Sparks Electrical News February 2018

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

3

PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH: THEO MASHEGO

HARD WORK PRODUCES RESULTS

Netsurit where I consulted for companies like TBWA HUNT LASCARIS, NM Rothschild, MDM Engineering and Toga Labs amongst others. In 2014, I left Deloitte and Touche to start a business called Ayanda at Work, which later merged with Unidrive Electric Motors. Sparks: What are the greatest changes you have seen over the years? TM: For me personally, the greatest change has been moving from a career in IT, to running an engineering business. With the shift of the electrical industry towards digital, however, my IT background has been particularly useful. Sparks: What major projects have you worked on and what is your greatest accomplishment? TM: My major accomplishment was getting certification for Unidrive Electric Motors, especially ISO9001, which was a journey for me and for the business. Sparks: Have you won any awards? TM: Not yet. We have spent the past four years focusing on rebuilding the business and will start aiming for awards now. We recently became a WEG motors accredited repairer, which is a great start! Sparks: Who has been your inspiration, or have you had a mentor who has influenced your career? TM: Maurice Radebe, currently the chairman of Sasol Oil and Group Executive Committee member has been both an inspiration and mentor to me. I also had a mentor/coach in Jonathan Narayadoo, a retired Afrox executive. He has been key to the success of Unidrive. Sparks: What, to your mind, is one of the biggest challenges facing the industry at this time? TM: Eskom’s challenges and the corruption of SOEs. You may be surprised to learn that a small black owned company like ours only has clients from the private sector. We are a labour-intensive company, able to create employment, but have no support of government entities because of corruption. Sparks: What do you enjoy most about your job? TM: Working with people and impacting their lives. Mine is to take care of our staff so that they in turn are able to give excellent service to our customers. Sparks: How do you motivate your staff? TM: I motivate through engagement and incentives. I’m open with our staff and speak to them as a group, and individually. We focus on rewarding excellence. Sparks: If you could “do it all again”, would you change anything? If so, what would that be? TM: We invested a lot of money in our factory and to attain certification, to the point that we even used our Opex for Capex. I would not use Opex for Capex again - the impact on our cashflow was harsh. Sparks: Would you advise a person leaving school to enter the electrical industry? And why? TM: Yes, I most definitely would recommend that school leavers enter the electrical industry. It is a key trade of the economy and the skill is one you can use even if you are unable to find a full-time job.

Sparks: What is your advice to electrical contractors and/or electrical engineers? TM: Focus on the required certification and deliver a quality service, and you will grow. Sparks: What is your favourite quote? TM: Hard work produces results. Sparks: Name three things on your ‘bucket list’ (things you want to do before you ‘kick the bucket’). TM: I would like to lead a listed company; visit the seven modern wonders of the world and drive a Porsche.

Theo Mashego

THEO MASHEGO, managing director of Unidrive Electric Motors, took his place at the helm of the company shortly after it was acquired by Ayanda at Work. From a precarious financial position at that time (around 2013), Unidrive Electric Motors saw its turnover growing in double digits between 2015 and 2016, with further growth in 2017. A relative newcomer to the electrical industry, Theo – who lives by the motto ‘hard work produces results’ – quickly learned the ropes by re-examining the company’s product and service offering to ensure it was compatible with the markets it serviced, and ensuring that Unidrive achieved the necessary SANS certification. Theo sees a positive future ahead, enjoys working with people and hopes to visit the seven modern wonders of the world before too long. Sparks: Where were you educated? TM: Most of my education has been in IT and Business Administration and Management, much of it at the Wits Business School, though I have also done courses through UNISA and the University of LA Verne in California. Sparks: How long have you been involved in the electrical industry? TM: I have been involved in this industry for four and a half years. Sparks: When and where did you start your career? TM: After high school, I completed an Information Technology Engineering (IT Eng.) Diploma with CTI (now Pearson Institute of Higher Education). I have had the pleasure of working for various companies including Deloitte and Touche, Sun International, Digital Planet and

ELECTRICAL TESTERS WITH FIELDSENSE TECHNOLOGY BILLED AS GAME-CHANGERS, Fluke T6- 1000 electrical testers deliver reliable voltage and current measurements in difficult-to-test areas such as crowded junction boxes and conductors with inaccessible end points. Avail- able from Comtest, The T6 measures voltage up to 1000 V ac through the open fork – with- out test lead contact to live voltage and with- out opening covers or removing wire nuts – on wires of up to AWG 4/0 (120 mm 2 ), carrying as much as 200 A. Product highlights include: • 1 to 1000 V ac or dc (T6-1000); 600 V ac or dc (T6-600). • 0.1 to 200 A ac. • Resistance 1 Ω to 100 k Ω (T6-1000), 1 Ω to 1000 Ω (T6-600). • Frequency measurement 45 Hz to 66 Hz (T6-1000). • Works with wires up to AWG 4/0 (120 mm 2 ) with a 17.8 mm jaw opening. • HOLD button temporarily freezes the reading for easy viewing. • Easy to read display with backlight. • Accepts optional Fluke TPAK Magnetic Meter Hanger for convenient operation.

• FieldSense technology for ac voltage, cur- rent and frequency measurement without making electrical contact to live voltage. • Simultaneous voltage and current display (T6-1000); shows all power supply meas- urements at a glance for efficient trouble- shooting.

• Standard two-year warranty; extendable to four years through product registration within 45 days of purchase.

Enquires: 010 595 1821

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

FEBRUARY 2018