PERSONALITY PROFILE
31
drainage run – at and through a local dairy – starting at 2.5m deep
and finishing up at around 4.5m deep. This later project was concluded
without a single interruption to their production schedule. My last project
was a 72-unit apartment block overlooking the ocean. The involvement
in the design and positioning of all the services was a challenge that our
company was able to assist the design team with,” says Myburgh.
Career highlights
“I was blessed with a lot of highlights in my career. I was awarded the Bifsa
Apprenticeship Award in my first year while at technical college. I did my
trade test at Olifantsfontein – you can ask any qualified plumber, that day
when you get your red seal is one you never forget. In 1999, I applied to
the local authority for the position of Plumbing and Drainage Inspector, a
position that few local authorities still have today. It was quite funny working
with the guys that used to inspect my work, but when my supervisor left my
colleagues encouraged me to apply for his position. In 2008 I was promoted
to Senior Plumbing and Drainage Inspector for the Nelson Mandela Bay
Metro (NMBM), a position I still hold today. In 2017 I was nominated to
become a member of the PIRB Executive Committee, a nomination I
accepted in order for me to be part of the way forward for the industry. Since
then I have started becoming part of some other PIRB committees, like the
TAC and the CPD committees, and now I feel I have achieved one of the
biggest milestones of being voted in as the IOPSA President,” he adds.
“IOPSA was formed while I was busy with my apprenticeship, and we
were encouraged to attend those early meetings, as employees of a
member – Jordaan’s Plumbers. At that time, we saw it as an opportunity
to meet up with apprentices from other plumbing firms, while the bosses
thrashed out technical plumbing issues. I gradually got more involved.
When joining the NMBM, we were trying to get the local authority and
IOPSA to work closer together. I then started serving on the IOPSA EC
Regional Committee as technical representative under chairman Rob Millar.
He and his wife were a big influence on how successfully our region was
operating. Taking over from him in March 2019 was not only a privilege,
but an eye opener to the rest of the behind-the-scenes activities required to
manage a region. Due to Rob`s health, I was delegated to attend two IOPSA
NATEXEC meetings prior to becoming Regional Chairman, at which time
the picture became even bigger. On 23 June 2020 during the NATEXEC
meeting held on-line, I was voted in as new President.”
The current state of the plumbing sector and
Presidential mandate
“The plumbing profession in South Africa has come a long way in the
last ten years or so, thanks to the efforts put in by the people involved
in the industry. We are well on our way as far as improving perceptions
is concerned, though we still have a lot to do. It is evident from the
improvement in trade pass rates – of the assessments being done, albeit
IOPSA assessments for designations or PIRB ones – that plumbers are
starting to take their industry seriously again,” says Myburgh.
He points to the previous 20% pass rate (and 80% failure rate) which has
now seen a full reversal to the current 80% pass rate (and only 20% failure
rate). “I am not sure if the members are aware of the fact that IOPSA is
involved on so many levels of the industry on a daily basis. We are not only
involved with looking after our members’ interests, but are represented at
SABS, Insurance forums, health and safety and much more.
“As the new President, I would like to ensure that the brilliant work
done by the people that came before me is not undone. My mandate is
September 2020 Volume 26 I Number 07
www.plumbingafrica.co.za