www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I January 2024 17
Associations
INTRODUCING SARACCA ’ S NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
By Eamonn Ryan
David Botha has been appointed as the new executive director of SARACCA , effective October 2023 , replacing retiring ( for the second time ) Barney Richardson .
Botha was previously serving as the vice-president for
SARACCA and branch chairman for the Gauteng area and has been serving on the association ’ s executive committee for many years . Botha was appointed after the untimely death of John Parry earlier in the 2023 year .
“ We had a succession plan to ensure a smooth transition from Barney to John , and only thereafter once John retired , I would step up . But circumstances altered that .”
When asked if he would like to be in the position for a long time , Botha replied “ yes , I ’ m not going anywhere – the industry is my passion .” Botha started in air conditioning in 1991 as an apprentice . In 1997 he joined AMPROS , and from there started his own business ABMS maintenance service .
The primary focuses of Botha ’ s job – and indeed SARACCA as a whole – are the following :
• Managing the registration of HVAC & R practitioners with SAQCC Gas – ensuring the paperwork of their qualifications is correct – and getting more practitioners registered on the platform .
• Growing the SARACCA membership base amongst contractors .
• Assisting its existing 125 member companies with any technical queries they may have .
• Facilitating training : SARACCA has 18 approved training service providers recognised for HVAC & R training .
“ One of the things that we need to do for the future is to get more training providers recognised by SARACCA to make it easier for practitioners to attend training in the HVAC & R industry wherever they are located .”
He notes that members receive a highly attractive 75 % rebate on registered training courses at SARACCA ’ s approved training centres . This scheme helps member companies train
more people and improve their skill levels . “ We have seen a much high number of training claims in the last few months , ranging from intermediate to higher levels , including the SAQCC Gas courses relating to safe handling of refrigerants .
RACA Journal
This latter training alone has seen 274 new applicants register in the last 6 months .” SARACCA recognises three different categories of practitioners :
• Category A covers people who can do the work with recognised skills , but do not yet have the any trade qualification – this is where much of the SARACCA training is focused .
• Category B covers practitioners that are qualified with a trade to their name , and typically enroll in training programmes to add new disciplines to their skills set , and renewal of refrigerant safety requirements .
• Category C covers inspectors and designers .
Botha lists one of the struggles in HVAC & R as being that consumers and businesses rarely consider requesting a COC for a job performed , whereas they would automatically do so in relation to LP gas jobs . SARACCA has consequently developed a media communication campaign to educate people on the legal
David Botha has been appointed as the new executive director of SARACCA , effective October 2023 .
www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I January 2024 17