36 LAST WORD REVISITED !
We need to de-silo !
By
Rory Macnamara
The whole issue around the turbulence currently bubbling in our industry has proved that the industry , and especially those providing ‘ services ’ to our industry , needs to ‘ de-silo ’.
“ What we have here are two government bodies who seemingly sit in their silos …”
One organisation started a process that raised issues around the registration body being referred to in standards . As stated , before the ‘ what ’ of the issue was never in question as anyone can and must tackle issues .
More of this when the matter reaches its conclusion in a month ’ s time we hope !
But , what of the ‘ service providers ’ to our industry like SA Qualifications Authority ( SAQA ) and the SA Bureau of Standards ( SABS ), both of whom are central to the turbulence , although they will show self-righteous indignation at this comment . Be that as it may , but they are both providing a service to plumbing as well as many other bodies in that SAQA is responsible for appointing professional bodies and SABS ensures standards are written and produces SA National Standards ( SANS ). SABS also offers testing and certification as do three other certification bodies .
SAQA failed our industry in the current issue as their checks and balances were not in place enabling a situation to arise in which we now sit . A press release was issued mid-June and the tone was that SAQA washed their hands of the whole issue .
Plumbing Africa challenged SAQA on certain aspects of their release and they accepted they need to tighten up on what their professional bodies are doing . Furthermore , they will be detailing the role and definition of professional bodies of a non-statutory nature .
The fact that they are doing this now because of the situation they faced is sad , but at least they addressed the challenge positively .
The SABS , after an excessively long and protracted process way over their own stated norms , finally have issued a legal opinion after a few tries for the Technical Committee to agree or disagree upon .
The document is out for public comment , and depending on the TC decision , there will be a public statement either way . But SABS , having provided this opinion , must accept their tardiness and lack of checks and balances of the past . Clearly this issue should never have arisen in the first place . It is the SABS ’ s responsibility to ensure standards are written , and to conform to their own ‘ norms ’.
What we have here are two government bodies who seemingly sit in their silos and do not see the need to engage with each other , yet they have huge responsibilities over industries . To SAQA and SABS : remember in future who your customers are . We wait with bated breath for the Minister of Higher Education ’ s reply to our letter sent some time ago around the broad impact of this messy issue created by SAQA which impacts on developers , building control , contractors , and homeowners .
There will be more of this when the SABS finally can inform the industry of what it can or cannot do and our detailed article , with comment from role players , will show . PA
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline August 2021 Volume 27 I Number 6