ROUND UP
SouthAfrica is the second largest economy
in Africa and remains rich with promise.
Having been admitted to the BRIC group
of countries of Brazil, Russia, India and
China in 2011, known as BRICS, this con-
firms South Africa’s trajectory to continued
growth as a nation.
Although the country currently realises
massive infrastructure programmes, the
qualification of engineering professionals
is still unsatisfactory. According to the En-
gineering Council of South Africa (ECSA),
SouthAfrica only saw 16 129 engineers reg-
ister in 2012, with most of these engineers
operating in civil, electrical and mechani-
cal engineering. Numbers of registered
engineers in fields such as industrial and
electronics, materials, mineral, electrome-
chanical and computer engineering are
still very low.
ECSA
has been in existence for over 40
years, with the main objective of regulating
engineering in South Africa. Registration
with ECSA is essential and currently regis-
trations transcend over 40 000.
The Registration system has been estab-
lished by law to ensure competence and
accountability. Engineers are indispensable
in the delivery of infrastructure, goods and
services. Although engineering involves
exploiting and controlling natural forces
and complex systems and processes, at-
tainment of solutions is accompanied by
risks, thus mitigation of these risks requires
competent and accountable engineering
professionals.
“Registration provides public recognition
that the registered person has, through
education, training and experience, dem-
onstrated competence at an established
level,” indicates Cyril Gamede, President
of ECSA. ECSA’s registration acts as an
indicator of engineers' competence as it
publicly recognises their education and
experience. By registering with the body,
the professional is automatically bound by
a code of conduct.
Moreover, registration with ECSA and
membership of a Voluntary Association
(VA) such as South African Institute of Civil
Engineering (SAICE) are complementary.
The VA promotes the interests of the
discipline and its members and provides
services such as continuing professional
development. Different grades of member-
ship – for example student, member and
fellow – recognise the member’s career
progression.
Enquiries:Tel. 011 728 1363 or email
or
Since the launch of the
Powerline Association of SouthAfrica (PO-
LASA)
in August 2014, it has grown exponentially with more than
30 members of the industry having joined. “This clearly indicates
the dire need for this organisation and for its members to have
representation in the complex commercial and political environ-
ment in which they operate,” says POLASA chairman, Gary Whalley.
He adds that ESKOM too has welcomed the POLASA initiative.
“They are grateful to be able to talk to industry without being
exposed to selective sharing of information or allowing individual
interests to dominate discussions,” saysWhalley.
According to the SouthernAfrican Institute of Steel Construction’s
(SAISC) Kobus de Beer, one of the main architects of the forma-
tion of POLASA, one of POLASA’s central concerns was the use by
ESKOM of World Bank funding for the new Medupi power lines.
“The concern is that in terms ofWorld Bank rules ESKOM is not
allowed to specify local content and that the “designation” ruling
by Minister Rob Davies on power pylons would therefore not apply.
After an appeal to the Minister the exception was confirmed and
the South African industry is forced to compete head on with the
internationals,” says de Beer. He adds, however, that it has been
officially confirmed that the 15% import duties on these products
from overseas will still apply. “POLASA is making every effort to
encourage and assist its members to compete head on for the
World Bank funded power line jobs now being issued,” says de Beer.
A number of other issues are also being explored such as pos-
sibly offering finance on power line projects,
participation in the 18 CIPP preparation teams
to provide input on South African capabilities,
the giving of technical and other comments for
ESKOM Standards and becoming more actively
involved with distribution in South Africa. In ad-
dition, efforts continue to get the DTI to formally
“designate” all power line hardware, which ESKOM says is already
in the process of being implemented. De Beer says that more work
needs to be done to inform the DTI and other relevant bodies on the
power line industry and its characteristics. “We have developed a
detailed “Industry Paper”, which sets out the history of the industry
and analyses its current status and needs.This will be submitted to
the various parties and properly work-shopped in time.”
”POLASAwill also continue to promote the development, growth
and flexibility of its members through, interalia, training and educa-
tion initiatives, the development of export markets, adding value to
engineering issues applicable to the industry in close co-operation
with the SAISC, adding value to ESKOM activities by creating a
platform to facilitate bilateral discussions between ESKOM and
industry on issues not dealt with elsewhere, the publishing of
various design and engineering handbooks and the organising of
seminars, talks and conferences,” de Beer concluded.
Enquiries: PaoloTrinchero.Tel. 011 726 6111 or
email
Registering with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA)
POLASA fills a dire need
SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
POLASA’s Kobus de Beer.
Electricity+Control
July ‘14
36
