22 FEATURES
Tell me why you became a plumbing contractor – Nico Marais
Edited by
Megan O ’ Connor
Alwyn Nicolaas Marais ( Nico ) has many years in the plumbing industry and with the recent amputation of his leg , Nico shares his challenging but inspirational story of the past year , as well as his current situation .
© Rory Macnamara | Plumbing Africa
1 . What spiked your interest in becoming a plumber ? It all started at a very young age in the days before cell phones , Xboxes and online gaming – when we still used to play outside in the dirt , making roads and building bridges for our toy cars . I started adding dams and rivers by opening the garden tap just enough not to flood my streets . As I got older , I was fascinated with the history and workings of aqueducts , water wheels , drydocks and hydroelectric powerplants , as well as all the different height , pressure , flowrate and restriction factors that need to be kept in mind when working with water systems .
2 . How did you become a plumber ? The Technical High School that I attended did not have plumbing as a subject , so I had to resort to my second interest – Electrical . After finishing my matric , I couldn ’ t find a company right away to start my apprenticeship , so I decided to go and do my National Service . But life works in mysterious ways … I met a girl and when I went to meet her parents , her dad happened to be the owner of Midlandia Plumbing . I started my apprenticeship with them , completed my N2 plumbing Theory at Bethelsdorp Technical College , did my pre-trade practical at ETC and then my Trade Test in 1997 at BIFSA in Cape Town .
Marius van Wyk and Gerrie Botha of IOPSA presenting the cheque to Nico Marais .
3 . After qualifying , what did you do ? After I qualified , I started my own plumbing business , but soon realised that running my own business took a lot more than just plumbing knowledge . I learnt that the training we receive , does not equip one with management , admin or financial skills . So eight years into my business , I started studying after hours , skilling myself in business management , profitability management , industrial relations and Pastel . Soon after I finished my studies , a leading plumbing-material retail franchise group was looking for a Retail Manager , and I made the decision to sell my company and join the franchise group . After ten years in the office , I realised that my heart yearned to go back to having my hands dirty , so I went back to my first passion – now equipped with product knowledge , planning and people relations skills . I had been back on sites for about five years when I had my “ accident .”
4 . As a recently disabled person , how is your role in plumbing affected , if at all ? A large part of being a craftsman is mobility and balance – being able to squeeze yourself into that acquit corner , working on a ladder , on a roof or in a ceiling . These skills are perfected with years of experience . Being a recently disabled person with an above-knee amputation and prosthetic leg , my mobility and balancing skills have been severely compromised . This will improve over time , but I am learning new ways of doing many things . Most importantly , I need to learn and accept my limitations – but I will NEVER use that as an excuse before I have explored all safe possibilities . My greatest contributor to going from losing my leg to being back in the field within seven months , is a positive mindset and always pushing myself past possibility .
5 . What is you driving force ? I believe that the obstacles we face in our lives are the best time for growth . I might have a prosthetic leg , but I also have a healthy leg , two healthy arms and hands attached to a strong , healthy body . I am blessed with a sharp mind that has a huge archive of information , years of experience and a strong spirit . I am an excellent craftsman with a great reputation and clean audit record . I am not going to let my prosthetic define me .
“ I am not going to let my prosthetic define me .”
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline November 2023 Volume 29 I Number 9