Plant Equipment and Hire Equipment Specs Handbook 2020 | Page 3

COMMENT
Let the good times roll
T
he last decade has been extremely tough for any
business operating in South Africa. When Jacob Zuma
took over the presidency in 2009, the country was
about to host the 2010 soccer world cup, and Zuma rode the
wave of optimism for as long as he could. But then murmurs
about collusion between big contractors responsible for
developing the infrastructure needed for such a large event,
became louder, and set in motion a domino effect that
decimated the South African construction sector. Most
household names in this sector succumbed when the last
domino fell, and the rest went into survival mode, or into
business rescue. But worse was to come. Large scale
corruption and looting, state capture and the proclamation of
a disastrous Mining Charter III scared off foreign investors.
The economy stagnated; and then went into freefall.
When Cyril Ramaphosa took over from Zuma in
February 2018, there was new hope. However, the
recovery took longer than expected. In fact, after a
brief spike in economic activity soon after Ramaphosa’s
ascendancy, the downward spiral continued as policy
uncertainty and bankrupt state entities hampered growth.
The first half of 2019 was probably even tougher than at
the lowest point during Zuma’s reign.
But I believe we have reached an important turning
point. State capture lynchpins are about to be prosecuted,
there is more clarity and certainty in the mining industry
and tenders, although tentatively, are being put out in the
construction sector. The albatross, of course, is Eskom,
but at least there seems to be a plan.
I attended the Joburg Indaba in October 2019, and I
haven’t seen the mining fraternity in a better mood since
the commodity boom in the early 2000s. There are a
number of new mining projects in the pipeline and where
there’s mining activity, construction follows. New roads are
being planned in several provinces and cranes dominate
the landscape in places like Rosebank and Sandton
in Johannesburg, and on the north coast of KwaZulu-
Natal. The renewed confidence, even if the country is
downgraded, will gain momentum.
Apart from new mining projects, expansions of various
mines across the country are underway as miners start
spending what they have been holding onto during the
bad times. As we negotiate the challenges of the fourth
industrial revolution, all sectors of the economy need
solutions that will make their operations more efficient,
cost-effective and more productive.
Now, more than ever, is the time to turn the corner
and become part of South Africa’s new narrative, one of
good news and optimism. Hopefully, the 2020 Equipment
Specs Handbook becomes an integral tool in the mining,
quarrying and construction sectors in what promises
to be a bumper year. We hope this invaluable source of
information will assist you, the reader, in making all the
right decisions, and help you streamline your operation
to become the most efficient and productive it has ever
been. Nothing prepares people and companies for the
good times like bad times do, so if there is one positive
that we can take away from the Zuma years, let’s
remember that companies in most parts of the world
become successful despite governments, not because
of them. From the editorial team we wish you all happy
hauling and payloads by the thousands. Let the good
times roll!
Leon Louw
Editor
www.equipmentandhire.co.za
www.equipmentandhire.co.za
DECEMBER 2019
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