Sparks Electrical News September 2018

PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH – PIET MOKGOTHO

NEVER COMPROMISE ON THE QUALITY OF LIGHT

Sparks: What are the greatest changes you have seen over the years? PM: Over the years, the biggest change has been that the use of computer simulated lighting design software has become the norm. Sparks: What major projects have you worked on and what is your greatest accomplishment? PM: The project that sticks out in my mind the most is the Constitutional Court street lighting project. I designed the reflectors system, then handmade and fitted most of the reflectors into the columns. Sparks: Who has been your inspiration or have you had a mentor who has influenced your career? PM: I was mentored by Louis von Maltitz early on in my career in lighting applications. He was very knowledgeable in all areas of lighting. Sparks: What, to your mind, is one of the biggest challenges facing the industry at this time? PM: The transition to LED luminaires and ensuring that the end user receives only good quality products in the market. Sparks: How do you motivate your staff? PM: I encourage them to get involved and take ownership of the projects that we are involved in. Sparks: If you could ‘do it all again’, would you change anything? If so, what would that be? PM: I would be bolder and push harder to get ahead faster. Sparks: Would you advise a person leaving school to enter the electrical industry? And why? PM: I would encourage them to get into lighting as a career. Light has influence over every part of our existence and it is very rewarding to come up with efficient lighting solutions. Sparks: What is your advice to electrical contractors and/or electrical engineers? PM: They should never compromise on quality of light or lighting levels. Sparks: What do you enjoy most about your job? PM: Overseeing new product designs.

Sparks: What is your favourite quote? PM: My favourite quote is an African proverb, ‘A roaring lion kills no game.’ Sparks: Name three things on your ‘bucket list’. PM: I would love to visit Brazil, drive a very fast Lamborghini, and solve one major problem in South Africa to improve the lives of others.

Enquiries: +27 (0)12 803 1000

Piet Mokgotho

PIET MOKGOTHO, Technical Director at Pretoria-based Antley Lighting, boasts 25 years in the lighting industry and a CV which includes working on the lighting at the iconic Constitutional Court. He has spent two years with Antley Lighting and encourages his staff to get involved and take ownership of the projects that the company is involved in. Sparks: Where were you educated? PM: At the Mabuya Senior Secondary School before furthering my education at Damelin and Wits Technikon.

Sparks: How long have you been involved in the electrical industry? PM: I have spent a total of 25 years in the lighting industry.

Sparks: When and where did you start your career? PM: I started my career in 1994 at BEKA (Pty) Ltd where I did lighting applications.

FROM EARTH ROD TO LIGHT FITTING AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN C oming from a modest 250 m 2 premises in 1980, JDL Electric is upsizing to a massive, newly-built

6 500 m 2 premises in November 2018 – thanks to the ongoing support of its valued customers. “Tired of dealing with disinterested salesmen who never return your calls nor respond to emails? Tired of fighting for parking, spending hours in queues and arriving late to site as a result? Coming from an electrical contracting background, JDL Electric knows the game and feels your pain, says Daryl Steenkamp, noting that customers can now enjoy a bigger showroom, more parking, more expertise and a better customer experience. “Has the VAT increase left you wanting more for less? With the JDL Rewards loyalty programme, you can receive up to 1% cash back for every Rand spent. If fuel hikes are leaving a dent in your pocket; don’t worry, take advantage of JDL Electric’s free delivery service (within the greater Gauteng region) and save yourself some hard-earned money and time,” Steenkamp notes. JDL Electric aims to be with its customers

your next big job as our next big job,” concludes Steenkamp. To enable electrical contractors to get an early start to the day, JDL Electric trades from 6:45 am on weekdays (8 am on Saturdays), ensuring that customers are in and out as early as possible to avoid wasting time in peak morning traffic.

every step of the way, offering ‘foundation to finish’ turnkey solutions, to ensure that electrical contractors are on track, with the right products for the job, all under one roof. “As JDL Electric expands its footprint throughout South Africa and abroad, our company is geared and eager to assist our clients with every endeavour. The team at JDL Electric understands that your growth is important, which is why we always consider

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 315 4826

SEPTEMBER 2018 SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

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