Launched at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria on 1 March 2010, the Technology Localisation Programme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) supports the Government’s Competitive Supplier Development Programme (CSDP), which is aimed at increasing the competitiveness of local suppliers through a range of demand and supply-side measures. This will assist local companies to leverage procurement opportunities from government’s large-scale infrastructure recapitalisation programme over the next 20 years.

The DST Technology Localisation Programme also supports other high-level government initiatives such as the Industrial Policy Action Programme (IPAP) that are set to help South Africa reduce its trade deficit while improving its long-term manufacturing capacity – a significant step towards scaling up efforts to promote long-term industrialisation and industrial
diversification beyond the current reliance on traditional commodities and non-tradable services.

It is important for local foundries to be globally competitive as they form the backbone upon which the country’s supply chains can be further developed for big infrastructure programmes, such as those of Eskom and Transnet, to support and drive localisation.

The Programme began with the identification of components for localisation in Eskom and Transnet’s CSDPs, and benchmarking of foundries with the technology to manufacture these components. Technology gaps were identified and Technology Assistance Packages developed to support localisation in the foundry industry.

Through this initiative, the foundries will be able to access expertise from DST activities in Advanced Manufacturing and Light Metals. The DST is working in partnership with the Departments of Trade and Industry, and Public Enterprises, the industry, and development agencies such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), to drive localisation in the country.

Much has been made about the impact of the recent multi-year tariff hikes which the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has granted to power utility Eskom.

“Power hikes to cost 250000 jobs” and “foreign investors to be scared off by power price increases” scream news headlines on many of South Africa’s leading newspapers and financial news sites.

Without trivialising the impact of a power crisis or the additional strain on the average South African consumers wallet, these headlines and press statements are mis-leading and ill-informed.

The bizarre assumption is that humans will do nothing to change their behaviour and the country as a whole will choose not to innovate to address this challenge. To attach such lemming-like characteristics to one of the most innovative regions in the world is mind-boggling.

Humans as a species evolve and anybody who implies that they will continue behaviour which negatively hits them in the pocket needs to have their head read.

US president Barack Obama recently commented that the US had to focus on the development of nuclear technology at home to meet their power supply. He made a poignant comment saying that if the US didn’t focus on developing these technologies at home, then competitors in foreign countries would and the US would be forced to import these technologies. The end result would be no jobs for Americans in this sector of the economy and his mind that was unacceptable.

This is precisely the attitude we as South Africa need to adopt in the light of the challenges facing the country.

So where are the opportunities?

While independent power production is still not viable in South Africa, it is fast coming to a point where it does become attractive. If you can participate in a market which has guarantees of price increases of 25% per year for the next three years, it is going to start to look attractive.

Innovation around alternative energy sources is going to be given the go-ahead. Green energy, nuclear, solar etcetera is going to come into vogue.

The same could be said for the agriculture sector. We know that resource giants like Vale and BHP Billiton are piling into the fertilizer sector and ratings agency Moodys says it expects this trend to grow as alternative energy sources are sought.

Increasing demand and funding for skilled engineers, researchers and developers to come up with innovative solutions. Already companies such as Sasol and Anglo American have been investing in their own independent supply technology. Educators, lecturers and trainers will be needed to support the demand for these professionals both in educational institutions as well as within corporates.

In conclusion we know that there is a shortage of electricity on the supply side and we recognise that South African consumers and municipalities remain cash-strapped.

However the talk of economic collapse and fall-out is overstated and dangerous when in fact the opportunities far outweigh the threats posed to the country.

Marc Ashton
ManufacturingHub.co.za and Ferronews.com
Respond to this editorial contribution on newsdesk@rival.co.za

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Marc Ashton’s blog – http://badentrepreneur.bundublog.com/

While arbitrators have repeatedly faulted employers for procedural unfairness at disciplinary hearings certain employers still maintain that there is no need for a formal hearing. Part of the reason for this misconception is the wording of Schedule 8 of the Labour Relations Act which states that the hearing need not be a formal one. However, the same item requires that the employee be allowed the opportunity to state a case in response to the allegations. The courts have frequently interpreted the latter requirement to mean that the accused employee must be given the right to an unbiased chairperson, to testify, to bring documents, call witnesses and cross examine evidence brought against him/her.

Thus, in order to be able to comply with this the employer needs to set up a formal hearing, the record of which becomes part of the evidence at the CCMA. Because it is at the CCMA where the employer will be required to prove that it complied with legal procedure when dismissing the employee.

Furthermore, where an employee is suspected of poor performance it is not enough to have an informal discussion with the employee about the problem and then to fire him/her the next week. The LRA sets down specific steps to be followed before a dismissal for poor performance can even be considered.

Again it is not practical to comply properly with such stringent requirements in an informal manner because informal processes are difficult to control and to prove.

Therefore, managers must either be thoroughly trained in disciplinary process or the employer must hire a reputable labour law expert to chair its hearings.

To attend our seminars on CHANGES AND DANGERS IN LABOUR LAW on 12 March 2010 (JHB) and 14 May 2010 (Cape Town) please contact Ronni at ronni@labourlawadvice.co.za or on 0845217492 or (011) 782-3066.

Date: 12 March 2010

Where: Johannesburg

Presenter: lvan lsraelstam, CEO of Labour Law Management Consulting.

Course to cover:
· the impending legislation on labour brokering, contracting and probation

· the draft CCMA Guidelines: Misconduct Arbitrations

· double jeopardy discipline – when is it acceptable?

· biased presiding officers

· mitigating circumstances – how important are they?

· Legislated erosion of management prerogative

· Suspensions – procedures now more complex

· external representation at disciplinary hearings – latest

· destruction of the trust relationship – can you prove it?

· when employment begins – the day you sign up or the day you arrive?

· sexual harassment – when can you/must you dismiss?

FOR RESERVATIONS:
Please contact Ronni on 084 5217492 or ronni@labourlawadvice.co.za

To have your event listed on ManufacturingHub.co.za or Ferronews.com please contact Marc on 082-561-1585 or e-mail sales@rival.co.za.

Cost is R175 excl. VAT once off

Rio Tinto’s Mine of the Future™ programme was unveiled in January 2008 and initially focused on the Group’s Pilbara iron ore operations. The programme is designed to create next generation technologies for mining operations that result in greater efficiency, lower production costs, improved health, safety and environmental performance, and more attractive working conditions.

Projects such as Resolution Copper in Arizona and Oyu Tolgoi in Mongolia will use an underground block cave mining method. This method requires construction of significant underground infrastructure prior to ore production. In anticipation of this need, Rio Tinto Technology and Innovation has been engaged in a long-running development programme to improve significantly both the safety and speed of constructing underground infrastructure such as shafts and tunnels.

The two new tunneling concepts from Atlas Copco and Aker Wirth will enable fast and cost effective tunnel creation. The shaft boring machinery being developed by Herrenknecht will combine rock excavation, rock transport and structural support – currently three separate processes – into a single system. All three new concepts are a result of civil tunneling industry technologies combined with input from Rio Tinto mining experts and contractor partners Redpath and Cementation.

John McGagh, Rio Tinto Head of Innovation, said, “At the heart of our Mine of the Future™ programme is industry-leading work to pioneer new technologies. The partnerships announced today will help us fundamentally change the world of underground mining by further improving safety and allowing more rapid construction of new underground mines. Our new partners will be very valuable in helping us to solve the challenges of developing block cave mines.”

The Rio Tinto, Atlas Copco and Herrenknecht teams will present information on their respective mining breakthroughs at the upcoming Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration conference on 1-3 March 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona.

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While some people may be fortunate enough to have the savvy to raise funding from banks, venture capitalists and angel investors most start-up entrepreneurs are going to have to do it the hard-way: Bootstrapping.
This involves you taking the ultimate leap of faith including raiding savings, credit cards, access bonds etc just to get your business off the ground.

It involves ducking and diving and cutting back on all of your vices in the slim hope that you will get the business off the ground. In a nutshell – it is one of the most terrifying and exhilirating experiences any entrepreneur will go through.

With that in mind Rival Pioneers is putting together an industry event entitled “The Bitch of Bootstrapping”. We will be bringing in a couple of speakers from different backgrounds to talk about their experiences in bootstrapping their businesses and some of the lessons they have learnt.

Details of the event are below:

When: 10 March 2010

Where: Old Mutual auditorium. Sandton offices

Time: 6 for 6:30pm. Presentations will run for about 1 hour and then there will be some time to network afterwards.

Cost: R125 per person (Price includes a drink before and after the presentation and 25% of the money raised will be donated to Adriaan Pienaars Rockstar Foundation provides full academic bursaries to exceptionally bright young girls from impoverished and disadvantaged communities in Cape Town.)

To RSVP for the event – please e-mail marc@rival.co.za.

A big part of the idea behind Rival Pioneers is to also provide a platform for people to network and exchange ideas so don’t run off after the presentations. Make an effort to meet new people, exchange business cards, talk about your businesses and aspirations.

Look forward to seeing lots of you there!

Banking details for payment:

Rival Industrial cc
Standard Bank, Fourways Crossing
Branch Code: 9953
Acc: 422148636