Get the Most From your Membership

In my recent run of member visits, I have been using the list below as touch points for discussion. Each item represents a free member service we provide and I am finding that many of our members aren’t aware of them, despite the fact that they have all been well communicated via our website and bi-weekly newsletter.

• Listing on 'Find a Builder' Module on Website
• Private Projects
• Tender Information service
• Use of Master Builders Brand
• Press Releases published on Masterbuilders.co.za
• Health and Safety (5 Hours / Year)
• Contractual and Legal (1 Hour / Year)
• Work Place Skills Plan
• Access to Training

One that I am finding is making people sit up and listen is the Work Place Skills Plan. If you are paying a WSP levy, you are able to get a sizable portion of those monies back. We have somebody at the Association who will help with that at no cost, watch this space.

Ernest Roper
Regional General Manager

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PAIA or PAIN

Notwithstanding that it’s no laughing matter; I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself when reading in the weekend paper that over a million PAIA manuals, have allegedly been dumped in order to make room in the SAHRC basement. This report was of course hot on the heels of the announcement that there would be yet another PAIA deadline extension.

My wife has a small business and I spent quite a bit of time over the December period compiling her manual in order to meet the previous compliance date of 31 December 2011. As instructed by the SAHRC website, I emailed it off to the address they had given and in return received: “The recipient's mailbox is full and can't accept messages now. Microsoft Exchange will not try to redeliver this message for you. Please try resending this message later, or contact the recipient directly.”

Over a period of about 3 weeks, I tried virtually on a daily bases and eventually a couple of days after the deadline, it finally went through without exchange server informing me otherwise. The reality is, they simply didn’t have the systems in place to handle late rush and I have to say, I’m not at all surprised that the deadline has now been extended to 2014.

Ernest Roper
Regional Manager Durban

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In The News

I had an excellent meeting today with two gentlemen from Stefanutti Stocks Civils KZN who filled me in on details relating to a unique project they have been working on for the last year or so. The Association's Occupational Health and Safety Department had in fact put me in touch with them, as they had throughout the course of the project reached a unique OHS milestone, which our safety team thought newsworthy.

The reason for the meeting was essentially to gather enough information to write an article for publication on our website and in our newsletter. As it turned out, it was a thoroughly enjoyable meeting and the information that came from it is most certainly fascinating.

I have in the past invited members to inform us of their newsworthy accomplishments in order to allow us the opportunity, to promote them in this manner. Please note that the offer still stands.

I look forward to writing this particular article which will soon appear on masterbuilders.co.za. There is also a strong likelihood that it will find its way to SA Builder Magazine.

Ernest Roper
Regional Manager Durban

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A Bizarre Welding Incident

We bring you yet another account of some poor sod that did something exceedingly stupid and paid the ultimate price for it. Once again it involves a do it yourself type who perhaps would still be with us, had he not done it himself. This particular genius was trying to manufacture a piece of equipment with which to clean his chimney, before it all went horribly wrong.

(13 January 2005, Croatia) 55-year-old Marko was wanting to clean his chimney, his flue however was longer than usual, too long, for a simple broom to work. He decided that if he could attach a brush to a chain and weigh it down with something, he would be able to get the job done by lowering it in, but what could he use as a weight?

After some scrounging around, he came across an object he thought would definitely do the trick. It was heavy and compact but best of all, it was made from metal so he could easily weld it to the chain. The fact that it was a hand grenade filled with explosive material was somehow overlooked.

Needless to say when the metal heated up, the grenade exploded killing Marko instantly while blasting shrapnel through the walls of his shed. While a Mercedes Benz parked outside was also badly damaged, nobody else was harmed in the incident. .... Bizarre!

Ernest Roper
Regional Manager Durban

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Association Safety Checks

Members are reminded that the difference between full and ordinary membership is that full members are entitled to a listing on findabuilder.co.za and are also able to make use of the Association’s branding. If you are not a full member, in order to become one a mandatory safety check has to be done on your premises or site.

The message that I want to convey is that the safety check really is an essential yet straight forward process and I have no doubt that the majority of members who haven’t yet been checked, will pass it with relative ease.

If you would like to undergo the Association’s free safety check in order to become a full member, please contact Elishya in our Occupational Health & Safety department who will happily answer any questions you may have, and will also schedule a time with you. I encourage you to get it done.

For some background information as to why it is necessary, follow link to ‘Reasoning behind Mandatory Safety Checks’.

Ernest Roper
Regional Manager Durban

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Planning a New Home

Building a new home can be somewhat daunting as you are suddenly faced with a minefield of costly decisions that need to be signed off on. The good news is that through proper planning, knowing what you want and can afford and using the services of a reputable contractor, you are able to build successfully without a hitch.

If you are looking to build a new home, we recommend that you tick the following boxes:

• Check the question of planning permission and the submission of plans with your Local Authority.
• Choose a reputable building contractor, preferably a member of Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal which is easily sourced on findabuilder.co.za where only members of the Association are listed.
• Obtain written quotations and read them carefully.
• The cheapest price isn't necessarily the best one. There could be hidden costs.
• Don't be tempted by special cash deals to ‘save VAT'. This is illegal.
• Beware of paying money upfront before any work is carried out.
• Use a standard contract for substantial work. Protect yourself and your builder beforehand by making sure that the rights and obligations of both contracting parties are clear.
• Check your insurance liabilities.
• Avoid impulsive changes of mind and/or extra work. These may be costly.
• "Caveat Emptor" - Buyer beware.

For a more detailed guideline, click through to ‘Getting the Most From Your Builder’, on masterbuilders.co.za.

Ernest Roper
Regional Manager Durban

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Golf Days & Race Day

With regard to the Association’s annual golf days, rather than having two separate events for Pietermaritzburg and Durban; the decision was taken to amalgamate the two and have one competition at a venue that is well suited taking into consideration accessibility for all.

The thinking is that it will be held at Kloof Country Club on 2 March 2012. For now the date is provisional and as soon as we are able to confirm it, we will let you know.

The good news for our Midlands based members is that after missing a year, the Pietermaritzburg race day makes a welcomed return. The event will take place at Scottsville Race Course on the 18th of November and with a bit of luck, my cunning strategy of picking horses whose names appeal to me will once again payoff.

Ernest Roper
Regional Manager Durban

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Opportunity for Free Exposure

There is a standing invitation to members of the Association to gain free exposure via our newsfeed on masterbuilders.co.za. Over the last three years we have uploaded several articles relating to member accomplishments most of which went onto feature in SA Builder magazine, as well as in other print publications.

Topics we have covered include members who are using new innovative building techniques, are involved in green building projects, low cost building methods and recipients of prestigious awards, as well as those who achieved occupational health and safety milestones. Provided below are links to some of those articles:

• Shospec (Pty) Ltd - Light Steel Framing System
• Stedone Hazycrest Projects Introduce Geoplast System
• 1 Million Man Hours Worked Without a Disabling Injury
• Association Member wins prestigious Award

If your organisation does have something to offer in terms of news, please do not hesitate to contact me. The only stipulation is that the article has to on some level be newsworthy. For publishing of advertorial type dialog we do charge a fee in which case if you are interested, you may want to visit our advertising hub.

Ernest Roper
Durban Regional Manager

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South Coast Yearend Function

Members of Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal South Coast region each year get together for a yearend function to celebrate the season with fellow colleagues in the Industry. It is a fantastic tradition that builds camaraderie by allowing members to network among each other in a festive and relaxed environment.

This year it was held at the Margate Hotel where as is customary, the floating trophy for South Coast Member of the Year was awarded. With support of the Association the main criteria, the award is given to the member deemed to have been most active in the region throughout the year. The winner is determined by South Coast Regional Manager Hans Stols and Chairmen Thys Blom and in 2011, it went to Mike Bekker of MCB construction.

In the past we have uploaded images from meetings and events as web album slide shows embedded directly into the blog post. This week we launched our facebook page and as will be the way going forward, the images are available for viewing in our facebook photographs menu.

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Ernest Roper
Regional Manager Durban

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Some Thoughts on PAIA

For those who perhaps still aren’t aware, Promotion of Access to Information Act of 2000 (PAIA) requires that all businesses submit a manual to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) by 31 December 2011, in both electronic and hard copy format. They are essentially seeking affirmation on the part of business, as to how their records can be accessed.

There are number of people offering their services looking to make a quick buck out of this, it seems the going rate for outsourcing is R1000. My wife owns a small business and the task has been delegated, I promised her I would work on it and send it off while on leave from the 16th.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t extremely tempted to pay the 1K and get somebody else to do it, however after having done a bit research, I really believe this is something I can do myself so why waste the money.

If you haven’t yet made the effort and also intend doing it yourself, workinfo.com may prove a handy guideline, there is also plenty of useful information on www.sahrc.org.za.

Interestingly, there may yet be another deadline extension. Politicsweb.co.za reports that the Commission has been advised that the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development is considering it. Private bodies are requested to monitor the website of the South African Human Rights Commission which will carry a notice on the status of the exemption once they have received it.

Ernest Roper
Durban Regional Manager

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