Plumbing Africa January 2020 | Page 14

12 ASSOCIATIONS 12 ASSOCIATIONS Transformation Policy Committee half-year report back By Lorraine Mooi, IOPSA Chairperson of the Transformation Committee The IOPSA Transformation Committee has been in operation for 13 months. We acknowledge that our industry and our organisation still have a lot of work to do, but the committee is very pleased with what has already been achieved in such a short space of time. We would like to thank all the members, chairperson and office bearers for their support in achieving these goals. • To continuously strive to improve the demographic representation of its national executive committee, office bearers and committees as IOPSA grows and develops as an organisation. The Transformation Committee’s plan of action: Lorraine Mooi, IOPSA chairperson of the Transformation Committee. Report back: Since the committee’s inception just over a year ago the number of black committee members has increased from 11 to 21. Two regional chairmen are black, whereas before there were none. However, women remain grossly under-represented with only four female committee members (two white, two black). • To take into consideration government’s transformation and broad based black economic empowerment requirements. Report back: this is an ongoing process. • To ensure that in all IOPSA meetings, events and functions, the spirit of this policy document is considered. Report back: Meetings attended by the executive director, operations manager and training manager have been open and inviting to all races and genders. Two ‘township’ meetings had been held in the first half of the year and we are aware of one held in October in Durban. The committee recommended that at least two township meetings should be held in 2019 per region and that the subject of transformation be added as a standard agenda item to all committee meetings and plumbers’ meetings/evenings. It appears that we will fall short of this target unless active steps are taken. • Through IOPSA’s leadership, to show and ‘live the values’ of this policy document in the way they interact with each other and with outsiders. Report back: The leadership has embraced the IOPSA transformation policy and is actively working on transformation of the sector. PA www.plumbingafrica.co.za @plumbingonline @plumbingonline @PlumbingAfricaOnline January 2020 Volume 25 I Number 11