Sparks Electrical News February 2015

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S
IN THIS ISSUE
February 2015
• Distribution boards, sockets, switches and protection
• Lighting
14-18
19
FEATURES
• Contractors’ corner
• Buyers’ guide
• People on the move
REGULARS
2 -9
10 -11
20
The ECA(SA)’s national executive
committee for 2015 is:
Back: Giel Labuschagne
(Highveld region delegate);
Jimmy van Rooyen (KwaZulu-
Natal region delegate); Cliffy
Davis (Free State region
delegate); Pieter du Toit (regional
director Free State); Stephen
Khola (national director labour
relations and human resources);
Tembe Mwemba (national finance
manager); Shantonette Pillay
(regional director, KwaZulu-
Natal); Pierre Foot (regional direc-
tor Western Cape); Cecil
Lancaster (regional director
Bosveld region) ; Edwin Joshua
(South/East Cape region) Front:
Lucas Bowles (regional director
South/ East Cape) ; Johnny Cun-
niff (first vice-president); Michael
Straton (president); Mark Mfikoe
(national director); and Thursdon
Duncan (second vice-president).
THE crack team employed to rid the industry of pirate contractors is
notching up success after success – many of these due to information
from legitimate contractors.
“We are well on our way to cleaning up and taking back our indus-
ECA national executive committee for 2015
Crack down on‘pirates’ continues
try, thanks largely to this team,” says Mark Mfikoe, national
operations director of the Electrical Contractors’ Associa-
tion of South Africa. The team from the National Bargain-
ing Council for the Electrical Industry began operating in
Gauteng last October and, says Mfikoe, has “delivered on
expectations”.
“Since October 2014, the team has registered 51 pirate
contractors employing 325 workers – in Gauteng alone!
Another 50 pirate contractors with 374 employees on their
books have been identified and we are in the process of
getting them to register with the NBCEISA,” adds Mfikoe.
“This success is due to the publicity that this team has re-
ceived, particularly in Sparks Electrical News, and the many
legitimate tip-offs that the team has investigated. The
team has given the informants feedback and we believe
that it is important that stakeholders are kept up to date
on the progress made by the team.”
“Informants have led us to pirate contractors – who are
employing unregistered workers – as far as Welkom, Lady-
smith, Harrismith and Bethlehem. It has been a rewarding
ride and the expansion plan is well under way,” says Mfikoe.
He explains that the advantages of registering with the
NBCEI is that a part of the requirements include registering
with the Department of Labour as a contractor, employing
registered licenced electricians, and registering employees
with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the
Workman’s Compensation Commission.
“The real story behind this is a humanitarian one,” says
Mfikoe. “The workforce employed by these pirates has
moved from a position where they had zero benefits to
where they now have funeral and disability cover, sick
benefit cover and retirement benefits. This means that
the people who are responsible for the actual work being
done are now adequately protected and their families will
be financially secure should any peril occur.”
Mfikoe says the NBCEISA team’s promise to clean up the
industry will continue and expand to other provinces – and a national
crackdown is on the cards.
Anyone with any information about pirate contractors should call
Elaine at the NBCEISA on (011) 339 2312.