Skills on Site April 2011 1

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

TO FIND YOUR
NEAREST STORE
www.cashbuild.co.za
CASHBUILD SHARECALL
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HAND TOOLS SPADES & SHOVELS
TAPE MEASURE PIPE IMPORTED
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COMBINATION
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STEP LADDER
6 Step
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226,95 550W
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KEYED CHUCK SKU: 9741115 SKU: 9741112 Extended
SKU: 971101
377,95 378,95 476,95 22 Step
ALUMINIUM
SKIL EXTENSION
BOSCH PLANER LADDER
IMPACT DRILL BOSCH ANGLE 1555AA • 550 W 2,4m to 4,2m
GSB 13 RE • 600W SKU: 9741122 SKU: 142213
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SKU: 9741118
GRINDER
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1427,95
544,95 SKU: 971112 3,6m to 6,0m
BOSCH 544,95 SKIL
BELT SANDER
SKU: 1042259
1561,95
PSB70 SKIL 650W 75 x 457
IMPACT DRILL SKU: 972110
ANGLE GRINDER
KEYLESS CHUCK 9780AA • 2000W 663,95 WOODEN
700W SKU: 974237 STEP LADDER
6 Step • 180cm
817,95
SKU: 971113

715,95 WHEELBARROWS SKU: 1042502

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GBH 2-18 RE ANGLE GRINDER WHEELBARROW 8 Step • 240cm
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WHEELBARROW
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1,3 x 2,4m
SKIL SKU: 914 SKU: 920

SKIL • 2007 AA 5003AC

CIRCULAR SAW
366,95 8 Step 571,95
DRILL/DRIVER POLY
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SKU: 972608 WHEELBARROW
663,95
SKU: 974137 SKU: 300133
458,95 408,95

CASHBUILD OFFERS FREE LOCAL DELIVERY Selected products may not be available in all stores. Prices include 14% VAT and are only valid in RSA until 17 April 2011. E & O.E.
2 Skills on Site April 2011 CODE RED 248 • GO Advertising 61876
 April 2011

COVER STORY Partitions & ceilings

4 Husqvarna’s K760 Range 27 Cornice Board

CONCRETE & CEMENT 29 LEADING INFO

6 Making R1.9 Million in a Year
FINancE

7
EARTHWORKS & PLANT HIRE 30 Big Issues Facing Builders
11 On-site Maintenance for TLBs
and Tractors SUCCESS STORY
33 Herd Boy to Head Honcho
pLUMBING
18 Plumbers Toolbox 37 in touch

ELECTRICAL
22 Don’t Get Shocked

30
23 Cable Marking Technology Stops
Power Cable Theft

25
Contractors corner
25 Don’t be Tempted

Proprietor and Publisher:

PROMECH PUBLISHING
Tel: (011) 781-1401
Fax: (011) 781-1403
E-mail: skillsonsite@promech.co.za
Website: www.promech.co.za
Printed by:
CTP Printers
Tel: (011) 230-7000

Acknowledgements
In order to bring you the most up-to-date infor-
mation from around the globe, we make use of
Internet websites that are current and provide
information that is relevant to local builders.
Information from the following sites has been
included in this issue: WikiHow – www.wikihow.
com, Stock.Xchange – www.sxc.hu

Promech Publishing has a BEE

The “Skills On Site” team - Top: Susan Custers, publisher; Zinobia Docrat, production;
Raymond Campling, editor. Seated: Candis Allen, advertising sales; Catherine Macdiva, rating of 97.2%
administration; Jackie Nene, subscriptions/circulation.

Copyright
All rights reserved. No editorial matter published in “Skills On Site” may be reproduced in any form or language without written permission
of the publishers. While every effort is made to ensure accurate reproduction, the editor, authors, publishers and their employees or agents
shall not be responsible or in any way liable for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in the publication - whether arising from negligence or
otherwise or for any consequences arising therefrom. The inclusion or exclusion of any product does not mean that the publisher or editorial
board advocates or rejects its use either generally or in any particular field or fields.

Skills on Site April 2011 3

COVER STORY

Husqvarna’s K760 Range

H
usqvarna Construction Products is a market
leader in machinery and diamond tools
for the construction and stone industries.
Their product range includes power cutters,
diamond tools, drill motors and drill stands,
wall and wire saws, floor saws, table saws as well as
machines for surface preparation and demolition.
In 2010 the South African market was introduced to
Husqvarna’s K760 Power Cutter. A few months later,
we saw the arrival of sibling product, the K760 Cut-
n-Break. This article will examine the power duo in
more detail.

Husqvarna’s new power cutter K 760

Husqvarna’s new power cutter K 760 is the right
choice for all cutting and drilling contractors that
spare a thought to the environment. The X-Torq® low
emission engine makes the machine more powerful
while being better for the environment at the same
time. The K 760 offers up to 75% lower emissions and
uses 20% less fuel.
Husqvarna power cutter K 760 is a further develop-
ment of the popular K 750. Just like its predecessor
the K 760 is equipped with Husqvarna’s low emission
X-Torq® engine. X-Torq® is especially developed for
two stroke engines and utilises dual intakes; one for
the clean air and one for the fuel-air mixture. First a
barrier of clean air presses out the burnt gases, then
the fuel-air mixture is flushed in. The result is a more
powerful engine, better fuel economy and a drop in
emissions — of up to 75%, compared to conventional
two stroke engines.
“It can sound like a contradiction in terms, but X-Torq®
makes power cutting even more powerful for the user
while being kinder on the environment,” says Pieter
Smuts, General Manager for construction products,
at Husqvarna South Africa.
“The K 760 is a power cutter to rely on in all circum-
stances. It makes the job more effective, without hassle
or stoppages thanks to the powerful engine plus a
robust, well tried and trusted construction.
Comfortable to work with
It is more comfortable to work with because it is
ergonomically designed, lighter, and has reduced
handle vibrations. It presents an improved working
environment thanks to our DEX, Dust Extinguisher
System, that reduces the amount of dust around the
user,” Pieter says.
Under the cover of the K 760, there is a very important
innovation: Active Air Filtration™, a highly effective
filter system that has become even more effective.
The latest generation Active Air Filtration™ contains
an entirely new centrifugal nozzle that increases the
level of filtration, and a new paper filter with a doubled
surface which extends filter-life to approximately one
year of operating time on dry cutting.
The new filter system benefits both user and service
personnel alike. A more efficient filter means the
cutting job gets done quicker because the engine
capacity remains intact, longer service intervals, and
reduced service costs.
More facts on the Husqvarna K 760:
• Air-cooled two stroke engine.
• Power: 3.7 kW.
• Weight, without fuel and cutting equipment:
9.7/9.9 kg.
• Diamond blade: 300/350mm.
• Cutting depth: 100/125mm.
• Poly-V drive belt offers a better transmission of
power, less re-tensioning and a longer life.
• DEX, newly developed Dust Extinguisher System
with a water-saving wet cutting kit.
• DuraStarter, dust and slurry-sealed starter unit, and
the starter cord with greatly increased durability
means increased reliability and life.
• SmartCarb™, built-in automatic filter compensa-
tion, maintains high power and lowers fuel con-
sumption.
• Effective anti-vibration system, less than 5m/s2, and
sound reduction makes the machine comfortable
to use.
• Easy to start thanks to Air Purge and decompres-
sion valve.

4 Skills on Site April 2011

 COVER STORY

If all the power cutters of the world were equipped • DuraStarter, dust and slurry protected starter and the
with X-Torq® then hydrocarbon emissions would be durable starter cord reduce the risk of down-time,
reduced by 13 500 tons per year and 19 million litres which means increased reliability and service life.
less stroke fuel would be used per year. • SmartCarb, built-in automatic filter compensation,
The number of petrol driven power cutters in the maintains high power and lowers fuel consumption.
world is estimated to be 750 000, 50% of which are • The new Active Air Filtration™, one of the most
estimated to have conventional two stroke engines. efficient air filtration systems on the market, which
X-Torq® implies a reduction in hydrocarbon emis- increases filter working-life up to about one year
sions of 36 kilo per machine and year, which in turn of operational time on dry cutting.
results in a reduced fuel consumption of 51 litres per • Easy to start thanks to Air Purge and
machine and year. decompression valve.
• Effective vibration dampening system, less than or
The K 760 Cut-n-Break cuts deep at a lower equal to 3.0 m/s2, and sound-dampening make
the machine comfortable to use.
cost
A versatile all-round machine for cutting and drilling • Easy view fuel indicator displays the level of fuel
contractors who sometimes need to make deep cuts. in the tank.
That is one way to sum up the K 760 Cut-n-Break; Husqvarna Construction Products, Husqvarna South frica
Husqvarna’s new power cutter which can handle Share Call 0860048759, E-mail: info@husqvarna.co.za
cuts of up to 400mm, with a lower tool cost than
a diamond chain saw. The K 760 Cut-n-Break is
the follow-up on the popular K 650 Cut-n-Break,
Husqvarna’s first machine with the revolutionary
technique.
The technique and performance are significantly
enhanced with the new cutter. The biggest innova-
tion is an entirely new engine body – the K 760 Cut-
n-Break is equipped with Husqvarna’s low emission
X-Torq® engine which makes the machine more
powerful while being better on the environment
at the same time. More power, 3.7 kW, means that
the blade cuts through the concrete with more
resilience and consistency. An improved ergo-
nomic design is noticeable, among other things,
in the form of a more robust front handle, making
the grip more comfortable. An effective vibration
dampening system and sound-damping makes
the machine more comfortable to use.
The K 760 Cut-n-Break diamond blades boast
a new construction too, with a higher strength,
which means they are more resistant to thermal
strain. The double, specially developed 230mm
blades grant higher cutting speed and power.
The areas of application for the K 760 Cut-n-Break
are window, door, and ventilation openings where
over-cutting is to be avoided, grooves for cabling
and crack renovation.

More facts about the Husqvarna K 760

Cut-n-Break:
• Air-cooled two stroke engine.
• Power: 3.7 kW.
• Diamond blades: 230mm.
• Cutting depth: 400mm.
• Weight: 11.3kg including blades.

Skills on Site April 2011 5

 LIFT TRUCK
COMPANY

6 Skills on Site April 2011

 CONCRETE & CEMENT

Contractors that are looking at expanding their busi- it works, what it costs and
nesses in line with the work that they are already we calculate how you
doing can look at starting a floor preparation busi- can make money.
ness with the latest machines from Pan Mixer Group
company, Galileo Trading. What it is
The machines are supplied
ith a lot of hard work and clever by HTC in Sweden and
marketing it is even possible to are specially designed
earn more than R1 million in a year, to grind floors to a level.
even with the company’s smallest Also to finish the floors so
machines. This is a viable option that a screed, epoxy, tiles
because the flooring market is huge and opportuni- or other flooring systems
ties for work are many. “Skills On Site speaks to Walter can be laid on top. Other
Ebeling of Pan Mixers to find out how contractors can machines in the range
use the system to expand their current businesses, how can do all the above, plus Walter Ebeling, Director of Pan Mixers

New HTC machines can polish concrete floors to a mirror finish

Skills on Site April 2011 7

A1 builders
use A1 cement
That’s because AfriSam’s A1 All-Purpose
cement provides great quality and great
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Reducing our
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8 Skills on Site
www.afrisam.com April 2011
0860 141 141
 CONCRETE & CEMENT

they can polish normal concrete floors to a mirror fin-

ish (HTC Superfloor) that is waterproof and stain proof
and are as beautiful as natural stones like granite.
HTC Superfloors’ polished concrete floors are a popular
choice of architects wanting cheap beautiful hard
wearing floors, as well as industrial applications where
smooth floors are needed for warehousing or for clean
workshops. A unique service that contractors can of-
fer clients is dust-free work thanks to HTC’s extraction
system. This means that the floors can be done while
day-to-day operations carry on unaffected.
Surfaces that can be polished:
• Concrete
• Stone (granite, marble or others)
• Wood
• Pavers

How it works
The HTC flooring system includes specialised machines,
as well as specialised diamond tools that can either HTC Superfloor mirror finish is in high
grind or polish a floor to requirements. The machine demand for warehousing and workshop
plugs into an extraction machine that collects all environments
the fine dust before it goes into the air.
The machines look similar to standard floor polishers
that you see in supermarkets, but underneath a dif-
ferent system ensures that every square millimetre
of the floor is ground or polished to perfection. The charge. Once completed you will be listed globally
tools are made from special materials that have as an HTC specialist and will qualify to get contracts
industrial diamonds attached to provide different anywhere in the world.
finishes – from coarse to mirror finish.

What you need

To start a business using the HTC
flooring systems you will need to
buy a machine and an extractor
from Galileo Trading. Full training
will be given by the company
and depending on the type of
jobs you will be doing you will
need the right type of grinding
and/or polishing tools.
Once you have the equipment
you need to market the service
and offer it to existing and new
clients. Suitable transport will be
needed to get the equipment to
and from the site. After you have
done at least 7000m² of Superfloor
(polished mirror finish floor) you
can apply to become a Certified
HTC Superfloor contractor.
This course is offered free-of- Floor grinding takes place with no dust so work can carry on around the worksite like normal

Skills on Site April 2011 9

 CONCRETE & CEMENT

How much you can make

There is a big demand for floor preparation and a
cost effective way is for customers to grind and pol-
ish concrete floors to a mirror finish using a HTC 500
machine. This small machine has a good work rate
- at a reasonable price – and is ideal for sub-contract-
ing. It is possible to start making money quite quickly.
Here is the calculation:

* If you market the business well and have contracts every weekday
of the year excluding holidays you can use the calculation below or
use the same formula, but based on less days.

Potential turnover
Price that you charge customer Market price is R180 – 250 per m²
(Ave = R215)
Working days in a year 240
Work rate of HTC 500 machine 30m² per day
*Formula Days X working rate X price per
m² = value of work
Turnover R1 548 000

Main expenses
Cost price of HTC 500 machine R116 850 Incl VAT
Cost price of extractor R30 780 Incl VAT
Cost price of consumables (tools) R45 per m²
Labour (two workers needed) R17.43 per hour X 2
= R278.88 per day
*Formula Cost machinery + overall cost
of consumables (based on 240
days) + overall cost of labour
(based on eight-hour day for 240
days) = main expenses
Expenses R538 561
Profit less running expenses R1 009 439
(Note that normal business running costs have not been calculated
such as transport, insurance, marketing, administration etc)

Is it for you?
Just like any decision to open a business you will need
to carefully consider all factors that can have an effect
on the profitability of such a business. These include
researching the potential demand for these services,
availability of skills, cost of marketing your service and
possible competition from companies that offer similar
services. If your research shows that there is a need
for the service, and if you have the skills available,
then expanding your business to include specialised
flooring services can be a profitable way to go.
Pan Mixers Group, Galileo Trading, Walter Ebeling, Tel: (011) 397
3754, Fax: (011) 397 4721, Email: sales@panmixers.co.za, Web:
www.pmsa.com

10 Skills on Site April 2011

 EARTHWORKS & PLANT HIRE

Rather maintain your tractor too often than never at all

lthough different machines have different

service needs the following tips can help
you make your tractors and TLBs last longer
and run more reliably on site. Whether the
maintenance is done weekly, monthly or
longer depends on how often they work and in what
conditions. As a rule rather do maintenance too often
rather than too late!
Follow these steps:

1 Check the Owners Manual

Change teeth if worn rather than damaging the bucket
The manufacturer has instructions for basic care of
your equipment, and they have this is the best ad-
vice on how to do it. If you don’t have a manual,
get one. Here are things you should look for in the
Owner’s Manual:

Maintenance Schedule:
This will tell you the intervals for routine maintenance,
including chassis lubrication (greasing), engine, trans-
mission, and hydraulic oil changes, filter changes, and
other maintenance items.

Specifications:
This should tell you the type of fluid for the transmis-
sion, hydraulic system, brakes, and engine coolant, as Check belts and hoses

Skills on Site April 2011 11

12 Skills on Site April 2011
 EARTHWORKS & PLANT HIRE

Tips
• Keep a service record. Scheduled service inter-
vals are usually found in the owner’s manual, but
many tractors do not get enough use to reach
the hour requirements for oil changes, etc, so
these services may be done yearly instead.
• It pays to keep an eye on your battery. Some
tractors and TLBs are not used very often, and
the battery can lose its charge while the ma-
chine is not used.
• Learn the location of filler plugs, internal filters,
and drain plugs on your machine.
• Always allow tractors, especially diesel engine
tractors, to warm up when started after a long Check the oil drain plug is tight
period of non-use. Never over rev the engine
when it is first started. Hydraulic lifters, hydraulic
pumps, and oil pumps may drain down while
the tractor is not in use, and damage can oc-
cur to these components.
• Check lug nuts. The lug nuts on the large back
wheels are prone to work loose if not tightened
properly.

well as their capacities. Tyre pressures, bolt torques,

and other information can be found under specifi-
cations or other sections of the manual. Location of
lubricant points (grease fittings), fluid check dipsticks
or sight glasses, and instructions on cleaning air and
fuel filters.

Check the radiator for dirt

2 Tools for tractor maintenance sizes than for servicing cars, so plan to buy or borrow
the tools you need.
Get a set of tools with wrenches and sockets in bigger

3 Work under cover

Because some smaller tractors and TLBs do not have
a cabin to protect the seat, instrument panel, and
metal components, it is a good idea to store it in a
shed or garage. If you can’t do this, keep rain out of
the exhaust system, and cover the seat and instru-
ments.

Make sure that fuel filters and water seperators are clean
4 Check fluids
Tractor and TLB use is measured in hours, not kilo-
metres, so the amount of use may be hard to keep
track of and by not replacing fluids like oil, water etc
you can cause failure of expensive parts. Look at

Skills on Site April 2011 13

EARTHWORKS & PLANT HIRE

the owner’s manual to see how to

check each fluid.
• Check the coolant in the radiator
• Check the hydraulic oil
• Check the battery water
• Check the engine oil
• Check the transmission fluid

5 Check tyre
inflation
Because of the shape, low infla-
tion is not always obvious. Rear
tyres normally have between 0.8
and 1.4 bar inflation pressure,
the front tyres may be up to 2.2
bar. The back tyres on farm trac-
tors should be filled with ballast,
especially if you are pulling an TLBs are used in harsh environments
implement where maximum trac-
tion is required. Usually this ballast is water with an
antifreeze solution added.

Fan belt and radiator hose

6 Check belts and hoses
If it has a hydraulic system, it has high pressure hoses
and/or tubing, and failure of this fluid conduit can
cause component (hydraulic pump) failure, loss of
steering, or other problems. If a hose (or belt) appears
damaged, worn, or cracked, replace it. If fittings or
connections are leaking, tighten them or replace
the seals.
7 Brakes
Keep the brake linkages lubricated, and make sure
the brakes are adjusted equally. Many tractors and
TLBs have mechanical brakes, operated by a link-
age and cam system instead of a master/slave fluid
system. These brakes are located on the rear axles,
and work independently, so that they may be used
to steer the tractor in tight corners or to reverse the
direction of travel. The brake pedals will interlock for
road travel, so that one pedal is not accidentally
engaged by itself, causing the tractor to spin while
travelling at a high speed.

14 Skills on Site April 2011

 EARTHWORKS & PLANT HIRE

Tractor warnings
Read and understand the instruction manuals
with all attachments.
Never attach a tow rope or chain to the axle to
pull very heavy loads. If the tractor stops while
pulling, the wheels can carry on turning and roll
the tractor over backward onto the operator.
Never let riders sit on the tractor while it is mov-
ing. Tractors are single passenger machines and
often pull dangerous implements and there
simply is no safe place for passengers to sit.
Turn the engine off and allow it to cool before
working on it. The engine in a tractor is more ex-
posed than a car engine, and pulleys, fans, and
belts can be very dangerous. The exhaust often
sticks out of the bonnet at the top of the tractor
and becomes very hot while operating.

Tractor hydraulic oil

Skills on Site April 2011 15

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16 Skills on Site April 2011

New Ideas Centre Opening 31 March 2011: 227 Jan Smuts Avenue, Johannesburg
 EARTHWORKS & PLANT HIRE

11 Grease and oil

Tractors and TLBs have many more moving parts that
require greasing than cars. If you see a part that
moves, look for a grease fitting, and grease it. Use
a grease gun, clean the fitting, attach, and pump
grease until the associated seal begins to expand,
or grease is seen oozing out of the attachment you
are lubricating. Look for grease fittings on steering
components, brake and clutch linkages, and three-
point hitch pivot points. Older models need specific
lubricants in the gear boxes. Remember using the
wrong fluid can cause serious damage.

Turbo-diesels take in a lot of air so check the air filters

12 Keep it clean
This will help you to spot damaged components and
8 Watch the gauges leaks, and see if dirt is causing problems.

Keep an eye on the temperature, oil pressure, and

tachometer. The temperature gauge should be
marked with a normal operating range, but any time
the indicator goes out of this the engine is running
hot. If it has a diesel engine, the oil pressure should
be between 40 and 60 PSI.
The tachometer tells how many revolutions per minute
the crankshaft is turning. Diesel engines are designed
to operate at lower RPM and higher torque than petrol
engines, and “over revving” your engine, or operating
it at maximum RPMs is not recommended.

9 Check the filters

Tractors and TLBs are equipped with filters to protect
against dirt and water that could cause failure of
the components. Check the fuel filter for water. Most
diesel engines have a water separating filter, since
diesel fuel attracts moisture.
Check the air filter often. Tractors and TLBs are often
operated in very dusty conditions, and in some cases,
the filters must be cleaned daily or weekly. Clean the
air filter with a shop vacuum or with compressed air,
never by washing it. Replace the air filter when it can-
not be cleaned properly or if the filter is damaged.

10 Check the radiator screen

Tractors and TLBs are often operated in conditions
where dirt can get onto the radiator, so they usually
have a front screen or grill to prevent leaves and sticks,
insects or pollen from clogging the radiator.

Skills on Site April 2011 17

PLUMBING

rated clamps to help you get a grip on any smooth

or wet surface.
Time is money and using the right tools

5.
for the job can help you save both. While
Plumbing may sometimes require highly A djustable pipe wrench
specialised equipment for complicated These big red wrenches are the plumber’s trademark.
Yours don’t have to be red though, they just have to
jobs, these items should still be in any be strong and durable!
plumber’s toolbox no matter how large
or small the job is!

1. Plumbers tape

6.
This cheap, non-sticky tape is used to seal pipe threads
against leaks.
Tape Measure
Helps you work accurately and not waste materials.

2. Plunger
This common tool needs no
introduction, its job is to unclog!
7. Toolboxes and belts

3. Blow torch
A blow torch is actually made up of two parts. The
blowtorch itself and the gas cylinder. These can
sometimes be sold together or individually, so make
sure to calculate what the best deal is! You use it to
join copper piping.
You might want to think about getting a tool belt
as well as, or instead of a tool box. This is handy as
you can always keep your tools on you when you’re
working in different areas on a site. Putting the tool
straight back into the belt after using it also means
you will never lose it or leave it behind!

4. Plumbers’ Pliers
These special pliers have a certain shape and ser-

18 Skills on Site April 2011

PLUMBING

8. Gloves
Plumbing work can get dirty or slippery. There is also
the risk of hurting yourself on sharp edges for example.
Look after your hands well with some sturdy gloves as
you need your hands to be in good condition to be
able to do your job!

9. Spanners and screwdrivers

Sometimes on the job you need to improvise, having
a selection of spanners and screwdrivers is a good
place to start!

10. Pipe cutters gives a clean, even cut

You could use a hacksaw for this, but with a hacksaw
it’s harder to get a smooth edge and takes longer
to cut.
Some places where you can stock your toolkit are:
Rothenberger - Tools SA, Tel: (011) 372 9631 web: www.rothenberger.
co.za, Cashbuild Tel: 0860 100 582, Web: www.cashbuild.co.za,
Build-it Tel: 0861 284 5348, Web: www.buildit.co.za

Remember, when it comes to tools it is tempting to

buy cheaper ones, but while the good quality ones
may be more expensive initially, they usually are
better designed, easier to use and last longer.

Skills on Site April 2011 19

 Non woven, continuous filament,
flashpack/bidim needle-punched, polyester geotextile.

USES:
• Drainage behind retaining walls.
• Filtration in sub-soil drains.
• Separation of aggregate on driveways, paths and storage areas.
W h a t yo u n
• Protection of plastic waterproof membranes in garden or structural
When laying
e e d?
applications. the flashpack
scissors to cu down, have a
• As a waterproofing membrane when saturated with bitumen. t the sizes ne sharp pair of
eded
• Filter under riprap retaining river banks.
• Roof gardens/Atriums. Ti m e n e e d e
• Window boxes. Once laid dow d
n, the flashpac
• Drainage pipe. construction k is ready for
th e next stage
• Underground waste disposal and soak away. of
• Perimeter Sub-soil drains. Su rf a ce p re
• Stabilization of the above mentioned. Bidim flashpack
p a ra ti o n
is a rugged m

N
most soil or st aterial and ca
one surfaces n be placed up
Trench < 2,0m around the ho on
deep me within reas
onwoven — High throughflow and excellent filtration Rip Rap rock on.
< 100 kg
Continuous Filament — High Strength
Needle Punched — High elongation
Polyester — Superior chemical resistance

Benefits
• Paving: ensures correct drainage and prevents risk of
subsidence.
• Garden paths: prevents the natural soil from mixing with the sand
or gravel and reduces maintenance.
• Drainage: envelops the drain trench and improves the efficiency
of the drain by holding back the fine particles of soil.
• Roof gardens & window boxes: separates the drainage course
from the top soil and prevents particles entering the outlet sys-
tem.

Bonding/Priming
No priming required unless specified otherwise (dependent on the
a.b.e. product it gets used with).

Application
For separation / stabilization, place the Bidim flashpack onto prepared
subgrade, overlapping the material by 100mm where necessary.
Place the base on top of the Bidim flashpack.

Packaging
Bidim flashpack is supplied in packs of 10m x 1m or 10m x 1,3m.
Bidim U14 rolls are also available in 1.32m, 1.76m and 2.65m
wide.

Colours
Grey

bidim used under garden paths

Fo r mo re in fo rmation
p l e a s e ca l l a n a . b . e b r a n c h
o r v i s i t w w w. a b e.co. z a

220 Skills
Skills on
on Site
Site April
April 2011
2011
flashpack/bidim

SkillsononSite
Skills Site April2011
April 2011 21
ELECTRICAL

A bad electrical installation is not only prone to fail- future work on the electri-
ure, it is also very dangerous! Here are some easy cal system much easier.
ways to tell if your electrician is up to scratch. An electrician isn’t up to
scratch if he isn’t neat
and tidy!
Cutting corners
A good electrician will never cut corners or save
money in a way that would compromise the safety Conduits
or compliance of the installation, even if you ask him These are the skeleton
to. Professionals always work to code and keep things of the electrical system
safe, even if he is trying to keep costs down. that the wires run through.
When building a house
Proper tools from scratch, conduits
Using the proper tools for the job is a sign that your should be laid as early as
electrician is professional and skilled. It also helps possible so that cutting An untidy electrical box
them do a faster and neater installation, saving time, into walls to fit them isn’t required. Get your electri-
materials and of course money! If you see your elec- cian on board as early in the project as possible so
trician struggling with tools not designed for what he he can do this.
is trying to do, you have a problem. Remember, if the house doesn’t pass inspection
because of corner cutting or work that doesn’t
Neat and tidy comply with regulations, it will cost you a lot more to
Tidiness is one of the criteria for passing the electri- fix than a proper installation would have cost in the
cal inspection. It costs nothing to do and also makes first place!

22 Skills on Site April 2011

 ELECTRICAL

Copper cable theft costs the South African economy more than R5-billion a year in losses. Buying and install-
ing new cables have to be paid for by service providers like Eskom, Telkom, Transnet and the municipalities.
This is money they could use to improve their services. Then there are the costs to business. Production stops
in factories and work stops in companies and this affects profits.

Aberdare cables manufacturers a wide range of CableGuard Cable protection system Aberdare can manufacture cables to clients
products specific requirements

F
or contractors, this means there will be days
or weeks where all your electrical tools won’t
work. And if the theft of cables takes place
on your site, someone is going to have to pay
to replace them.
Leading power cable manufacturer, Aberdare Cables,
has taken up the fight against copper cable thieves
and dishonest scrap dealers that buy stolen cables.
They have developed products that stop cable theft
and other products that make it possible for a cable
to be identified if it is stolen and then found.
Unique markings
The first new product was developed by Aberdare’s
technology partner ‘Recoveri’ and tested at Aberdare
cables factory. It is a copper strip that is marked with
a unique code and put into the copper cable. It can
then be used to identify the manufacturer of the cable
and company that bought it.
A South African Police (SAP) cable database is made
and Aberdare Cables keeps records of this information.
Aberdare can be contacted when a marked stolen
cable is found and information like who the owner
of the cable is, and where the cable was installed
can be given.
A second product puts a unique code directly onto
the copper or aluminium conductor or its components.
They do this using special laser technology developed
by Aberdare’s technology partner ‘Traceability Solu-
tions’. Like the first product, the information is also kept
on the SAP database and can be checked by the
police when a stolen marked cable is found.
“These two unique marking solutions will help the
police identify stolen cables just from looking at the
bare copper or aluminium conductors,” says Henni
Scholtz, general manager of product development
and applications at Aberdare Cables.
“A lot of interest in our products has been shown by
some of the large municipalities, as well as Eskom. It is
expected that performance specifications for marked
conductors will soon be tested,” concludes Henni.
Aberdare Cables, Annelene Sivalingum, Tel: (011) 396 8000. Email:
asiva@aberdare.co.za

Skills on Site April 2011 23

24 Skills on Site April 2011

“If you get caught using false information to register your company with the Construction Industry Develop-
ment Board (cidb) you will face criminal prosecution and if found guilty you could lose everything and land up
in jail.”
T
his is according to Ebrahim Moola, cidb pro-
gramme manager for construction register
services, who says that contractors who think
they can get away with falsifying information,
in order to get a higher cidb grading and win
bigger tenders, must think again.
“A problem exists where crooked contractors submit
false records of jobs or tenders completed. Either mak-
ing the jobs of higher value than they actually were, or
making up information altogether,” says Ebrahim.
Any building contractors that wants to tender for
government contracts, or big private sector contracts
needs to register with the cidb. The board is respon-
sible for maintaining a list of building contractors and
keeping record of the resources the company has
like the amount of engineers and technically skilled
people.
Also, the experience that the company has and the
size of works in Rand value they have been responsible
for. This is used as a guideline to determine what the
contractor’s cidb grade is and what size contract
they are capable of undertaking.
“Where the fraud comes in is where contractors want
to qualify for tenders that call for a higher grading
than they have. This leads them to submitting a false
CONTRACTORS CORNER
CIDB Grading
A registered contractor’s grading designation
(indicated in the first column, below), means
that the contractor is considered capable of
undertaking a contract less than or equal to the
value indicated in the second column - within the
contractor`s registered class of works.
Grade Less than or equal to
2 R 650 000
3 R 2 000 000
4 R 4 000 000
5 R 6 500 000
6 R 13 000 000
7 R 40 000 000
8 R 130 000 000
9 No Limit
track record or in some cases trying to pay bribes in
order to get the grading that is required to qualify for
a contract,” says Ebrahim.
But, the problems go even deeper than
this. Crooked agents advertise their ser-
vices to assist contractors to obtain higher
gradings, some even claiming to be officials
from the cidb.
“This despite our repeated warnings that we
don’t employ any agents - and certainly not
to assist certain contractors to get the job they
tender for. Our only advice to contractors is to
ignore these people and do honest business
– no matter how good they make it sound
– it is illegal.
“Don’t be tempted to go to agencies that
promise to make your business look bigger
or stronger or to falsify information on your
behalf. If you need assistance simply go
to the nearest cidb branch for free ad-
vice and assistance,” warns Ebrahim.
Skills on Site April 2011 25
 CONTRACTORS CORNER

He says that the cidb is able to work with other govern-

ment departments like the South African Revenue Serice
(SARS) to check specific contractor’s turnover.
“Either way you will lose because if the SARS
finds you have done jobs with a higher
turnover than you declared you will
be made to pay tax on it, or you
will be prosecuted for fraud,” ends
Ebrahim.
Call the cidb Fraud and Corruption Hotline on
0800 11 24 34. All calls are anonymous and each
caller will get a reference number
that they can use to
follow the progress of
the investigation.

26 Skills on Site April 2011

 CEILINGS & PARTITIONS

INSTALLATION
Cutting
CorniceBord can easily be cut with a finetooth hack-
shaw, a tenon saw or a sharp knife.

Fixing
Use conventional ceiling nails at a maximum of 300mm
centres. (see diagram).

Painting
It is advisable to apply an undercoat prior to the final
coats for which suitable quality PVA’s and oil paints
can be used.

PERFORMANCE FEATURES
• Economical and robust
• Light and easy to transport
• Easy to handle and install
• High damage resistance in transit
• Does not split, splinter or crack
• Length flexibility
• Neat, smooth finish, fast and easy to paint
• Readily available

STANDARD SPECIFICATION
Lengths Width Thickness Mass
mm 83 3,2 0,25kg/linear metre
2440 • • •
3050 • • •
3660 • • •
4270 • • •
4880 • • •

Skills on Site April 2011 27

Jacad 6118

28 Skills on Site April 2011

 LEADING INFO

These statistics are provided exclusively for Skills on Site readers by Databuild, the leading provider of construction related information in
South Africa. Databuild has been providing information for thirty five years and tracks projects from planning through to awarded stages.
Each month Databuild will provide statistics reflecting trends in the industry.
For more information about Databuild please contact us on (011) 259-4500 or visit us at www.databuild.co.za

Value of awarded projetcs by province in Rmillions

- February 2011
Province Value in Rbillions
Eastern Cape 524
Free State 623
Gauteng 2,639
KwaZulu Natal 1,059
Limpopo 806
Mpumalanga 1,299
North West 369
Northern Cape 94
Western Cape 910
Grand Total 8,324

CIDB Value in CIDB Value in CIDB Value in CIDB Value in CIDB Value in CIDB Value in
CIDB Grading
Grade 1 Rmillion Grade 2 Rmillion Grade 3 Rmillion Grade 4 Rmillion Grade 5 Rmillion Grade 6 Rmillion
Eastern Cape 17 28 12 35 6 30.50 5 48
Free State 2 0 3 4 4 19 2 8 6 78
Gauteng 3 3 3 4 5 17 3 16 10 111
KwaZulu Natal 8 7 16 33 19 145 11 86 3 23
Limpopo 1 2 8 14 3 10 10 111 14 208
Mpumalanga 1 0.68 1 1 15 16 5 17 3 22 1 11
North West 1 5 5 31 5 57
Northern Cape 5 4 4 10 3 9 2 16
Western Cape 1 0.15 13 8 28 15 14 39 5 29 5 39
Total value per
grading in 2 0.83 28 22 95 119 67 297 48 342 51 590
Rmillions

Skills on Site April 2011 29 29

FINANCE
Builders that are wondering what happened to
all the work contracts over the last few years
can rest assured that they are not the only ones.
Experts at the recent Master Builders South
Africa (MBSA) Crisis Summit met to identify
reasons why the industry is battling and to take
steps to fix it.
BSA president, Jean-Marie Talbot, high-
lighted some of the serious issues and has
vowed to take action to help the building
industry recover. Some of the major issues
facing the building industry are:
Availability of Work – Access to loans
As the world’s economy slowed the demand for
building work for new development and work on ex-
isting buildings, has dropped dramatically. This led to
less people building and also to banks and financial
companies cutting down on lending.
With the economy recovering the MBSA will engage
banks and the Department of Treasury so they can
advise contractors and assist them with their tendering
and negotiation strategies to get finance.
Also, MBSA will meet with Government to get clarity
on the supposed R1 billion State Guarantee Fund
which was aimed at providing security for the af-
fordable housing segment of the residential market.
MBSA wants to know when it will become available
30 Skills on Site April 2011
and if the banks will
work with govern-
ment and make more
finance available as
a result.
Government
– Uncertainty
about budget
Over the past four
years MBSA has been
told that Government
will spend about R800 MBSA President, Jean-Marie Talbot
billion for infrastruc-
ture development. Now it wants Government to spell
out how the money will be spent and how procurement
and tendering will be done. MBSA will then use this
information for the industry to make sure that short,
medium and long-term plans are in place and that the
building industry is ready to take on the challenge.
Government Procurement – Open and Honest
There is very little uniformity in terms of require-
ments from different levels of government (local,
provincial and national) with regard to tendering
and the awarding of work. The issue of BBBEE and
preferential procurement is applied in different
ways.
MBSA acknowledged the good work being done
by the Construction Industry Development Board
(cidb) and has committed to continue to work
with them to make sure that all levels of govern-
 FINANCE

ment procurement is standardised building in a way that does

according to the Construction not put strain on the electric-
Charter. ity supply.
MBSA is also worried about
Security of Payment water supplies and will be
MBSA has started a process that discussing issues with role
will ensure security of payment as players in order to avoid end-
is happening in Australia and other ing up in a situation where
parts of the world. The objective is development is stopped
to make it law that payment is made suddenly due to pressure on
on time and to help any party that is the water supply system.
battling to obtain payment for work Other essential infrastruc-
done, and for which payment is not ture such as sanitation and
being made. transportation need to be
understood and debated by
Sustainability and Availability MBSA in order to
of Resources ensure a smooth
Electricity is in short supply and MBSA pipeline of
want clarity from electricity suppli- work extend-
ers to get information for members, ing into the
contractors and developers to be mid and long
able to make future plans. Also to MBSA wants clarity on Government’s R800-billion infra- term.
negotiate ways of developing and structure budget

Skills on Site April 2011 31

32 Skills on Site April 2011
 SUCCESS STORY

As a herd boy watching over his father’s and the village’s cattle in the clear air of the hills of the Transkei
Viwe Gqwetha had a lot of time to think about his future and how to make a better life for people in his small
community.

Years later as the Chief Operations Officer (COO) of
construction finance company, Nurcha, these same
clear thoughts help guide the company’s strategies
and help him to plan and finance projects in com-
munities around the country.
Nurcha is one of the country’s top development
finance institutions that was set up to provide fund-
ing to contractors and developers. As COO of the
company Viwe is in charge of managing programmes
and projects worth hundreds of millions of Rands and
his years of experience in community development
helps it to make wise decisions and minimise the risks
of doing business.
called ‘betterment system’ introduced to prop up
the apartheid system.
Politics
“I watched and learnt as villagers were locked in crucial
conversations and confrontations about their futures
and how outside forces influenced these in various
ways. I drew and still draw a lot of inspiration from the
events of those times and how we lead humble yet

Clear head
Even as a successful businessman Viwe has never
forgotten his roots in his rural village of Baziya in the
Transkei. Nowadays when work pressures start to build
he still heads off to his home village to clear his head
and find tranquillity among the rolling hills and wide
open spaces of the Eastern Cape.
His childhood years in Baziya taught him a lot. From
on top of the hills he was able to watch over all the
cattle, but more importantly he got a bird’s eye view
of the villages in the area and how each one had
its own problems and challenges. He learned how
important infrastructure was to the entire region’s
wellbeing and providing access to infrastructure for
communities.
“I grew up in politically charged times and there was
rivalry that affected all levels of society and ordinary
villagers as a result of the implementation of the so

Skills on Site April 2011 33

SUCCESS STORY
dignified lives in spite of conditions.
“I owe my leadership and life orientation to the un-
sung heroes that featured in the formative years of
my life. These include working towards win-win solu-
tions through negotiation and compromise, as well
as being willing and able to fight, strive and sacrifice
to achieve what I want,” says Viwe.
After junior education Viwe left the village for high
school and later to study at the University of Transkei,
but politics disrupted these and he dropped out and
moved to a town called Cala, near Mclear in the
Transkei. Here he was involved in a range of com-
munity self-help projects while working with a group
of comrades to run a local bookshop called Progres-
sive Books. He was also active in NGO networks and
activities in the region.
Changing lives
The Cala district is well known for its history of resis-
tance to apartheid and homeland rule. Many people
were persecuted and others such as Bathandwa
Ndondo and many others paid the ultimate price
in the cause of struggle for liberation. In his twenties
Viwe made this place his second home for the five
years he spent there.
It is in this environment that he was instrumental in the
establishment of various community projects most di-
rected at addressing development and educational
needs of the community. The projects included the
establishment of a community library, adult literacy
centre, community radio and winter schools.
They were made possible by funds raised from in-
ternational donor agencies and to this day it still
pleases him that these projects are running long after
the collapse of apartheid and its homeland govern-
ment. “Those were truly developmental initiatives,”
he comments.
34 Skills on Site April 2011
A new world
“I remember how Progressive Books used the so called
“independence” of the Transkei and the legal gaps
to import and sell books and publications that were
banned under apartheid laws. The bookshop, run
in a shack like structure, was used by many political
activists across the country to order material that was
not available in other bookshops due to apartheid
censorship laws.
“This however came at a price and we endured ran-
dom midnight police raids and twice my colleagues
were banished.” He remembers the families of the
Ntsebezas, Qongqos, Ngalekas, Silingas, and Din-
giswayos being disrupted by these events. As the
youngest of his friends and comrades he escaped
some of these acts of persecution and as such stayed
behind to “keep the home fires burning” in running
the business and project operations.
“This taught me valuable lessons on how to run a busi-
ness and the kind of skills needed, but mostly taught
me about community development. This was the
most fulfilling and significantly influenced my career
choice afterwards.
The president’s men
“I decided to study further through the University of
Natal and qualified with a Bachelors of Arts and Masters
in Town and Regional Planning,” Viwe adds.
After University he consulted for a short while as a
planner in training before being appointed to the
Presidential Project Team to help the government
to fast-track critical institutional, infrastructure and
developmental interventions in the Transkei region.
This team was allocated a budget with a mandate to
manage and improve local government performance,

rural infrastructure development, safety and security
and economic development in general. This was a
four year programme which he had an opportunity to
lead in its last two years, including its intricate closure
and handover processes.
“It was an invaluable experience for me to have
worked and led such a diverse and multi- disciplinary
team of accomplished professionals.
Best of both worlds
“The Presidential Projects Team was a real incubator of
talent in integrated planning. There was a good mix of
experience, field specialisation, cultural diversity and
youthful energy in innovations and management of
stakeholders. It had some of the most experienced older
white professionals working side-by-side with mostly
younger but highly qualified black professionals.”
During his time with Presidential Projects, Viwe fine-tuned
his project and programme management skills. It also
gave him an understanding on how to overcome the
infrastructural challenges that he had experienced
as a boy growing up in the hills of the Transkei.
SUCCESS STORY
Lastly, it also gave him a deep understanding of the
processes and protocols when dealing with communi-
ties and fair recognition of individual cases.
Serving communities
In 2000 Viwe joined the Independent Development
Trust (IDT) where he became the regional manager
in charge of the Eastern Cape operations. His most
successful infrastructure development programme was
the Eastern Cape School Building, which was one of
the biggest infrastructural programmes in the country
at the time worth R500 million annually for 5 years.
By 2005 he was promoted to become an operations
executive at the IDT head office. This also meant he
had to move away from his beloved Eastern Cape
home and had to adapt to life in the big city.
The move was a good one though and in 2007 he
joined Nurcha in his current position. His planning abili-
ties, programme leadership, and stakeholder relation-
ship handling abilities - that he learned and nurtured
through his career - are put to good use today.
Contractor development
“There is no shortage of good contractors out there,
but I have found that there are only a few with
deep enough pockets to sustain their business in-
between contracts. For most it’s almost a case of
spending all their money while waiting for the next
contract. It’s like starting a new business every time
they win a contract and this is not good for ongoing
development of contractors.”
“Nurcha aims to help contractors to win more con-
tracts and self-fund developments so that small and
emerging contractors build sustainable businesses.
One of my roles at the company is to interface with
contractors and government to better plan and
execute infrastructure programmes and so keep
contractors busy.
“There is such a big backlog of infrastructure, housing
and maintenance in this country that good contrac-
tors should never be without meaningful contracts.
Government has funds and if we unlock funding
models that work we will not only serve our contrac-
tors, but will serve the broader public as well,” an
enthusiastic Viwe explains.
Big plans
Although he has already done a lot for community
development and has achieved many of his personal
milestones, Viwe still has big plans. “I think the financial
industry has more to do to really make things hap-
pen and has so far not sufficiently used that space
to uplift the underdeveloped areas.
Skills on Site April 2011 35
SUCCESS STORY
The resilient gross under-de-
velopment of most of the rural
areas means South Africans
have to join hands, first and
foremost, to change them for
the better of all. The levels of
poverty and hopelessness and
growing levels of crime in rural
areas in particular is a cause
for serious concern.
“It creates all the conditions for
all sorts of problems and over-
whelms the traditional institutions
that gave structure to rural com-
munities and livelihoods. These
developmental needs exist
side-by-side with the depth of
skills in the financial and other
sectors to develop innovative
solutions to address these chal-
lenges,” Viwe explains.
Viwe Gqwetha
Nurcha for communities
He adds that in future he and the team at Nurcha
plan to play a bigger role in facilitating and structur-
ing innovative Private Public Partnerships to finance
social infrastructure development in underserviced
communities.
Eish!!!
36 Skills on Site April 2011
“There are good opportunities in
the medium to long term for mu-
nicipalities and the private sector
to cooperate to provide funding
for critical municipal infrastructure
to revitalise local economies.
“I always want to be involved in
building communities and my ca-
reer is anchored by this personal
requirement. I always strive to find a
space where my work and personal
goals and passions overlap, and I
am happy to be in the role that I
am today,” Viwe adds.
Family values
Viwe is married to Vatiswa and has a
daughter, Wakile (11) and son Xhanti
(8) who love the city of lights. Any
hope he has of returning to his rural
roots are dashed by his family who
although they love the countryside
they much prefer city life.
But Viwe makes sure that he takes regular family
trips down to his home village to keep his children
grounded and to learn to respect traditional values
and other ways of life.
“It is amazing how my city children transform when
they get there and easily adapt to rural games and
ways – it makes me happy to know that they will al-
ways have a place to go to when they need to clear
their heads. Our children are also growing to love the
outdoors and nature and this is exciting for me and
Vatiswa because we get to play with them more.”
Living the dream
“It’s also funny, that they have some luxuries we dreamt
of as herd boys. A perfect example is when we were
growing up in the Transkei we hated and feared the
sight of Land Rovers Defenders (known as i-Vantyi)
because they spelled p.o.l.i.c.e. and oppressive instru-
ments. The instinctive reaction as a boy was to run
the opposite direction with your innocence.
“Now our family owns one and when we go criss-cross-
ing the same hills in the car that I once feared, it is in
total freedom and we are on the inside looking out.
“From the rural village that I grew up in by contrast we
now also live in a comfortable house in Centurion, in
the “Big City”, that once seemed so far away. That is
proof that with hard work and passion you can reach
your dreams,” ends Viwe.
Nurcha Construction Finance, Viwe Gqwetha, Tel: (011) 214 8724,
Fax: 086 649 1231, Email: viwe.gqwetha@nurcha.co.za
 ispeco aluminium
For Wispeco, making profit isn’t
the only important thing. It wants
to make a contribution to a better
South Africa.
Recently, the company held a
function at its Alrode premises.
Thanking Theo Van wyk, a retiring
board member and saviour to a
company that was once on the
brink of collapse was a big priority,
as his hard work has always been
appreciated. But, the the event
was also used as an opportunity
to talk a little about where the
company comes from and where
it will be going.
Most importantly though, was the
graduation ceremony for learners
passing the various levels of certifica-
tion achieved by those taking part
in the ‘hard-of-hearing’ aluminium from this disability with skills that are in high demand,
working training programs. making these candidates valuable assets to have in
Wispeco remains committed to this training process the work place.
and will continue to provide individuals affected by Wispeco, Tel: (011) 389 0000, Web: www.wispeco.co.za

the panel to change after illustrating that face brick

ricks for learning centre
Corobrik’s generosity has given Sans Educare Centre,
a school in a underprivileged area of the Western
Cape, a new lease on life. The school had operated
from a shack-type building since 2005 and the bricks
from Corobrik have transformed the school to provide
a proper environment for children to learn in.
Initially the school decided to use cement blocks to
construct the new building as it was the lowest first
cost option. It was easy for role-players to convince
is maintenance-free and would allow the school’s
annual maintenance grant of R50 000 to be used to
buy crucial learning material to improve the quality of
education rather than to maintain the building.
Corobrik was glad to have assisted Sans Educare in
constructing a more comfortable environment for
children to learn. The structure is particularly important
in this community as it symbolises hope for a better
future too.
Corobrik, Christie van Niekerk, Tel: (021) 888 2300, SASDI, Kissmea
Adams, Tel: (021) 801 0380

Sans Educare in Mfuleni were given a new lease on life when Corobrik donated 25,000 Cape Blend Travertine face bricks to the impoverished
school. The donation of maintenance free face bricks will save the school R50, 000 per year

Skills on Site April 2011 37

 outh building tudents join project
Youth in Construction, a career expo targeting young Students will benefit through training offered as part
learners in high school and tertiary, was held recently of a R20 million project to renew water infrastructure
at the Scibono Discovery Centre in New Town, Johan- of the Msunduzi Municipality.
nesburg. This is the first phase of a Water Conservation and
The expo showcased the best of what construction Water Demand Management initiative expected to
has to offer young people in jobs, bursaries, technol- boost service delivery and halve water leaks over the
ogy and projects for the third year since its inception next three years.
in 2008. “The Msunduzi Municipality has recently embarked
on a large-scale initiative to reduce the high level of
water losses in its distribution system. The Municipality
is currently implementing a number of high-impact
interventions that will ensure compliance with the
Presidential Directive of halving water losses by 2014,”
says Msunduzi Mayor, Mike Tarr.
As part of this initiative two third year engineering
diploma learners have been integrated into the
programme. The Durban Institute of Technology‘s
(DUT) learnership programme, called Singakwenza
Youth in Ndawonye, generates funding which is used for the
Construction theory part of the course. In effect the funds paid to
DUT will pay for the learner’s continued education.
makes the world
of building and Tarr says, “The idea is to grow the number of learner-
ships on the Msunduzi programme to 4. The learners
construction will work their six months’ practical training on the
colourful Msunduzi project.
and interesting There is a great shortage of Engineering Technicians,
for our youth and once graduated we are hoping to give full time
employment to those who show talent.”
Msunduzi Municipality: Office of the Mayor, Tel: (033) 392 2000,
Email: kavina@msunduzi.gov.za

More than 5500 learners from 45 schools around Jo-

hannesburg walked through the exhibition doors in
the week-long expo.
The Expo targetted young learners from Grade 9 to
12 and tertiary students at universities and technical
colleges. Its objective was to expose young people
to the opportunities available in the exciting world
of construction, as well as to challenge myths about
the industry.
The expo is an opportunity for construction companies
to drive home the importance of mathematics and
science as the foundation for students to get into
most construction careers, including trades. Msunduzi Mayor Mike Tarr (left), Acting Executive Water District Man-
agement Brenden Sivparsad, Msunduzi Administrator Sibusiso Sithole
Youth In Construction, Kotli Molise, Tel: 082 824 7078, Email: kot-
and Brian Zuma Executive Manager: Marketing and Public Relations
lim@cidb.org.za are committed to save water and train engineering students

38 Skills on Site April 2011

Skills on Site April 2011 39
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40 Skills on Site April 2011