6 / 68
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
APRIL
2017
4
MARKETPLACE
While numbers continue to swell, the
association is also gearing for a new phase
in the development of the industry as some
of the stalwarts of the association make
way for the next generation of leaders to
drive their visions forward in the ongoing
pursuit of a local industry that is a world
leader in the development and delivery of
quality concrete.
Incoming chairman of the association,
Avi Bhoora, comments on the year ahead:
“We’ve had quite a lot of changes in the
lead up to 2017. Charl Marais resigned
as chairman of Sarma at the end of 2016
and we wish him success with his future
endeavours whilst thanking him sincerely
for his stewardship in the past year.
New direction
“Another change was the proposed initiative
to consolidate all concrete industry bodies.
We conducted a referendum in mid-January
and a unanimous agreement from about
75% of our members to proceed. This has
unfortunately resulted in the decision to
withdraw from the joint office that we’ve
shared with the Aggregate and Sand
Producers Association of Southern Africa
(Aspasa) for many years. We thank Nico
Pienaar and his team for their unstinting
support and congratulate Johan van Wyk
for succeeding Pienaar as director of
Sarma. Van Wyk will also move office to
Midrand at the beginning of February.
“The external environment has been harsh
and this has affected business confidence
and markets adversely. The management
committee deliberated on the status of our
industry at our strategic planning meeting
held in mid-September 2016.
We concluded that Sarma currently
represents approximately two thirds of
the industry and we will need to embrace
an even greater majority in future to avoid
losing our identity and also to make a more
meaningful contribution to the overall
construction industry.
We will also strive to derive a greater
benefit from the consolidation of the
Concrete Industry Bodies.
What’s to come
“In future, the industry, as well as the
markets we supply can look forward to:
• An enhanced accreditation process for
unquestionable credibility of readymix
concrete quality
• Stronger lobby to have accredited
Readymix Producers specified as
exclusive suppliers of concrete
• The offering of more accredited training
to uplift core skills within the industry
• The emulation of good practice from
other successful industry associations
in respect of statistics collection and
dissemination, conflict management.
Examples include the establishment of
an ombudsman, adoption of a code of
conduct, compliance and consequence
management, etc.
“Furthermore, we pledge on behalf of the
management committee, that we will work
tirelessly to realise the objectives of Sarma.
However, it requires full support from
all readymix suppliers to further improve
NEW ERA
for
READYMIX CONCRETE
The Southern Africa Readymix
Association of Southern Africa
(Sarma) continues to grow
exponentially as producers
seek to align themselves with
the trend towards high quality
concrete that is a hallmark
of its membership.
Avi Bhoora is the new chairman of Sarma.
General manager of Sarma, Johan van Wyk,
has been promoted to the post of director
of the association.
the image of the readymix industry as
well as move the industry to a new
position of profitability and sustainability,”
promises Bhoora.