Engineering

Major restructuring is under way.

For many years leading up to the Soccer World Cup hosted by South Africa in 2010, the bigger engineering companies developed into conglomerates with several divisions and international operations. But the latest trend is for these large companies to unbundle and narrow their focus.

Some firms have kept their focus on niche areas such as electrical engineering, construction, fluids control and project management. These firms continue to build on their expertise.

The reason normally given for the move to restructure is the fact that the expected infrastructure spending boom after the World Cup has not materialised. This has led to many companies aiming to become more flexible and better able to pursue projects in other countries in Africa and overseas.

With slow growth, national freight and logistics company Transnet has not been able to pursue its R300-billion infrastructure programme at the speed that it wanted to.

Aspects of the programme, such as the acquisition of locomotives, are going ahead (despite some of the projects being the subject of corruption investigations) and the expansion programmes of the Gautrain and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) are providing work for engineers.

SECTOR INSIGHT

Renewable energy projects are creating opportunities for engineers.

Infrastructure spending has only slowed, not dried up entirely. One province alone, Gauteng, spent R30-billion on infrastructure between 2013 and 2016. A further R46-billion has been pledged for the years to 2019. In addition, Gauteng municipalities will spend R94-billion over the next five years using their city budgets. Some 31 major housing developments have been approved for the various development corridors around Johannesburg. These projects will attract public and private money.

A study carried out by KMPG found that spending on infrastructure resulted in additional economic activity worth R26-billion and created 92 000 direct jobs. A major provincial infrastructure project was the technically demanding Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, which involved many companies and several joint ventures. GOBA Consulting Engineers and Project Managers supervised the design and construction of the project, as it did the even bigger Vaal River Eastern Subsystem Augmentation Project (VRESAP). This water project entailed redirecting water flows from one system to another to feed the petrochemical and mining industries of Mpumalanga.

The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) has created an entirely new industry in less than seven years, with investment of about R200billion in solar parks and wind farms. This has created huge opportunities for engineers of every sort.

Two of the world’s largest coal-fired power stations are still under construction in Limpopo (Medupi) and Mpumalanga (Kusile) and there are several coal and platinum projects in both of those provinces that are also sources of work for engineering companies. The Northern Cape and North West are attracting new mines (zinc, copper) or investments in new smelters and processing facilities (platinum, manganese).

South Africa has one engineer to every 3 166 citizens, compared to Malaysia where the figure is 543 citizens per engineer. The Skills Development Amendment Act is intended to improve the situation. Universities, universities of technology and

TAKING THE INITIATIVE IS FAR BETTER

Maitazwifoma Engineering and Consulting takes its name from the Tshivenda proverb “Maitazwitoma hafani na madzulafhedzi”, which means that an innovative person who takes initiative is far better than one who is idle. Scanning the list of services offered by Maitazwifoma, it is easy to see that this is a group of committed contractors, engineers and plumbers who really want to work. Services range from electrical, construction and civil construction, to plumbing, road construction, concrete coring and waterproofing. The company is also available to provide cleaning services, staff transport and general tasks such as painting, paving, partitioning and rubble removal. With more than seven years of experience in building expertise in a range of construction and engineering disciplines, the leadership and staff of Maitazwifoma are enthusiastic and hard-working. Clients include Attaq and Broll, WBHO (Maitazwifoma were subcontractors on the Newtown Junction Project), Jozi@Work, on behalf of the City of Johannesburg and the Johannesburg Development Agency.

companies are increasing their focus on the training of engineers.

The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) has started a programme where trainees can earn certificates in specific disciplines from a range of institutions. The qualifications are in line with the council’s Exit Level outcomes. Six of South Africa’s biggest construction companies have established a R1.25-billion skills fund.

POLYURETHANE PRODUCTS AND REFURBISHMENT

Restructuring

Murray & Roberts, a giant and diverse company, disposed of Murray & Roberts Infrastructure and Building Platform (MRIB) in 2016 to focus on procurement, project engineering and construction in certain resource sectors. Firefly Investments, the consortium that bought MRIB, is led by Southern Palace, which includes among its shareholders some MRIB managers and the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF). The transaction goes a long way to creating more diversity in the ownership in the construction and engineering sector.

Genrec, a large steel engineering and fabrication business company that started out on the gold fields of early Johannesburg, was another Murray & Roberts company to be sold to the Southern Palace Group. It has a large plant outside Johannesburg at Wadeville and is involved in South Africa’s two biggest power station construction projects at Medupi and Kusile.

Netha Engineering Technology supplies high-quality processing equipment for the relevant application. The company specialises in polyurethane screen panels. Dedicated on-site teams deal with screen panel maintenance. The removal and installation of screen panels is done on-site. Netha Engineering Technology also offers polywedge wire panels, spray nozzles, polyurethane liners and self-cleaning spray bars. The company aims to become a diversified supplier of processing equipment. The refurbishment processes offered by Netha aims to restore the condition of equipment at minimal cost. Equipment is considered refurbish-able if the cost of repair is less than 70% cost of new item. Refurbishment is done with both ceramic and rubber. Refurbishments can either take place on- or off-site depending on the degree of work and turnaround time needed to complete the work. Refurbishment and manufacture of the following equipment is currently done: hydro-cyclones, tanks and sumps, transfer chutes, screen under-pans, steel pipes, plastic pipes and HDPE pipes.

Group Five also sold part of its business (Group Five Pipe) to a black-owned entity in 2017 but the most significant change came in the group’s structure. A stand-alone construction division for South Africa (where the company has more than 7 400 employees) is part of a drive by the company to focus on smaller infrastructure projects and to dispose of manufacturing assets. Like most large South African firms in the sector, Group Five has significant investments offshore.

Transnet Engineering is in the process of changing its focus from only providing engineering services to other com-

ONLINE RESOURCES

Consulting Engineers South Africa: www.cesa.co.za Engineering Council of South Africa: www.ecsa.co.za National Department of Public Works: www.publicworks.gov.za South African Consulting Engineering Firms: www.consultsa.co.za Southern African Institution of Civil Engineering: www.civils.org.za panies in the Transnet group to becoming a multi-faceted business. The company is exploring opportunities in Africa to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services (MRO). As an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) with the ability to manufacture locomotives, rail wagons and coaches, TE is opening up a wide range of markets not only in South Africa but in Africa and the rest of the world. The Trans-Africa Locomotive is the first locally designed locomotive produced by TE in its Koedoespoort factory. There are seven business units located at Koedoespoort, including a foundry.

Maitazwifoma Engineering and Consulting

Be part of the solution.

Maitazwifoma Engineering and Consulting is a 100% black-owned full-service construction engineering company based in Johannesburg.

The company specialises in the following trades of the construction industry: • electricity • building construction • civil construction.

The staff of Maitazwifoma comprises qualified individuals who have extensive experience in the fields of civil, building and electrical engineering.

The company is registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and is compliant with the following bodies: SARS, NBCEI, ECA, COIDA and CIDB.

In electrical engineering services include: Heavy current engineering, electrification, general electricity maintenance and COC issuing on completion of the job or project.

Other services: • Concrete coring and waterproofing. • Plumbing: professional, fast and dependable services. Fully licensed plumbers, drain technicians, HVAC and water restoration technicians can handle any plumbing, sewer, furnace or restoration problems. • General services: Transport is available for our teams of contracted labourers to sites. Tasks can include garbage and refuse removal, painting, brick-laying, paving, rubble removal and partitioning.

PROFILE Netha Engineering Technology

Get it right the first time.

Netha Engineering Technology is a proprietary limited company located in Alberton. The company offers off- and onsite engineering services to the minerals processing plants generally within the Southern African mining industry.

The company is under the leadership and directorship of Neo Gumede. She is the founder and owner of the company and has 12 years’ experience in process engineering, manufacturing and process equipment supply.

Vision

To become a leading supplier of high-quality products and engineering solutions to the mineral processing industry, within the shortest turnaround time and the most cost-effective price. Through dedicated people, Netha Engineering Technology endeavours to provide an unparalleled aftermarket support to our clientele, backed by stringent in-house quality control systems.

Services

• Equipment manufacturing and refurbishment including wear lining solutions (tiling). Refurbishment is done with both ceramic and rubber and the scope of refurbishment and manufacture currently includes the following equipment: tanks and sumps, transfer shuts, steel and plastic pipes. • Polyurethane products, including screen panels, spray nozzles, liners and self-cleaning spray bars.

CONTACT DETAILS

Physical address: 10 Launceston Road, Unit 6 St Teresa Estate, Alberton, Johannesburg Contact person: Neo Gumede, Managing Director Email: gumeden@netha-tec.co.za Tel: +27 11 044 9015 | Cell: 081 458 8798 Fax: 086 541 8615 Email: enquiries@netha-tec.co.za Website: www.netha-tec.co.za

Mission

To provide high-quality engineering solutions and services at a highly competitive price within the shortest lead times possible. “Get it right the first time”. It is the company’s goal to have 100% customer satisfaction with respect to quality, professionalism and speed to market.

Values

Netha Engineering Technology strives to achieve and live the following non-negotiable values: • Integrity and trustworthiness:

We earn your trust by doing what we say we will do. • Respect: We respect our clients and our employees. • Accountability: We take ownership for our own actions. • Quality: We do it right the first time. • Innovations: We use innovative technologies and ideas to stay ahead of our competitors.

Netha Engineering Technology continues to seek opportunities to add to the list of processing equipment we supply in order to become a diversified supplier that complements market needs for innovative technologies that are efficient and costeffective.

Neo Gumede

BIOGRAPHY

Neo Gumede is the founder and owner of Netha Engineering Technology and has 12 years’ experience in process engineering, manufacturing and process equipment supply. She has extensive metallurgical experience in gold, platinum, iron ore and diamonds. She has also worked in the mining industry as a metallurgist and as an equipment supplier in the manufacturing sector. After conducting sales for some time, Neo moved up the ranks to take on leadership roles within the same sectors.

A winning combination in serving the mining sector

Netha Engineering Technology Managing Director Neo Gumede explains her company’s competitive edge.

What are the core services that Netha Engineering Technology provides?

Netha Engineering Technology is a wear-lining solution company based in Meadowdale. We protect the steel and increase the life of the steel by installing high alumina tile and polyurethane liners. Netha manufactures and maintains cyclones, transfer chutes, steel tanks and launders. Netha Engineering manufactures vibrating screen panels for the mining industry.

In what sectors do you operate and where are you noting growth?

Mining industries: coal, gold and platinum. Coal mining in Mpumalanga is showing good growth potential.

What gives Netha the competitive edge?

Our competitive prices, unbeatable lead times, metallurgical expertise and best-quality products in the market.

How did your journey in engineering begin?

It began in 2003 when I started my career as a chemical engineer at Vaal University of Technology. I then practised metallurgy for 12 years in various industries like mining, manufacturing and sales.

How did you overcome the obstacles faced by women in the field?

By developing a thick skin and becoming highly knowledgeable in everything I do.

Have things improved in the current era?

Yes, things have definitely changed. Women are now recognised, and people are more curious about the capabilities of women in mining or engineering.