Electricity + Control March 2018

COMMENT

ON THE COVER

Does belief match the capacity to do?

task of law-making, and establishing poli- cy that genuinely enables the economy to achieve its goals. The most recent SONA set a tone which is suggestive (if not blatantly prescriptive) of a sea change in the way the country is to move ahead; and the most recent Budget Speech (while pragmatic given the circum- stances) was indicative of just how much trouble we find ourselves in. Frightening! We know that there are a few options when frightened.The first is to imagine that the problem does not exist (I think we may have become pretty good at that, in some areas); the second is to run away (we see this all the time); and the third is to face up to the danger and defend ourselves. (In the case of the third mentioned, one requires the policy and the leadership capacity to pull it off.) What we are beginning to see at a macro level, and from the recent dis- cussions I have had with colleagues in our industry locally and in neighbouring coun- tries, is that we may be entering a phase when belief is matched by the capacity to actually do. Much yet remains to be dealt with – and dealt with decisively – before many will develop sufficient confidence to bet on us again.

Recently, I corresponded with a colleague in Zimbabwe and we discussed some industrial projects that are beginning to emerge. We reflected that this emer- gence may well be due to the changes that are taking place in the country. We identified a link between implied stability and security, and the flow of resources into specific areas – some of which may have been neglected for a while. The present time in South Africa has been described as a time of hope, change, new- ness – and the like. I have a palpable sense that industry is almost beginning to believe that a growth rate of 3%may not be fiction after all. Actually, we need to achieve even higher than that if we are going to make any impact on the challenges we face. The frank version, of course, reminds us that we have decoupled ourselves from our peers as regards economic growth as the country faces an enormous challenge to regain growth, regain employment, and build the confidence of investors. Those of you who follow Face Value will know that I have been privileged to speak to a wide range of fascinating and successful people − from young entre- preneurs to seasoned business people. Watch the videos and you may share my sense that folk are no longer simply going through the motions; they are convinced that we can make a tangible difference, and that we can succeed. Something else that is emerging is the fact that we are – at last – dealing with the ‘wrongs’ in our midst. Success requires a policy environ- ment that is conducive to this objective. It is astounding to hear that policy is to be reconsidered in some cases. Politicians are at their best when they stick to their

FEATURES: • Drives,motors+ switchgear • Temperaturemeasurement • Industry4.0+ Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) • Plantmaintenance, test+measurement • Hazardous areas+ safety • Energymanagement+ environmental engineering

Schneider Electric introduces PowerTag ® , the simplest and most accessible way to monitor and secure all your electrical assets. (Read more on page 31). 2/28/2018 8:13:28AM www.electricityandcontrolmagazine.co.za ECMAR2018 cover.indd 1

Magazine Team

Editor: Design & Layout: Advertising Managers:

Wendy Izgorsek Adél JvR Bothma Helen Couvaras Heidi Jandrell Karen Smith Karen Grant Wilhelm du Plessis Ian Jandrell

Circulation: Publisher: Deputy Publisher: Editorial Technical Director:

Circulation

Quarter 4 (Oct - Dec 2017) Total print circulation: 4 563

I am confident that we are moving ahead!

Contact

Published monthly by:

Crown Publications cc Cnr Theunis and Sovereign Sts, Bedford Gardens PO Box 140, Bedfordview 2008 Tandym Print

Ian Jandrell PrEng IntPE(SA) BSc(Eng) GDE PhD, FSAAE FSAIEE SMIEEE

Printed by:

Telephone: E-mail:

+27 (0) 11 622 4770 e-mail: ec@crown.co.za admin@crown.co.za www.crown.co.za

Visit our innovative online technical resource for the engineering industry. www.eandcspoton.co.za

Website:

Electricity+Control is supported by

Or watch the latest interviews on our Facevalue page. Just scan here

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of thepublisher, theeditor,SAAEs,SAEE, CESA, IESSAor theCopperDevelopmentAssociationAfrica