Housing in Southern Africa October-November 2016

Industry Buzz

Call for raise in paint import duties

SAPMA believes that the current 10% import duties applying to all imported paints (other than the duty-free paints fromEurope) should be raised to at least 25% to level the playing field for the SA coatings sec- tor and to restrict rampant dumping of paints. The SAPMA Technical Committee recently raised the matter with the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) of South Africa. Nkulana Phenya of ITAC told SAP- MA that ITAC usually raises customs duties to afford relief for domestic producers facing threatening import pressures. But for his committee to protect the local coatings market from foreign imports - and particu- larly dumping - any ITAC investiga- tion into the increase of tariffs would have to be generated by a specific manufacturer and not just from an association body such as SAPMA. “SAPMA intends acting on the ITAC directive and will now ap- proach a suitable producer member to urgently lodge an appeal for ITAC to investigate the matter of raising import duties as soon as possible,” concluded Spence. ■

The government needs to take urgent steps toprotect the South African paint industry fromthe unacceptably high level of paint imports flooding the local market.

A ccording to Deryck Spence, Ex- ecutive Director of the SA Paint Manufacturing Association (SAPMA), for the past two decades almost 20 million litres per year. “Last year, almost R1,2 billion was imported representing 10% of the South Africanmarket. Around 65%of the paint was supplied from Europe. Customs and Trade Agreements with the EUand theUSA incurs 10% import duties. There are strong indications that India will target South Africa, as a lucrative export.” B afikile Bonke Simelane has been elected as the first black president of Master Builders South Africa (MBSA). His appoint- ment was announced at the annual MBSA Congress in Durban. Simelane says, “It is a significant personal and professional milestone for me, but more importantly it is a clear and unequivocal indication that MBSA is serious about transformation at all levels. I hope that my election advances ‘meritocracy’, dispels some negative perceptions of the industry and breaks down barriers preventing black professionals and executives from being elected into such leader- ship positions.” He hopes that his appointment will serve as an inspiration to aspi- rant black students, graduates and professionals that this is also pos- sible for them. “They need to know that all you have to do is dream, believe in yourself, be resilient and surround yourself with people who affirm and validate you irrespective

Spence said the import dumping situation, if not controlled or re- stricted, could have major negative repercussions for the SA coatings sector. “Not the least of these is job losses – something a country such as ours with its soaring unemployment, can ill afford. Then there is the ques- tion of quality. Although the paint now imported from Europe and the USA are generally of an acceptable standard, there is no guarantee that the same could be said of future im- ports from new sources.” of your socio-economic profile or circumstances. I hope this milestone can find resonance amongst young black youths, both male and female, from all of South Africa’s townships so that they can be attracted to a ca- reer in construction management in particular and the built environment in general. I also would like them to believe that they too can achieve whatever it is they set their minds to with hard work, dedication and com- mitment. As one of the speakers at our Congress said, overnight success takes about 20 years.” Simelane started his career at Mur- ray and Roberts in 1995 followed by a short stint at Abcon Construction. In 2001, he joined Development & Engineering Consultants (DEC) as a Project Manager and eventually become a Director. In 2009 hewas ap- pointed as a Director of Focus Project Management. Today he is the Group Corporate Services Director for the NMC Construction Group which he joined in 2012.

MBSA elects new President

Bafikile Bonke Simelane

Simelane is a member of the Con- structionManagement Development Committee of the SouthAfricanCoun- cil for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) and chairs the Registration and Edu- cation Committee of the SACPCMP. He is also activewithin other industry bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and served as the Vice-President of the Association of Construction Project Managers (ACPM). ■

October/November 2016