After a Covid-19 induced four-year hiatus, on 23 October 2023 the Southern African Institute of Welding (SAIW) announced the winners of its prestigious annual awards at a gala dinner in Fourways, Johannesburg sponsored by Lincoln Electric and ESAB.
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The 2023 SAIW Awards and Gala Dinner.
Opening the event, the SAIW President, Joseph Zinyana reminded guests that the SAIW Gala Dinner had not graced our calendars since 2020, a period marked by the global challenges and disruptions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. “Our absence from such gatherings for the past few years reminds us of the resilience and strength of our industry, as well as our commitment to safety and well-being,” he said.
“Tonight, we have the distinct pleasure of recognising and honouring those individuals and organisations who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and made significant contributions to both the Institute and the welding industry over the past year. Your unwavering commitment and exceptional efforts have not only sustained us during these challenging times but have propelled us forward,” said Zinyana.
SAIW Executive Director John Tarboton unpacked the theme of the awards evening – ‘Unity Through Fusion’ – explaining that this reflected the new consolidation of the SAIW and SAIW Certification into a single entity. “We’ve taken the initiative and established distinct sub-brands and logos for the SAIW, representing our diverse service offerings: Technical Services, Education & Training, and Qualification & Certification. These logos are poised to carve out unique brand identities for our services,” he said.
Tarboton added: “Through our unwavering commitment to long-term sustainability, we’ve created a highly effective turnaround strategy at the SAIW, driven by a comprehensive approach and integrated marketing plan. This success has been achieved amidst challenging times and two restructuring exercises and stems from a united, motivated workforce with shared values.”
The SAIW Awards and Gala Dinner also serves as a hub for networking and collaboration, bringing together industry professionals, leaders, and experts in one location, fostering valuable connections and potential collaborations.
A diverse range of awards was presented at the Gala with the additional good news that each student recipient will receive a R60 000 bursary. Awards and winners were:
- The President’s Award for NDT Level 1: Sunithi Barends.
- The President’s Award for NDT Level 2: Kurt Du Plooy.
- The Phil Santilhano Award for the best Welding Coordinator and Inspector Level 1 student: Tsiliso Litali.
- The Phil Santilhano Award for best Welding Coordinator and Inspector Level 2 Student: Willem Rossouw.
- The Best Welding Co-Ordinator Award: Chandri Swanepoel from Ratamang Civil Projects and Fabrication.
- Best International Institute of Welding (IIW) Manufacturing Certification Scheme ISO 3834 Company Award: ND Engineering.
- Honorary Life Membership of the SAIW: Professor Tony Paterson.
- Fellow of The SAIW Award: Makakane Morris Maroga.
- SAIW Gold Medal 2023: Columbus Stainless.
Sunithi Barends, winner of the SAIW President’s Award for NDT Level 1, expressed her pride in the achievement, saying: “I am incredibly proud to win the President’s Award for NDT. This recognition will propel my career as an NDT technician, allowing me to become an NDT Level 3 and Inspection Specialist.
“I am honoured and proud to have won the Presidential Prize and been chosen out of all the brilliant students. I am particularly grateful to my colleagues in my current Sasol Inspection Learnership at SAIW who have contributed so much to me winning this award.”
Sunithi Barends’ prize of a R60 000 bursary from the SAIW will cover her SAIW NDT Level 3 Basic course and UT2 and VT2 modules. “This award and recognition will increase the momentum of my career path as an inspector and NDT technician, as well as my pursuit of becoming an NDT Level Three and Inspection Specialist,” said Barends.
Tsiliso Litali was awarded the Phil Santilhano Memorial Award for Best Level 1 Welding Inspector and Coordinator Student. Adding to his triumph is the development of an innovative non-destructive testing (NDT) technique. In Tsiliso Litali’s words: “This innovative approach is designed to enhance the detection and characterisation of defects in welded structures, a vital element in ensuring the structural integrity of various projects.”
He explained: “‘My work has been instrumental in minimising the risk of structural failures, a crucial aspect of overall health and safety. Additionally, the application of these technologies has the added benefit of saving both time and resources, expediting project completion to a remarkable degree.”
Chandri Swanepoel won the SAIW Best Welding Co-ordinator Award. Swanepoel said she has had to overcome gender biases in a traditionally male dominated sector. “This has given me a unique perspective on the significance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and reinforced my commitment to breaking barriers and empowering other women to pursue careers in male-dominated fields,” she said.
The overall SAIW Gold Medal award was given to Columbus Stainless for their groundbreaking work in the invention and development of 3CR12 stainless steel, a proudly South African innovation that has revolutionised the stainless steel industry and offers remarkable toughness and weldability, even in thick gauges.
On the company certification side, ND Engineering won the Best IIW ISO 3834 Company Award. The company’s owner and MD, Elvis Green, said: “While there is not one singular project that stands out as the crowning achievement, it’s the cumulative success of numerous projects and the comprehensive application of ISO 3834 principles that paved the way for this recognition. The decision to integrate ISO 3834 into our operations marked a transformative moment, as it deepened our understanding of welding,” he said.
Looking ahead, John Tarboton expressed confidence in the SAIW’s upward trajectory and called for continued commitment and dedication from industry professionals. He extended gratitude to the dedicated volunteers who have served the industry selflessly and thanked the entire SAIW team for their unwavering commitment.
