Dear Readers
If you did not see our Excellence in Construction Awards 2009 special edition last week, check out the archived copy of the newsletter on our website. If you attended the event and would like to see some photos, you will find them up soon on the Excellence Awards page of our website.
Master Builders South Africa held its annual Congress in Sandton last week and Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal sent up a strong delegation. Congress is an ideal opportunity to network with members of other Associations, as well as key representatives from Industry Stakeholders. In this edition, you will find the first of a number of news articles, which aim to share some of the information and experiences from Congress 2009.
The Regional Safety Awards function will be taking place at the Durban Country Club on 16 October 2009. The National Safety Awards function took place on the final day of Congress at a gala function in Sandton and members of Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal walked away with a record 9/10 awards. This is a fantastic achievement and we would like to congratulate the winners as well as the entire Health & Safety team at the Association.
Remember to check out the Networking page on our website, which lists the upcoming meetings, functions and events. We receive very positive feedback from Members who attend these networking and information-sharing opportunities.
Gary Amstutz | Commercial & Online Manager
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CETA Awarded Trade Test Centres
The act on the part of CETA to award trade test status to four training providers in KwaZulu-Natal has been welcomed in all circles of industry and will go a long way towards assisting those who have acquired skills, to obtain much needed official certification. With all trade testing previously having taken place outside of the province, scores of apprentices, especially from the previously disadvantaged sector, never got to complete a trade test. As a consequence, many of them have spent years industriously applying skills they posses, while remaining in the minimum wage bracket, employed as unskilled labour.
The four CETA awarded trade test centres will no doubt bridge this gap in KwaZulu-Natal, and will have positive ramifications on local construction industry as a whole. Inflows of easily identifiable skilled labour will be of great support to contractors who look to achieve long term sustainability, by building a quality product, on time and within budget. For those individuals who are now able to acquire their certification, it means a higher earning potential and better quality of life.
The four training providers in KwaZulu-Natal, who by having met a very strict criterion, were awarded trade test status are:
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What's Your Score
In the world of pensions administration, there's a new game, and those who score low points are being "named and shamed" in the press.
The scorekeeper of this new game is the Pension Funds Adjudicator ('PFA'), Mamodupi Mohlala. Having announced the results of the first scorecard on the 28th September, she worked her last day in the Office of the PFA on the 30th and moved, as planned, to another job the following day.
She leaves a somewhat perplexed community of pension administrators behind her. Before leaving, she reported the 20 worst performers to the FSB (Financial Services Board). Many of them have indicated they wish to meet with her to clarify the areas of alleged underperformance, but alas, she is no longer in office to accommodate these requests.
The Minister of Finance to whom she reported has not even advertised the vacancy as yet.
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Cost of Living
We all know that prices seem to rise continuously, and that just to make ends meet is a never-ending challenge. But what is the true "cost of living" and how is it measured?
One of the tools is the well known CPI or consumer price index. This index is calculated by a government department called Stats SA, which uses various expenses such as housing, food clothes and transport, and then attaches a different importance (or 'weight') to each one when combining them into the end result which we see on the TV and read in the newspaper.
With effect from January 2009, the percentage weighting in the CPI attributable to housing has risen to 23.2%. One of the sub-components of housing is "owner-occupied housing". This was previously measured as being equal to the interest rates on mortgage bonds. This has been replaced by "Owners equivalent rent" or "OER". This is the rent paid by that quarter of SA households who rent rather than own their own homes. In essence OER is the rent a homeowner is foregoing by living in his home and not letting it out to a tenant.
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New Bill to Help Keep Personal Information Private
Ever wondered where telesales people, along with senders of unsolicited e-mails and sms's get your details from, the reality is, its likely to have come from an organization you have entrusted with your personal information. If you find being on the receiving end intrusive, its wise practice to never give your information out, unless absolutely necessary.
Referring to the likes of the banks, insurance companies, cellular network providers and many others, as a result of having entered into a financial agreement with them, providing them with personal information is unavoidable. Up to now there has been nothing to prevent them from using this information however they see fit to. Data Bases are in fact lucrative, as they have been known to change hands for considerable sums of money.
In a recent news article penned by Peter Rautenbach, we reported that the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development intends introducing the Protection of Personal Information Bill. This means that we can all look forward to the implementation of strict laws, which will govern the protection and release of personal information.
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Congress 2009 (Part 1)
The Master Builders South Africa Annual Congress was held at the Sandton Convention Centre from 27 to 30 September 2009. A quick glance at the programme before the event, highlighted a tight schedule with a good selection of speakers and two panel discussions.
First up was a presentation entitled 'Living Boldly in Uncertain Times', by Bobby Godsell, Chairman of ESKOM Holdings. Mr Godsell spoke about the 3 major uncertainties that we live with at present:
- The Financial Market Collapse (Sep 08 to Mar 09)
- Getting used to living in an Asian centric world
- Africa - Our Continent.
On the latter, Mr Godsell had a number of interesting comments and statistics. Africa has shown the greatest continental growth rate for the last 15 years and remittances by Africans living abroad now exceeds foreign donor aid and foreign investment. The Economist magazine recently indicated that Demography (an increase in population) could in fact be a major contributor for growth. For living proof of this, one simply needs to turn our eyes to the Chinese model, which has worked very well.
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New Kids on The Block
Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal, is growing. We take the opportunity to introduce you to the newest members to the team.
Bonga Dube: Bonga recently moved over from the NHBRC Inspectorate and came on-board as the Association's Customer Care Facilitator. His role in the organization is to call on existing members as well as to recruit new ones; he is essentially the interface between members and the Association. Bonga speaks fluent English, Zulu, Afrikaans and Xhosa making him the ideal candidate.
Chervon van Zyl: Chervon came on board earlier in the year as assistant to the Association's Administration Manager, Shelly Kupfermann. Her role is assisting Shelly with general administration duties, HR matters, as well as various unique projects, functions and events. One of her many responsibilities, is to inspire and maintain sound business relationships with the Association's members.
Marcia Langazana: Marcia Langazana was recently appointed as a Customer Care Assistant, assisting Hans with administrative duties, client liaison and the day to day running of our South Coast office.
Paula Ferraris: Paula grew up in Richards Bay and began her working career with a small local construction company called General Plant Services. From 1992 she worked as a marketing consultant for stationery supplier Waltons, before in 1999, joining security company Chubb Guarding as their Richards Bay branch manager. In 2005 she moved over to labour hire firm New Adventure Hire, where she headed up their Human Recourses department. Paula came onboard earlier in the year as Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal Regional Manager for Zululand.
Winnie Ngubane: Natal born Winnie, has lived in Durban her whole life and after matriculating, did a secretarial course at Inanda Seminary before studying business management at Unischool which was part of Howard College. She began her career working for the Industrial Council for the Building Industry then later for Fedsure when they took over the fund. She then worked at Capital Alliance before joining Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal earlier in the year where she assists Rob Pengelly in the Benefits Office.
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Closing comments
We trust that the information provided in this letter has been informative and useful.
We also sincerely hope that these challenging times are being good to you as far as possible. If you are experiencing difficulties with the general lack of work, we hope that these challenges provide you with the opportunity to adapt for your long term prosperity.
Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal
40 Essex Terrace
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal 3630
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CompEtition
The Association's annual Durban Golf Day first took place in 1934. Players compete for a host of prizes and the coveted Dulux Cup, which is finely wrought in Hallmarked Sterling Silver and measures 800mm in height.
This year the event is scheduled for Tuesday 24 November 2009, Tee-Off time still to be confirmed.
Remember - Space is limited so to avoid disappointment, please call our Westville office to book your slot, the number is 031 266 7070.
To book a team, Lynda will happily assist you. For more information on becoming a marketing partner for the event, Tanya will gladly provide you with all the necessary details.
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Marketing Partners
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Upcoming Functions, Meetings and Events
Zululand Golf Day
Fri 09 Oct - Empangeni Counrty Club
OHS Forum Meeting
Mon 12 Oct - Westville
JBCC Principle Building Agreement Presentation
Wed 14 Oct - Midlands
Training & Employment Equity Presentation
Wed 14 Oct - Zululand
Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal Regional Health & Safety Awards
Fri 16 Oct - Durban Country Club
For more information about forthcoming meetings, events and functions visit the Networking page on our website.
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Master Builders online discussion Forum
Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal General Forum was recently implemented to create a platform for open exchange of Industry relevant information, as well as to encourage healthy debate. The forum is open to anyone who has a vested interest in the construction industry.
Latest Threads:
Reconditioned TLB engin
Shutterhand - PMB
To go directly to the forum click on this link http://forum2.masterbuilders.co.za or copy and paste the link into your browser.
Discuss | Contribute | Learn
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OHS Online forum
Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal recently launched an online forum dedicated to Health and Safety. The forum is open to anyone in the Health and Safety profession and is geared specifically to all matters relating to Construction Health and Safety.
Latest Threads:
Storage Issue and Control of Flammable and Gas Cylinder
New Construction Regulation: Risk Assessments
'lousy risk assessments'
Assmang boss accused of gambling with workers' lives.
New Construction Regulation: Supervision of construction work
To go directly to the forum click on this link http://safety.masterbuilders.co.za or copy and paste the link into your browser.
Discuss | Contribute | Learn
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Buildings Breaking Boundries
Did You Know ...
The Empire State Building has 102 storeys, was completed in 1931, and took just 19 months to complete?
South Africa is home to the six tallest buildings on the African Continent?
There is wind powered building in Bahrain that was designed by a South African born Architect Shaun Killa?
Taiwan has a solar powered stadium?
For these and other interesting facts, visit Buildings Breaking Boundaries, now featuring on our Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal Blog.
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Archived Newsletters
We have started archiving copies of our bi-monthly newsletter on our website. Should you be looking for something that appeared in a previous edition, navigate to the News and Information page. Tip - if you are looking for information from our website and are not sure where to find it, use the Google Site Search facility on the top right of every page (under the contact telephone number).
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contact us
Tel: 0861 001 106
Health and Safety
Neels Nortje
Financial Services
Clive Hill
Benefits Office
Rob Pengelly
Contractual & Legal
Bruce Lyle
Training
Victor Smith
Customer Care
Shelly Kupferman
South Coast Regional Manager
Hans Stols
North Coast Regional Manager
Paula Ferraris
Midlands Regional Manager
Gareth Roberts
Finance Manager
Greg Beykirch
Commercial & Online Manager
Gary Amstutz
Executive Director
Brandon Abdinor
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Advertise Here!
If you would like to advertise your product/service here and reach over 600 Members of the Master Builders Association, contact Tanya on
031 266 7070.
For more information visit the advertising section of our website.
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