New CEO at ISG/School of Concrete Technology training programme

NEW CEO FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE SPECIALIST GROUP

Lwazi Goqwana has been appointed as the new chief executive officer for the Infrastructure Specialist Group (ISG), effective immediately. ISG is South Africa’s leading manufacturer of precast concrete solutions and products for the construction, infrastructure and mining sectors. An engineer by profession with 25 years of working experience in manufacturing, construction, financial services, logistics, energy and government services. Goqwana has worked for multiple organisations including Unilever, Tiger Brands, Barclays Africa, Transnet and the Department of Public Enterprises. “I'm very excited to be joining one of South Africa’s iconic companies. I look forward to joining the existing management team as we lead ISG forward in a way that will enhance our competitive position in the market,” he says. With an Honours degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Cape Town and an MBA in strategic general management from Milpark Business School, Goqwana brings a wealth of technical and operational excellence as well as executive management experience to ISG.

For further information and access to the SCT 2022 training programme, tel: 011 315 0300 or e-mail: rennisha.sewnarain@cemcon-sa.org.za Website: www.cemcon-sa.org.za

SCT RAINING PROGRAMME FOR 2022 COMPLETED

The construction industry’s new year’s resolution should be to budget for staff training to gain a competitive edge when, hopefully, work volumes increase again in line with government’s infrastructural development plans and the disruptive effects of the pandemic subside, says John Roxburgh, senior lecturer at the School of Concrete Technology (SCT), a division of Cement & Concrete SA (CCSA).

The school’s 2022 training programme has been completed and is now available.

Roxburgh says the SCT sees the coming year as one of opportunity, when the coronavirus hopefully begins receding and the South African economy starts growing again. The school will continue running its successful online e-learning courses in 2022, but also hopes to return to classroom-based lecture courses, providing lockdown restrictions permit and prevailing infection rates are low enough.

“The live classes will be kept small and high demand for any specific course will be dealt with by scheduling more courses. However, the online platform and selfstudy courses are here to stay, as they align themselves with modern trends in terms of remote learning and increased access to both data and smart delivery devices. E-learning and its associated benefits will form an integral part of SCT training in future,” he says.

The universally acclaimed Advanced Concrete Technology (SCT50) programme will be run by the SCT on a modularised self-study basis next year.

Roxburgh has urged the construction industry to invest in training in 2022.

“Concrete work on site is a major cost component in construction contracts. With trained staff – competent in all relevant aspects of concrete practice – contracts could be carried out more economically and quickly, with fewer costly site errors, repairs and damage to reputations. Trained staff give construction companies the edge and 2022, especially, promises to separate the men from the boys when it comes to winning tenders. Spending money now on training by the school is an investment in the future of any company.

“SA urgently needs competent concrete practitioners and sales specialists in admixtures, construction chemicals, ready-mix concrete, precast concrete, concrete repairs, cement production, aggregate production, testing laboratories and the mining sector, among other potential careers.

“In fact, a good education in concrete technology can lead to a rewarding career in all concrete-related industries with the potential of starting one’s own business. The long-established SCT has for decades provided trusted concrete technology education with a progression of courses that allow students to join at a level which matches personal competency. There can be no short cuts to becoming a good concrete technology practitioner and the SCT has all the educational requirements to help students meet their goals,” adds Roxburgh.

Successful students for all SCT courses receive certificates of attendance/ competence and Continuing Professional Development points are awarded on selected courses.