The Electrical Contractors’ Association of South Africa’s national operations director, Mark Mfikoe, writes a column that looks at topics that affect members of the ECA(SA) specifically and are also of general interest to all electricians. He offers useful, real-world advice that covers legal issues, labour relations, regulatory matters and the day-to-day business of being an electrician. Mark has two decades of experience in the electrical industry and holds the following qualifications: BA (Hons) (UNISA); Bachelor of Law (UNISA); Postgraduate Diploma: Marketing Management (UNISA); Higher Education Diploma (Post Grad) (University of the North) and a Diploma in Industrial Relations (Camdev). He believes that electrical contractors should work towards being respected as specialists in their field and, through his columns, encourages them to use the ‘organised force’ of the Electrical Contractors Association (SA).
January 2016
No column for January
February 2016
In February, Mark Mfikoe reveals that the ECA(SA) now has an app that will allow the public to find a registered electrician on their smartphones. Read more...
March 2016
Mark Mfikoe, national director of the ECA(SA) put on another hat recently when he had to represent an ECA member at the CCMA – at the centre of the dispute was an allegation of unfair dismissal that was brought about by the non-renewal of a fixed term contract. Read more...
April 2016
No column in April
May 2016
In the ECA(SA) News in May, Mark Mfikoe discusses termination of employment agreements and references the case, Oluwatoye v Reckitt Benckiser South Africa (Pty) Ltd & One Other. Read more...
June 2016
In the ECA(SA) News in the June issue of Sparks Electrical News, discusses plea bargaining in the management of discipline and explains that the employer has a ‘licence’, within the bounds of fairness and reasonability, to enter into a plea bargain to crack an otherwise difficult disciplinary matter in the workplace. Mfikoe cites the recent judgement (16 March, 2016) MEC: Depart of Health, ECP v PHSDSBC (Public Health and Social Development Sectoral Bargaining Council) and others (PR63/14)[2016] ZALCPE 9 where the Labour Court had to consider the question, amongst others, whether the differentiated punishment meted out to co-offenders constituted unfair dismissal where one of the employees was not dismissed as a result of the plea bargain he entered into with his employer. Read more...
September 2016
In the September issue of Sparks Electrical News, Mark Mfikoe, the national director of the Electrical Contractors’ Association of South Africa, talks about collective bargaining being a right that is enshrined in the Constitution of South Africa. He says it is “ranked high above individual or organisational opinions that we may have in any tribunal” and that “the best way is to participate” and reveals that the ECA(SA) is currently negotiating the Collective Agreement in the Electrical Industry and is “looking forward to concluding these without incident in August 2016”. This, he adds, will “lead to stability within the industry for an appreciable length of time”. Read more...
October 2016
In the October issue of Sparks Electrical News, Mark Mfikoe, the national director of the Electrical Contractors’ Association of South Africa, discusses Tosca Labs v CCMA 2012 where the Labour Court found that a breathalyser test is not enough nor sufficient to prove that an employee is under the influence of alcohol. Read more...
November 2016
In the November issue of Sparks Electrical News, Mark Mfikoe, the national director of the Electrical Contractors’ Association of South Africa, says an agreement has been concluded with the National Bargaining Council for the Electrical Industries and the outcome is that all ECA(SA) members will now have the same sick benefit fund. Read more...
December 2016
In the final issue for 2016, Mark Mfikoe, the national director of the Electrical Contractors’ Association of South Africa, looks at 2016 in review and says the ECA(SA) has had a great year despite all the ‘shocking’ events in the business environment. Read more...
SOUTH AFRICA A CONSTRUCTION SITE IN 2017?
National director for the ECA(SA), Mark Mfikoe is optimistic that 2017 will see more work for electrical contractors. “I have had the opportunity to interact with decision makers in government in the last while and, if what they say is anything to go by, then contracting is in for a ‘hell of a ride’,” says Mfikoe. Read more...
September 2017
When it comes to calculating labour costs it is easy to make a mistake. In his column, Mark Mfikoe outlines the correct way to determine the real cost of labour in the electrical contracting industry. Read more...
