44 LAST WORD REVISITED !
A far more pressing issue !
By
Rory Macnamara
At the time of writing the SAQA and SABS issues were under review and in public comment respectively where , despite comments from certain quarters , this publication may not discuss the matter before the process is complete .
“ The saddest part is not only the wasted four years but the revelation of the intolerance of people and their inability to sit down and discuss issues .”
When all is said and done about the matter under review and when we consider the years wasted in getting to the end point , which will happen , the saddest part is not only the wasted four years but the revelation of the intolerance of people and their inability to sit down and discuss issues , sort out the wheat from the chaff and move to address the real issues .
So , what this industry faces now and has for the past 30 + years , is the unqualified person doing plumbing work . The impact bears directly on the qualified plumber whose income is affected and either leaves the industry or seeks greener pastures in other countries or just carries on in the hope that it will all come right .
If this industry has not learnt anything from the past insofar as the conducting of direct communications , face-to-face , in an orderly manner , it will continue lurching from one crisis to another and we will be our own worst enemies .
Social media is not the correct medium to use to resolve matters as critical as unqualified people doing plumbing work , neither is print , neither is any form of communication that does not ‘ eyeball to eyeball ’ under an independent mediator , with all groups together , setting aside past differences and agreeing to attend such meetings , properly prepared , and not to disparage , criticise , defame and be a general pain in the rear end , but to understand and appreciate the gravity of the situation .
If not done maturely , plumbing will fall into the hands of the unqualified and construction mafia . Local authorities , as we know , are mostly unable , unwilling or incapable of managing compulsory standards . Yes ! And before I get a meaningless social media one liner , the major cities are doing a reasonable job , but know this – affordable housing and integrated living is moving out of the cities to the outlying areas and suburbs to provide housing for a great number of people . Inner city developments are all good and well and fulfil an urgent need and will come to an end far quicker than building new houses .
Let us hope that the entire plumbing industry will take this massive challenge by the horns and make it work for all those qualified plumbers , our constitution provides such power . We quote from the Bill of Rights Chapter 2 :
Freedom of trade , occupation , and profession
22 Every citizen has the right to choose their trade , occupation , or profession freely . The practice of a trade , occupation or profession may be regulated by law .
Let us hope and pray that industry seizes this issue with haste , and that it does not take four years plus to resolve ! PA
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline September 2021 Volume 27 I Number 7