Electricity + Control April 2015

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Ian Jandrell
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The views expressed in this publication are
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It seems very hard to hear good news. The
manufacturing industry has been contracting
for some time, the economy is not set to
grow in leaps and bounds – although we need
to be quite frank and accept that a fraction of
this (less than 0,5 %) can be attributed to the
current situation at Eskom.
Wehavealsodrivenourselves intoapredicament
where we assume the worst before stepping
back and contemplating where we are.
Sub-saharan Africa has some of the fastest
growing economies. It is home to some of the
greatest mineral reserves and to remarkable
reserves of hydro energy – all waiting to be
tapped and appreciated.
Recently a network of Research Active African
Universities was established and there is a
move to rationalise and prioritise research on
the continent. This means what to our industry?
Well, if we want to get anywhere on the world
stage, we need to remember that we require
a commitment − not only to basic education −
but to drive an agenda of excellence in higher
education and research. Whereas our mining
industry is well known for innovation in many
spheres, it is not that obvious that we play
leading roles in other areas as well. Possibly
this should be the topic of a future comment.
What has struck me is how fertile our continent
is as a place for world-leading research. While
this is not often acknowledged – consider
this. We have a significant number of people
in the sub-continental region who have very
good basic education. Certain surveys and
assessments suggest that they are generally
better educated than South Africans. But
South Africa has, without doubt, an excellent
university sector.
Allied to this are some of the current challenges
we face. These include the significant migration
of people to cities – cited as the largest
migration of people in the history of the world.
Then there are the associated challenges of
our modern cities. Some, like Johannesburg,
Gaborone and Harare, do indeed look like cities
– they have the infrastructure, the suburbs,
the finance houses and the industry. Others,
like Bushbuckridge, look nothing like a city –
although they are, without doubt, cities.
How do we deal with this? How can you add
infrastructure, effectively, after the fact? How
do you establish a sustainable community in
an area that was once a mine? How do you
develop a manufacturing industry around a
community – and make it sustainable?
These are profound questions, and questions
that we need to be able to answer. I believe
that South Africa is a laboratory for the world. In
addition, when we consider a national grid that
is under strain, make no mistake – the same
challenges are creeping up in many other parts
of the world. The reasons may be different, but
how to tackle themwill be similar. What better
place is there to play with solar energy – and
crack the wicked problem of getting alternative
energy onto a grid? We all know the challenges
with that.
When one considers society, and the need
to employ people… how do we construct
communities with a sense of community?
Communities where self-actualisation becomes
the norm, and not the exception? Howdoes one
construct the future that the nation deserves?
I have often considered what South Africa may
look like within the decade – and truth is, I do
not see anything that resembles an African
country. I see something completely different?
What do you see?
Ian Jandrell
Pr Eng,
BSc (Eng) GDE PhD,
FSAIEE SMIEEE
COMMENT
1 April ‘15 Electricity+Control