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REGULAR UPDATE
ASPASA
A
spasa is an association
serving the aggregates
industry with 35 mem-
ber companies operating
in over 100 quarries. It is
estimated that Aspasa represents some
75% of the aggregates crushed in South
Africa. The list of services rendered to the
industry is an ever-expanding one and
continues to pave the way forward for an
industry with world-class standards.
Speaking recently to international
delegates at the prestigious Global
Aggregates Information Network (GAIN)
meeting in Cape Town, Aspasa chairman
Gert Coffee says that during the past
year, the Association has been involved
in various interventions where it believes
member rights are being infringed. These
include winning the rights for its mem-
bers to continue to claim diesel rebates
for off-road vehicles and equipment,
Aspasa focuses on industry
sustainability into the future
The Aggregate & Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa
(Aspasa) continues to play an important role in ensuring the long-
term sustainability of the industry. Its services include challenging
legislation deemed to undermine fair and profitable practices,
addressing technical issues and playing a regulatory and guiding role
for the industry it represents.
as well as arguing that the industry be
exempted from the payment of royal-
ties. Aspasa believes that the payment of
royalties will hamstring legal quarrying
operators while simultaneously increas-
ing the price of aggregates, all of which
results in further stress on the construc-
tion industry.
“In order to stay abreast of what is
happening in our sector, we are also rep-
resented on various committees where
our input has a direct bearing on the
industry,” Coffee explains. “These include
the South African National Roads Agency
(Sanral) committee, looking at new COTO
specifications for road building where
we have put forward various exclusion
clauses for the construction industry to
take note of.
“We are also active on committees
to kerb illegal mining, as well as rep-
resenting the industry at Exco level on
the Chamber of Mines, the Mine Health
& Safety Council, as well as the Mining
Regulatory Advisory Committee (MRAC),
where the Association’s director Nico
Pienaar is chairperson of the Human
Resources Committee.”
Coffee says Aspasa is in regular con-
tact with the Department of Mineral
Resources (DMR) regarding the trou-
blesome issue of Sector 54 closures, the
Mining Charter, and many more issues.
“We remain in discussion with NOSA
towards developing an accreditation
system for contractors on site; with the
Chief Inspector of Mines to explain our
role with regard to health and safety; the
Mine Health & Safety Council Ministerial
Advisory Committee; as well as meetings
with the Department of Transport against
banning vehicles between certain hours
of the day in Gauteng.
“The expectation is that there will be
very little, if any growth, in aggregate and
sand sales in South Africa this year, so we
need to work smarter and ensure that the
aggregates supplied to the marketplace
are of the highest possible standard and
quarried in a safe and sustainable man-
ner,” he adds.
ISHE Top Performer: AfriSam Newcastle. This
operation has also achieved Showplace status
for five years in a row.