearly more depressed, affecting tender prices and profitability, the more negative outlook in terms of order books suggests these difficult times are likely to continue or get progressively worse. SAFCEC describes tender activity as a crucial indicator in determining the state of the industry. As a first warning of the potential volume of work, the confidence reflected by companies regarding this indicator is crucial and often deviates from the actual physical number of tenders during a period. “Most firms continued to express their dissatisfaction with tender volumes. The net satisfaction rate remained at extremely low levels over the past six surveys.” The number of tenders published for civil works fell by 26% YoY in the first quarter of 2015, compared with the same period in 2014, following the 22% and 21% decreases reported during the previous two surveys. Compared to 2011, tender activity has fallen by 42%. Contractors remained negative in terms of the awarding of contractors, with the net percentage satisfaction rate deteriorating to -61.3 in the first quarter from -40.3 in the previous quarter. Close to 80% (76.9%) reported low value of contracts awarded in the current quarter. The net satisfaction rate has been in negative territory

since 2013, and is unlikely to recover in the medium term. “According to the value of projects awarded in the first quarter of 2015, conditions are not as depressed as reported by contractors. “The real value of civil contracts awarded increased by 12% YoY, in the first quarter of 2015, versus a 33% contraction in the value of building contracts awarded. This translates to an overall contraction of 15% in the value of all construction projects – building and civil – awarded.”

Issues affecting confidence levels in the industry The civil engineering confidence index relates to the overall business outlook among the companies within the industry. Levels below the 50 mark indicate pessimism, indicates total negativity, and 100 indicates absolute optimism. Culminating all the other indicators already discussed, the nett satisfaction rate deteriorated to -92.0 in the second quarter of 2015, from -70.0 and -64.0 in the previous two surveys. The current trend surpasses even the negative sentiment expressed by contractors in the slowdown that followed in 2009. There are a number of key issues affecting the current confidence levels in the industry. One of these is the slow roll-out of public sector infrastructure projects aggravated by cuts in projected infrastructure expenditure allocations, which were announced in the 2015/16 budget. According to SAFCEC, these include the delays to implement the targets as set out in the National Development Plan and this has resulted in negative growth projected over the medium-term expenditure framework period (2015/16 to 2017/18).

PARTNERS IN INFRASTRUCTURE | CONTRACTORS Skills shortages in procurement, which also include government’s ability to implement proper project planning and implementation, pose another challenge. In this regard, SAFCEC believes it is also critical to shorten the delay between tender and awards, which could take as long as one year. According to SAFCEC, metropolitans spent less than 30% of their capital budgets by the end of the second quarter 2014/15, which has also affected confidence levels. “Another concern is that client bodies seem to be interfering with the role and responsibility of the designated engineer or principal agent.” Low confidence in the mining sector is delaying private capital expenditure and continued labour unrest is affecting economic performance as well as critical project execution. Payment is becoming a more serious concern; while payment delays should, in theory, not exceed 30 days, there has also been an increase in the number of disputes reported. Payment delays may also be linked to certification disputes.

What to expect in 2015 and 2016 According to SAFCEC, there is more of a muted outlook for public sector expenditure on infrastructure in the next three years, following a downward adjustment in growth estimates, as announced in the 2015/16 budget. Growth is projected to average 0.5%, in nominal terms, over the three-year forecast period. Public sector infrastructure, as a percentage of GDP, is targeted to reach 10% by 2030, and is projected to fall back to 5.4% by 2017/18.

“Weak economic growth, and possible further downward revisions to GDP growth for this year will further erode funds allocated for infrastructure expenditure,” SAFCEC notes. There are several risks to the economy following the views expressed by credit rating agencies on South Africa’s ability to manage its current account deficit and electricity crisis. South Africa is further faced with the conundrum that close to 40% of bonds are held by foreigners, increasing our vulnerability to currency volatility and worsening the impact of a further credit rating downgrade. According to the report, the pending interest rate hike, expected to be announced by the United States Federal Reserve in the next 6 to 12 months, will have a negative impact on the currency unless South Africa also raises interest rates. Another issue to look out for is the delay of infrastructure programmes run by state-owned enterprises. Financial constraints such as tariff increases are deemed insufficient for financing pipeline projects. “As Medupi and Kusile near completion, there are no new pipeline projects ready for roll-out by Eskom to fill the void in the next three years. Implementation of renewable energy projects identified in the third and fourth window may be delayed, as Eskom struggles to connect existing renewable projects to the grid.” Private sector confidence remains elusive, not sufficient to stimulate renewed investment growth. This, combined with policy uncertainty and labour tensions in the mining sector, will continue to delay much needed infrastructure spending.

Developments that could shape the industry Despite the negative outlook, there are a number of developments in the country that could shape the industry for the better. The promulgation of the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Act by the Minister of Trade and Industry will add further incentive for the private sector to partake in infrastructure development earmarked by the SEZ. Several recently announced large residential developments could support growth across numerous engineering and construction sectors. SAFCEC reports that even housing developments announced by government should consider the impact on the surrounding infrastructure and take adequate measures to ensure the infrastructure can cope with the anticipated increase in demand. With greater focus on water and sanitation, as water resources are quickly drying up, SAFCEC believes it is likely that additional funding will be allocated towards water resource management and infrastructure. This will be challenging, as water expenditure (excluding wastewater management) in metropolitan councils is currently around 9% of total expenditure (or R17.5 billion), according to the 2014/15 revenue and expenditure report. Furthermore, the Water Services Operating and Transfer Subsidy (WSOS) grant was noted as the lowest performing grant, as reported by municipalities in the first two quarters of the 2014/15 financial period. Another factor that is set to make an impact on the industry is the development of the e-tender system, which will make tender information more accessible. IMIESA October 2015

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LEADING LOCAL

GOVERNMENT Municipality in focus: Steve Tshwete

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LEADING LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Back to basics National government has adopted a ‘back-to-basics’ policy to redress service delivery. Steve Tshwete Local Municipality in Mpumalanga, under the political leadership of executive mayor Mike Masina, has taken this to heart.

S THE SPHERE of government closest to the people, local government is the vanguard in the battle against inequality and poverty. The heroes of local government – the mayors, municipal managers, and other municipal personnel – who diligently serve their communities, need to be celebrated loudly, and repeatedly. Alongside this, local government requires bold leadership that not only rights past wrongs and solves present problems, but also looks forward to envision a future that is better than today. Information and communication technology (ICT) is the means through which local governments will dramatically improve and streamline their administrative capacity. Accountability, good governance, and effective service delivery sometimes seem to be part of an unobtainable utopia, as South Africans deal with the challenges of a corrupt and incompetent government daily. It is with great pride that IMIESA presents to you this Leading Local Government division, with a specific focus on the almost miraculous effectiveness of Steve Tshwete Local Municipality (STLM). Achieving effective local government is not easy: this special focus examines some key projects in STLM as well as the challenges faced in those projects and how they were overcome. These challenges are common across South Africa – e.g. growing populations, unemployment, economic uncertainty, and the occasional absconded contractor. STLM places special emphasis on clear communication with its citizens, through regular ward meetings, newsletters, and SMS. This open channel of communication develops a relationship between government and the people, and fosters an environment that is conducive to better service delivery. Middelburg, situated in STLM, won the 2015 kykNET Kwêla Town of the Year Competition. The significance of this is that a voting poll is held to determine the winner. The overwhelming support of Middelburg’s residents, to vote their municipality into the lead, points to the potential of proactive governance. IMIESA October 2015

LEADING LOCAL GOVERNMENT | COVER STORY

Unlocking

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Fit-for-purpose solutions Robust, smart, and fit-for-purpose technology solutions, rather than being out-of-the-box products, are an architecture comprised of existing technologies, new technologies, and careful structuring that goes beyond the functionalities required of them. They also need to function in the reality of the environment they are designed for. “There are a great many wonderful technologies that would be magnificent for South Africa to have but, in many instances, the current infrastructure is not yet able to support them,” Maharaj elucidates. Indra’s approach to all its systems development is predicated on the comprehensive feasibility studies it conducts to precisely establish its client needs, the infrastructure currently in place, the broader environment in which it exists, and the likely capabilities of any external systems it needs to interact with. The strategy that is then developed in consultation with its clients places integration of all elements at its core. “Development is not always as carefully thought through as it could be. It does not always take the bigger picture into account,” explains Maharaj. “For each project we take on, we conduct our own feasibility studies, so that we are fully able to determine how well our solution will work and prevent the procurement of unnecessary and expensive technology that is ill-suited to the client’s needs. “For technology to truly be smart, a proactive stance needs to be taken. This is meaningless if

IMIESA October 2015

JARESH MAHARAJ

Jaresh Maharaj has a remarkable pedigree of delivering highly sophisticated ICT systems for essential services across the public and private sectors. His achievements have delivered broad impacts, and include delivering the turnaround strategy for the Department of Home Affairs, which resulted in the reduction of time to deliver ID books from 186 days to 27 days, and passports from six months to 10 days. His leadership in ICT has been felt in public administration, mining, security and telecommunications, delivering systems, networks and enterprise architecture, impacting the lives of millions.

When Indra Technology South Africa appointed Jaresh Maharaj as its CEO earlier this year, it could not have found a more qualified candidate to realise the the client does not know how to integration of its offering, values, take full advantage of these serand its approach to the multiple vices,” says Maharaj. “We invite potential clients to see the techrealities and needs of the nologies we have to assist them in South African and regional situ,” explains Maharaj, underscoring Indra’s emphasis on demonstration over markets. explanation. “But, we go further than that; we insist that they also speak to our customers’ customers, as it is their user experience that is the ultimate test,” he emphasises.

Economies of scale for local municipalities “Indra enables local municipalities to provide services themselves, instead of relying on national government, by starting small and building on what is available,” explains Maharaj. “If a client does not have the means or budget to integrate this technology, it can be done piecemeal. It is possible to start with a decentralised approach and work towards a centralised one.” Indra takes this a step further by enabling shared services across municipalities. By sharing services across neighbouring municipalities, local municipalities can considerably drive down

costs. Through the consolidation and automation of routine tasks, municipalities obtain economies of scale and lower transaction costs. This pooling of resources allows local municipalities to provide more effective and efficient services, leading to significantly increased customer satisfaction. To optimise services, the strategies being used by local municipalities need to be evaluated and improved upon. These need to take into consideration long-term maintenance, billing, monitoring, asset management, as well as user-friendliness. The technology South Africa invests in must be the right fit. “It is imperative that the public sector has a reference point for our capability,” Maharaj explains. “We will demonstrate what we can do, over a period of time, with examples of total cost

LEADING LOCAL GOVERNMENT | COVER STORY

to easily change service providers, such as banks, if they are unsatisfied with the service they receive. “Consumers need to be able to choose affordability and quality.” Indra’s technology abundantly supports creating a healthy, competitive market based on quality and freedom of choice.

ABOUT INDRA

Developing local Indra is Spain's leading consulting and competency technology multinational, with a dominant The integrated development footprint in both Europe and Latin America. Its proprietary solutions are the critical enablers of the of smart technologies operations and management of essential services and of ownership and how often upgrades have is in its infancy in South systems fundamental to the existence and progress of large been necessary. Our references speak for Africa, which is why Indra corporate, municipal, provincial, and national government themselves and we welcome the opportunity is focused on developentities. Indra Technology South Africa has been active in South to demonstrate this.” ing local competency. Africa since 2012, primarily in the defence sector. Intrinsic to the day-to-day functioning, well-being, and “Creating local compedevelopment of more than 100 million customers and citizens, Holistic service management tency is the only way to Indra’s technical and operational expertise, abilities, and The critical steps that any utility needs to take create a supported intecapacities are unmatched. to manage services holistically must include grated, environment to enaIndra builds its innovations around existing technological communication and ble the interaction between frameworks in order to offer premium solutions INDRA’S AREAS interaction with countries, companies, and to leading clients. Indra does not just sell new technology to replace the old, the company is an OF OPERATION clients or citizens. citizens in an efficient manner; are expert in integration and optimising Energy and water “Communication is the impact of this level of integraexisting systems. Transport and traffic different to simply tion on economic growth is so great Finance and telecommunications monitoring signals. it is a lever no modern government can Public administration and health care It is the intelligent ignore,” emphasises Maharaj. Defence and security use of data, interMaharaj has chosen to work with local profesthe many bridges that exist acting with it, understanding it, and identifying sional services companies and contractors as before that becomes a reality, with complete potential gaps in the system. The means and the most efficient approach to achieving local integration as the guiding light. methodologies to act on signals needs to be in competency as rapidly as possible. “We are South African challenge place – without that, data is just data.” connected with a multitude of local BBBEE comSouth Africa’s developmental needs have to Correctly implemented technology provides panies. We have the solution, while local combe assessed by proper feasibility studies. a plethora of options to consumers, who need panies have the professionals. We utilise local The public sector can most definitely function to be properly informed about their practical resources to achieve collaboration and synergy.” better through sound technology investments. implications. “It is not enough to simply indiDeveloping a continent Another challenge is the silos that exist cate to a consumer that their energy consumpAfrica is a developing continent with many between services. The amount of red tape this tion is high; the information needs to empower challenges, but also many opportunities to has generated for domestic and business custhe consumer in a way that is actionable implement systems that have already been tomers stifles the development. Development and contributes directly to reducing demand,” streamlined in other, more developed markets. is stifled when services exist in silos without explains Maharaj. “One of the ways this can be Using South Africa as a starting point, Indra sharing and collaboration. Sharing and collaboachieved is by providing a list of possible appliwill develop integration solutions through partration of different services and departments ances that will actually reduce the amperage nership with different local government entities automatically reduces the burden of ‘red tape’ drawn by the customer when switched off.” and then sell those finished products in Africa. on business, and dramatically speeds up the Managing customer expectations is also “This way, we do not saturate the market or pace of development. By streamlining service important, and making them aware that emerprovide unnecessary solutions,” says Maharaj. delivery, governments are able to stimulate gency services and life-saving domestic mediIndra is optimistic in Africa and supports the the economy by freeing up resources and putcal appliances will never be compromised is approach to systems development that actually ting them to better use. imperative during times of insecurity, which works for it in the present, while being flexible South African consumers now have the South Africa is currently facing. “But, the enough to accommodate future developments freedom of the National Credit Authority who greatest benefits of any such system can only and new functionalities. And, in this regard, assists and better manages service providbe realised through the complete integration South Africa is the hub for the rest of Africa. ers. Technology allows customers to move of technologies and systems,” he emphabetween service providers, and pushes the sises. “Smart devices are now commonplace market to fight for customer share comand, in theory, should be the single platform petitively. By improving service levels and for all essential services: from banking, to providing customers with flexibility, prices are home security, to managing utilities accounts driven down. According to Maharaj, there is and consumption,” ventures Maharaj, with a www.indracompany.com no reason why customers should not be able reminder that, first, it is a case of crossing

IMIESA October 2015

LEADING LOCAL GOVERNMENT | HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

Eliminating shacks

HE IDENTIFICATION AND acquisition of well-located land, adequate access to municipal ser vices, and the establishment of social and economic amenities have been key principles in this process. These continue to guide the initiatives of the municipality to facilitate restructuring; address the mismatch between demand and supply of different state-assisted housing typologies; ensure the alignment of housing deliver y and human settlements development, spatial planning, infrastructure investment, land-use planning, and management; and improve transportation systems and social ser vices provision. The municipality’s development and deliver y of sustainable human settlements over the past three financial years is detailed below.

Title deeds In all the projects listed above, ever y effort has been undertaken to ensure that the houses handed over to the beneficiaries are registered and transferred to their names, because the title deeds give the

SUCCESS FACTORS

beneficiaries a sense of pride, security, and ownership. As part of the ongoing process to register and transfer the ownership of properties to eligible households, 1 026 title deeds were handed over to the beneficiaries in June 2015. It is envisaged that close to 7 000 title deeds will be handed over to beneficiar y communities by the end of the 2015/16 financial year.

Public awareness and community education campaign The successful implementation of human settlements projects is attributed to, among others, the collaboration and cooperation of politicians and municipal officials – whereby the council approves projects and the budget – and dissemination of projects information via ward committee meetings and project steering committee meetings. These include public awareness and community education interactive workshops, press releases, as well as the unreser ved enforcement of the informal settlements by laws to prevent any

The efficient and effective function of the administration is attributed to, inter alia: • streamlined beneficiary administration and project management systems and procedures • implementation of a credible housing needs register, no ‘queue jumping’ allowed • enforcement of the informal settlements by-laws to prevent unlawful occupation of land earmarked for housing developments • interactive consumer education workshops • establishment of steering committees for every project • establishment of an administration monitoring committee • establishment of a political monitoring committee • involvement of ward committees • no diffusion of roles and responsibilities between officials and politicians • recruitment and appointment of competent and suitably qualified officials • zero tolerance for maladministration and corruption • clean audits • mayoral outreach programme.

IMIESA October 2015

Steve Tshwete Local Municipality actively participates in the development of integrated and sustainable human settlements. The municipality aims to entirely eradicate informal settlements and has taken great strides in doing so in partnership with local mining houses.

LEADING LOCAL GOVERNMENT | HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

TABLE 1 Provincial-government-subsidised houses: 2012/13 financial year

Folio 1 2 3 4 5 6 Total subsidies

Area Rockdale Tokologo Somaphepha Village Mhluzi Ext 4,5 & 6 Tokologo Mhluzi Ext 7 & 8

Number of subsidies 50 161 100 100 20 100 531

Housing programme IRDP IRDP Informal settlements Informal settlements Rectification Rectification Total budget

Project value R2 732 500.00 R8 798 650.00 R5 465 000.00 R5 465 000.00 R1 093 000.00 R3 785 562.00 R27 339 712.00

TABLE 2 Provincial-government-subsidised houses: 2013/14 financial year

Folio Area 1 Rockdale 2 Rockdale Total subsidies

Number of subsidies 500 350 850

Housing programme IRDP Informal settlements Total budget

Project value R32 333 000.00 R22 633 100.00 R54 966 100.00

TABLE 3 Mining-sector-sponsored houses: 2013/14 financial year

Folio 1 2 3

Area Rockdale, Mhluzi Ext 4&5 Sikhululiwe Village Rockdale

Total subsidies

Number of subsidies Housing programme 100 SLP (Shanduka) 83 200 383

SLP (Exxaro) Resettlement (Glencore) Total budget

Project value R7 400 000.00 R7 055 000.00 R52 400 000.00 R66 855 000.00

TABLE 4 Pending human settlements projects: 2014/15 financial year

Folio 1 2 3 4 Total subsidies

Area Rockdale Rockdale Rockdale Rockdale

Number of subsidies 100 100 15 50 265

Housing programme IRDP Informal settlements Military veterans SLP (BHP Billiton) Total budget

Project value R11 094 700.00 R11 094 700.00 R2 833 260.00 R9 900 000.00 R34 922 660.00

IMIESA October 2015

LEADING LOCAL GOVERNMENT | HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

unlawful occupation of land earmarked for housing and human settlements development. By keeping the public informed at all times, STLM is better able to manage expectations and prevent ser vice deliver y protests.

Intergovernmental relations The municipality sustains cordial and professional relations with the provincial and national spheres of government, whereby their roles and responsibilities – as outlined in the Housing Act No. 107 of 1997 – are executed and monitored through regular reporting and meetings.

Private sector involvement and participation The involvement of the private sector organisations, especially mining companies operating in the Steve Tshwete areas of jurisdiction, contribute a great deal to the development and deliver y of housing and socio-economic opportunities to promote the development of sustainable human settlements.

Limiting factors There has been a mismatch between demand and supply of housing opportunities and the establishment of sustainable

human settlements, due to budgetar y constraints. Additionally, the scarcity of suitable land for human settlements development has hampered development.

Plans for 2015/16 and beyond The municipality aims to expand the provision of human settlements. These plans are to: • develop a rental management policy and strategy • develop an informal settlement upgrading policy and strategy • develop an informal settlement upgrading programme • develop a community capacity building programme • p romote the implementation of the Finance-Linked Individual Subsidy Programme for the R3 500 to R15 000 monthly income group households.

Achievements Steve Tshwete Local Municipality was awarded the Govan Mbeki Award for Best Accredited Municipality: Level 2 in Mpumalanga for the past three financial years. The municipality has not experienced ser vice deliver y protests from the community regarding housing.

IMIESA October 2015

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LEADING LOCAL GOVERNMENT | HOT SEAT

Driven by vision Mike Masina, executive mayor of Steve Tshwete Local Municipality (STLM), takes the Hot Seat in this month’s IMIESA special feature to discuss how the local municipality has achieved phenomenal success on the basic principles of good governance.

What role does local government play for citizens?

What has contributed to STLM achieving a clean audit five years in a row?

MM Local government is the primary point of delivery and it is where most citizens interface with government. At STLM, we have taken the mandate to go ‘back to basics’ seriously. We aim to stick to the framework of the Integrated Development Plan (IDP). We do this through a carefully calculated budget, a focus on service delivery, and qualified staff with a deeply entrenched work ethic. We stay alert to our local government environment. In this way, we can prevent strikes caused by the unravelling of service delivery. We achieve this by respecting the roles and responsibilities of the different departments. For example, as the executive mayor of STLM – and its political leader – I do not try to unnecessarily involve myself in the duties of the city manager. We follow the correct chain of command.

I am very proud that we have achieved five consecutive clean audits, and this has been no accident. We have systems in place to enable the municipality to perform effectively, which are continually strengthened to remain excellent. We are strict about our payment and credit policies, uncompromising on the quality of our services, and pedantic about the accuracy of our billing systems. It is very important to have open channels of communication with residents, and we achieve this via SMS, ward meetings, and outreach meetings such as izimbizo. We have created a one-stop shop for service delivery, by take service delivery to the people. We have a newsletter with a weekly column from myself, in which I am able to communicate with residents and stakeholders. We have clearly clarified the roles and responsibilities within the municipality. As mayor,

IMIESA October 2015

I serve as the political head. The city manager serves as the head of administration – we do not confuse these two roles and, as such, do not create conflicting messages.

How have you been tackling the issue of human settlements? In each ward, we are focusing on delivery for human settlements. For example, in Rockdale 740, stands have been registered. In Ward 10 in Nasaret, we have created Extension 42, with 560 stands. We prioritise human settlements, not just houses. This includes other facilities such as school clinics and services such as water, sanitation, and electricity.

What challenges have you encountered in the maintenance and upgrading of existing infrastructure? One of our biggest challenges is dealing with the issue of ageing

ABOVE LEFT Mike Masina, executive mayor of Steve Tshwete Local Municipality ABOVE Arnot Power Station just outside Middelburg BELOW Rockdale housing development

infrastructure and avoiding pipe bursts and outages – historically, there has been a lack of planning ahead. Additionally, a R1.6 billion budget was adopted, in May, to upgrade and maintain infrastructure to cope with the influx of residents. The stormwater drainage is inadequate for the growth of the town. With 1 000 stands in Denese North being developed, this is something we urgently need to address. While we are doing well as a whole, we are not immune to challenges of unemployment. This is an important target for the municipality.

What measures are you taking against unemployment?

LEADING LOCAL GOVERNMENT | HOT SEAT

ABOVE STLM has done much work to improve the public spaces in its townships ABOVE RIGHT Members of a municipal skills-tranfer training programme

We felt that we were not fully taking advantage of our good governance in the past; so, in 2013/14, we took a measured decision to invite investors. I was fortunate enough to attend the Investment Summit in November last year. As a result, we will soon be seeing a massive investment from a steel pipe manufacturer in China – 10 000 jobs will be created. This will put a considerable dent in unemployment.

How is STLM building an alternative economy? It is a top priority for us to diversify our economic activity. We need to achieve financial stability in the face of concerns about mine closure and, as such, are expanding industry as much as possible to accommodate such a possibility. People are dependent on the mines for their livelihood. We are not oblivious to the economic decline, according to Stats SA. This has occurred in all areas: mining, agriculture, and manufacturing. Mines have a limited lifespan and we don’t want to be taken by surprise.

development in Ext. 8, Kwaza Additionally, we believe in corMahute. So far, I am satisfied porate governance: educated with our progress in meeting residents are residents who will the goals of the IDP. take their future seriously. To this end, we have implemented What is STLM doing to a bursary fund. Fighting crime ensure existing infrais only possible if education is structure is maintained? prioritised; this is not a core mandate but, for us, it is a high STLM has a population growth of roughly 5%, with 17.9% priority and part of how we take unemployment. In our budget care of our citizens. We canof R1.6 billion, R300 million not attract quality executives has been set aside for capital to the area without providing projects – the rest has been them with adequate schooling allocated to maintenance. for their children, not to menSome municipalities make tion quality doctors and other the mistake medical faciliSECTION 152 OF of investing ties. This is THE CONSTITUTION: in new capital how we will and do not build an alter Promote democracy factor in the native econoand accountability maintenance my – one that Sustainable service delivery Public participation and of that capiis not solely community involvement, tal. We strive dependent on stakeholder engagement to not make the mines – Safe, healthy environment that mistake by addressing in STLM. We development do not forget the old projects, holistically and planning ahead. as we believe it is better to What are some of the maintain them than to build major infrastructure denew ones. Local government is velopments in STLM? highly regulated. One of our goals is to completeIn order to maintain our high ly do away with informal settlestandards, we are committed ments; as such, the Newtown to dealing with unscheduled township has been established. electricity cuts within 4 hours, While this project got off to a and fixing potholes within rocky start, I am pleased to 36 hours. STLM is a clean municsay that it is now 60% comipality, and we provide garden plete. We have just started with refuse removal.

1 2 3 4

Can you tell us about STLM’s sustainability initiatives? We are working towards building a green economy; to achieve this, we have been working with ICLEI. ICLEI was founded in 1990 by 200 local governments from 43 countries, who convened for the first World Congress of Local Governments for a Sustainable Future at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Operations started in 1991 at the World Secretariat in Toronto, Canada, and the European Secretariat in Freiburg, Germany. ICLEI’s programmes and campaigns look beyond mere environmental aspects and embrace wider sustainability issues, entrenched in the idea that a single municipality has a significant impact.

Middelburg won the kykNET Kwêla Town of the Year 2015. How did you achieve this and what has it meant for you? The winners were announced at the end July. Residents had to vote for their town. I am grateful to residents for responding to the clarion call and standing behind the municipality. The unity shown by residents is a humbling testament to the municipality’s excellent track record.

IMIESA October 2015

LEADING LOCAL GOVERNMENT | ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Energy savings

for municipal buildings

T IS THE DUTY of municipalities to set an example through responsible energy use. Municipalities are accountable to this responsibility though their councils in a way that the private sector is not. As the public sector often generates power, supply efficiency is as important as demand-side efficiency. While the major areas of energy use in the public sector differ from municipality to municipality, they are, generally: • lighting – particularly of public areas • heating and cooling of buildings • construction of roads and buildings • sewage treatment and waste disposal • management of public facilities.

Strategies for saving energy in municipal buildings Although energy bills only represent, on average, 5.6% of a council’s budget, municipalities have an enormous capacity to influence energy efficiency on a local scale, and – most importantly – set an example to business and the community. According to Thabiso Chebase of the Building and Fleet Management Department at Steve Tshwete Local Municipality, “The municipality can influence up to 50% of local greenhouse gas emissions through direct emissions from waste or in the more general urban-planning issues of transport and energy efficiency.” Considerable savings can be achieved by choosing materials with low embodied energy, which is the energy consumed by all of the processes associated with the production of

IMIESA October 2015

buildings or infrastructure – from the acquisition of natural resources to product delivery. “This includes the mining and manufacturing of materials and equipment, the transport of the materials, and the administrative functions. The best way to achieve this is to utilise local, renewable energy supplies,” says Chebase. To meet this requirement, the municipality has fitted its buildings with LED lights, air-conditioning inverters, and motion detectors for the lighting in boardrooms and ablution facilities, among others. According to Chebase, “This retrofitting was done internally, and we did it without first measuring to establish how effective the upgrades would be. We are currently busy with an evaluation to determine how efficient we really are and to find ways to improve on this efficiency.”

Municipal facilities and services are often the largest energy users within a country and, as such, they are major purchasers of energyhungry equipment. Steve Tshwete Local Municipality has retrofitted its municipal buildings to increase energy efficiency. BY BEATRIX KNOPJES

Street lighting Street lighting can be the most energy-intensive service a municipality provides; so, there is significant scope for cost and energy savings by improving light efficiency. The quality of street lighting could be improved considerably and energy consumption at least halved, by a combination of: • more efficient lamps, e.g. metal halide, compact/tubular fluorescent • more efficient luminaries that incorporate reflector design, reduced light loss in the diffuser, and more accurate light distribution • efficient ballasts, such as ‘low loss’ or electronic ballasts

• more accurate control of lighting times, e.g. by using an electronic photo-switch.

Office equipment Printers and fax machines that have had the appropriate energy-saving features installed can cut electricity use by over 65%, thus saving on electrical costs. All electrical equipment should be turned off overnight or when it is not required on a regular basis. When purchasing photocopiers, it is worth comparing the rated volume with actual copying volume before purchase, so as to minimise wasted energy arising from the idle times.

LEADING LOCAL GOVERNMENT | ENERGY EFFICIENCY

OPPOSITE PAGE The Banquet Hall with indoor sport facilities, opened in 2013, was created to be a source of revenue and a community centre for the municipality RIGHT Daylight levels can reduce electrical lighting loads by up to 70% BOTTOM RIGHT Considerable savings can be achieved by choosing materials with low embodied energy, which is the energy consumed by all of the processes associated with the production of buildings or infrastructure

Desktop PCs should ideally be replaced by laptop computers, which require a tenth of the energy used by desktops. The extra cost of these machines can be recovered very quickly through energy savings.

Kitchen appliances and hot water systems Fridge location and maintenance are important in managing energy usage. In addition, buying an appropriately sized fridge and checking the energy labelling are important. A lower initial cost may not equate to lower

ongoing costs, if the energy efficiency is low. The installation of a solar hot water system with a booster may reduce hot water energy usage. Heating 200 â&#x201E;&#x201C; of hot water in an electric water heater uses about 6 kWh of electricity, and generates about 10 kg of greenhouse gases. Reducing heat losses from an electric storage water heater, by wrapping the tank with extra insulation, may save up to half a tonne of greenhouse gases. In addition, many boiling water units are oversized. In most cases, a 5 â&#x201E;&#x201C; unit is IMIESA October 2015

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NUMEROUS STRATEGIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR REDUCING INDOOR LIGHTING ENERGY CONSUMPTION, THESE INCLUDE:

• Operate lights only when required. Occupancy sensors mounted near doorways sense when a room is empty and automatically turn off the lights. • Use an efficient light source. Increasing daylight levels can reduce electrical lighting loads by up to 70%, provided that artificial lighting is controlled. Skylights are cost-effective and improve user satisfaction within the workplace. Compact fluorescent lights are more expensive but will reduce lighting bills by up to 80%. Traditional recessed fluorescent lamp fittings with acrylic plastic diffusers deliver about 50% of the light produced by the lamps. Regular maintenance programmes, including the cleaning of windows, offer the following advantages: • The light quality of the built environment is maintained. • The tendency to add more light fittings because of falling light levels will be avoided. Bulk lamp replacement facilities recycle through a special lamp crusher, while lamps that are replaced individually end up as landfill, where the mercury they contain contributes to environmental contamination. • Light-coloured walls, ceilings, and furnishings reflect more light to working areas, decreasing the need for artificial lighting to achieve the required luminance. The walls in many offices are painted with a light paint for this reason.

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adequate, as it can supply 40 cups of hot water and recover its temperature in a few minutes. Communal hot water systems should not be left on for 24 hours and over weekends. Installing a timer, so that hot water systems are turned on in the evening and off in the morning, would result in reduced electricity consumption and will repay the cost of purchase quite quickly. Wrapping geysers with geyser blankets will ensure that the water stays hot even when the power is off. The use of reflective surfaces, such as light-coloured roofs and parking lots, is another way to cool cities. Light-coloured surfaces reflect, rather than absorb, heat. The more solar radiation a surface absorbs, the hotter it gets; the more radiation it reflects, the cooler it stays. Cooler surfaces can be achieved with little or no additional costs. Strategically placed vegetation and the use of reflective surfaces will not only help cool buildings during summer months, but also lower energy bills by reducing energy use (a hot roof translates into much higher air-conditioning costs). This, in turn, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately improves air quality.

Education of users Education strategies can be implemented to inform municipal employees of ways to save energy in their departmental practices and adopt energy-saving behaviours in their use of office equipment. In a municipal workplace, there are numerous opportunities for saving energy. For example, inkjet printers can be used for draft printing; while laser printers produce higher-quality images, they use five to ten times more energy when printing and idling. Turning a photocopier off when not in use reduces its annual electricity use by over 60%. Making sure that computers, printers, fax machines, and photocopiers are turned off at the power point during periods of inactivity can further reduce electrical consumption. Ensuring that lights and air conditioners are switched off after work also contributes to energy savings.

IMIESA October 2015

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An impressive portfolio of expertise The company boasts an impressive por tfolio of exper tise, which includes the following: • Water and wastewater treatment Water and wastewater treatment facilities require substantial investment to ensure that national water resources remain adequate for a wide range of domestic, industrial and agricultural uses. • Civil engineering services and township development Township development requires that civil engineering infrastructures be designed and constructed to function reliably and economically while meeting regulator y requirements. • Water storage Water storage facilities are required to effectively store water and release it at the correct pressure and volumes for use by communities, agriculture, and industr y. • Water services development plans The Water Ser vices Act requires that ever y water ser vice authority ensures efficient, affordable, and sustainable water supply and sanitation ser vices in its area of jurisdiction and requires the compulsor y preparation of a Water Ser vices Development Plan to achieve these goals. • Flood-line determinations The company has extensive experience in determining flood lines and the compilation of Stormwater Management Plans. • S olid waste disposal Solid waste

BTW & Associates has more than 15 years' experience in the civil engineering consulting industry. The company’s expertise in a wide variety of fields has made it popular in both the public and private sectors in Southern Africa. SERVICES BTW PROVIDES

• Wastewater treatment • Solid waste disposal • Bulk civil engineering services • Water retaining structures • Flood-line analysis • Licence and permit applications for water, wastewater, and solid waste • Water services development plans • Water safety plans • Housing development • Townships and associated services • Structural design of steel and concrete structures • Environmental impact assessments • Networking with various specialists • Liaising with various government departments disposal and the management of these wastes are required to protect the environment against pollution. • Geotechnical investigations Geotechnical engineering forms an integral part of several of the other civil engineering disciplines. The company provides services for site investigations, foundation design, and material evaluations. • Environmental impact assessments BTW & Associates has the experience to conduct these assessments according to the required procedures and legislation. • Water-use licence applications The company is competent in the compilation of water licences for both water and wastewater treatment plants.

• Training material BTW & Associates is involved in the preparation of training material as well as the implementation of training programmes for operators of water and wastewater treatment works.

A continual quest for quality Due to the nature of the business, emphasis is placed on expertise, professionalism, and meeting client and regulatory requirements. As management and employees, the company is committed to continually improving the effectiveness of the Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2015). Ethics, commitment, integrity, responsibility, respect, and excellence form part of the foundation upon which the company is built. BTW & Associates and its personnel have been recognised by, and are members of, the following institutions and organisations: CESA, ECSA, SAICE, SACNASP, WISA, IMESA, NHBRC, IAIASA.

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IMIESA October 2015

LEADING LOCAL GOVERNMENT | WATER & WASTEWATER

Delivering quality water Steve Tshwete Local Municipality prides itself on the provision of quality water to its residents, at reasonable cost. The municipality has also been commended for its provision of free basic services to indigent residents. BY BEATRIX KNOPJES

HE TOWN OF Middelburg is supplied with water from the Middelburg Dam, which is situated on the Klein Olifants River and which, at present, offers a safe supply of 36 438 m3 per day. The region’s water is supplemented to fulfil the Middleberg Dam’s quota with water from the Usutu Vaal Scheme.

Boskrans Wastewater Treatment Works Boskrans Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW), which was officially put into use on 10 November 1977, is, at present, the largest Orbal activated sludge plant in South Africa, with an average dry weather flow of 30 000 m3 per day. The capacity of 30 000 m3/day was expected to be sufficient until 2010; however, the municipality has experienced considerable growth and, as such, the WWTW needed to be substantially upgraded. The municipality is also upgrading Boskrans WWTW to increase the design capacity and to meet Green Drop requirements. The aim of the project is to ensure the provision of new sanitation infrastructure while upgrading existing infrastructure. “The existing WWTW was built in the 1970s and was not designed for new trends in nutrient removal,” explains Mpho Makgatha, municipal engineer at STLM. Boskrans WWTW had experienced some challenges but, “Phase 1 is 96% complete and Phase 2 is in the design stage,” explains Makgatha. He elaborates that “the upgrading of Boskrans WWTW was necessary for us to achieve Green Drop status, and it affected our water-use licence. The WWTW was not able to satisfy the effluent quality standard. “The scope of the project includes building a new 45 MLD (million litres per day) biological nutrient removal (BNR) plant. Phase 1 will include a 20 MLD bioreactor and a 45 MLD capacity sludge handling facility,” he says. A unique feature of the new plant is that the BNR reactor can be operated in five different process configurations, depending on the quality of the incoming raw sewage. These process configurations are: • modified Ludzack Ettinger • UCT • modified UCT • JHB process • three-stage Phoredox. The scope of Phase 2 of the project includes a 25 MLD BNR reactor, new inlet works, and the refurbishment of the existing clarifiers, maturation pond, and chlorine contact tank.

IMIESA October 2015

LEADING LOCAL GOVERNMENT | WATER & WASTEWATER

OPOSITE PAGE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM The town of Middelburg is supplied with water from the Middelburg Dam An aerial view of Boskrans WWTW The Middelburg Dam is situated on the Klein Olifants River

Blue and Green Drop According to the municipalityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2014 Integrated Development Plan, access to water and sanitation remains fairly high in STLM. In 2012, the Blue Drop System awarded STLM a Blue Drop score of 97.35%, which ranked it first in the province. The municipality continues to manage drinking water within its area of jurisdiction with distinction. STLM was ranked second in terms of wastewater services in the Green Drop Report.

Provision of water and sanitation The municipality has provided communities with potable water and waterborne sanitation to households with access to water and

sewer networks. In the rural areas, water is supplied through boreholes and water tankers, and sanitation facilities are mainly biological toilets. The water systems are operated and maintained according to the Blue Drop water requirements of the Department of Water and Sanitation, and were assessed during February 2014 for the 2013/14 financial year. The municipality is currently preparing for the next Green Drop assessment but is experiencing a challenge with the Boskrans WWTW upgrade, which is behind schedule. Currently, 94% of STLM households have access to waterborne sanitation, while rural and farm dwellers have access to biological toilets or pit latrines.

The municipality is currently involved in retrofitting the municipal buildings to comply in terms of water conservation. As such, various buildings have been fitted with watersaving shower roses, water restrictors on basin taps, and sensor taps. Doornkop Multipurpose Centre has a borehole to conserve water. All toilet systems in the municipal building have been replaced with new water-saving flushing systems. Plumbing repairs and maintenance specialists are on call 24 hours a day. In addition, STLM has upgraded the ablution facility in Meyer Street, adjacent to the longdistance taxi rank, at a cost of R32 058. The project aimed to meet the growing needs of the community and is part of the ongoing capital programme to improve community facilities. It included the reconstruction of walls and the installation of showers, toilet facilities and

The municipality has provided communities with potable water and waterborne sanitation to households with access to water and sewer networks

Water conservation

IMIESA October 2015

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plumbing, plastering, wall and floor tiling, and repainting. The revamped facility has four toilets, including: a disabled toilet, in each of the male and female blocks; four ablution basins, including one in each of the disabled toilet facilities; as well as three urinals in the men’s block. The municipality provided the public with temporar y chemical toilet facilities until the project was completed. This formed part of the municipality’s mandate to ensure that all municipalowned buildings, leased properties, taxi ranks, and public ablution facilities are of a high standard, user-friendly, and accommodate persons with disabilities.

The municipality's implementation of free basic ser vices has been unique. It found an alternative to an indigent register, because such a register is ver y difficult to manage professionally. The municipality decided to make indigent status self-regulator y. Any household that manages with a 20 A circuit breaker qualifies as indigent. Indigent households receive the following free: • 10 kℓ of water/month • 50 kWh/month. It was also argued that indigent households should not pay any fixed charges; they are, therefore, exempt from paying all rates and taxes. Indigent households in Steve Tshwete Local Municipality still receive an account – on which the free ser vices are reflected.

IMIESA October 2015

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Improved service offerings Cory notes, however, that the company has improved its basket of service offerings for municipalities by introducing its newly patented water storage tank. We have responded to the need to also offer our government a patented water storage solution for lower volumes of water – up to 10 000 ℓ – as an alternative, durable, robust, and cost-effective solution, with minimal maintenance required,” says Cory, adding that the Roddy Tank is ideally suited for smaller villages, schools, and clinics in rural areas. The Roddy Tank is a sectional, round, galvanised water storage tank that offers 3 900 ℓ, 7 200 ℓ, and 10 000 ℓ capacities. However, if the client requires more than 10 000 ℓ – for example, if a village population grows and requires a bigger water storage tank – this patented system allows for the user to expand the capacity of the water storage tank. “There is, therefore, no need to replace the original water storage tank with a bigger water storage tank,” says Cory, adding that the Roddy Tank can remain on ground level or on a stand of 5 m or 10 m.

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Work on the civils structures on the N4 toll road project is on track. The upgrade project involves increasing the carrying capacity of an 18 km section of the toll road from east of the Rockdale interchange to just west of the Arnot interchange.

HE CONTRACT WAS awarded by Trans African Concessions (TRAC) to Murray and Robert Infrastructure. The contract’s scope of work includes the construction of a new bridge, the extension of an existing bridge, and the construction of six, large, in situ concrete culverts and associated drainage works. The civils structures will be constructed using a high-specification readymix concrete with a high cementitious content to ensure optimum durability. The readymix is being supplied from AfriSam’s Middelburg readymix plant, where the company installed a generator to ensure continuity of supply even under load-shedding conditions. Pierre van Vuuren, contracts manager at Murray & Roberts Infrastructure, who is responsible for civil works on the project, explains that consistency of supply was important and that the locality of the plant, as well as the competitive concrete solution offered, led to Afrisam being selected.

Cost-effective and durable The readymix being supplied by the company will create a more durable concrete with a decreased likelihood of concrete deterioration, and will also facilitate a more efficient use of labour as a result of the workability and easier placing and finishing. It also offers guaranteed early strength performance. In addition to being cost-effective, AfriSam’s enhanced durability mix designs meet all the durability specifications. The cement manufacturer is considered one of the leaders in Durability Index testing in South Africa and the mix design underwent special durability tests at AfriSam’s Centre of Product Excellence in Roodepoort. These

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tests included water sorptivity, chloride conductivity, and oxygen permeability, all of which are designed to assess the working life of the structures being built with this concrete solution. According to Mike McDonald, manager at AfriSam’s Centre of Product Excellence, the AfriSam enhanced durability mixes are easier to place and generate less heat of hydration, which prevents thermal cracking while reducing the CO2 footprint.

Working with water in mind Van Vuuren says that this contract is particularly challenging, as one of the culverts is being constructed at the entrance to the Middelburg Dam and a portion of the new bridge over the Klein Olifants River is being constructed in an area where there is a constant flow of water. Although the construction programme required that this culvert be constructed at the end of February, which theoretically marks the end of the major rainfall in the region, the catchment area had experienced a great deal of unseasonal rainfall and the water level in the dam was thus higher than anticipated. To facilitate the construction of the culvert, it was necessary to first build a large rock fill berm with a bentonite clay core on the northern or dam side of the culvert and then to dewater the area wherein the culvert was to be constructed. “The construction of the berm was exceptionally challenging for a number of reasons, but mostly as a result of the water level in the dam,” Van Vuuren says. Excavating the trenches to facilitate the placement of the bentonite presented

TOP Murray & Roberts Infrastructure’s scope of work includes the construction of a new bridge and the extension of an existing bridge. The entire bridge construction will require 2 000 m3 of concrete ABOVE To facilitate the construction of the dam culvert, it was necessary to first construct a large rockfill berm with a bentonite clay core on the northern or dam side of the culvert

challenges, particularly with respect to dealing with the displaced water; this was done in a phased approach, with trenches of 3 m to 4 m being excavated at a time. Van Vuuren says that the construction of the section of the bridge in the middle of the river is being done using a system of girders and beams in place of traditional staging. “This is the most appropriate option, as it is not possible to erect staging due to there not being a stable surface on the river bed,” he explains. “With all these challenges facing us, it was critical to develop a relationship with a supplier like AfriSam, who could readily and reliably supply the 12 500 m3 of readymix concrete we require for use for the civil structures on the project,” concludes Van Vuuren.

IMIESA October 2015

ROADS | SABITA

Sabita listing Mr J Pelser Actophambili Roads (Pty) Ltd PO Box 16661, Atlasville 1465 Mr JJS Weidemann Aecom SA (Pty) Ltd PO Box 3173, Pretoria 0001 Mr R Bonser Afrisam SA (Pty) Ltd PO Box 6367, Weltevreden Park 1715 Ms AJ Broom AJ Broom Road Products CC PO Box 16421, Dowerglen 1612 Mr A Pegge Amandla GCF Construction CC PO Box 6064, Welgemoed 7534 Mr R Lehman Ammann Construction Machinery SA Postnet Suite 253, Private Bag X43, Rynfield 1500

Ms I Erlank Anton Paar Southern Africa PO Box 50471, Randjiesfontein 1683 Mr JPJ Webb Aqua Transport & Plant Hire (Pty) Ltd Private Bag X11, Ashwood 3605 Mr A Page-Wood Asphalt Services CC PO Box 1765, East London 5200 Mr P Grindley Astec â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Asphalt Technology CC PO Box 140, Rothdene 1964 Mr J Calitz Aurecon PO Box 74381, Lynnwood Ridge 0040 Mr JG Robertson Aurecon PO Box 494, Cape Town 8000

Mr R Otte Bigen Africa Services (Pty) Ltd PO Box 1070, Bellville 7535

Mr AJ Moffett Gibb (Pty) Ltd PO Box 3965, Cape Town 8000

Mrs C Marais Bituguard SA PO Box 2523, Bethlehem 9700

Mr GM Hattingh GMH/Tswelelo Consulting Engineers PO Box 2201, Randburg 2125

Mr AL Botha Bitumen Supplies & Services (Pty) Ltd PO Box 1028, Sunninghill 2157

Mr TF Moolman Group 5 Civil Engineering (Pty) Ltd PO Box 1750, Bedfordview 2008

Mr D Smith Bitumen World (Pvt) Ltd PO Box AY 20, Amby Harare

Mr M Mtshali Hamba Kahle Road Products (Pty) Ltd PO Box 26317, Isipingo Beach 4115

Mr A Hendricks Bravo Petroleum (Pty) Ltd PO Box 25240, Gateway 4321

Mr C Bradley Hatch Goba (Pty) Ltd PO Box 25401, Gateway 4321

Mr DC Collings BSM Laboratories (Pty) Ltd PO Box 15318, Westmead 3608 Mr A Greyling BVI Consulting Eng. Wc (Pty) Ltd PO Box 86, Century City 7446

Mr J Pietersen IMESA PO Box, Westville 2190

Mr F Kotze Colas South Africa (Pty) Ltd PO Box 1007, Krugersdorp 1470

Mr S Tinarwo Instant Tar Surfaces PO Box 17219, Norkem Park 1631

Ms Z Coetzee Delta Bec (Pty) Ltd PO Box 35703, Menlo Park 0102

Mr J Van Niekerk Javseal (Pty) Ltd PO Box 26317, Isipingo Beach 4115

Mr RC King Dick King Lab Supplies (Pty) Ltd PO Box 82138, Southdale 2135

Mr PA Olivier Jeffares & Green (Pty) Ltd PO Box 1109, Sunninghill 2157

Mr WAG Venter DMV Harrismith (Pty) Ltd PO Box 912, Harrismith 9880

Mr GR Tyndall Kantey & Templer (Pty) Ltd PO Box 3132, Cape Town 8000

Mr R Ntombela DuPont de Nemours International SA PO Box 3332, Halfway House 1635

Mr GM James Kaymac (Pty) Ltd t/a Kaytech PO Box 116, Pinetown 3600

Mr TD La Grange EFG Engineers (Pty) Ltd PO Box 3800, Durbanville 7551 Mr C Williams Emergeco Trading (Pty) Ltd PO Box 635, uMhlanga Rocks 4320

www.geotextilesafrica.co.za

Mr LC Raman Iliso Consulting (Pty) Ltd PO Box 686, Gillits 3603

Mr P Neal Cape Peninsula University of Technology PO Box 1906, Bellville 7530

Mr TW McKune Durban University of Technology PO Box 101112, Pietermaritzburg 3209

Mr AJ Laatz HHO Africa PO Box 6503, Roggebaai 8012

Mr G Brown Gavin Brown & Associates 24 Botanic Grove, Berea 4001

Mr M Fynn Lafarge Industries SA (Pty) Ltd Private Bag X26, Gallo Manor 2052 Mr MA Van Reenen Letaba Lab (Pty) Ltd PO Box 739, White River 1240 Mr SRM Adande Mdubane Energy Services (Pty) Ltd 214 9th Avenue, Morningside, Durban 4001 Mr W Reusch Milling Techniks (Pty) Ltd PO Box 779, Gillits 3603

Continues on page 88

IMIESA October 2015

ROADS | PROFILE

INNOVATION. EVERYWHERE. WITH YOU. Over 100 years of history, 1 000 employees, and seven factories around the world – these are the numbers and facts shaping Fayat Mixing Plants (FMP).

HANKS TO ITS modern, multicultural environment, FMP can offer its customers great added values: • Innovation: more than 40 patents are self-explanatory and are a way to ensure customers' success and profit. A wide range of technically innovative solutions contribute towards substantial reductions of production costs, energy consumption, and transport costs. • Global presence: seven factories (Italy, France, Turkey, China, India, Brazil) guarantee customer proximity and confirm FMP as the asphalt plant supplier with the largest number of factories worldwide. Proximity also means quick reply time and fast reactions. • Customer focus: decades of international experience guarantee both the development of forward-looking solutions and the credibility of our customer benefits. The world keeps changing and companies cannot work alone – working together with customers makes both supplier and customer stronger.

Four main brands operate within FMP Bomag Marini Latin America (Brazil) offers international technology with an extremely significant differential in cost-benefit and profitability of the works, know-how, network services, technical support, and worldwide distribution, in addition to a large and advanced line of products. The Cachoeirinha facility, currently with about 200 direct employees, manufactures the Magnum series of asphalt plants – 80, 120, 140 and 160 t/h.

Marini (Italy) is a leader in the manufacture of batch mix asphalt plants, in mobile or stationary versions, with a production range from 60 to 360 t/h. All of its plants can be fitted with additional equipment for recycling into the plant (recycling ring, into the mixer, or combined method) with a recycling rate of up to 70%. Batch plants are designed also for new technologies – e.g. warm -mix or foam bitumen. Retrofit operations are made on existing plants to improve them in accordance with new technical developments, coupled with a focused training of operators on new production tools. Marini-Ermont (France) is a worldwide leader in the manufacture of continuous hot-mix asphalt plants. Plants can be super-mobile, mobile, or transportable, with a complete range of recycling solutions (high recycling rate: up to 100% RAP, warm-mix), while producing high-quality asphalt at a very low cost. Marini-Ermont also manufactures emulsion plants (continuous output: 10 t/h) that can be integrated into an easily transportable container (Emulpack). This kind of plant is very easy to use (plug and play system) and can produce all types of high-quality bitumen emulsion with maximum cost-efficiency. SAE (France) is specialised in the manufacture of continuous cold-mix plants and has been in partnership with French road contractors and the biggest road building companies for more than 50 years. SAE provides a wide range of stationary or mobile equipment, ranging from 100 to more

than 1 000 t/h, with various applications such as wet-mix, gravel cement or gravel emulsion, cold-mix, and concrete for roads, airport runways or dams. SAE works also with quarry operators and builders of civil engineering structures thanks to recycling solutions with lime treatment.

FAYAT Maintenance Division Secmair and Breining accompany road works contractors, offering innovative solutions that meet the criteria for sustainable development, safety, and ergonomics. Secmair is a French company specialised in binder sprayers and chipspreaders for surface dressings. Moreover, it was the pionneer regarding simultaneous sprayerspreader solutions. Breining, a German company, is the world leader for microsurfacing pavers. It also offers a complete range of crack sealers.

www.asphalt-equipment.co.za

IMIESA October 2015

Wire rope

Quadguards

alpha 70K TMa

end TerMinals

Isando: 011 974 8511 | Cape Town: 021 531 9071 Durban: 031 705 6355 | Port Elizabeth: 041 486 3674 Web: www.armco.co.za

IMIESA October 2015

ROADS | PROFILE

Forgiving roads Armco Superlite offers solutions to road building, mining, and various other applications. The company has three separate business units: Construction Products, Galvanising, and Road Safety Products – which was launched in 2005.

LTHOUGH ARMCO BARRIERS is the generic name for our guardrails, we pride ourselves in the manufacture and supply of a wide range of other products for road building, such as delineators, cones, water-filled barriers, and truck-mounted attenuators,” explains Marc Owens, RSP sales manager at Armco Superlite. What sets Armco Superlite apart from the competition is not just the wide range of road safety solutions it offers, but also the exceptionally high quality of these products. “All of our products are extensively crashtested and comply with the most exacting international standards,” stresses Owens. “We take road safety seriously. Lives are easily lost in a split second on roads, so you cannot compromise on any level of quality.” Armco Superlite has long been regarded as a leader in road safety products, “We have worked continuously to become the preferred South African road safety company,” underlines Owens. “Our extensive range of road safety products suits a variety of functions on national roads, as well as being suited to specific applications. We have a specialised range of road safety equipment modified for mine use – they are made bigger to complement the sheer size of trucks used on mines,” says Owens. “And our speed ramps are widely used in shopping complexes and housing developments to calm traffic.”

ABOVE Guard rail

From its formation, 10 years ago, our Road Safety Products Division has had a vision to work in partnership with Sanral, consultants, and contractors to make safer environments for all road users in South Africa. “Together, we want to create forgiving roads,” says Owens. “In the 10 years we’ve been manufacturing crash cushions, we’ve installed some 600 crash cushions around the country and we currently have orders for another 50,” says Owens. “We are confident that we have effectively captured this market. In achieving this, we have inevitably opened ourselves up to competition, but by doing all the groundwork and having the various systems accepted, other players have been encouraged to enter the market as well. However, as a company operating in the road-safety sphere, we are still very much the front runners. “Our mission is to do the best we can in what we do. We are a vibrant company, complying with the highest international standards, always seeking to do better in the markets in which we operate, and we maximise the use of our assets,” he concludes. Armco Superlite’s products include DuraPosts, delineators and bases, water-filled barriers, end terminals, truck-mounted attenuators, Melba cones, soft cones, speed ramps, Quadguard crash cushions, Safence wire-rope safety barriers, and of course Armco guard rails.

Delineators

Stacman barriers

Speed ramps

IMIESA October 2015

ROADS

Sabita work-zone safety Construction work zones are hazardous for both the motorists who drive through the complex array of signs, cones, delineators and lane changes and for the workers who build, repair and maintain our vast network of streets, bridges, and highways. 86

OAD SURFACING WORKERS often work on short- to medium-term worksites where only temporary barriers are used. Worldwide, there is a general consensus and recognition of the higher risk exposure associated with roadside working as opposed to other occupations.

Safety awareness training programme The Southern African Bitumen Association (Sabita) is concerned about the exposure of members’ workers to the high-risk environment associated with road construction activities. In collaboration with the US-based National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), Sabita has developed the Work Zone Safety awareness training programme, based on the American Roadway Safety+ Version 11.0 programme.

Ensuring safety Building new or maintaining existing highways and roads can be very dangerous; however, such work does not have to be so hazardous, provided workers: • are aware of the hazards • know how to identify and avoid hazards in the workplace • discuss safety concerns with their supervisors and fellow workers • stay alert at all times. These are some of the topics dealt with in the Work Zone Safety Train-the-Trainer programme, which is to be launched by Sabita during October in the three major regions of Gauteng, Durban, and Cape Town.

Safety programme objectives The programme is aimed at creating awareness and it provides an overview of common hazards in construction health and safety,

IMIESA October 2015

Road Construction & Rehabilitation Asphalt Reinforcement: MacGrid® AR

Ground Improvement: MacGrid® EG

Unreinforced

National Tel: 087 742 2710 International Tel: +27 31 705 0500 Branches: Durban (HO), Johannesburg, Cape Town, East London, Tongaat (Factory)

www.maccaferri.com/za

Reinforced

ROADS

recommending simple prevention measures. It is envisaged that the programme will be used for training interventions such as worker inductions and toolbox talks, as well as providing health and safety specifications for road construction, tenders, and contracts. Users of the programme are, therefore, likely to be clients (national, provincial, and municipal road authorities), agents, contractors, and road construction site supervisors.

Programme content and availability The training package consists of a software

application, with over 20 individual modules, covering a wide range of relevant roadwork safety topics. The topics include: • runovers/backovers • operator safety • struck or crushed • flagperson safety • temporary traffic control devices, set-up and retrieval • night-time work • excavation • electrical hazards • sprains and strains • speed management.

PROGRAMME LAUNCH

Sabita is launching the programme during October 2015, as a train-the-trainer programme, at a nominal fee. For further details, contact Lorraine Wagner at Sabita on +27 (0)21 531 2718 or lewagner@sabita.co.za. Information is also available at www.sabita.co.za.

IMIESA October 2015

ROADS | SABITA

Sabita listing Continues from page 82

Mr S Pretorius National Asphalt PO Box 1657, Hillcrest 3650

Mr T Saks Reliance Lab Equip (Pty) Ltd PO Box 911-489, Rosslyn 0200

Mr JA Kr端ger More Asphalt (Pty) Ltd PO Box 2180, Durbanville 7550

Mr A Nagel Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031

Mr PB Joubert Royal HaskoningDHV PO Box 867, Gallo Manor 2146

Mr JR Uys Mott Macdonald PO Box 7786, Roggebaai 8012

Mr N Govender Nolans Earthworks & Plant CC PO Box 28617, Haymarket 3200

Mr S Dewnath Materials Testing Training College (Pty) Ltd PO Box 1901, Silverton 0127

Mr L Heathcote Outeniqua Lab (Pty) Ltd PO Box 3186, George Industria 6536

Mr B Burger Mmila Civils & Traffic Services (Pty) Ltd PO Box 40158, Faerie Glen 0043

Mr BC Greyling Much Asphalt (Pty) Ltd PO Box 49, Eersterivier 7103 Mr B Theron Murray & Roberts Infrastructure PO Box 585, Bedfordview 2008 Mr DS Judd N3 Toll Concession (Pty) Ltd PO Box 67166, Highveld Park 0169 Mr F Samaai Nadeson Consulting Services PO Box 51121, V&A Waterfront 8002 Mr M Manicum Naidu Consulting (Pty) Ltd PO Box 2796, Westway Office Park 3635 Mr J Strydom Namibia Technical Services CC PO Box 30623, Pioneers Park, Windhoek Mr N Nathoo Nathoo Mbenyane Engineers PO Box 47595, Greyville 4023

IMIESA October 2015

Mr T Freestone Polokwane Surfacing (Pty) Ltd PO Box 288, Ladanna 0704 Mr N Burger Power Construction (Pty) Ltd PO Box 129, Blackheath 7581 Mr J Seima Puma Energy Services SA (Pty) Ltd Postnet Suite 190, Private Bag X31, Saxonwold 2132 Ms M Ward Raetex Industries 1550 Tiburon Boulevard, Suite B1, Tiburon CA 94920 Mr L Cochrane Rand Roads (a Div. of Grinaker-Lta) Ltd Cnr Jurgens Street & Jet Park Road, Jet Park, Boksburg 1459 Ms S Rattray Rankin Engineering Consultants PO Box 50566, Lusaka Mr KG Rocher Raubex (Pty) Ltd PO Box 10302, Ashwood 3605 Mr G Catin Raubex KZN (Pty) Ltd PO Box 10302, Ashwood 3605

Mr R Manganyi SA Road Management Co (Pty) Ltd Postnet Suite 23, Private Bag X06, Quagga 0058 Mr JB Lansdell Salphalt (Pty) Ltd PO Box 234, Isando 1600 Mr BI Jonsson SARF PO Box 8379, Birchleigh 1621 Mr J Van Heerden Sasol Technology Fuels Research PO Box 1, Sasolburg 1947 Mr A Aphane Sasol Wax (South Africa) PO Box 1, Sasolburg 1947 Mr RL Hornsey Shell SA Marketing (Pty) Ltd 6 Ipivi Road, Kloof 3610 Mr A Taute SMEC South Africa (Pty) Ltd PO Box 72927, Lynnwood Ridge 0040 Mr JL Walstrand Specialised Road Technologies (Pty) Ltd PO Box 15324, Westmead 3608 Mr SO Single Spray Pave (Pty) Ltd PO Box 674, Alberton 1450 Mr MP Prinsloo Tau Pele Construction (Pty) Ltd PO Box 13125, Noordstad 9302

Mr D Pagel Tosas (Pty) Ltd PO Box 14159, Wadeville 1422 Mr G Diepraam Total SA (Pty) Ltd PO Box 579, Saxonwold 2132 Mr RB Purchase TPA Consulting (Pty) Ltd PO Box 1575, Westville 3630 Prof GJ Jordaan Tshepega Engineering (Pty) Ltd PO Box 33783, Glenstantia 0010 Mr A Philip Unique Trading & Outsourcing (Pty) Ltd PO Box 5424, Benoni South 1502 Mr D Bullock Unitrans Supply Chain Solutions PO Box 31, Table View 7439 Prof WJVDM Steyn University Of Pretora, Deparment of Civil Engineering 2 Lynnwood Road, Hatfield 0002 Prof KJ Jenkins University Of Stellenbosch Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602 Mr J McLoughlin Worldwide Tanks On Hire CC PO Box 2250, Durban 4000 Mr MP Bouwmeester WSP Group Africa (Pty) Ltd PO Box 98867, Sloane Park 2152 Mr JM Pearce Zebra Surfacing (Pty) Ltd PO Box 14335, Kenwyn 7790 Mr S Gama Zimile Consulting Engineers Postnet Suite 252, Private Bag X11, Halfway House 1685

Renewed pipes for Pretoria West Hospital Customer: Pretoria West Hospital is a state hospital in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. Leaks from the corroded cast iron storm water downpipes, encased in the building’s structural columns, were causing extensive water damage to the building.

Circumvention: Replacing the pipes was a completely unviable option as the roof slab and walls would need to be cut open in multiple places to access the failing pipes. The only two options were to reroute, which is very time consuming or reline which was completed in less than a month.

System: The damaged system consists of 23 cast iron full bores feeding vertical storm water stacks running from the roof to the ground floor. The stacks are encased in structural columns.

Solution: Nu Flow’s unique technology is the most cost effective solution in this situation. Using specialised micro-cutter cleaning machine and purpose designed cleaning heads Nu Flow technicians cleaned and de-scaled the inside of the damage pipes returning them to their original diameter.

Situation: The integrity of the vertical cast iron stacks was seriously compromised by corrosion and major leaks. Replacement of the stacks by conventional means would require extensive structural work because the pipes are built into the building’s columns and was simply not an option.

Made to measure epoxy saturated structural liners were then winched into the pipes. Within the liner is a rubber bladder. Once the liner is in position the bladder is inflated and the epoxy left to cure. Once cured, the bladder was removed leaving a “new pipe” within the host pipe. No more leaks and no more water damage.

Need relining done? Want to become a Nu Flow Installer? Contact us:

(+27) 87 160 0330 enquiries@nuflow.co.za www.nuflow.co.za

SOUTH AFRICA

Turn this...

™

...into this! IMIESA October 2015

PIPES & PIPELINES

Saving water

with plastic pipes

OUTH AFRICA IS no stranger to drought and water restrictions were recently imposed on several areas in KwaZulu-Natal, following insufficient rainfall in the province. According to a notice published in the Government Gazette recently, Department of Water and Sanitation directorgeneral Margaret-Ann Diedricks announced that water for irrigation from the Goedertrouw Dam would be cut by 70%, with domestic use cut 30%, and industrial use 10%. Understandably, the goal is to safeguard the area’s remaining potable urban water supplies in preparation for a possible extended drought. The Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (SAPPMA), however, is pushing for what many in the industry say is a longer-term solution: saving water with plastic pipes. “For the past four years, in particular, we have been voicing our concerns over the severe pollution in our water sources, water losses in distribution caused by water leaks and wastage, and the lacking water infrastructure that is expected to support the rapidly increasing demand,” says Jan Venter, SAPPMA chairman. This non-profit association represents more than 80% of the plastic piping produced in South Africa and focuses its efforts on ensuring pipe systems that are leak-free and durable for long-term use. It also focuses on the rehabilitation of old pipelines. Pipelines lie at the heart of South Africa’s infrastructure and should be replaced before they fail. Water distribution, waste disposal, irrigation, and telecommunications all rely on pipelines to function,” he explains.

Maintenance makes the difference Although the South African plastic pipe industry is relatively small, it is of extreme importance

IMIESA October 2015

Worldwide, countries are facing periods of intense drought – and Southern Africa is no exception. Increasing water losses caused by failing infrastructure need to be addressed, with the plastic pipe industry offering a solution to minimise losses in public water reticulation systems. to the development and maintenance of the is not known, cast iron pipes were used country’s infrastructure. It is also one of the between 1870 and 1930, cement-lined cast most demanding industries, as plastic pipes iron between 1930 and 1970, asbestos and fittings are required to last in excess of cement between 1950 and 1970, ductile 100 years, as opposed to the old cement, iron pipes from 1960 onward, and PVC from asbestos, or steel pipelines with a lifetime of 1970 onward. no more than 50 years. “The old cement and steel pipes that were “Two major causes of water loss are cor- installed do not have an economic lifespan of rosion and poor jointing. For this reason, old longer than 50 years. The fact that they have steel or asbestos pipes around the world are undoubtedly been corroded by now can be being replaced with plastic pipes – they do not seen from the disrupted water supplies and all rust and the joints are leak-proof, if done cor- the water leaks springing up everywhere. Much rectly. As the voice treated water is lost of the plastic pipe every year around the industry, we feel it’s country as a result. our responsibility to If the local municipalinot only keep pushties would only spend ing for the country’s the money allocated water infrastructure in their budgets to to be upgraded, but upgrade and replace also to educate conold and failing water Jan Venter, SAPPMA chairman sumers, engineers, infrastructure, we and other decision-makers about the benefits would be able to save enough purified water to of using plastic pipes instead of other materi- significantly reduce the impact and long-term als,” says Venter. effects of below-average rainfall,” Venter says. The majority of South Africa’s pipelines were installed in the early 1950s and 1960s, and Big benefits were manufactured from cement, asbestos, Local plastic pipe manufacturers and installor steel. Although the exact make-up of ers are hoping that the concerns about water the buried water systems in this country scarcity and the threats of water-shedding

“The old cement and steel pipes that were installed do not have an economic lifespan of longer than 50 years.”

PVC

REAL BENEFITS, NO PIPE DREAMS PVC pipes are all around us, mostly invisible, but always present. It forms an indispensable part of our daily lives, transporting clean drinking water; drainage for the waste we produce, for surface water; and protection for our telecommunication systems. The performance of PVC piping is exceptional thanks to the key attributes of this type of plastic, which allow it to outperform traditional metal pipes. PVC pipes can be recycled over and over again without any degradation of its physical properties. PVC pipes are versatile and can be moulded into various forms, and an impressive longevity means that it can function for well over 100 years with minimal maintenance. Low-cost installation, outstanding recyclability and durability, excellent hydraulic performance and low maintenance costs all amount to a tremendously cost-efficient piping system. Even though we might not notice it, PVC pipe offers significant advantages to Southern Africa and we experience these benefits every day.

Sasol Chemicals (Polymers) a division of Sasol Chemicals Industries (Pty) Ltd Telephone: +27 (0) 11 790 1111 Fax: +27 (0) 11 790 1058 Website: www.sasol.com/polymers

PIPES & PIPELINES

would be the catalyst to have the old pipelines replaced by plastic pipes made from PVC or high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The benefits of using plastic pipe as opposed to other materials have been well documented and tested. Apart from having a lifetime that is more than double that of other materials, plastic pipes are also quicker and easier to install, have lower failure rates, suffer from less corrosion, require less joint leak prevention, and are lower in price compared to the other pipes. Says Venter: “HDPE and PVC pipes are lightweight and easy to handle, easy to join, available in a range of sizes and pressure ratings, and have low frictional resistance, with hydraulic properties that remain virtually unchanged over their useful lives, resulting in lower energy use and pumping costs.” SAPPMA projects that it will cost several billions of rands over the next 25 years to repair existing potable water systems that are reaching the end of their useful lives and to serve areas with growing populations. If the investment isn’t made, the number of water main breaks and system failures will increase, the association warns.

“The Water Research Commission recently completed a survey of 132 municipalities in South Africa. Their findings revealed that water lost through leakage, incorrect metering, and unauthorised consumption averaged around 37% of our country’s available water supply. This amounts to a financial loss of around R7.2 billion per year. Australia, another water-scarce country, loses less than 10%. South Africa simply cannot afford to continue losing so

much treated water. Our economy and quality of life are being undermined by issues such as compromised tap water quality, low fire hydrant flows, flooding, and sinkholes. “Although the country is only now waking up to the fact that water is fast becoming a critical problem, we are urging decision-makers to pay attention to the warning signs before it is too late,” Venter concludes.

“HDPE and PVC pipes are lightweight and easy to handle, easy to join, available in a range of sizes and pressure ratings, and have low frictional resistance.”

IMIESA October 2015

L ANDFILL

FIND OUT ABOUT AQUATAN’S INNOVATIONS IN THE GEOMEMBRANE LINING BUSINESS In the 50 years since Aquatan was founded, it has consistently been recognised as the most innovative company in the geomembrane installation industry. It has been an IAGI-approved installation contractor for three years and is ISO 9001/2008 certified. Aquatan has also been awarded the SABS Certificate of recognition for its 20 years of loyalty, commitment to and compliance with the SABS Quality Management Certification scheme. Aquatan is the only Geomembrane installer in South Africa equipped to find discontinuities in a geomembrane lined facility below a capping layer. Aquatan’s unmatched experience in the Geomembrane installation business underscores our reputation for professionalism and reliability. Aquatan provides the TOTAL SOLUTION! In addition to our Geomembrane innovations, Aquatan’s HDPE, LLDPE, RFPP and EVA geomembranes are used in applications ranging from hazardous liquid or solid waste leach facilities, tunnels, canals, water features and underground water storage facilities.

We also construct floating covers for potable water, molasses storage and biogas containment reservoirs, small dams and tanks. ENHANCED BARRIER SYSTEM® Aquatan’s patented Enhanced Barrier System® (EBS) for waste sites is a technology that has gained international recognition for its dedicated and focused performance characteristics. The principle is to draw a fluid at a negative pressure through the geosynthetic barrier system to achieve: 1. Heat removal from Geosynthetic components 2. Post-loading hydration of the Geosynthetic Clay Liners 3. Removal of Volatile Organic Compounds This innovative technology, for which Aquatan holds the worldwide patent, expands conventional containment barrier boundaries for protecting the environment far into the future.

For more information: Tel: +27(0)11 974 5271 Fax: +27(0)11 974 4111 E-mail: aqua@aquatan.com www.aquatan.com

NO LS0798

PIPES & PIPELINES | PROFILE

World-class wastewater solutions Tecroveer has built a solid reputation that is approaching four decades in providing turnkey, innovative water treatment solutions of the highest quality.

ECROVEER NOT ONLY designs processes and equipment, it also manufactures, installs, and commissions world-class turnkey solutions for all wastewater treatment related industries. Tecroveer specialises in providing holistic solutions for the domestic wastewater, mine/industrial water, and drinking water treatment sectors. Tecroveer is no stranger to creating and integrating innovative solutions that build on existing technology with newly researched technologies. The company does not believe in one predetermined solution for a specific application, preferring in-depth consideration of alternatives to ensure that the most appropriate solution is presented. The majority of clients are consulting engineers that utilise its specialist knowledge and experience in: • mechanical equipment in-house design and manufacturing • process selection and mechanical equipment optimisation • refurbishment and expansion of wastewater treatment works • a combined process, civil, and mechanical interface design on a design and supply basis.

Wastewater treatment Tecroveer has a wide range of water treatment technology capacities: from as little as 7 Kℓ/d, up to 20 Mℓ/d. Utilising patented and proprietary equipment and methods to optimise solutions for clients, Tecroveer upholds its vision to provide clean water for future generations by partnering with nature. Tecroveer offers a unique patented wastewater solution that is developed in South Africa, for African conditions. The combination of Tecroveer equipment and activated sludge has proved to be the most effective treatment process for the treatment of domestic wastewater, in terms of process efficiency, ease of operation, and cost-efficiency. Agreements secured with international technology suppliers provide a complete array of technologies to offer.

A full-service offering Tecroveer offers a full plant evaluation service to its clients. This not only includes the equipment, but the assessment of the current process optimisation and expansion of the hydraulic and organic treatment capacities of wastewater treatment works. Further to its comprehensive service offering, it has permanent maintenance and installation teams in the field that can respond to emergency situations. The expertise of its process specialists is supported by a passionate dedication to research, design, manufacturing, installations, operation and maintenance, as well as monitoring work.

Recent projects Tecroveer has provided a full maintenance service to the City of Mogale across its entire wastewater treatment infrastructure. This has not only improved the performance of the wastewater processes, but also assisted in the administrative functions of budgeting and spending accurately for maintenance activities. The most significant design and supply project that Tecroveer has undertaken to date has been the Jeffreys Bay WWTW Project. Phase 1 consisted of a 5 Mℓ/d plant and Phase 2, an 8 Mℓ/d plant. This is the first large-scale implementation of Tecroveer’s Mixer Transfer patented design for internal recycling of mixed liquor and settled return activated sludge, resulting in the exclusion of dedicated pump sets that are normally provided to achieve these process interactions. Tecroveer’s Becon Watertech Business Unit, providing wastewater solutions to the smaller treatment range, has been particularly active across Africa. This includes facilities at mining/ industrial sites, schools, shopping malls, holiday resorts, private residential estates, and small community areas. These Becon units are assembled in traditional civil engineered structures, fitted into standard shipping containers or mounted on steel skid units for ease of transportation and installation.Tecroveer Thanda Manzi’s presence in the emerging mine water treatment field is

TOP Classic Becon Watertech bio-filter application for a residential estate MIDDLE Jeffreys Bay biological reactor with return activated sludge via the patented Mixer Transfer design into the central anoxic reactor MIDDLE Tecroveer compact type design incorporating return activated sludge under gravity

consolidating with the appointments received for mechanical equipment supply to the Eastern Basin AMD Phase 1 Project and for the design and supply of thickener equipment. In addition, an effective and energy-efficient alternate sludge dewatering technology was supplied to a large chicken abattoir operation in the Rustenburg area.

www.tecroveer.co.za

IMIESA October 2015

PIPES & PIPELINES

Forewarned is forearmed The Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association’s Pipes IX was a balancing act of challenges and opportunities facing South Africa's water sector, and the overall conference was a sobering vision of the year to come. BY FRANCES RINGWOOD

AN VENTER, SAPPMA CEO, opened the event speaking on the challenging business climate experienced by the organisation’s members, emphasising that the purpose of SAPPMA and its conference is not profit. “We are a non-profit organisation – the purpose is to create a platform for industry members to interact, exchange ideas, and learn from one another,” he explained.

Plastic pipes in focus Venter went on to provide an overview of the history of fluid conveyancing pipe development, noting that pipes have been around for the last 4 000 years and that plastic pipes have only been around for the last 70 years – 2% of the overall time. “So many innovations have happened in that short time. For example, since I’ve been in the business, pipe wall thicknesses and weight have been reduced by more than a

IMIESA October 2015

standards of living have radically improved. third as strength For instance, we are now eight times wealthier has increased. Events than people were then. I want you to keep such as Pipes IX are critical this in mind when I tell you about the factors because they encourage new design specificathat have put us tions, manufacturon the verge of a ing processes, and recession,” said installation techMike Schussler, niques. SAPPMA a highly regarded plays an important South African role in fostering an economist invitenvironment that ed to talk at this facilitates these Mike Schussler, year’s conference. innovations,” said South African economist Schussler is one Venter. The next of the most quoted and endorsed economists speaker’s presentation also focused on placin South Africa and has won the Economist of ing plastic pipe manufacturing in a larger the Year competition twice. He is one of only historical context. three economists to have won the award more Economic outlook than once in the past 20 years. “If we look at the way people lived in the “We need to take a long-term view, oth1900s, compared to the last 10 years, our erwise it’s easy to get bogged down in the

“Some good news to balance out the bad is that we’re improving the quality of our workforce in terms of its education.”

PIPES & PIPELINES

OPPOSITE LEFT TO RIGHT Outside the conference areas, exhibitors had the opportunity to showcase their latest products and innovations Jan Venter, SAPPMA CEO, provided a brief history of the development of plastic pipes Highly regarded South African economist Mike Schussler predicts an economic crisis but emphasised South Africa’s resilience under pressure ABOVE A bird’s-eye view of the exhibition at the SAPPMA Pipes IX Conference RIGHT Renier Snyman (left) from DPI Plastics being thanked and congratulated after giving his presentation; with MC Jacques van Eck

negatives. Over a long baseline, the world is not getting poorer but the economy does dip and rise in cycles of about seven years. There’s good news and bad news regarding the economy, but markets are volatile and it’s unlikely that things will turn out quite the way we’re all hoping,” explained Schussler.

Business breakdown Regarding oil, the news is positive. The oil price fell for a year, on average, to $40 per barrel. Consumers are likely to benefit, especially big oil importers like South Africa, although exporters may suffer. Concerning South Africa’s commodities, “This is a long-term downward trend. This is bad news, as factors affecting mining are also likely to affect a number of SAPPMA members,” said Schussler. He also pointed out that the inevitable growth of renewable energy sources is likely to have a further negative impact on commodities. More bad news is that the rand has been classed among the world’s fragile currencies (along with Brazil, Indonesia, India, and Turkey) and we’re the only country among those that is still picking up government debt. “Since 1994, the currency has fallen to 45% of its value; this is a warning sign that it can no longer be used as a shock absorber,” said Schussler.

“Some good news to balance out the bad is that we’re improving the quality of our workforce in terms of its education. Many South Africans did not complete primary school. Today, about 95% of our students complete primary school. We still have a problem in that, in about the middle of secondary school, people still drop out. Nonetheless, we have also improved the number of people who are completing their matric certificates. This is important IMIESA October 2015

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because it stimulates productivity, giving people the tools to work smarter rather than harder, achieving more,” explained Schussler. Schussler’s final words were: “South Africa has always faced crises; we are now on the precipice of an economic crisis. But, ultimately, we have a history of addressing those crises. We’re not going to fix the economy this year or even next year but, I think, we’re seeing rumblings from all sectors recognising that something needs to be done.”

Water crisis hits The last keynote speaker was Kobus van der Walt, professor in the philosophy of sciences and engineering at North West University. His presentation focused on South Africa’s water crisis and the need for “proper governance” and “efficient management” to revive the country’s ageing infrastructure. “There is a growing consensus among experts from water sciences, as well as the economic sector, that South Africa is rapidly approaching a water crisis. The best current estimates indicate that South Africa’s water reserves will outstrip supply by 2020. According to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the demand for water has already overtaken the supply in at least 60% of South Africa’s water management areas,” said Van der Walt. He focused on how the quality of the greater Vaal River is affected by sewage, pollution from coal mining, and agricultural run-off. “The Vaal River originates at the Grootdraai Dam near Standerton, Mpumalanga, then flows into the Vaal Dam in Gauteng, past Barrage near Klerksdorp, and eventually joins up with the Orange River in Douglas. In a longitudinal total dissolved solids (TDS) test of the Vaal River’s water, it was found that, near Grootdraai, TDS milligrams per litre were low, at 100 mg/ℓ. Further down, the levels are higher, reaching 200 mg/ℓ – this rise is directly attributable to the coal mining in eMalahleni. Then, there is a huge rise between the Vaal Dam and the Vaal Barrage,

Ensuring the quantity and quality of South Africa’s national water resources, and the effective governance thereof, has not taken place as it should

IMIESA October 2015

PIPES & PIPELINES

which comes as a result of water being extracted from the Vaal, distributed throughout Gauteng, and then draining back (via sewage works) into the Barrage area. From that point, the Vaal is nothing more than a semi-treated sewage stream. Downstream, quality decreases further as a result of fertilisers from farms entering the water supply,” explained Van der Walt. This is significant because humans can drink water with a maximum TDS of 140 mg/ℓ. “Our normal purification works do not remove salts. Filtration, flocculation, chlorine, and some ultraviolet

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Kobus van der Walt, professor in the philosophy of sciences and engineering at North West University, looked at South Africa’s water crisis and recommended pipe fixes, among other big changes

treatment are used. Once 600 mg/ℓ is reached, problems arise with farmers’ crops,” said Van der Walt. Food security, energy production, and a plethora of other developmental and social issues arise when water quality is affected on a massive scale such as this. Climate change further exacerbates the problem. With water quality and quantity issues increasing across the country (not just Gauteng), hundreds of millions of rands are needed to repair inefficient wastewater treatment works, upgrade water treatment plants, and maintain existing pipelines to reduce water lost through leaking pipes. “In terms of leaking pipes, our infrastructure is often between 100 and 50 years old, and it could cost as much as R700 million to make the necessary replacements and repairs. Beyond this, we need more effective monitoring and prosecution – water thieves walk free. We also need to get our catchment management areas (CMAs) operational. There are currently only 2 CMAs working out of a proposed 19 – we need to implement our own laws,” said Van der Walt. He stressed that the DWS can be applauded for its provision of water and sanitation services to millions of South Africans, since its establishment as the Department of Water Affairs in the 1990s. However, Van der Walt points out that ensuring the quantity and quality of South Africa’s national water resources, and the effective governance thereof, has not taken place as it should. “The DWS, in my opinion, has failed in these areas,” stated Van der Walt. “Is it a case of ‘too little, too late’? I don’t know,” he concluded.

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IMIESA October 2015

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PIPES & PIPELINES

SAPPMA members was industry firebrand Renier Snyman’s challenge to the new South African Bureau of Standards permitting procedures, which, he contested, would be bad for business. “At the moment, SABS is unable to perform full-spectrum testing on most of the plastic pipe specifications. This includes PVC and HDPE pipe. In recent times, the SABS auditors have been accepting partial test reports and they’ve been granting permits based on that. They’ve also issued permits based on witness testing at manufacturers’ premises, and they’ve accepted external test reports from accredited laboratories. Permits were issued with Part 2 and Part 3 permits – useful for manufacturers of just pipes or just fittings,” said Snyman. He also explained that, although none of these practices had been technically acceptable according to SABS’s own procedures, the rules were amended in light of the state of the SABS’s existing facilities. On 29 July this year, SABS called a meeting with SAPPMA, explaining that SABS is going to go back to its policy of not accepting partial

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testing or witness testing. No external reports will be accepted either, which means SABS will do its own subcontracting on imported products. For series testing, SABS will no longer accept Series 2 and 3 tests – only Series 5 tests – even if a manufacturer has nothing to do with either pipes or fittings. This could cause serious business disruptions to all plastic pipe manufacturers, delaying permits and causing manufacturers to lose market credibility as a result of losing their SABS stamp of approval. “We would like to walk away from this issue but we, as an industry, cannot do this because the SABS brand is still strong. Our customers still believe in the SABS mark, so we have to work with SABS and try to find a solution to this situation. I think it’s important to point out that industry members have not stopped their own internal quality tests. The way the permits are issued and the way we are audited by SABS is what’s changed. We, at SAPPMA, have raised the bar in terms of testing regularity and quality,” said Snyman. He also pointed out that although some products may not carry the SABS stamp in

future, it will not translate into a reduction in quality. The quality of SAPPMA members’ products has been shown, in internal quality surveys, to have improved over the years. Snyman warned that if SABS remains steadfast in its plan, SAPPMA will urge industry members not to pay for their permits and forgo SABS accreditation. SAPPMA CEO Jan Venter endorsed this position, saying that more meetings were in the pipeline between SAPPMA and SABS, that member suggestions would be considered, and that members will be kept up to date with the situation.

Resilient industry In spite of challenges, the industry stands strong as long as it stands together. Following this year’s SAPPMA presentations, there was a tremendous sense of camaraderie, as suppliers from all throughout the plastic pipe value chain, and even competitors, worked together in discussing and solving problems. A storm may be coming but, by interacting, engaging, and finding innovative solutions, SAPPMA will leave no man behind in its fight for the future of plastic pipes.

IMIESA October 2015

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Advanced polymer Trenchless technology and unselected embedment construction methods demand a pipe capable of being installed where any damage caused by the aggressive conditions will not result in failure of the pipe. RPM is a three-layer co-extruded pipe with outer and inner layers of advanced PE100-RC polymer and a PE100 core. The outer and inner layers are blue PE100-RC polymer and the remaining core is black PE100. The three layers are fused together during manufacture and inseparably extruded. According to Rare Plastics manager Tony Dean, PE100-RC is a specifically developed advanced polymer that resists the effects of notches, scores, scratches, grooves, and point loads that may result from the trenchless installation technique used or installation without selected or imported bedding and Rare Plastics recently installed a embedding material.

new HDPE coiler at its manufacturing plant in Meyerton capable of coiling HDPE pipe sizes of 110 m to 180 mm from PN8 to PN20

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HE USE OF AIT is increasingly gaining momentum in the local infrastructure arena, as they are often the least costly option as well as the least disruptive. Fluid conveyance company The Rare Group has recently introduced Rare Plastics Multilayer (RPM) technology into its product portfolio, aimed at further expanding the range of products used for pipeline rehabilitation.

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Alternative installation technologies (AIT) have been used successfully for all utilities, from water, sewer, mining, gas, and industrial pipelines to electrical conduits and fibre optics. These technologies are often the only viable construction options.

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Pipes manufactured using PE100-RC material must also pass demanding tests, such as notch, full notch creep, cone, point load, and PAS 1075 tests. RPM jointing is performed through butt or electrofusion welding and made in coils, with sizes ranging from 110 mm to 180 mm (outside diameter). It is also available in 12 m lengths in sizes up to 315 mm in diameter. Rare Plastics recently installed a new HDPE coiler at its manufacturing plant in Meyerton to facilitate this process. The coiler is capable of coiling HDPE pipe sizes of 110 mm to 180 mm from (pressure nominal) PN8 to PN20. Various lengths are available, with standard coil lengths of 50 m and 100 m preferred by most customers.

ABOVE RPM is an inseparably extruded three-layer co-extruded pipe with outer and inner layers of advanced PE100-RC polymer and a PE100 core. The outer and inner layers are blue PE100-RC polymer and the remaining core is black PE100

Pipes coiled by this machine will save installation costs, as continuous coils need fewer joints and are more flexible, as they follow trench contours and can be installed around obstacles underground.

Durability According to Dean, RPM technology is ideally suited to South Africa’s ageing water pipeline infrastructure, cost-effectively replacing old, damaged, and leaking pipelines. The RPM liner pipe’s service life will not be affected by surface damage caused during the installation process. But, the most significant advantage this technology offers is durability. Says Dean, “An RPM pipeline should last up to 100 years.”

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IMIESA October 2015

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SUSTAINABLE CITIES

Harvesting a city's natural wealth The gazetting of South Africa’s first bioregional plan – for the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMBMM) in the Eastern Cape – is a milestone on the road towards the more sustainable development of South African towns and cities, according to SRK Consulting (SA) principal environmental scientist Warrick Stewart.

HIS PLAN SETS a notable benchmark, and it is certainly fitting that it has been achieved by a municipality with such rich biological diversity – where five of South Africa’s nine biomes converge,” says Stewart. “The area boasts the Fynbos, Albany Thicket, Forest, Nama Karoo, and Grassland biomes – a level of diversity that is globally unparalleled Warrick Stewart, principal for a city.” environmental scientist, SRK Consulting He emphasised the social and economic value of biodiversity, such as attenuating floods, providing clean water of a drinking quality standard, facilitating the pollination of important agricultural crops to support food security, and providing primary sources of food, like fish, from the wild.

Protecting ecosystems “Ecosystems provide a range of valuable services that we take for granted because we often don’t pay in full for the services they provide,” he says. “When inappropriately located, development results in the loss of important ecosystems and communities often end up paying for the long-term costs of losing these important ecological assets. Good planning means retaining our priority ecological assets when we develop new settlements and roll out associated services. If we undermine ecosystem services like flood attenuation, for instance, we will

Endangered St Francis dune fynbos within the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality

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SUSTAINABLE CITIES

Succulent Karoo region

Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany region Cape Floristic region

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IMIESA October 2015

have to pay more to install and maintain expensive flood attenuation infrastructure.” The bioregional plan was gazetted on 30 March 2015 and now provides clear priorities and guidelines for all decisions that impact on biodiversity, including landuse planning, environmental assessment and authorisations, and natural resource management in the municipal area. SRK Consulting produced the Conservation Assessment and Plan for the NMBMM in 2010, which underpins the gazetted document, and also assisted with the gazetting process.

and property developers to municipal service departments – to understand their needs and reconcile conflicts.” He says the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, No. 10 of 2004 requires all government bodies, including municipalities – through the gazetting of the Bioregional Plan – to take biodiversity into account when planning and implementing service delivery. “A bioregional plan like this makes development decisions easier, as the biodiversity conservation priorities within the municipal area are clearly specified,” he explains. “In this way, the plan supBioregional plans ports the principles of inteStewart said that bioregional grated development planning Warrick plans assist local municipaliand sustainable developties in spatially identifying Stewart, SRK Consulting ment set out in the National priority sensitive areas. This Environmental Management information is crucial to enabling municipalities Act of 1998. It is also fully integrated with the to effectively develop their Spatial Development municipality’s Spatial Development Framework, Frameworks, as per the Spatial Planning and to achieve the best balance between conservLand Use Management Act, No. 16 of 2013. ing priority biodiversity and accommodating the “One of the most exciting and challenging needs of other sectors.” achievements of the conservation plan was to Keeping it natural minimise the potential conflict between biodiverWhile broader biodiversity plans have been sity and other forms of land use,” says Stewart. conducted at provincial level, a municipal “This involved a lengthy process of engaglevel plan like this can show fine-scale detail ing a range of players – from town planners

“One of the most exciting and challenging achievements of the conservation plan was to minimise the potential conflict between biodiversity and other forms of land use.”

SUSTAINABLE CITIES

Swartkops River and estuary Fynbos

of critical biodiversity areas. These are terrestrial and aquatic features that are vital for maintaining a representative proportion of functional ecosystems and the associated goods and services they provide to the municipality’s residents and visitors, and which, therefore, need to be kept in their natural state. “Examples of these features in NMBMM include the Lowland Fynbos in the southern part of the metropolitan area, as well as river systems such as the Swartkops River and estuary, which is SA’s top temperate estuary for subsistence value and a vital nursery for fish stocks,” says Stewart. Having detailed these critical areas, the plan goes on to provide accompanying landuse guidelines for avoiding loss or degradation of natural habitat and good development practice at appropriate natural sites outside of the network of critical biodiversity areas. The NMBMM’s bioregional plan will now be put to work in guiding reactive decisions on environmental impact assessment, agricultural land-use, and development control. It will also be used in proactive forward planning – in integrated development plans, spatial development frameworks, and zoning

schemes – as well as conservation initiatives such as biodiversity stewardship and expanding protected areas. According to Stewart, South Africa is fortunate to have been part of a global focus on biodiversity conservation because the country is home to a number of ‘biodiversity hotspots’, as identified by environmental organisation Conservation International; these include the Succulent Karoo region, the Cape Floristic region, and the MaputalandPondoland-Albany region.

IMIESA October 2015

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Sustainable building:

A challenge for quantity surveyors Dr Deen Letchmiah, CEO, LDM Group

The increasing emphasis on sustainable construction has placed new and unprecedented responsibilities on the shoulders of the quantity surveying profession.

PEAKING AT THE recent ASAQS seminar, 'Building on Sunshine', held in Johannesburg, Dr Deen Letchmiah, who is the CEO of the LDM Group and represents the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) on the Green Building Council of SA, said the days of quantity surveyors' role in the building environment concentrating mainly on cost control were over. “Modern quantity surveyors need to consider the driving forces of the green environment in which they operate. They need to be holistic in thought and execution to drive sustainability directives and realise that all components of infrastructural development and operations must be reviewed to provide sustainable solutions,” he told the plus 200 delegates, who attended the first ASAQS annual seminar. Letchmiah said sustainable construction presented new challenges – as well as important new opportunities – to quantity surveyors. “New services can now be offered to clients, such as analysing and advising on green capital costs, promoting the benefits of life-cycle management, green financing and leases, and costeffective sustainable strategies.”

New services He said that life-cycle costing and facilities management were two services quantity surveyors could offer – and specialise in – to achieve sustainable building.

"Life-cycle costing, basically, can be defined as the sum of all recurring and non-recurring costs over a specified period of applicable structures, goods, or services. This includes the purchase price, installation and operational costs, maintenance and upgrading costs, and the remaining value at the end of ownership." He urged quantity surveyors to play a bigger role in facilities management, which includes: • construction, tech, and maintenance costs • estimating and budgeting • cost control and reporting • building operations • life-cycle costs • building components and functionality • procuring goods, services, and leases • managing contracts and subcontracts • building management systems • information and management systems. "The green revolution is not a fad, and the roles of building industry professionals are changing rapidly. An integrated design process is required and, for the quantity surveying profession, there is the opportunity to stimulate," he added.

A "tsunami of change" In opening the seminar, Bert van den Heever, president of ASAQS, said a "tsunami of change" was sweeping the planet, with the need to create sufficient renewable energy regarded as critical in many countries. Other speakers and the issues they covered with included:

• Prof Chrisna du Plessis, of the Department of Construction Economics at the University of Pretoria, warned that buildings were responsible for 90% of greenhouse gases because of the materials selected for construction. "Buildings must support more renewable energy, and the built environment has great mitigation potential," she stated. • Logan Rangasamy, head: International Economic Relations and Policy at the South African Reserve Bank, said that the electricity crisis in South Africa – likely to last at least another five years – created "a huge market for sustainable solutions". • Henning Holm, architect and energy authority of the Holm and Friends private practice, said real energy tariff increases had been above inflation since 2003, and the real cost of energy was the loss of production when energy supplies were disrupted. • Graham Cruickshank, manager: Climate Change and Sustainability Services at Ernst & Young, emphasised public transport in a sustainable built environment. • Wally Weber of Blackdot Energy said there was huge untapped potential in South Africa for solar process heating. • Alwyn van der Merwe, director: Investments at Sanlam, warned that consumer and business confidence was at its lowest ebb in 50 years and that uncertainty regarding energy supply played a major role in this. IMIESA October 2015

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INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE

A pilot project for transparent tendering In an effort to weed out corruption, the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) is piloting an open tender process. This initiative aims to promote transparency and fairness in the its procurement process. BY BEATRIX KNOPJES David Makhura, Gauteng premier

Barbara Creecy, Finance MEC

HE overall aim of the open tender project is to promote transparency in government procurement processes through allowing the public to observe the process of the awards. The contract for the provision of centralised banking services to the provincial government for a fixed period of five years is the second pilot project of government’s new open tender pilot process.

Key features of transparent tendering The project will apply to all tenders over R50 million. According to a release issued by the GPG, the key features include: • strengthening of internal controls, compliance, governance and transparency, by subjecting procurement processes

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IMIESA October 2015

(bid specification and evaluation) to probity audit • effective support from the Provincial Treasury supply-chain management, by reviewing and advising depar tments on specifications • publication of tender information on key stages of the procurement process • promoting transparency and accountability through inviting the public to observe the bid adjudication committee process • establishing a GPG procurement hub over the MTEF. The GPG invited four approved banks late last year to bid for the contract to provide banking services for the over R90 billion provincial budget. On the closing date, the tender box was immediately opened in front of members of the public, bidders, and the media. Bids were registered, imprinted, and price schedules announced to the public. After the opening of boxes, the Gauteng Provincial Treasury’s bid evaluation committee conducted an initial screening of the tenders submitted, followed by an evaluation of functionality to deliver. It drew a shortlist for consideration by the bid adjudication committee.

Public adjudication An independent probity team audited the whole process, from the closing of the tender up to the evaluation process. The probity team report was part of the documents forwarded to the bid adjudication committee for consideration in a July 2015 meeting. The GPG invited the public to view the adjudication of Gauteng’s banking tender on Friday 3 July. According to Finance MEC Barbara Creecy, “In line with the commitments made by Premier David Makhura, in the State of the Province Address, the GPG was targeting prioritising projects above R50 million for open tender adjudication in the current financial year. “We believe this will go a long way towards restoring public confidence in the government procurement system,” Creecy said. The GPG would build a sustainable relationship with the winning bidder to realise its broader objectives of radical transformation, modernisation, and reindustrialisation, Creecy explained. “As part of their social responsibility, we expect the winning bidder to work with us in supporting the development of the Gauteng city region.

INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE

“The successful bidder will also work with us to increase the financial literacy of our employees and invest in community programmes to improve the living conditions of our people.” Creecy said the Provincial Treasury recently launched a partnering programme with suppliers to train them on requirements and procedures of doing business with the government, and on invoicing for their services. “We have released our new application; we are busy training suppliers to use our new application so that they can register themselves and submit their own invoices online.” Creecy acknowledged that there have been instances where the Auditor General has found irregularities in expenditure – irregularities where procurement has not been followed to the letter of the law, but which did not necessarily mean money was stolen. “We are keen to eliminate that kind of expenditure across the province; one of the best ways to do that is to improve the processes and open them up for public scrutiny.”

Similar process in the City of Cape Town The City of Cape Town (CCT) has also implemented a similar open tendering system in its commitment to a transparent and fair procurement system. The Cedar Road tender was the first project subjected to an open tender process, with the contract awarded in April. The transparency and fairness begins with access to information around what tenders and quotations are available, which includes advertising available tenders in the press. In addition, all tenders and quotes above R2 000 are advertised on the CCT’s website. The CCT maintains a supplied database where suppliers are able to register for free. Advantages of registration include alerts to tenders/quotes for their registered business type and alerts regarding the need to renew required documentation, such as tax clearance certificates. When tenders are being adjudicated by the bid adjudication committee, the meetings are open to the public – a situation not seen in any other municipality in the country. These meetings are advertised on the CCT’s website and usually take place each Monday afternoon.

TRANSFORMATION

The open tender system contributes to the transformation of state and governance as part of the Transformation, Modernisation and Reindustrialisation programme.

MODERNISATION

To create decent employment and greater economic inclusion, the GPG has identified finance, the automotive industry, manufacturing, ICT, tourism, pharmaceuticals, creative industries, construction, and real estate as key sectors. The promotion of new SMMEs and township enterprises will also be brought into these key sectors of the economy. The GPG plans to promote innovation to usher Gauteng towards an innovation-driven, knowledge-based, smart, and green economy.

REINDUSTRIALISATION

Finally, the government will focus on the reindustrialisation of the Gauteng economy through strategic infrastructure development. The massive roll-out of public transport infrastructure across the province will be utilised to revitalise and modernise old industries. The GPG and municipalities will procure 75% of all goods and services from South African producers, especially SMMEs.

The CCT is currently phasing in the implementation of its e-bidding process, which will see further enhancements to the ease of access for tenderers. Tenderers will soon be able to submit bids online, which provide the advantage of ease of access, while also ensuring that bid amounts are accurately captured into the bid evaluation process without the risk of transfer errors. Once contracts are awarded, the contractor will also be able to monitor the progress of their invoices through the approval process until payment is made.

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A dynamic team driven company, Canaan civils prides itself on having a well-qualiďŹ ed, experienced leadership

ROAD CONSTRUCTION SERVICES Road maintenance Road upgrading New road development Concrete works Road widening

Kerbing Paving Power & sub-stations Ten Key Projects Building Works

RETICULATIONS Sewer: civil engineering services to pipelines and treatment facilities Water and Storm water Bulk earthworks Bulk earthworks

t +27 (0)11 480 4810 | c +27 (0)61 404 2974 | Email: (info@canaancivils.com)

www.canaancivils.com

PROFILE

All-encompassing

contracting

Canaan Civils is a dynamic, all-encompassing, emerging engineering company with the expertise to tackle any construction project.

REDERICK ASARE-BEDIAKO, CEO track record of excellence, Canaan Civils of Canaan Civils, describes the has the capacity to hire any equipment neccompany as a small civil engineer- essary for any civil engineering work. ing firm, which is in the process of growing as a company with new develop- A supplier of choice Various factors make Canaan Civils a supments requiring civil works. “During this current period, we are going plier of choice in highly competitive civils to search out new markets, projects, and markets. The company has the capacity ser vices that will allow us the oppor- to handle the entire scope of works, from design stage to a fully tunity to fur ther reticulated township. our knowledge and CANAAN CIVILS ROADIts CEO’s extensive grow the company,” RELATED SERVICES • Road maintenance and upgrading experience in road he explains. • New road development construction and the A dynamic team• Concrete works upgrading sector has driven company, • Road widening led to Canaan Civils Canaan Civils prides • Kerbing being able to offer a itself on having a well• Paving broad suite of roadqualified, experienced • Power stations and substations related services. leadership, headed • Services Through the compaby Bediako. • Building works (new and old) ny’s extensive experiEnd to end ence with reticulation, As a relatively new company, established Canaan Civils is able to offer comprehensive in mid-2008, Canaan strives to deliver a civil engineering services to pipelines and comprehensive end-to-end solution for the treatment facilities in all environments. entire civil engineering market without comWith its extensive network of contacts, promising on delivery or quality at any stage Canaan Civils is well placed to provide a of the project. In achieving this objective, full suite of external water applications the company will: including township reticulation, council water • ensure customer satisfaction upgrades, and attenuation tanks and dams. • apply sound, ethical business principles Bediako’s experience in the bulk earth• invest in people and quality works field has allowed the company to • invest in, and implement, responsi- provide complete earthworks services, speble health, safety and environmental cialising in bulk excavation, for both residenprogrammes. tial townships and commercial development. The company’s core values are qualHe has also been involved in a number of ity, safety, commitment, integrity, and power station upgrades, like the Komati Power team work. Station, the Vulcan Substation, Rockdale Canaan currently employs over 50 people Substation, Ekangala Substation, and Parys – from entry-level manual labourers to high- Substation, which has also allowed Canaan ly skilled engineers – and, with a six-year Civils to work effectively in this field.

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SKILLS & TRAINING

Building skills

O MEET THE needs of the sector, Member-driven the MBAWC, a registered trade asso- apprenticeships ciation for employers in the building Member-driven apprenticeindustry, offers wide-ranging training ships involve putting forward young employprogrammes. These include basic skills acqui- ees who can benefit from upskilling in a sition courses, apprenticeship initiatives, a specific area. To be considered, potential cadet education programme, the upskilling of apprentices should have a grade 10 education construction supervisors, and frequently held or higher, with maths literacy and a technical seminars for members on the latest industry subject. They undergo psychometric and personality tests to determine their suitability for developments. Regarding the organisation’s basic skills the industry. The MBAWC then registers the acquisition courses, group skills facilitator apprentice with the Construction Education Tony Keal says, “In the Western Cape, a large and Training Authority (CETA) and the South percentage of people working in the industry African Revenue Service (SARS), sends them to an accredited trainhave either very basic liting provider, and funds eracy and numeracy skills their training up until or none at all. As those the completion of people cannot enter into their trade test, which an apprenticeship or any is also organised by formal type of training, the MBAWC. we offer our members’ The member comemployees a variety of pany does not have to basic skills courses such outlay any money, but as construction carpentry, Tony Keal, group skills facilitator rather provide experibasic bricklaying, scaffold erection, scaffold inspection, waterproofing, ential training. In this way, the member comand painting. Training is provided based on pany employing the apprentice will have their demand for particular skills by our members, scorecard enhanced and will, at the end of the who only have to pay for the employee’s financial year, receive a tax rebate from SARS. wages while we finance the full training costs. On passing the trade test, the apprentice will We refer the candidates to accredited training receive a certificate from the Department of providers in the Western Cape. Certificates Higher Education. Recognising a shortfall in certain trades, of competence are issued upon completion of a course – equipping the employee with a the MBAWC has implemented another apprenticeship programme, which gives those marketable skill.” Apprenticeships are the MBAWC’s core with a grade 12 education the opportunity to training offering. “There are two ways in which build on their academic foundations. Not only we run our apprenticeships,” explains Keal. does the organisation pay for their training “The one is member-driven, while the other is and place them with members to put their theoretical knowledge into practice, it also orchestrated by the MBAWC.”

There is a persistent shor tage of skills in the South African construction industr y, according to Allen Bodill, executive director of the Master Builders Association Western Cape (MBAWC).

“Certificates of competence are issued upon completion of a course – equipping the employee with a marketable skill.”

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pays them a small stipend. Apprentices are generally placed with smaller member companies, as they do not have the rollover capacity of work associated with their larger counterparts, meaning that the apprentices get proper on-site practical training for an extended period. According to Keal, “It is hoped that these people will one day go on to become entrepreneurs who are crucial for the industry as they can create muchneeded jobs.”

evidence to demonstrate their understanding of what has been taught, the aspirant supervisors are issued with a certificate.

Bursaries

The organisation also awards hundreds of thousands of rands in bursaries to students each year, covering their tuition fees. These are awarded to second-year students who are employees of, or related to, MBAWC members and who undertake studies at tertiary instituCadet education programme tions offering courses in the built environment The MBAWC’s three-year cadet education field. To qualify for a bursary, students have programme is geared towards the developto have demonstrated very good academic ment of future foremen/ results in their first year construction super viof study. For the bursary sors. The programme, to be extended to third based on teachings from year and beyond, the stuthe British Construction dent must consistently Industry Training Board, per form well in their will enable those with chosen course. “When a National Technical we invest in bursary stuCertificate 6 to attain dents, we are investing a National Qualifications in human capital for leadFramework 4 qualificaership in the industry,” tion, which is equivashares Keal. lent to a diploma from “A highly skilled worka university of technol- Allen Bodill, force is absolutely indisogy. The ‘cadets’ will be pensable to a contractor ready to start work in the MBAWC executive director trying to deliver quality industry as soon as they buildings in a safe, timereceive this qualification and are placed with ous, and cost-effective manner. The more we MBAWC members. can upskill people, the less rework is required, To upskill experienced employees, in order to the more efficient the workforce will become, become construction supervisors, the MBAWC and the safer they are likely to work, resulting has devised a 12-module programme that is run in our member companies having greater conas and when required by members who put fortrol over the risks involved in entering into conward candidates. On completion of a portfolio of tracts with their clients,” concludes Bodill.

“A highly skilled workforce is absolutely indispensable to a contractor trying to deliver quality buildings in a safe, timeous, and costeffective manner.”

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SKILLS & TRAINING

Close collaboration for CPD

NDUNA TRAINING SERVICES recognised the need for construction contract knowledge in South Africa and was established in response to this increasing skills gap. In an ever-changing, dynamic, and growing built environment industry, Induna provides exceptional construction contract training interventions. The company is proud to play a key role in enabling business success through its knowledge, passion, and experience in the legal, engineering, quantity surveying, and training professions. Quite simply, Induna is the most accomplished construction contract training provider in South Africa. The company boasts a collective 70 years’ experience in construction law and 90 years’ construction contract experience, as well as the only FIDIC-accredited trainer in South Africa.

Kingsbourne partnership Kingsbourne is a Johannesburg-based, multidisciplinary company providing specialised advisory, contractual, and claims services to the construction and engineering industry. Induna and Kingsbourne partnered in 2015 to provide their clients with holistic training and advisory solutions without forsaking each company’s areas of expertise. They are closely associated entities through common shareholding, management, and board. Both companies are excited by the synergy that their association offers. While the Induna head offices are based in Johannesburg, the company has a reach across South Africa, Africa, and the Middle East, through partnerships with FIDIC and various associations across Africa. Induna’s execution strategy incorporates proven methodologies, extremely qualified personnel,

and a highly responsive approach to managing deliverables. The facilitators include registered professional engineers, quantity surveyors, and consulting engineers with specialist knowledge and experience in dispute resolution and claims management. The course offerings primarily focus on construction contracts (FIDIC, NEC, GCC, and JBCC), contract administration, and claims management; however, the offerings do include project management and other soft skills training. Induna has aligned itself to professional associations such as FIDIC, CESA, ASAQS, and SAICE, and provides training on FIDIC, NEC, and contract similarities and differences. It also provides inhouse and public courses. Courses include truelife case studies, which enhance the delegates' learning experience, and are tailor-made to company and industry requirements. IMIESA October 2015

in partnership with

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SHEQ

Awarding safety, saving lives Gauteng Piling triumphed in the 2015 Master Builders Association (North) Health & Safety Awards' ’Best Subcontractor without a Site’ category, despite having to cope with the kind of challenges piling companies have nightmares about.

HILE PROVIDING THE foundations for Summit Place, Phase 2: Building E – a new office block in Pretoria – the company struck widespread rocky strata with a solidity seldom encountered. The project called for the provision of 145 foundation piles for the office block being built by fellow MBA North member GD Irons Construction. For Kobus Geyer, Gauteng Piling's contract manager, and Victor Madau, site supervisor

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for the project, the piling at Summit Place in Garsfontein Road proved an experience to remember. "The major problem was the incredibly rocky site. There were large underground boulders all over the place and they took a very heavy toll on our piling rigs, with maintenance levels soaring. We did expect some rocky terrain, as we had done piling on an adjacent site a few years ago, but the extent and size of the huge boulders and solid rock underground at this new site were just staggering and forced us to employ drastic measures to meet tight time deadlines," Geyer recalls. Sibongiseni Dlomo, Gauteng Piling's health and safety officer, said the flights on the two rigs used on the project regularly struck deep boulders, some up to 850 mm wide. "We simply had no choice but to remove the boulders manually. This called for lowering some of our site team several metres deep underground into the piling excavations – in special 'boatswain's chairs' – to manoeuvre and chain the enormous and heavy boulders so that they could be hoisted, by crane, out of the piling holes.

"We had to prepare risk assessments for all the tasks done on-site, including this potentially dangerous procedure," he states.

Ensuring safety on-site Dlomo paid tribute to Madau, with regard to how he had super vised the piling operations at Summit Place, and to rig operators Visit Mathebula and Samual Rivala, who stuck manfully to their task to keep the drilling operations on schedule, despite the delays caused by flight damages. "Daily maintenance, cleaning all equipment such as drilling rigs and bobcats, replacing lost auger teeth, and hardfacing the cutting edge of the augers were critical for this challenging project. Barricading nets were used to prevent other contractors' on-site employees from falling into the drilled empty holes before the steel cages were inserted and the concrete was cast into the holes.'Deep excavation' warning signs were extensivly placed to alert all on-site about the open excavations," says Dlomo. In addition, Dlomo regularly visited the site to ensure that the proper personal protective equipment – such as hand gloves, hard hats, goggles, safety boots, and work suits – were worn at all times. "Daily toolbox checks, safety task instructions, and job safety analyses always form part of Gauteng Piling's safety procedures – and it was absolutely vital for this project. Also, if any incidents or near misses that could have ruined our safety per formance took place, I investigated these fully to prevent reoccurences," Dlomo added.

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CONCRETE Readymix | Precast | Aggregates

Readymix Conference round-up P118

Gearing up for multibillion-rand projects P121

Putting quality back in quality management P122

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Readymix Conference round-up

This year’s Readymix Conference by Sarma (Southern Africa Readymix Assocation) was bigger, with a host of speakers shedding light on some of the biggest issues affecting the industry today.

Don Schoeman, Crowbar Solutions

George Evans, PPC

VERYTHING FROM POWER shortages and struggling economies to rising opportunities and the next housing boom were examined and unpacked for the 200-strong audience to digest. More than 30 sponsors and exhibitors were also at hand to show the latest products and services available to the industry. Among them were prime sponsors PPC, along with the other major cement suppliers, truck and equipment manufacturers, chemical, formwork, and financial service providers, as well as a strong media contingent to record proceedings and provide coverage from the event. We take a look at some of the conference highlights.

Bagged cement stunting readymix The readymix concrete industry supplies a meagre 15% of concrete used in South Africa – as opposed to similar-sized markets around the world, where readymix comprises up to 75% of the concrete used countries. While this is an alarming statistic, according to construction specialist Don Schoeman of Crowbar Solutions, it represents an

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Johan van Wyk, Sarma

Andre de Klerk, Eskom

opportunity for the industry to win away market share from competing segments and should form the basis of a new strategy for the readymix industry to pursue. According to Schoeman, the majority of cement supplied in South Africa is bagged cement sold through retails outlets. Of all bags sold, the vast majority is sold through just a handful of retailers who employ slick marketing techniques to keep customers coming back for more. In addition, the enormous buying power of these retailers continues to force cement producers to slash prices of bagged cement, which enables retailers to maintain lower prices compared with smaller users (such as the readymix industry). He suggests that Sarma should represent the industry to establish a united buying group and negotiate better pricing for its members. With more competitive pricing, he suspects the market share of readymix will, in time, increase exponentially.

Changing standards Some of the standards governing the use of concrete are outdated and need to be

Economist Dr Roelof Botha

Adrian Damant, ATK

changed. This is according to concrete expert George Evans of PPC, who is actively working with standards authorities and the industry to modernise the country’s concrete standards. Many of the standards are currently being revised to meet the needs of the end users and ensure the quality, price, and longevity of structures. The standards currently being improved apply to the entire cycle – manufacturing, testing, and placing concrete. Furthermore, the country has adopted European standard EN1992 as the basis for its new standards and the team is currently modifying existing standards accordingly.

Cleaning up concrete’s act Sarma will establish a dedicated spill cleanup team to remove spillages on roads in Gauteng, initially, before branching out to all other major centres in the country. The Gauteng team will be set up as an experimental initiative in response to pressure from communities to remove unsightly and dangerous spills from our roads. According to Sarma general manager Johan van Wyk, the clean-up of spilled concrete is

CEMENT & CONCRETE

an expensive exercise and the first leg alone will cost a staggering R700 000 in its first six months of operation. He said that it is a proactive step that is hoped will cast Sarma members in a good light, as responsible members of the community. All readymix companies in Gauteng have already been contacted and the team will have a six-month period to clean up. Thereafter, there will be a roll-out across the rest of the country.

Unburdening mixers Many mixer trucks carry hundreds of kilograms of dried concrete in their mixing drums, which seriously impedes fuel consumption and limits the amount of concrete that can be transported to sites. In order to remove the concrete quickly and easily, Sarma is currently working with a start-up company to import a hightech machine that is able to remove the dried concrete with high-pressure waterjets. This technology is so effective that one machine will be able to initially clean and then maintain the entire fleet of trucks currently operated by Sarma members throughout the country. Compared with the current dangerous and damaging manual practices, the new method does not require a person to enter the drum – so, it will be considerably faster and more cost-effective. Sarma will communicate a countrywide schedule with members as soon as the machine becomes operational.

Indicators are pointing to the country’s property market being on the brink of the next property boom, and that signs are already showing that the boom has started

Light in the tunnel Andre de Klerk of Eskom told delegates that load-shedding will remain a reality for the next two and a half years. He said the country has the ability to generate approximately 40 gigawatts (GW) of electricity, but loses about 4 GW to planned and 4 GW to unplanned maintenance. As a result, the net output is 32 GW of useable power. Best practice dictates that a further 15% be held available in reserve. Unfortunately for us, the peak is 33 GW in summer and 35 GW in winter. The result is that our system will become overloaded and fail if left unattended; as a result, load-shedding is implemented in order to alleviate pressure on the grid. With no new projects able to generate electricity in the short term, Eskom needs to wait for Medupi and Khusile to come on line before we see a shift away from load-shedding.

Housing boom is coming Highly acclaimed and well-respected economist Dr Roelof Botha predicted a number of ups and downs in the market at last year’s CSSA Chairman’s Breakfast event for Concrete Society members. Of these, 90% of his predictions were realised, which gives credence to what he had to say at this year’s conference. According to him, the bad news is that commodities are in a

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modestly and, when commodity prices do increase, he predicts that our economy is going to flourish. Added to that, he says that indicators are pointing to the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property market being on the brink of the next property boom, and that signs are already showing that the boom has started. Those able to invest in property or improvements may consider his 90% track record when contemplating their next investment. bad place right now, putting pressure on the world economies, including South Africa. Mortgages are still low and the economy, in general, is underperforming. On the up side, though, he says that low commodity prices are due for an upswing, as they follow cyclical movements and have done so throughout history. Despite challenges, our economy still continues to grow

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Shreq software Whizz-kid Adrian Damant of ATK introduced a new, integrated software platform that is able to assist with the management of Shreq (safety, health, road legislation, environment, and quality) management systems. Built off the back of the Sarma Shreq audit, the software gives users a window

into the whole system, in real time, from a smartphone or tablet. The software guides those responsible for upholding the system to remain compliant. It also delivers realtime percentages of compliance and gives alerts, monthly performance statistics, overdue inspections, tasks, and latest activities at the touch of a button.

A new chapter Long-time servant of Sarma Deon Fourie announced that he will be stepping down as chairman of the association in October, when elections will take place to establish a new board. Although he will be stepping down, there are new provisions in the constitution that will ensure he stays on Mancom in the new role of immediate past chairperson. Another change to the constitution also makes provision for companies (rather than individuals) to be elected to the board to ensure continuity and that member companies are always represented, even when individuals leave the company.

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ICO PIENAAR, DIRECTOR of Aspasa, says planning needs to be done in conjunction with all role players, so that materials – such as sand and aggregates – are available where required. Depending on the grade and type of aggregate, required materials may need to be sourced from different areas, which might complicate or drive up the prices of projects. “Sand and aggregates in concrete, bitumen, or as bedding material are the building blocks of almost all our infrastructure, whether it be road, railways, buildings, or pipelines. Yet, few people realise how different the requirements are for each and every application.

Avoiding last-minute plans “Different infrastructure requires different characteristics and properties of these materials. As a result, it is prudent to find out where the nearest sources are, what reserves are available, and what transport implications exist. It is also vital to secure supply and pricing at a predetermined rate. “Some unsustainable possibilities exist: the ideal material that is eventually sourced may either need to be transported over long distances; contractors may be tempted to use unsuitable material from make-shift excavations; or contractors may source materials from illegal suppliers who may be practicing unsustainable quarrying to the detriment of workers, surrounding communities, as well as the environment. “Last-minute planning has been responsible for badly thought-out borrow pits along our roads and railways in the past, and these are still visible along our freeways where they have been left to scar the landscape forever. Borrow pits also jeopardise the sustainable employment of those in the quarrying industry, as they take away from surrounding quarries and make them less viable in the short term. In tough economic times, this may be all that is required to close down marginal local quarries,” says Pienaar.

Gearing up for multibillionrand projects As government gears up to spend R813 billion on infrastructure development over the next three years, the Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa (Aspasa) is cautioning role players to begin consulting with building material suppliers in order to ensure availability and quality. Nico Pienaar, Aspasa director Formal quarrying operations provide sustainable employment for thousands of workers around the country

Working together He explains that, by working with all the relevant industries, plans can be made in each industry to bolster supply to meet demands. Where local supplies may be an issue, the industry may even be able to work together to stockpile materials or source new and sustainable sources closer to where they are required. This will also prevent collusion, as all possible suppliers can be identified and terms, conditions, and pricing obtained beforehand to ensure fairness. “We want to ensure that government’s projects are successful and benefit the population. In addition, we want to ensure that our industry is ready and also stands to benefits from government’s bold plans,” Pienaar concludes.

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Putting quality back in quality management Significant updates to the International Standards Organisation 9001 quality management standard this year will have a major effect on the way quality is measured and managed within companies across the globe.

LTHOUGH CHANGES are designed to streamline and simplify the system, it will, nonetheless, need to be implemented carefully, and changes will need to be made within companies over a period of three years to comply with the new ISO 9001:2015 standard. Recently addressing members of the Concrete Manufacturers Association (CMA) in Midrand, standards expert Christel Fouché, CEO of Advantage ACT and AGO Certification, said that among the most significant changes will be a shift of responsibility to senior management rather than being the domain of companies’ quality management representatives.

Necessary for trade “In fact, quality management representatives are no longer an explicit requirement of the new standards, nor for compulsory procedures. Rather, businesses will be required to walk the talk and be able to prove the steps that are in place to ensure quality.” “Auditors will also have to adapt and be required to interview senior management at CEO and similar level in order to ensure that standards are being upheld. While this may Christel Fouché, seem an onerous task, it is an absolute necessity for businesses – it is very difficult to do business without ISO 9001 certification,” Fouché explained. She elaborated that the penalty for not maintaining proper quality standards can be severe, with damage to brands and reputations being far more costly than any financial losses that may be incurred.

Faster to implement The new ISO 9001:2015 standard has been developed on the foundation of the new Annex SL document. This document will set the new quality standard in line with ISO 14001 environmental and OHSAS 18001 health and safety standards, paving the way for easier implementation of integrated SHEQ management systems. As a result, the implementation and auditing of management systems will be run on a similar template, which will make it easier and faster to implement the different standards without duplication. Although the streamlining will benefit companies in the future, companies with existing management systems will be faced with a number of challenges, according to Fouché. “The system will rely on input from senior management; auditors will have to be comfortable communicating at that level. With the correct questions and information requests, CEOs and the management team should, however, be able to show compliance. “Another challenge for companies that think they can run their quality management system as a ‘paper exercise’ is that the new system will need to be managed 365 days a year – not just the week before AGO Certification an audit. New quality management systems will be more transparent and not as easy to fudge. Quality will have to become ‘a way of life’."

"Remember, when you are out of quality, you are out of business."

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Summary of changes All those involved in quality assurance within an organisation should make themselves familiar with the upcoming changes and

start to prepare and implement adjustments as soon as possible, in order to be ready for ISO 9001:2015 accreditation in three years. The short summary of changes that follows needs to be verified and implemented by quality personnel and senior management: • The system has changed to a higher level of management. • The core structure of quality standards is now in line with environmental, health, safety, and all other standards. • Several new clauses have been added and need to be studied. • The system will follow a process approach. • Mention of preventative action has been removed as the system should automatically take care of issues. • The term ‘product’ is replaced by ‘product or services’. • Mention of ‘continuous improvement’ has been changed to ‘improvement’. • Mention of ‘purchasing’ has been replaced by ‘externally provided products and services’. • Specific reference to documented information is now done. • Numerous wording changes have been made in order to make it easier to interpret . • Three new, informative annexes have been included. Although not a requirement any more, Fouché recommended that quality management representatives be maintained and work hand in hand with senior management to implement quality requirements. Likewise, she recommended that quality manuals also not be thrown out, even though they are no longer a requirement. "Remember, when you are out of quality, you are out of business," she concluded.

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Linking the islands In 2005, Qatar started a new city development project. The project, which is located on the coast and in the northern part of Doha, will feature a new city with waterways, man-made islands, and modern structures.

USAIL, THE NEW CITY in Qatar, will include large blocks of land and bodies of water, internal connecting channels, and offshore islands. It will also feature two pedestrian bridges that connect three islands. In order to build these bridges, the FCC Construcción-Petroserv joint venture relied onthe decades of expertise gathered by Doka engineers. Doka was hired to supply preassembled formwork materials for the two pedestrian bridges.

Ellipsis design in fair-faced concrete The bridge design resembles a necklace with interlocking ellipses, with concrete decks suspended by steel cables attached to slender pylons. The two bridges are 90 m and 100 m long and were built simultaneously. This means the quantity of the required formwork material must be double. The formwork system for the bridge construction consists of the load-bearing tower Staxo 40 and large-area formwork Top 50, which meet all the architectural requirements specified by the customer. This includes the surface structure of the bridge deck that was to meet requirements of fair-faced concrete provided by Dokaplex formwork sheet. Precision panel joints result in a perfect joint pattern that eliminates rework. Due to the course of the changing bridge level, the shoring tower has to be adapted accordingly for each pouring section. The flexible load-bearing tower Staxo 40 system allows for precise adaptation of the shoring tower to the building specification. The adjustable U-heads and feet of the screw jacks, with a 75 cm extension range, allow for easy height adjustment.

Ready-to-use In order to provide for maximum efficiency, in terms of construction time, the bridge deck formwork was assembled in advance. Pre-fabrication at Doka's pre-assembly service complex saves time and space on-site and, at the same time,

reduces costs. The finished systems were delivered just in time by way of special shipment and were immediately ready for use. "We are very happy with the pre-assembly of the formwork systems. It saves us time and ensures quality. This process made assembling the formwork sheets on the load-bearing tower quick and easy", says Victor Gomez Lopez, FCC Construcción construction manager. Since Doka engineers were already involved during the planning stage, they were able to provide valuable advice on all issues regarding options for formwork engineering pertaining to architectural requirements. Here, the ability to adapt quickly was also necessary, with the bridge design and, consequently, load-bearing tower and formwork requirements changing several times during planning. A theoretical and hands-on training session prior to the start of construction was helpful for the crew. It ensured the smooth implementation of processes and efficient construction progress. "Proximity to the Doka branch in Qatar allowed for quick feedback in case of questions. Thanks to the on-site formwork instructor, technical support was available any time," Lopez comments.

A modern city Lusail is an urbanisation project along the east coast, north of Doha – the capital of Qatar. The planned city will be built on a 38 km² area, starting at the West Bay Complex Canal north-east of Doha. It stretches 7.5 km north along the coast and extends up to 5 km inland. After completion, this pocket of land will be home to a population of 200 000, offer work for 170 000 people, and accommodate 80 000 visitors. To this end, comprehensive earth movements have taken place, starting in 2007. The initial formwork was delivered in August 2013. In situ concrete work for both pedestrian bridges was completed on schedule by early 2015.

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Business is booming

HE YEAR 2015 WILL go down as the most groundbreaking year since the establishment of the Southern Africa Readymix Association (Sarma), more than a decade ago. Industry organisations representing engineers, contractors, and building professionals will accept Sarma certification as the criteria for all readymix supplied to their members’ construction sites. Simultaneously, the country’s main contracting firms, as well as parastatal organisations including the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral), and government entities have also specified that only Sarma-certified readymix concrete may be used on their sites. “This had the knock-on effect of attracting a growing number of non-member readymix suppliers, who have begun working tirelessly to meet membership requirements and become part of the association. As a result, membership has grown in leaps and bounds, with growth of 11% in accredited member numbers during 2015. “This is good news for the local construction industry, as it ensures our construction projects have world-class concrete. It also ensures that acceptable minimum standards are maintained, putting an end to building collapses and ramshackle houses resulting from inferior products being used,” says Sarma chairman, Deon Fourie.

Expect more from the readymix industry in future, as years of hard work and planning culminate in the professionalisation of the industry and the widespread adoption of certified readymix as the construction material of choice of the country’s most influential construction bodies. Speaking at the association’s annual general meeting recently, he said that these developments mark a watershed as the construction industr y embraces necessar y quality over price. Sarma-cer tified members cannot cut corners and have sometimes been undercut by non-compliant readymix suppliers. This not only jeopardised the integrity of the structures but also led to unfair competition. “Thanks to the efforts of general manager Johan van Wyk, role players across the countr y and an increasing number of organisations are seeing the benefits of using only accredited readymix.

“Thanks to the efforts of general manager Johan van Wyk role players across the country and an increasing number of organisations are seeing the benefits of using only accredited readymix.”

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Deon Fourie, Sarma chairman

TOP Delegates take their seats for the 2015 instalment of the Readymix Conference by Sarma

He is slowly winning the fight to professionalise readymix concrete in South Africa. “Under his leadership, the association is also throwing its weight behind the setting up and adoption of new, modern-day standards for readymix, as well as pushing for higher standards of testing from the countr y’s laboratories when it comes to dealing with concrete. “In addition, there are also moves afoot to start a clean-up squad to remove concrete spills from our roadways, as well as new training initiatives to improve the skills of concrete workers and professionals,” Fourie summarised.

CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES

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Reflecting on market conditions

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Stepping up workplaceÂ safety

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'Skidding' into the market P135

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CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES, EQUIPMENT & LOGISTICS

Staring down

a sluggish market

HE CONSTRUCTION AND mining sectors in South Africa, which were booming before 2008, have shown sluggish growth since 2010, and the current flat market conditions look set to stay with us for a while, says Stefan Otto, Conmesa chairperson. “We were hoping to see an upturn in the economy in the next quarter but, with depressed worldwide commodity prices, low investor confidence, concerns about further strike action, instability of the workforce, and political uncer tainty, the crystal ball remains cloudy. There is no rosy picture. Otto says the government’s inability to roll out its muchflaunted capital and infrastructure programmes has delayed the award of tenders and halted potential work. “New regulations have increased the costs of doing business and have further inhibited investment in South Africa. “This is without the impact of excessive wage demands that result in lower employment and Eskom’s constraints on power that translate into lost production. Added to this, we cannot count on the recovery of commodity prices any time soon, given the financial bubble in China. The costs of getting commodities out from beneath the South African ground are simply too high." According to Otto, Conmesa predicts conditions to remain low or even decline further, only starting to pick up again at the beginning of 2016.

accelerated, there should, in fact, be a surge in this sector. For those who can’t see the wood for the trees, the forestry industry has shown a heartening upturn in business, with positive rewards for machinery manufacturers and distributors.

Not everyone’s out of the woods With banks now offering limited finance options, there is a growing trend to turn away from the purchase of new equipment. What’s increasingly popular is the purchase – on auction – of good-quality used assets and more ‘rental with option to purchase’ type deals. And, of course, this makes good business sense. This move is enhanced by end users commissioning original equipment manufacturers to maintain equipment through formal service and maintenance contracts. Obvious benefits include no excessive purchase costs, the extended service life of every machine, reduced maintenance requirements, and minimal downtime.

The construction and mining sectors in South Africa, which were booming before 2008, have shown sluggish growth since 2010, and the current flat market conditions look set to stay with us for a while

100 95 75

A panel of members of Conmesa – the Construction and Mining Equipment Suppliers’ Association – reflects on market conditions in the first quarter of 2015 and takes a look at the period ahead. Steady demand for compact equipment The local market also shows a steady increase in demand for compact equipment, with more contractors opting to purchase compact wheel loaders and mini excavators, rather than a standard backhoe loader. This has been the global trend for many years – South Africa is only now in sync. What’s also interesting is that companies are focusing on efficient technologies by implementing mechanised tasks, rather than an outdated, labour-intensive site. This could, of course, be linked to ongoing strike action permeating the struggling economy. So, in a nutshell, Conmesa members conclude that the construction and mining sectors – together with government’s contribution, stimulation, and support – certainly need to dig deep to turn things around and be profitable and sustainable in this country, before we cast our eyes across borders into Africa.

Not all doom and gloom around the Conmesa table Members believe that if union issues can be resolved ahead of pending strike action, South Africa will see an upturn in the mining sector. And, if government’s construction infrastructure development programme is

5 0

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In addition to keeping equipment in optimal shape, some modernday lubricants also ensure lower energy consumption, faster clean-up, and less hazardous waste.

Easing electricity costs through enhanced lubricants

HEN A PIECE OF heavy industrial equipment fails, the cost is usually far greater than merely replacing damaged parts, states Filter Focus COO Craig FitzGerald. “The danger to workers and the downtime that the failure may bring can be crippling. Often, a machine breaks down from something as simple as a lack of lubrication, or use of a product not best suited to the equipment.” Lubricants perform many essential functions within machinery, including cooling, transferring power, reducing friction, preventing wear and tear, and minimising deposits and contaminants. “With additive technology becoming more and more sophisticated, understanding the lubricant you’re investing in has become more important for operational staff and engineers,” he asserts.

Preventing the wear of parts While wear is inevitable with any machinery and components do indeed break down, using superior lubricants designed specifically for the equipment in use and the job at hand can slow this down. According to FitzGerald, the visual inspection of components coupled with planned maintenance and a log of when a machine’s parts were last lubricated is the key to keeping costs down and efficiency up. “As a wear control specialist, Filter Focus’ involvement in implementing comprehensive lubrication and filtration programmes at sites in a number of industries has resulted in massive cost savings, as well as major reductions in energy and oil consumption, and less machine failures,” he says. FitzGerald points out that contaminated lubricants dramatically reduce the life of lubrication system components. “What is little understood is that all lubricants are contaminated – it is just the levels of contamination that differ, and this is no different with

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brand-new, unused oils. The role of lubricants in contamination management is critical, as abrasive dust and wear particles constantly build up in the machinery, regardless of the preventive measures taken. This highlights the need for effective lubricants and microfine bypass filtration as an essential part of the maintenance programme.” Scoring and pitting of metal components in high-stress parts of industrial equipment increases the risk of operational failure and downtime, and FitzGerald indicates that a high-performance lubricant can help ‘heal’ the gear surface.

Lower energy consumption FitzGerald mentions several cases where energy usage of large mill motors at industrial plants was measured prior to and after conversion by Filter Focus. “The savings in electrical consumptions were significant. “When you consider that the annual electricity bill for open-gear applications is one of the largest operating costs for industrial plants, the temperature reductions we achieved during the conversion process – a decrease of 15°C – is incredible. Lower operating conditions point towards reduced friction and better usage of available electricity. Essentially,

TOP Filter Focus's filtration system offers cleaner oil, a reduction in oil consumption, and longer life ABOVE Filter Focus is a leading wearcontrol expert

we provide the customer with the ability to do more with less, driving towards improved plant efficiencies.” A recent project has seen Filter Focus provide Sasol Synfuels with a production increase of 18%, while also reducing operating and lubrication costs. FitzGerald states that it is about time that customers start implementing proven technologies and eliminating wasteful, outdated practices. With the enhancements in lubricants performing a variety of functions per piece of equipment and project, FitzGerald stresses that it’s vital that customers know exactly what they’re buying and what each lubricant brings to their bottom line. “Most importantly, Filter Focus provides a faster, safer clean-up process, higher production, and lower energy consumption, while producing less hazardous waste. These are vital aspects of environmental responsibility and compliance,” he concludes.

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CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES, EQUIPMENT & LOGISTICS

Catering for the needs of emerging contractors Small to medium-sized contractors are not only faced with a skills shortage, but also lack the capital to buy expensive automated equipment.

AN MIXERS SOUTH Africa (PMSA), These machines are supplied with the the largest manufacturer and dis- appropriate mixing plant. Materials and tributor of brick and block making pallet handling and machine operations are machines on the African continent, all manual. This range is, therefore, ideal offers a range of machines to meet the spe- for smaller contractors, without significant cific needs of this sector. experience in manufacturing operations, to The emerging contractor market is a criti- set up their own plants. cal sector of the South African construction industry, as it promotes the empowerment of Easy to operate and maintain local entrepreneurs. “Our machines allow con- Looking more closely at the UNI plant, tractors to establish viable small businesses Booysen explains that a simple switch panel that require little capital injection,” Quintin is used to operate the loader skip and pan Booysen, sales and marketing manager at mixer. In addition, the discharge gate is operated by means of a simple hand lever. PMSA, comments. “The main idea behind this range is To date, Booysen estimates that PMSA to manufacture machines equipment has been that are easy to operate. used to manufacture the They must also be able to bricks for about two milwithstand rugged operatlion houses in Southern ing conditions and be easAfrica alone. PMSA’s ily maintained,” Booysen small-capacity machines notes. In this regard, the include the PK300 pan mixer's wall and floor (Cornet) and the PK100 are lined with easily replace(UNI). The standard brick able wear segments. capacity of this range is Quintin Booysen, PMSA The three-bladed sprung from 10 000 to 16 000 per nine-hour production shift, depending on mixing star has an inner-wall scraper for maximum efficiency, with block machines the machine option.

“Our machines allow contractors to establish viable small businesses that require little capital injection.”

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TOP PMSA sales and marketing manager Quintin Booysen ABOVE LEFT A VB4X machine from PMSA, with a capacity of up to 110 000 bricks per nine-hour production shift ABOVE Mobile VB1 machinery, from PMSA, for rural projects where mobility is required

all having interchangeable moulds for producing a range of products from a single machine. PMSA’s medium-capacity machines include the VB1X, VB1, and RE-600. Here, the standard brick capacity is between 22 000 and 60 000 per nine-hour shift. A choice of materials handling systems is available, with the option of either fully automatic or totally manual operation. The largest-capacity machines from PMSA are the RE-1400, VB4X, and VB4. Standard brick capacity is from 96 000 to 165 000 per nine-hour shift. A selection of materials and pallet handling systems are available. These high-end machines can be fully automated or semi-automated, with a selection of options according to the end products being manufactured.

CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES, EQUIPMENT & LOGISTICS

Doing business like champions

N THE CASE OF Tshwane-based Ditshimega Projects, management was delighted with the way Komatsu does business – an excellent manner in which to begin a long and mutually beneficial relationship. “When we put out enquiries for new excavators and backhoe loaders, Komatsu was the first manufacturer to respond, and we were very impressed with the quality of service and friendly attitude of its sales team,” says general manager Themba Skhosana. Ditshimega, which means ‘champions’ in Setswana, started out in 2012 under the leadership of managing director Sakkie Ranta, who “We strongly believe in owning our own equiphas an honours degree in civil engineering and ment for two specific reasons. First, it proves is a registered professional engineer with the to existing and potential customers that we following esteemed bodies: SAICE, ECSA, and are serious players in the construction busiSABTACO. The company is living up to its name, ness. Second, hiring machinery costs money having experienced consistent growth over the and you don’t have the same control over past three years and is looking to expand fur- maintenance and reliability that you have with ther into the Free State and Eastern Cape. your own products,” he says. This progress bodes well for the company It is this philosophy that prompted the purto meet its clearly stated aspirations. These chase of three Komatsu WB93R-5EO backhoe include becoming a supplier of choice to nation- loaders and a PC200-8MO excavator with al and municipal authorities and to pioneer job the prospect of the fleet growing to include a creation with special concern for women, disa- further new loader as well as a grader by the bled youth, and historically disadvantaged South end of 2015. Africans. Its commercial goal is to become a The business has 25 permanent employwholly self-sufficient busiees and is always on the UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE lookout for hard-working ness entity by 2020. KOMATSU PC200-8MO young professionals who EXCAVATOR: An impressive want to make their mark • The all-new Tier 3-emissionstrack record in the industry. rated motor is approximately 7% Ditshimega has an “We are developing more efficient than the PC200-8 impressive track record a reputation for having • The hydraulic system has been of successfully completthe capacity to meet refined, ensuring excellent work equipment response and ed projects, including civdeadlines. Sometimes, improving production ils and water reticulation this means having all cycle times projects, and upgrading hands on deck and work• The one-touch power-up button sewerage networks and ing into the early hours increases hydraulic power output school infrastructure of the morning, but we by 8%, resulting in a massive for a variety of customalways deliver jobs on 15.2 tonnes of digging force • The new 7" LCD monitor is ers, including the City of time and within budget,” user-friendly for both operator Tshwane and the Free Skhosana explains. and service personnel, ensuring State Depar tment of quick and easy machine health Capable people Education. Ditshimega monitoring and diagnostics at the heart of it is also active in project management and provides professional con- This philosophy extends to newly qualified engineers who have the responsibility of running a sulting services. Skhosana makes the point that the com- site as part of a process to groom them for pany is in the construction business for the project management. “Capable people are our most imporlong haul, which is reflected by its stance on tant asset and giving them this type of both equipment and personnel.

When a company is about to invest some of its hard-earned cash in capital equipment, first impressions count.

TOP A Komatsu backhoe loader ABOVE The Komatsu excavator PC200-8MO working on-site in Mamelodi

experience can only increase their confidence,” says Skhosana. A case in point is a young engineer, overseeing a pipe laying project in Mamelodi, who is delighted to be working with Komatsu equipment and is looking forward to the fleet’s expansion. Tenders are, of course, the lifeblood of the industry and Ditshimega currently holds a Grade 7 Construction Industry Development Board rating, allowing it to tender for projects up to a value of R130 million – or more, in the event of a joint venture. The seeds have been sown and there is every reason that the association between the champions and Komatsu will grow and flourish, especially as they share some deep rooted values, namely commitment to quality and reliability, collaboration with business partners, and the development of our most valuable assets, our human resources.

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A loaded offering

OD WATSON, MANAGING director of DISA Equipment, trading as Doosan, says, “Doosan, which has been manufacturing heavy earthmoving equipment for over 40 years, has an ongoing development programme to manufacture robust machines with advanced design features and high-performance materials – for optimum productivity, reduced running costs, and low emissions. “This investment in the latest technology gives users the guarantee that our machines offer efficient output power, low fuel consumption, minimal maintenance requirements, and extended service life. Operator safety, precise control, and comfort are key to product advancement. “Doosan earthmoving equipment – which encompasses heavy, wheel, and mini excavators; articulated dump trucks; as well as wheel loaders and various attachments – has been designed to cope efficiently and safely in Africa’s harsh operating conditions.”

The wheel loader family The DLA series, which encompasses four wheel loaders – the DL200A, DL250A, DL300A and DL420A models – have bucket capacities between 2.0 m³ and 4.5 m³, with optimised breakout force and machine balance. The operating weight of these wheel loaders has been increased, with greater tipping load capacities.

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The South African wheel loader market is a competitive one. That’s why the introduction of stronger, fuel-efficient machines designed to take on tough African conditions is always welcome.

These environmentally friendly machines are driven by Tier 2 engines, which are less sensitive to fuel quality than Tier 3 engines, yet still offer reduced fuel consumption and low exhaust emissions. The air-to-air intercooler engines offer high torque and low rpm for improved response. High power and torque characteristics, coupled with efficient synchronisation of the drive train with the hydraulic system, ensure optimum productivity, even in tough operating conditions. These machines have a smooth four-gear transmission and clutch cut-off via a brake pedal. The transmission has three modes of operation – manual, automatic (automatic shift for all gears), and semi-automatic (automatic with a ‘kick-down’ for first gear). A large-capacity transmission oil cooler ensures durability and the stable operation of the transmission. The DL300A and DL420A units, which are widely used in local conditions, have the flexibility to handle diverse materials, including the loading and transporting of granular materials, as well as bulk loads. The DL300A wheel loader, with an 8 litre Doosan DE08TIS engine (156 kW at 2 100 rpm), and the DL420A wheel loader, with an 11 litre Doosan DE12TIS engine (210 kW at 2 100 rpm), have been designed for advanced digging power and high traction for the penetration and handling of even the hardest materials.

Enhanced operator comfort The design of the DLA series has also been improved for enhanced operator comfor t. There is more space in the cab, improved visibility, push-button-controlled air conditioning and heating, a comfortable air-suspension seat, and convenient storage space. Features for operators also include precise control levers, a high-visibility central indictor panel, sun visor and room mirror, an adjustable steering column, and arm rests for added comfort. These machines have been designed for easy maintenance and, thus, more uptime and greater productivity. An LCD display conveys information about the ZF transmission and reports the nature of any problem. A laptop computer can be connected at any time for a complete transmission diagnosis. Features for easy maintenance procedures include the radiator fan, which swings out for effor tless cleaning, and remote drain valves, are easily accessible for the convenient draining of fluids. The air-conditioner condenser is accessed directly by tilting the grille.

INSIGHT

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ged Rug n a d ble Relia

MINING AND QUARRYING DIVISION: • Mobile Crushers • Mobile Screens • Washing Plants • Rock Drills • Conveyor Belting • Minerals Processing Systems • Static & Modular Crushers & Screens • Blockmakers • Hydraulic Breakers • Telescopic Conveyor Systems • Optical Belt Scales • Modular Plants • Excavator Attachments • Heavy Duty Static & Mobile Rotary Barrel Screens • Rigid Dump Trucks H/OFFICE: 14 Atlas Road, Anderbolt, Boksburg Tel: (011) 306-0700 • Fax: (011) 918-7208 e-mail: Elb@elbquip.co.za • Website: www.elbequipment.com BRANCHES & DEALERS RSA AND EAST AFRICA: BRITS: (012) 250-1565 • CAPE TOWN: (021) 933-2383 DURBAN: (031) 464-6522 • EAST LONDON: (083) 427-0993 GEORGE: (044) 878-0874 • KIMBERLEY: (053) 841-0040 MIDDELBURG: (013) 246-2312 • NAIROBI: (00254) (0) 20 807-0728 POLOKWANE: (015) 293-1978 • PORT ELIZABETH: (041) 451-0232 BRANCHES & DEALERS SOUTHERN AFRICA: BOTSWANA: (00267) 390-9972 • LESOTHO: (00266) 2831-3926 MOZAMBIQUE: (00258) 219-00469 • NAMIBIA: (00264) 61-234-052 IMIESA October 2015 SWAZILAND: (00268) 518-5348 • ZAMBIA: (00260) 212-210-642 ZIMBABWE: (00263) 448-5771/5

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Stepping up Giving team workplace safety sponsorship a lift

Mentis Non-Slip Rectagrid CCORDING TO Elaine RS40 grating provides a safe van Rooyen, marketand efficient way of draining ing manager at Andrew away slippery substances while simultaneously creating Mentis, installing approa slip-resistant, high-traction priate non-slip grating can help work area prevent many workplace accidents. She says that the company’s nonslip Rectagrid RS40 grating provides a safe and efficient way of draining away slippery substances while simultaneously creating a slip-resistant, high-traction work area. “This patented non-slip grating is proving so popular that we anticipate it will eventually completely replace serrated grating. The secret to the product’s success is a combination of the design, engineering, and manufacturing process, which results in the positive raised sections that create multidirectional obstructions on the top of each bearer bar,” says Van Rooyen. Van Rooyen explains that the pressure-locking system used in the Rectagrid RS40 secures the bearer and transverse bars, resulting in an uncompromised walkway surface that is both solid and safe in all applications. “The harsh environments experienced in mineral beneficiation plants, chemical plants, and the food and beverage industry provide a challenge for safe underfoot conditions. However, unlike serrated grating, the integrity of the loading capability of non-slip grating is ensured, mitigating slips and trips, and providing a structurally sound surface.”

Superior self-cleaning properties The choice of footwear in the workplace is often a consideration when implementing walkways and stairs. However, the non-slip characteristics of the Rectagrid RS40 are effective in all directions, so employees are equally safe wearing leather- and rubber-soled shoes and boots. The build-up of dirt typically associated with serrated grating is absent with non-slip Rectagrid RS40 grating, which is characterised by its superior self-cleaning properties. “This ability to effectively eliminate dirt, as well as moisture, makes this the ideal surface for industrial operations in inclement conditions such as water and wastewater plants. “Furthermore, maximum traction is provided by the larger surface contact area for both pedestrians and forklifts. The end result is a safe, costeffective, and low-maintenance underfoot surface that provides reduced employee downtime and the associated costs that result from slips and trips,” Van Rooyen concludes.

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HE PITTS SPECIAL aerobatics team has become a well-loved and recognised name in South Africa. Renowned as the best in their class with their Pitts Special aircraft, with many collective awards to their names, these daring aviators – Scully Levin, Arnie Meneghelli, Ellis Levin, and Sean Thackwray – are a common sight at corporate days, shows, and events. This team has been sponsored by Torre Automotive, formerly Control Instruments, for 16 years. With the acquisition of Control Instruments by Torre Industries, the team was rebranded as Team Torre and other business units in the Torre Industries stable were offered sponsorship. Torre Lifting Solutions signed an exclusive contract to sponsor the branding on one of the four-plane fleet. The Team Torre branding also extends to the flight suits and other promotional material at events. Quentin van Breda, technical director at Torre Lifting Solutions, points out that the company has a long tradition of identifying and capturing opportunities to increase its market penetration. “Our cranes and other lifting solutions are highly visible and, in particular, our Potain tower cranes have become a regular and noticeable feature on major construction sites throughout Southern Africa. The sponsorship of the Pitts Special planes and crew was a natural extension of our sustainable brand growth. We have the added advantage of having customer ‘flip days’ during the year, to offer our clients a very different experience in an aerobatic aircraft. As with all of our endeavours, we believe in aligning ourselves with the best of breed,” Van Breda explains.

CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES, EQUIPMENT AND LOGISTICS

‘Skidding’

into the market A new series of skid-steer loaders has hit the market and promises advanced features for improved performance, enhanced productivity, and increased operator comfort.

CSE Equipment’s SR and SV series skid-steer loaders encompass a range of models with advanced features for improved performance, enhanced productivity, and increased operator comfort

automatically activated. Battery and environmental drain hoses are easily accessible from the side of the machine for quick service and maintenance.

Improved visibility, comfort, and control

HE ROBUST CASE SR and SV series skid-steer loaders have been designed for exceptional driving force, increased stability, and reliable handling in all conditions, explains Brenton Kemp, managing director of CSE Equipment. “Turbocharged, four-cylinder, Tier 3 diesel engines, which provide the power and torque required to efficiently cope in the toughest site environments, also ensure operating efficiency and fuel economy. “An important feature of this highly efficient series is the large fuel tank – with a capacity of between 60.5 and 96.5 litres – which enables the machine to operate all day without the need to stop operations for refuelling. “Six radial-lift SR boom skid-steers have been engineered for digging, prying, and pushing; three vertical-lift SV machines efficiently handle demanding lift and carry tasks.”

Taking a powerful stand Models in the SR and SV series range from the SR130 unit, with a 590 kg operating

capacity, to the SV300 machine, with a 1 360 kg operating capacity. Peak torque specifications are from 130.5 Nm at 1 750 rpm to 340 Nm at 1 400 rpm. Tipping load capacities extend from 1 179 kg to 2 720 kg and the breakout force of the bucket cylinder is between 18.5 kN and 38.2 kN. Users can choose from standard mechanical drives, or optional electro-hydraulic (EH) switchable controls. The EH option facilitates the match of control patterns to operator preference. There is a new Power Stance chassis with a 21% longer wheelbase and 30/70 front/rear weight distribution, designed to safely increase the capacity to lift and haul more material. These machines also offer increased travelling speeds and improved stability, regardless of working conditions. The new design of this series enables easy, ground-line access for daily maintenance checks. Two retaining bolts facilitate convenient cab tilting for access to hydraulic and transmission components, when necessary. A safety locking system, which prevents the cab from dropping, is

The new cab design of this series offers 25% more interior width, with improved visibility, comfort, and control. The cab has been sealed to reduce noise levels and dust ingress. There is an ultra-narrow wire sidescreen design, with more glass surface area to provide 360-degree visibility for the operator. Side lighting enables 24-hour operation. Optional attachments for these skid-steer loaders include buckets, pallet forks, breakers, augers, sweepers, backhoes, stump grinders, cement mixers, cold planers, trenchers, rollers, and slot cutters. A hydraulic coupler enables the operator to switch attachments, without having to leave the cab. The standard ‘Connect under Pressure’ feature allows for the connection of tool hoses, without needing a wrench. Various tyres for specific applications include heavy- and severe-duty, non-pneumatic, flotation, mining, and premium liner options. Case construction equipment is available exclusively from CSE Equipment in Southern Africa. The Case range includes loaders, backhoe loaders, excavators, telescopic handlers, mini-excavators, and skid-steers loaders.

IMIESA October 2015

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CPD aCCReDITeD 3 POINTs (1 PeR DaY)

6th annual

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DaTes: 25, 26 & 27 November 2015

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Mary Jane alvero – al Mahdi CEO GEOSCIENCE TESTING LABORATORY UNITeD aRaB eMIRaTes

Monica F Cox Director PURDUe UNIVeRsITY UNITeD sTaTes OF aMeRICa

Benita Mehra Director of Property and PMO sURReY & BORDeRs NHs FOUNDaTION TRUsT UNITeD KINGDOM

Mayleen Kyster Director aFRICa sTeeL HOLDINGs

CONFIRMeD sPeaKeR FaCULTY: Puleng Kwele CEO BROaDBaND INFRaCO

anna-Marie sassenberg Owner: AMS Consulting ENGINEERING COUNCIL OF sOUTH aFRICa (eCsa)

Pfumelani Mbulayeni Head Of Quality and SHE DeNeL aVIaTION

santie Gouws Managing Director CONCReTe GROWTH

seapei Mafoyane CEO sHaNDUKa BLaCK UMBReLLas

Grace Olukune Chief Engineer esKOM GROUP TeCHNOLOGY

Thandiwe Nkambule National Executive Committee Member NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK ENGINEERS

Marlize Nel- Verwey Project Manager SANRAL

adeyemi Ishekwene Electrical System Manager BOMBeLa OPeRaTING COMPaNY

Nicole Maduray Process Engineer SASOL SOLVENTS

Mariam Paul Network Engineering & Build TeLKOM

suzelle de Wet Principal Consultant TURNeR & TOWNseND

Bessie Mabunda Project Director TRaNsNeT CaPITaL PROJeCTs

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adopting an integrated approach to risk based asset management Building high performing teams to reach your organisational goals Contributing to the NDP infrastructure development as a black woman in engineering Building high performing teams to effectively reach your organisational goals

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For easy registration contact Therisha: +27 (0) 11 326 2501 or email bookings@intelligencetransferc.co.za or fax: +27 (0) 11 326 2960 or visit: www.intelligencetransferc.co.za

CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES, EQUIPMENT & LOGISTICS

HOMAS JOUBERT, contracts director of JC van der Linde & Venter Projects, says the challenging contract called for the demolition of about 40% of an existing up-market, double-storey building overlooking the Zwartkops Raceway, from where the AMG Driving Academy operates and other major Mercedes-Benz corporate functions are staged. “The refurbishment contract called for the demolition of the western part of the building, to be replaced by an ultra-modern, double-storey structure overlooking the race track. Luxury balconies and a mini pavilion adjacent to the track also had to be provided," says Joubert. “The new design included large volumes of open spaces inside the premises, so the existing structure had to be strengthened through the installation of steel plates totalling 385 m in length, and 100 mm by 12 mm in dimension. In addition, 1 627 chemical steel anchors and several structural steel I-beams, up to 457 mm in depth, were installed to carry the weight. For additional support – and to maximise the interior open spaces – 15 relatively thin steel columns, only 10 mm thick with base plates 30 mm thick, were installed instead of conventional, bulkier columns," he adds.

Facing formidable challenges While the project was already under way, a new structural engineer was appointed. He felt that the originals plans did not provide sufficient support for the upper levels of the structure. As such, a total revision of the refurbishment of the new section of the building followed. “The new specifications received at that time inevitably posed major time and labour challenges for us, as building contractors. The new plans also called for the redesigning of the foundations for the new section of the building and its heavy roof. Massive excavations, in formidable, exceptionally clayey soil, had to be undertaken and, in all, over 1 200 m3 of soil had to be backfilled after the foundations were completed. The excavations and provision of new foundations took about two months to complete. “Another challenge we had to cope with was restricted working space; the fence of the race track is only a few metres from the Driving Academy building,” explains Joubert. As part of the refurbishment contract, JC van der Linde & Venter Projects had to replaster all the walls that were not demolished and provide additional new walls, floors, and ceilings, as well as undertake the tiling of the walls. New lifts and lift shafts had to be provided and, because noisy, high-speed driving regularly takes place on the adjacent track, double glazing had to be installed to improve

Revved up

renovations

Leading Gauteng building contractors have completed a R21 million contract for the extensive refurbishment, involving ‘massive structural alterations’, of the Driving Academy at the Zwartkops Raceway, near Pretoria. PROFESSIONAL TEAM

• Mercedes-Benz SA project manager – Phil Longbottom • Architects and chief agents – ARCA architects and designers: Faan Nel and Yolandi Smit • Quantity surveyors – Taljaard Meyer & Storm: Fred Khors • Structural engineers – Delta Built Environment Consultants: Schalk Neethling • Electrical engineers – Delta Built Environment Consultants: Malcolm Grift • Civil engineers – Delta Built Environment Consultants: Stephan le Roux • Mechanical engineers – Delta Built Environment Consultants: Ricardo da Silva interior acoustics and audibility, particularly for the safe-driving lectures regularly provided within the premises. Work on the contract star ted in May 2014 and was scheduled for completion in October 2014, but the building contract's period was extended to March 2015 to cope with the new structural changes specified by the new consultants. "In fact, the refurbishment project was so extensive that, at times, I felt that total demolition and rebuilding might have been a better option – but that's just a personal opinion," Joubert added.

Evoking passion Faan Nel of Arca Architects & Designers commented: “The brief called for a building that would evoke and build passion for the Mercedes-Benz AMG brand, and our design set out to create a memorable and extraordinary experience for all visitors. JC van der Linde & Venter Projects' passion, commitment, and attention to detail were invaluable to the highly successful end result.”

TOP JC van der Linde & Venter Projects’ demolition of the section to be refurbished; the structure being prepared for rebuilding ABOVE The completed refurbished building, pictured from the visitors' parking area

Pretoria-based JC van der Linde & Venter Projects is a member of the Master Builders Association North where company director Charl Venter is currently the president. The J.C. van der Linde & Venter Projects team that assisted Thomas Joubert on the provision of the new Zwartkops facilities comprised Johann Walters (contracts manager) and Gerrie Mostert and Dirk Bakker (site foremen). The impressive, new Mercedes-Benz facility is modelled on the motor company's AMG highperformance premises in Affalterbach, BadenWürttemberg, in Germany. AMG models are the highest-performing class within the MercedesBenz range and hundreds of Gauteng Merc owners regularly use the Zwartkops Raceway to fully experience their cars' capabilities.

IMIESA October 2015

137

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATIONS

A new view on

road maintenance

Road defects – like cracks, edge breaks, and potholes – can have a negative economic and social impact. They can also damage motor vehicles, endanger the lives of motorists and pedestrians, and lead to more costly road repairs. The timeous identification of such defects can help with the maintenance of road infrastructure. BY THEGARAN NAIDOO

N RESPONSE TO THIS need, the CSIR developed a visual surveying platform to support road infrastructure inspections. This platform assists with the maintenance of road infrastructure by timeously identifying and geolocating the abovementioned road surface defects. The visual surveying platform consists of a vehicle-mounted sensor system along with an analysis and visualisation software suite. The sensor system comprises a high-resolution camera, a GPS receiver, and a computer with peripherals for wireless connectivity. The sensor system is attached to a vehicle and driven

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IMIESA October 2015

through the area that is to be inspected. The system records synchronised video and GPS data, which is then uploaded to a computer for analysis. The detections produced during the analysis stage are stored in a GIS database where the defects may be viewed and validated by an operator. The operator can use the visualisation tool, which is a part of the system, to plan maintenance operations. The current, imported, state-of-the-art systems used for road inspections cost more than R15 million each. The CSIR’s visual surveying platform can be produced at an estimated R500 000. The lower cost implies that more

units could be deployed, which would result in a higher area coverage at a higher frequency of updates. The visual surveying platform would, thus, provide decision-makers with a timeous first-level estimate of the state of the road infrastructure, to enable more effective planning of further maintenance operations. The CSIR has issued a South African company called Jetpatcher – a company involved in the repair of road defects – with a technology evaluation licence to trial the visual surveying platform as part of the company’s regular operations workflow. The Johannesburg Roads Agency has also expressed interest in using

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATIONS

the technology as part of its maintenance operations.

More about how it works The analysis module is a key component of the system, using a combination of image processing and machine learning algorithms to detect, classify, and quantify road defects. The visual surveying platform has three modes of operation: a manual mode, an autonomous mode, and a hybrid mode. In the manual mode, the operator uses the software suite to watch the video stream and manually detect defects from the video. Once detected, the size and geographic location of the defect is automatically calculated and stored in the database. In the autonomous mode, the system automatically analyses the video stream to detect defects before automatically calculating the size and location thereof. During evaluation, the automated detection algorithm was able to detect a specified defect with an accuracy of 89%.

To improve the overall accuracy further, a human-in-the-loop or hybrid mode of operation was adopted. In the hybrid mode, the system automatically analyses the video stream and suggests possible defects to an operator, who then validates the detection. The development team believes that the manual and hybrid modes could be conveniently integrated into the existing workflows of companies and municipalities that are involved in the maintenance of road infrastructure. Further improvements to the autonomous mode would be incorporated into the hybrid mode.

Future plans and applications Although defects of different types can be extracted from the video stream, the current version of the visual surveying platform focuses on detecting and estimating the size of potholes. During one investigation, the team also developed an algorithm to detect road signs. The team has since received requests from the South African Road Traffic Sign Manufacturers Association and a road defect repair company for further developing the road sign detector, as they have a need to geolocate road signs to determine if they are placed correctly or if they may be missing. Future development plans for the system include improvements on the detection and estimation accuracy of the system and the development of a back end process that integrates the data over all deployments of the visual surveying platform.

IMIESA October 2015

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139

IMESA HOST CITY | SAFCEC WESTERN CAPE LISTING

Western Cape Listing Continues from page 33

140

Ingozi Management

Associate

021 946 3368

graham@ingozi.co.za

Inter Coast Civils

Full

022 713 4109

bernard@intercoast.co.za

Kaytech Engineered Fabrics

Associate

021 531 8110

deon@kaytech.co.za

LCM Maintenance & Construction

Emerging

021 556 6073

lcm@absamail.co.za

Lulenco Plant Hire (Pty) Ltd

Full

021 972 1960

louisa.starke@gmail.com

Magic Moppers Mowers And Maintenance

Full

044 884 1371

magicmmm@telkomsa.net

Mainline Civil Engineering Contractors CC

Full

021 461 7399

tiernan@mainlinesa.co.za

Mambamba Trading CC

Emerging

021 903 7896

thembakazi.mbusi@yahoo.com

Martin & East (Pty) Ltd

Full

021 761 3474

mwinfield@martin-east.co.za

MD Civils

Full

021 987 1922

harold@mdcivils.net

MDL Electrical

Associate

044 874 1136

mloubser@mdlelectrical.co.za

Michelle and Idene Construction Investment CC

Emerging

023 416 1696

constructioninvest4@outlook.com

Much Asphalt Group

Associate

021 900 4400

leon.alberts@muchasphalt.com

Murray & Roberts Construction (Pty) Ltd

Full

021 431 3400

dave.heron@murrob.com

Namakwaland Konstruksie Bpk

Full

054 331 2845

charmaine@namkon.co.za

NOSA (Pty) Ltd

Associate

021 975 0680

christa@nosa.co.za

PPC Company Ltd

Associate

021 550 2145

rtomes@ppc.co.za

Regal Civils

Full

021 852 2899

regalcivils@telkomsa.net

RMD Kwikform

Associate

021 300 1400

roy.hendricks@rmdkwikform.com

Roadmac Surfacing Cape (Pty) Ltd (Raubex)

Full

021 905 0170

dieter@road-mac.co.za

Roadsmart Asphalting (Pty) Ltd

Full

021 713 0129

chris@roadsmartsa.co.za

SA Bitumen Association t/a Sabita

Associate

021 531 2718

ssolomons@sabita.co.za

Saclawa Enterprises CC

Emerging

022 952 1164

admin@saclawa.co.za

Safe Working Practice

Associate

021 712 1643

mwinter@safepractice.co.za

Safety Solutions Africa

Associate

021 979 2410

marketing@safetysolutionsafrica.co.za

Soillab

Associate

021 988 7410

jansenvanrensburgp@soillab.co.za

SPH Kundalila (PTY) Ltd

Associate

021 527 5200

una@sphgroup.co.za

Spray Pave (Pty) Ltd

Associate

021 931 0459

leslie@spraypave.co.za

Steeledale Reinforcing

Associate

021 534 2541

crhode@steeledale.com

Stefanutti Stocks Building (Pty) Ltd

Full

021 386 6336

craig.sheehan@stefstocks.com

Stefanutti Stocks Marine (Pty) Ltd

Full

021 386 2610

brian.mcdonald@stefstocks.com

Strata Civils

Full

021 905 7539

charles@strata.co.za

Summit Projects (Pty) Ltd

Emerging

021 532 0621

dennismar@mweb.co.za

Sunglide 160 CC

Emerging

073 517 9625

donaldkoopman532@gmail.com

Syntell (Pty) Ltd

Associate

021 710 2081

brian@syntell.co.za

Talon Construction CC

Full

021 553 0974

tnaude@talonconstruction.co.za

Thomas Solomon Construction

Emerging

021 904 5859

allisonschreuder@gmail.com

Training Force (Pty) Ltd

Associate

021 951 2750

cpt@trainingforce.co.za

Vakala Construction

Full

021 862 1973

loftus@jvzconstruction.co.za

WJ Civils

Emerging

044 874 0850

wouter@wjvn.co.za

WBHO Construction (Pty) Ltd

Full

021 692 2660

nick.mcKinley@wbho.co.za

William Dau Civils

Emerging

021 790 1078

Zebra Surfacing (Pty) Ltd

Full

021 761 3474

wmdau@iafrica.com Continues on page 140 gbyron@zebrasurfacing.co.za

IMIESA October 2015

CESA AON ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARDS

CESA Aon Engineering

Excellence Awards The CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards, hosted by Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) and Aon South Africa, recently acknowledged some exceptional individuals.

N THE LAST edition of IMIESA, we profiled the project winners of the CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards 2015 – here, we look at the individual winners. IMIESA magazine congratulates all winners.

Young engineer of the year WINNER: Geoff du Toit – Aurecon Geoff du Toit is an associate based at Aurecon’s Cape Town office. He obtained his BSc Eng degree from the University of Cape Town in 2003, and an MSc Eng in Water and Wastewater treatment in 2006. He registered as a professional engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa in 2012. Du Toit is a versatile engineer in the water and wastewater treatment field. During his professional career, over the past years, he has been involved mostly in water treatment projects, where he has developed a specialisation. He has notable experience in the design, construction, commissioning, and operation

of treatment plants, where he is known for delivering exceptional products in whatever project he undertakes. Two of the projects in which he was intimately involved, the Meulwater Water Treatment Works and the Preekstoel Water Treatment Works, have received multiple awards. By nature, treatment works projects are multidisciplinary projects. Du Toit’s level of technical competence enables him to manage the multidisciplinary nature of water treatment plant projects, dealing with and overseeing the different professionals and contractors involved, as well as interacting with the client. He has mastered an understanding and ability in delivering projects from inception stage, through investigative/feasibility reporting, costing, environmental process approval and licensing, to detailed design, assisting clients with tender adjudication and reporting, contract administration, and commissioning. In all these areas, he has impressed his clients with his competence. Du Toit is known to excel in all matters he gets involved in. In 2009, he was awarded a UNEP grant to attend a Water and Pollution Workshop at Tongji University in Shanghai. In 2011, he was awarded the

ABOVE Brainstorm session around expected work standards

best poster presentation at the Young Water Professionals (YWP) Conference in Pretoria. In 2013, he won the award for the best platform presentation at the YWP Conference in Stellenbosch. This led to him presenting at the International YWP Conference in Taipei, in 2013, where he won the award for the best platform presenter at the conference.

Young engineer of the year COMMENDATION: Rudolf le Roux – Arup Rudolf le Roux is a graduate engineer who joined Arup in 2011. He currently works in the firm’s Facade Department. He has been involved in the structural analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures, steel structures, and building facade systems. Le Roux has worked on numerous projects and has an extraordinary ability to grasp complicated concepts and make them his

IMIESA October 2015

141

CESA AON ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARDS

mechanical engineering for registration with ECSA, and survey and GIS registration with Plato.

Mentoring company of the year

ABOVE Colin Andrews (far right) of Royal HaskoningDHV exudes a passion for mentoring that has produced impressive results for the company

own. He is able to present work in a concise format, distinguishing clearly between relevant and non-relevant material. Locally, he was the facade engineer on the Jacaranda studio offices project. Internationally, Le Roux was responsible for the structural design of a lightweight canopy; a shade structure made from perforated steel sheets; a stainless-steel handrail for a staircase; and a trafficable glass skylight for the Al-Bustan Canopy in Abu Dhabi. Le Roux is a member of the South African Institute of Civil Engineering and a candidate engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa. He has gained experience in the use of analysis packages – such as Oasys GSA, Adsec, and ADC – is fully capable of using AutoCAD efficiently, and has a basic understanding of Revit structure. Some of his other projects include work on the refurbishment of corporate head offices, the Key West Shopping Centre skylights, Keurboom Cottage, Eskom MWP solar carports, the Serengeti mixed-use development, and the Beitbridge border post in Zimbabwe. Le Roux has also worked on an article, titled ‘Assessments of the behaviour factor for the seismic design of reinforced concrete structural walls according to SANS 10160-Part 4’, published in the Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering.

Mentor of the year WINNER: Colin Andrews – Royal HaskoningDHV Colin Andrews, from Royal HaskoningDHV, exudes a passion for mentoring that has produced impressive results for the company. He, now, also mentors for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport.

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IMIESA October 2015

Professional registration prior to permanent employment is a requirement of government, and this forms part of the skills transfer and capacity building emphasis of the National Development Plan. During the latter part of 2013, SS Nkosi, senior general manager: Transport Infrastructure and Regional Services, requested that the Technology Transfer (T2) Centre set up a mentoring programme for the department’s unregistered technical staff. Guidelines procedures were prepared and, in 2014, Andrews held workshop meetings to inform and assist the department’s technical staff in the Engineering Council of South Africa’s process of professional registration. In April 2014, he was seconded full-time to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport to assist the T2 Centre with implementing the mentoring programme. In addition, he carries out the duties of coordinating mentor over about 280 technical staff. Andrews’ role, working under the authority of the department’s T2 Centre, is, therefore: • to encourage participation in the department’s programme to fulfil the ECSA training requirements • to explain and give advice on how to achieve the ECSA training requirements in everyday work schedules • to guide and facilitate professional development • to assist departmental and consultant mentors also involved in this programme • to assist with the duties of referee and assist the department in sourcing referees from consultants, because of the few registered technical staff employed in the department. He has been involved in mentoring technical staff in Royal HaskoningDHV’s Pietermaritzburg office as a coordinating mentor, and has mentored in the region of 15 successful registrations over a period of five years. The disciplines that he covers are civil and

With a heightened awareness of talent and career management in the workplace, Bigen Africa has designed and implemented strategies that align business objectives with individual expectations of career success through the organisation’s Future Integrated Talent programme, which sits under the Bigen Capacity Framework. Bigen Africa’s career development programme accelerates workforce adaptation to change, improves cost-effectiveness of human capital decisions, and increases retention of top achievers. As one of the key pillars for long-term sustainability at Bigen Africa, talent is managed from the foundation pipeline to mid-career professionals and senior management. Mentoring forms an integral part of the Capacity Framework, which includes the Future Integrated Talent programme. Mentoring and coaching are also embedded in one of the strategic objectives of Bigen, which is to develop and grow centres of excellence; this is led by subject matter experts imparting knowledge and skills transfer to the rest of the teams. The company has a formal candidacy programme, in which every new graduate employee is registered with ECSA as a candidate engineer, engineering technologist, or engineering technician. The candidate takes part in the programme for a minimum of three years, which enables him or her to register as a professional engineer, engineering technologist, or engineering technician. The curriculum content for the candidacy programme includes: • practical experience in the workplace for a minimum period of three years against a structured training plan • mentorship and coaching/supervision • in-house lectures, workshops, use of reference material, and computerbased learning • short courses, provided by recognised professional institutes and accredited providers, which complement the workplace training in specific areas, such as technical training programmes, discipline-specific management training, and developing business and life skills • site work.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATES AECOM vanessa.partington@aecom.com Afri-Infra Group (Pty) Ltd banie@afri-infra.com AJ Broom Road Products ajbroom@icon.co.za Arup SA rob.lamb@arup.com Aurecon danie.wium@aurecongroup.com Aveng Manufacturing Infraset cgroenewald@infraset.com Bigen Africa Group Holdings otto.scharfetter@bigenafrica.com BMK Consulting brian@bmkconsulting.co.za Bosch Munitech info@boschmunitech.co.za Bosch Stemele bsdbn@boschstemele.co.za Brubin Pumps sales@brubin.co.za BVI Consulting Engineers marketing@bviho.co.za Civilconsult Consulting Engineers mail@civilconsult.co.za Corrosion Institute of Southern Africa secretary@corrosioninstitute.org.za CSIR Built Environment rbapela@csir.co.za Development Bank of SA divb@dbsa.org.za DPI Plastics mgoodchild@dpiplastics.co.za EFG Engineers eric@efgeng.co.za Elster Kent Metering leon.basson@elster.com Engcor Engineers masham@engcorengineers.co.za Fibertex South Africa (Pty) Ltd rcl@fibertex.com GIBB yvanrooyen@gibb.co.za GLS Consulting nicky@gls.co.za Gudunkomo Investments & Consulting info@gudunkomo.co.za Hatch Goba info@hatch.co.za Henwood & Nxumalo Consulting Engineers cc pmboffice@hn.co.za Herrenknecht schiewe.helene@herrenknecht.de Huber Technology cs@hubersa.com Hydro-comp Enterprises dan@edams.co.za I@Consulting louis_icon@mics.co.za ILISO Consulting hans@iliso.com INGEROP mravjee@ingerop.co.za Integrity Environment info@integrityafrica.co.za Jeffares and Green dennyc@jgi.co.za Johannesburg Water rtaljaard@jwater.co.za KABE Consulting Engineers info@kabe.co.za Kago Consulting Engineers kagocon@kago.co.za Kantey & Templer (K&T) Consulting Engineers info@kanteys.co.za Knowledge Base info@knowbase.co.za Lektratek Water general@lwt.co.za Makhaotse Narasimulu & Associates mmakhaotse@mna-sa.co.za Malani Padayachee & Associates (Pty) Ltd admin@mpa.co.za Maragela Consulting Engineers admin@maragelaconsulting.co.za

Marley Pipe Systems info@marleypipesystems.co.za Martin & East gbyron@martin-east.co.za Mhiduve adminpotch@mhiduve.co.za Mott Macdonald PDNA mahomed.soobader@mottmac.com Much Asphalt leon.alberts@muchasphalt.com Namela Consulting (Pty) Ltd melissa@namela.co.za Nyeleti Consulting ppienaar@nyeleti.co.za Odour Engineering Systems mathewc@oes.co.za Pumptron info@pumptron.co.za Pragma nicojobe.mabaso@pragmaworld.net francisg@rhdv.com Royal HaskoningDHV SABITA info@sabita.co.za SALGA info@salga.org.za SARF administrator@sarf.org.za.co.za SBS Water Systems terri@sbstanks.co.za Sektor Consulting cradock@sektor.co.za Sight Lines sales@sightlines.co.za SiVEST SA garths@sivest.co.za Siza Water Company tionette.bates@sizawater.co.za SMEC capetown@smec.com SNA stolz.j@sna.co.za Sobek Engineering gen@sobek.co.za Southern African Society for Trenchless Technology director@sasst.org.za SRK Consulting jomar@srk.co.za Sulzer Pumps Wastewater sales.abs.za@sulzer.com Syntell julia@syntell.co.za Thm Engineers East London thmel@mweb.co.za TPA Consulting roger@tpa.co.za UWP Consulting craign@uwp.co.za Vetasi south-africa@vetasi.com VIP Consulting Engineers esme@vipconsulting.co.za VOMM commerciale@vomm.it VUKA Africa Consulting Engineers info@vukaafrica.co.za Water Institute of Southern Africa wisa@wisa.org.za Water Solutions Southern Africa ecoetzer@wssa.co.za Wilo South Africa marketingsa@wilo.co.za WorleyParsons chris.brandsen@WorleyParsons.com WRP ronniem@wrp.co.za WRNA washy@wrnyabeze.com WSP Group Africa dirk.hattingh@mbs-wsp.co.za

I M E S A A F F I L I AT E M E M B E R S

IMESA

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Aecom 71

Krohne

Afrisam 106

KSB Pumps & Valves

Aggregate and Sand Producers Association SA

Lekwa Consulting Engineers

Maccaferri Southern Africa

120

Amanzi Meters

Ammann South Africa

Model Maker Systems

APE Pumps

Makhaotse, Narasimulu & Associates 57

Much Asphalt

Aquadam 18

NMC Construction

Aquatan 92

National Asphalt

Armco Superlite

PPC

IFC

Associated Asphalt Equipment

Quality Filtration Systems

Atlas Copco

SA Leak Detection

Aveng Infraset

Sabita 87

Aveng Grinaker

SAFCEC 48

OFC

Babcock 126

Sasol Chemicals, a Division

Bell Equipment

129

of Sasol SA

BMK Consulting

SBS Water Systems

BTW 73

Seda 38

Builders 4

Sephaku Cement

Canaan Civils

Sika 119

110

Colas 32

SRK Consulting

DPI Plastics

Steve Tshwete Local Municipality

ECSA 46

Structa Group

ELB Equipment

Tecroveer 93

133

107

Elster Kent Metering

The Rare Group

100

Fibertex South Africa

Tosas 31

Gautrain 37

Ultra Control Valves

General Cable

Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies 21

GLS Consulting

Videx Storage

112

Hall Longmore

Vital Engineering

105

Hatch Goba

Wacker Neuson

139

IMESA Registration

Water & Sanitation Services

OBC

IMESA Social Event

WEC Projects

Incledon 96

Women in Engineering

Indra Technology South Africa

WorleyParsons 67

136

Induna Training & Consulting Services 115

WRP Consulting Engineers

IBC

Kaytech 80

Xylem Water Solutions

102

144

IMIESA October 2015

Water and Sanitation Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd (WSSA) is a specialised provider of sustainable water services in Southern Africa