ASSOCIATIONS
19
“The focus of numerous groups such as CDAA and
IOPSA is to encourage education as to compliance at a
consumer level.”
to project manage those projects on a fee-earning
basis for us,” says Swanepoel.
The CDAA can now advance its own, local, projects
and Swanepoel says these will be nominated by
members through the CDAA board. Swanepoel says
the impact of the cut in financial support, while a blow,
was less hard on CDAA than many other organisations
as it had reserves equal to three year’s (now reduced)
expenditure.
CDAA is also now free to sign up as members copper
mines in Africa (primarily in Zambia and the DR
Congo), which had previously been the prerogative of
the ICA.
To help trim the organisation’s overheads, Swanepoel
announced that he would step down as Executive
Chairman and become Non-Executive Chairman on a
consulting basis. Levine Warries retains the position
of Centre Director responsible for the day-to-day
running of the Association and communication with
its members.
Non-compliance a top priority of 2020
One of the goals of the CDAA which it will promote
with renewed vigour was that of non-compliance,
especially regarding the two major users of copper:
electrical and plumbing tubing. “We regularly receive
complaints about copper tubing bursting under water
pressure, and when we request a piece of the copper
to check the SABS mark, we hear from them no
more – a sure sign it had no mark. Typically, such
an unconscionable act (as defined in the Consumer
Protection Act) is done by the plumber to increase his
profit margin: he tenders for SABS-approved copper
tubing and instead installs non-SABS material which is
much cheaper.”
CDAA is involved in such cases because, according
to its statistics, 70% of all plumbing tubing in
South Africa is copper, a figure which is increasing.
“Residentially, there have been inroads by plastic
where jobs are done by smaller builders with less
knowledge, and price is paramount; but in large
commercial projects it is mostly copper tubing
specified in the bill of quantities,” says Swanepoel.
This stems in turn from greater awareness of the
quality of copper tubing at the level of an architect,
while also at that level only SANS 10400 tubing would
be specified, along with SANS 10252.
The focus of numerous groups such as CDAA and
IOPSA is to encourage education as to compliance
January 2020 Volume 25 I Number 11
at a consumer level. Both organisations have turned
to Facebook to get closer to the consumer, and both
report considerable interest as reflected in hits. “We’re
trying to educate consumers as to the materials
used in their homes, something many may not have
previously been conscious of when its hidden in walls
and ceilings.”
The Consumer Protection Act section 55 states
unequivocally that all parties will comply with SABS
standards or any other regulation. It consequently
becomes the joint responsibility of all concerned. The
licensed plumber is trained in SABS and consequently
to do otherwise is illegal, with ignorance being no
defence.
Ongoing activities
Swanepoel says that he will remain involved in the
activities of CPAA, especially as regards chairing
board meetings, as well as its supervision of ongoing
projects. “For instance, copper scrap is a major project
in South Africa that I will retain responsibility for. In
fact, with the strategic changes we’re contemplating
I anticipate greater focus on these projects as we
shelve the four ICA initiatives. The projects we’re
involved in cover the spectrum of plumbing and gas
(as one sector which both use tubing), and electrical.
“We will become much more member focused and
attuned to their needs. In the past, we were beholden
to ICA due to funding and rules. We’re now more
streamlined and responsive only to members: we will
take our instructions from the board rather than the
international body,” he says.
Leading members include Cobra, CTA and
Maksal Tubes.
One of CDAA’s other initiatives is to encourage
downstream beneficiation activities in various
African countries, where at the moment barely any
exists. “We will put them in touch with our members
and hopefully set up some local manufacturing
capability, or at least establish contacts. This is also
necessary to South Africa because production at
South Africa’s only copper mine at Palabora is steadily
diminishing and can no longer supply all the country’s
copper needs.
“This makes copper product exports difficult if our
manufacturers have to first import the raw material,
fabricate it here and export into a highly competitive
international market. It makes sense to do it closer to
source,” says Swanepoel. PA
www.plumbingafrica.co.za