Electricity and Control May 2025

FEATURES: Control systems + automation Drives, motors + switchgear Sensors + switches Plant maintenance, test + measurement

COMMENT

Manufacturing can lead growth

E lectricity+Control has served the manufac turing industry for over three and a half decades – decades of wonder, resilience and, at times, concern. It is evident that the manufacturing sector in the country has declined, particularly over the past decade. Where all the facts support this troubling observation, it is not too hard to understand why the growth rate within the economy has been so poor over this period. It is the manufacturing industry that is best positioned to access foreign markets for our goods, and to provide employment for people. I have oŽen observed that one of our strengths as a nation is in the resilience and work ethic of South Africa’s people. But we find ourselves in the unenviable po sition of having one of the highest unemploy ment rates on the planet, albeit with an admi rable commitment to provide social grants to those who have no work. Nonetheless, there is little doubt that, in general, people just want to be employed. The manufacturing industry has su”ered under load shedding for many years, making it harder and harder for manufacturers to make profits; and it seems evident that some policy decisions taken by our lawmakers have made it increasingly tricky to grow employment numbers. It does seem, however, that there are glim mers of light appearing at the end of a long dark tunnel – or there were until some of the challenges posed by our current relationship with the USA emerged. Of course, we appreci ate that the actions of the USA are more about moving a pendulum than about developing

any clear economic policy. But we need to be sure we manoeuvre ourselves around all the fall out. And one of initiatives pointing in the right direction is the setting up of the Independent Transmission Programme. This is a crucial step towards leveraging best practice to get our transmission networks up to scratch and able to deliver for what we hope will be a more rapidly growing economy. We see similar conversations taking place in the rail transport arena – again pointing to a growing appreciation of the immense capacity of the private sector to deliver in these critical areas. The trick is to create a policy environment that encourages such developments – rather than making them seem risky to an investor, or simply making the e”ort required seem not worth the while. We really do need to have the courage, and take the steps, to create an environment for growth and development. Until we are able to do that, we will simply bumble along in the belief that we are doing all we can to help our citizens. I doubt very much that we are. Electricity + Control remains the best maga zine to read if you want to stay up to date with the technologies that can make your process, your plant, and your industry increasingly competitive. Enjoy this month’s issue.

energy + information in industry

Editor: Leigh Darroll Design & Layout: Katlego Montsho Advertising Manager: Paul Engelbrecht Circulation: Karen Smith Editorial Technical Director: Ian Jandrell Bearings International (Bi) is now stocking the MEPS (Minimum Energy Performance Standards) approved ABB IE3 Low Voltage electric motors, making them available to the South African market. (Read more on page 3.)

Publisher: Wilhelm du Plessis Managing Director: Karen Grant

Audited circulation Quarter 4 (Oct-Dec) 2024 Total print and e-editions 9 678

Published monthly by: Crown Publications (Pty) Ltd Cnr Theunis and Sovereign Sts, Bedford Gardens, PO Box 140, Bedfordview 2008 Printed by: Tandym Print Telephone: +27 (0) 11 622 4770

E-mail: ec@crown.co.za; admin@crown.co.za Website: www.crown.co.za/electricity-control

CROSS PLATFORM CONTENT INTEGRATION: * Electricity+Control Magazine * Online Edition * Weekly e-Newsletter * Website* LinkedIn

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

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The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher, the editor, SAAEs, SAEE, CESA or the Copper Development Association Africa

MAY 2025 Electricity + Control

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