The official magazine of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa
IMESA
MEDIA
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT • MAINTENANCE • SERVICE DELIVERY
SprayPave 30 years of evolution
DOHS Increased integration
Solid waste Mogale City Municipal minimisation
WWTW expansion
Eastern Cape: Concrete geocell access road construction ISSN 0257 1978 Volume 36 No.4 • April 2011 • R40.00 (incl VAT)
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Contents
VOLUME 36 NO 4 APRIL 2011
17 28 38 71 Modular masonr y
The official magazine of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa
Rural roads
IMESA
MEDIA
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT • MAINTENANCE • SERVICE DELIVERY
SprayPave 30 years of evolution
51 Roundtable contributor: Bertie
3 5 23 26
53 Roundtable contributor: Les Penny 55 Roundtable contributor:
President’s comment Editor’s comment Tenders SADC projects
Cover story IMESA news 9 Looking back and new beginnings 13 Infrastructure management
Government perspective Increased integration
15 Increased integration
Solid waste Mogale City Municipal minimisation
WWTW expansion
Eastern Cape: Concrete geocell access road construction
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ISSN 0257 1978 Volume 36 No.4 • April 2011 • R40.00 (incl VAT)
As a subsidiary of leading construction group, Basil Read, since 2006, SprayPave has provided a significant boost to the group’s roads division and has consequently been intimately involved in the nationwide infrastructural roads upgrade.
Monster machine
Regulars
6 30 years and going on...
DOHS
Roundtable R oundtable discussion
Housing
Lourens
Alison Davison
Trenchless technology 58 61 64 67 71 73 75 76
A look into the future of HDD A pioneering approach Sewer project wins award A world-class pilot project Monster boring machine A gold mine for trenchless technology Internal pipe monitoring Electricity distribution project wins award
17 Model for modular masonry
Mogale City
Roads and bridges
78 Increased capacity for K29 79 Sustainable infrastructure
28 Concrete geocell access road
management
Solid waste roundtable
80 Overload prompts extension
38 The great waste debate 39 Waste management overview 42 Roundtable contributor:
81 Improved access for N14
45 49
John Coetzee Roundtable contributor: Jan Palm Roundtable contributor: Daryl Hardy
project
Products and services 83 Mobile dewatering plant 84 Rental company expands fleet IMIESA APRIL 2011 - 1
COMMENT PUBLISHER Elizabeth Shorten EDITOR Richard Jansen van Vuuren CREATIVE CHIEF EXECUTIVE Frédérick Danton SENIOR DESIGNER Hayley Moore CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Lia Marus SUB-EDITOR Danielle Hugo CONTRIBUTORS Frank Stevens, Nicholas Rowse, David Beer, Andrew Maggs, Julian Maastrecht, Neil Mcilroy, Stan Jewaskiewitz, Candice Landie PRODUCTION MANAGER Antois-Leigh Visagie PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Jaqueline Modise FINANCIAL MANAGER Andrew Lobban (ACIS, FCIBM) ADMINISTRATION Tonya Hebenton DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Nomsa Masina DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Asha Pursotham SUBSCRIPTION SALES Cindy Cloete PRINTERS United Litho Johannesburg +27 (0)11 402 0571 ___________________________________________________
PRESIDENT'S COMMENT
New beginnings
T
HE WELL-KNOWN life coach and author Stephen Covey, in his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (1989), speaks of the importance of beginning “with the end in mind” (habit 2), which involves creating a clear and compelling picture of the future. This is a most useful practice to adopt in approaching strategic planning. A few weeks ago, in his State of the Nation Address, President Zuma shared the South African government’s vision for the future, which is to build a country “where millions more South Africans have decent employment opportunities, which has a modern infrastructure and vibrant economy and where the quality of life is high”. In last month’s President’s Comment I gave an overview of Exco’s plans for IMESA for the next two years, which are closely aligned with the government priorities described above. Now that we have completed our strategic planning meeting, I welcome my next two years in office with renewed energy and a clear focus on our goals. The next few months are busy ones. In a few weeks’ time we will be launching our IMESA Infrastructure Management System (IIMS), which will assist municipalities with GRAP17 compliance and the management of their infrastructure assets (see article on page 13). Another exciting development is the professional affiliate membership arrangement between IMESA and SALGA. This was confirmed with the handover of a membership certificate at a ceremony in Pretoria on 24 March 2011. On the communications front, it gives me pleasure to announce that our new IMESA website websit will be launched shortly. One of our key goals go this year is
ADVERTISING SALES Jenny Miller Tel: +27 (0)11 467 6223 ___________________________________________________
PUBLISHER: MEDIA No. 4, 5th Avenue, Rivonia 2056 PO Box 92026, Norwood 2117 Tel: +27 (0)11 233 2600 Fax: +27 (0)11 234 7274/5 E-mail: richard@3smedia.co.za www.3smedia.co.za ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: R440.00 (INCL VAT) ISSN 0257 1978 IMIESA, Inst.MUNIC. ENG. S. AFR. © Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. ___________________________________________________ IMESA CONTACTS IMESA Administration Officer: Ingrid Botton P O Box 2190, Westville, 3630 Tel: +27 (0)31 266 3263 Fax: +27 (0)31 266 5094 Email: imesa@webstorm.co.za Website: www.imesa.org.za BORDER BRANCH Secretary: Melanie Matroos Tel: +27 (0)43 705 2401 Fax: +27 (0)43 743 5266 E-mail: melaniem@buffalocity.gov.za EAST CAPE BRANCH Elsabé Koen Tel: +27 (0)41 505 8005 Fax: +27 (0)41 581 2300 E-mail: elsabek@africoast.com KWAZULU-NATAL BRANCH Secretary: Rita Zaayman Tel: +27(0)31 311 6382 NORTHERN PROVINCE BRANCH Secretary: Cornel Taljaard Tel: +27 (0)82 899 8341 Fax: +27 (0)11 675 1324 E-mail: cornel@rchc.co.za SOUTHERN CAPE KAROO BRANCH Secretary: Henrietta Oliver Tel: +27(0)79 390 7536 Fax: 086 536 3725 E-mail: imesa.southcape@gmail.com WESTERN CAPE BRANCH Secretary: Erica van Jaarsveld Tel: +27 (0)21 938 8455 Fax: +27 (0)21 938 8457 E-mail: erica.van_jaarsveld@capetown.gov.za FREE STATE AND NORTHERN CAPE BRANCH Secretary: Wilma Van Der Walt Tel: +27(0)83 457 4362 Fax: 086 628 0468 E-mail: imesa.fsnc@gmail.com REST OF SOUTHERN AFRICA Representative: Andre Muller E-mail: imesa@webstorm.co.za
All material herein IMIESA is copyright protected and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without the prior written permission of the publisher. The views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa or the publishers.
The official magazine of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa
Instit ute Africa ern zine of the al maga eerin g of South The offici cipal Engin of Muni
IMESA
MEDIA
INFR ASTR
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DEV ELO
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• SERV ICE
DEL IVER
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SprayPave
Cover opportunity
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Solid waste Mogale City
Make the Bu Increased Municipal WWTW e ice right cho Sustainablply expansion pleintegration minimisation people water sup l lion T) (incl VA for 1.5 mil R 4 0 . 0 0 Eastern Cape: Concrete geocell access road construction an water 3 6 N o . 3 • M a r c h 2 0 1 1 • ISSN 0257 1978 Volume 36 No.4 • April 2011 • R40.00 (incl VAT) olume rman: Cle
Deliver agreement
to serve our members more effectively. To do this requires an excellent administration system. In recent years, the growth of IMESA has resulted in the requirement of a head office. In the past, administrative tasks were performed by members; we now require a more formal set-up, together with more office space. We will therefore be moving into our new premises, IMESA House, in May 2011. We will also be appointing additional members of staff to ensure the smooth running of IMESA’s administrative systems (see article on page 9). I have no doubt that the growing passion and camaraderie of the IMESA Exco and Council, together with their considerable set of skills, honed over years of experience, will play a major role in ensuring that our strategic vision is achieved. As we move into the future, let us take with us the valuable lessons learnt in the past. Let us also ensure that we are ready to implement IMESA’s exciting initiatives, designed to improve the lives of all our people.
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT • MAINTENANCE • SERVICE DELIVERY
30 years of evolution
CoGTAy
Jannie Pietersen, president of IMESA
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IMIESA APRIL 2011 - 3
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EDITOR'S COMMENT
Introspection intervention
T
HE SANDTON/OR TAMBO route of the Gautrain has been operating for a while now and continues to be a project that Gautengers place much pride in – and rightfully so. When the final phase is finished and the entire system is operational a landmark public transport project will be complete. Make no mistake: the Gautrain is an incredible feat of engineering and construction. While paging through one of my favourite magazines recently I found a fascinating article on the Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT) in Switzerland. This project dwar fs not only the Gautrain but all other subterranean rail lines across the world! The GBT runs beneath the Alps and has a route length of 57 km. There is 152 km of tunnels, shafts and passages within the system, undoubtedly making it the world’s longest rail tunnel. Its closest competitor is the Seikan Tunnel in Japan, which is a 54 km railway tunnel incorporating a 23 km section that runs under the seabed. The rail track level is 140 m under the seabed and 240 m below sea level, making it a route best not used by those suffering from claustrophobia. Construction of the GBT began in 1996 and the final breakthrough on the west tube happened on 23 March 2011. The project consists of two single-track tunnels. It forms part of the AlpTransit project, also known as the New Railway Link through the Alps (NRLA), which includes the Lötschberg Base Tunnel. It bypasses the 19th centur y Gotthardbahn, a winding mountain route across the Saint-Gotthard Massif, and establishes a direct route that is usable by high-speed rail and heavy freight trains. AlpTransit Gotthard Ltd will hand over the tunnel to Swiss Federal Railways in operating condition by the end of May 2016, cutting the 3.5-hour travel time from Zürich to Milan by an hour and from Zürich to Lugano to one hour and 40 minutes. The prospect of South Africa having highspeed rail links between Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town is dream-worthy.
During March I attended African Utilities Week, which incorporated the Power Indaba. The catastrophic combination of an ear thquake and a tsunami had just devastated Japan. News of the damage done to the countr y’s nuclear power plants had not yet been released. While the South African government has been
magazine in the countr y dedicated to integrated resources and waste management. Through her editorship on this publication over the past two years Candice was the per fect person to facilitate our roundtable discussion on solid waste minimisation in this edition of IMIESA. The purpose of these roundtable discussions is not only
The prospect of South Africa having high-speed rail links between Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town is dream-worthy extremely honest about the continued reliance on coal in South Africa’s foreseeable future, a possible extension of Koeberg is not entirely off the table – or rather was not entirely off the table. The literal fallout from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, among others, has made the world pay attention again to the possibilities of ‘fail-safe’ back-up systems not working. The events in Japan have reiterated the point that although the impossible should be planned for, this is a nearimpossible task. Many IMIESA readers would have had the pleasure of meeting or talking over the telephone to Candice Landie in recent times. For the last seven months Candice has been responsible for the editorial content of our municipal features. In addition, she has contributed extensively to other features, such as pipes, pumps and valves and topics surrounding recycling and solid waste. Candice left 3S Media at the end of March as a permanent employee but continues in her position as editor of our sister publication, RéSource, on a freelance basis. I would like to use this platform to thank her for the excellent work she has done for IMIESA, and wish her the best for her future endeavours. RéSource magazine is the official publication of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa and is endorsed by 12 industr y associations. It is the only
to inform readers of the opinions of and direction taken by industr y experts regarding specific topics, but also to encourage feedback and participation by readers. Your comments and views can be emailed directly to me at richard@3smedia.co.za.
Richard Jansen van Vuuren, editor of IMIESA
IMIESA APRIL 2011 - 5
COVER STORY
30 years and going on... Since its establishment three decades ago, SprayPave has evolved into one of South Africa’s leading manufacturers, suppliers and applicators of bituminous road binders and emulsions.
A
S A SUBSIDIARY of leading construction group, Basil Read, since 2006, SprayPave has provided a significant boost to the group’s roads division and has consequently been intimately involved in the nationwide infrastructural roads upgrade. “The company has come a long way since its humble beginnings,” says Steven Single, managing director of SprayPave, who adds that for many years the company specialised as haulers and applicators of bituminous products, relying on external manufacturers to supply them with products that they would then transport to site with their haulers and apply with their sprayers according to the clients’ requirements. “Priding ourselves as being visionaries, with the ability to stay ahead in the industry, a few years ago we made a decision that would significantly enhance the nature of our operations when we began to upgrade our entire head office facility and include the addition of a world-class manufacturing plant,” he says. Today, from its base operations located in Alberton, the company boasts a worldclass manufacturing facility. Its versatile manufacturing plant is capable of producing all anionic and
cationic emulsions and modified bitumen binders, as well as environmentally friendly primes and pre-coats. “The benefits of this upgrade have not only been significantly beneficial to SprayPave, but to all of our clients as well,” adds Phil Chirnside, commercial manager. “We now have the ability to control the entire process from the beginning, thus providing us with a major advantage in terms of optimising efficiency and providing accurate and on-time delivery, regardless of the deadline,” he says. “Furthermore, it means that we can also offer our clients the most competitive pricing in the industry and, most importantly, our stringent quality control standards are adequately adhered to and monitored, therefore guaranteeing that we provide nothing less than the very best that the industry has to offer,” adds Chirnside. All products are manufactured according to very precise industry specifications, but what really sets the company apart from its competitors are its exceptionally high standards and outstanding housekeeping. Just as critical to SprayPave’s operations is the availability of a fully operational 24/7 fleet. Having taken
One of SprayPave’s four Scania sprayers working on a Basil Read site near the Atlas Road off-ramp on the N12
6 - IMIESA APRIL 2011
delivery of its fourth Scania distributor earlier this year, it now boasts a fleet of eight distributors, all fitted with technically advanced Etnyre spraybar systems, six bitumen haulers and two drum delivery vehicles, as well as a tri-axle trailer capable of delivering up to 100 drums in one haul. Along with the upgrade to its manufacturing facility, SprayPave has also extended its storage capability to 500 000 ℓ, ensuring that sufficient quantities of product are consistently and readily available to facilitate the shortest turnaround times possible. The drumming facility has been designed to fill the maximum quantity of drums accurately, within the shortest possible time. Every pipe that makes up the product transport system is colour-coded for easy identification. Green standards In addition to its stringent in-house quality control systems, SprayPave maintains strong associations with several technologically advanced laboratories, further ensuring that quality control is always of the highest and most comparable standards. The company has a wide range of bituminous products with various grades, but some of its leading products include: • SS60: This stable anionic emulsion has a bitumen content of 60%. Having manufactured SS60 for some time, SprayPave still maintains the most cost-effective position in the market. • Opti-Prime: This is an environmentally friendly prime that is manufactured in accordance with industry specifications and SprayPave’s quality control standards. • Opti-Cote: This is a bitumen-based, environmentally friendly pre-coating fluid that is manufactured in accordance with industry specifications and SprayPave’s quality control standards. SprayPave’s imported mill also allows the company to manufacture cationic emulsions with 60%, 65% and 70% bitumen contents, as well as polymer-modified emulsions.
COVER STORY sustainability and development of the local construction sector. Therefore, various educational and training opportunities are extended to staff throughout the company for effective, directed and sustainable development. Another important facet of skills transfer and training is the fact that it ensures an outstanding safety record for the company, providing yet another competitive advantage.
ABOVE Steven Single, managing director of SprayPave, accepting the keys to one of SprayPave’s newest Scania sprayers
SE-1 & SE-2 (SBS): modified bitumen binders that are popular and reliable and conform to SprayPave’s stringent quality control standards. SprayPave also aligns itself with global environmental objectives by conducting ongoing research to provide alternatives to those products traditionally used in the industry. It promotes the use of environmentally friendly products and conforms to the current European legislation and guidelines as laid out by the South African Bitumen Association (SABITA), of which it is a proud member. Expansion and skills development To keep up with client demands and remain at the top of its game in a highly competitive industry, SprayPave expanded its operations during 2010, through the acquisition of an additional satellite branch in KwaZula-Natal. SprayPave strongly supports the continual transfer of skills, which is fundamental to the
Beyond our borders With a glowing project portfolio, SprayPave is not only involved with a number of contracts nationwide, but is also becoming increasingly involved in a number of high-profile contracts beyond South African borders. It has built an enviable reputation on its ability to ensure that customers on remote sites have reliable access to hot bitumen. For customers in Africa who require drummed products, the company’s mobile decanting plants and static tanks ensure that hot bitumen is always available in the quantities determined by the project. In addition, the company’s close association with all refineries in Southern Africa enables it to provide ‘fit-for-purpose’ products to any destination in Southern Africa. Using world-class plant and equipment, SprayPave has the ability to take on any project successfully, regardless of form or magnitude. From the smallest rural road to the largest national route, no job is too big or too small.
“We just delivered our new portable emulsion plant to our site in Gobabis, Namibia,” says Single. “The plant is self-powered with an onboard diesel generator, has a fully equipped lab and is capable of manufacturing 6 000 ℓ of emulsion every hour. It is mounted to a double-axle trailer so it can be transported to any site, regardless of how remote the location may be, for several months at a time,” he adds. In addition to ensuring that the company is one of the country’s leaders in terms of its core operations, the management team has also recognised the importance of keeping the company’s brand top of mind in the industry. “We are constantly striving to improve our communications and relationships with our clients, keeping them informed of our growing capabilities,” says Chirnside. He goes on to say that SprayPave is constantly evolving to stay ahead in an ever-changing environment. “As manufacturers, suppliers and applicators of bituminous road binders and emulsions, we are very aware of the importance and the impact that our operations have on our country’s roads and those that use them. With their safety and satisfaction in mind, we know that success depends on a world-class performance each and every day, and operate with the firm belief that our expertise is the pathway to your destination,” maintains Chirnside. Contact details: SprayPave Tel: +27 (0)11 868 5451 Web: www.spraypave.co.za
BELOW The plant is self-powered with an onboard diesel generator, has a fully equipped lab and is capable of manufacturing 6 000 ℓ of emulsion every hour RIGHT SprayPave’s new mobile emulsion plant on site in Gobabis, Namibia
IMIESA offers advertisers an ideal platform to ensure maximum exposure of their brand. Companies are afforded the opportunity of publishing a two-page cover story and a cover picture to promote their products to an appropriate audience. Please call Jenny Miller on +27(0)11 467 6223 to secure your booking.
IMIESA APRIL 2011 - 7
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hennie.basson@absgroup.com afri-infra@mweb.co.za ajbroom@icon.co.za rob.lamb@arup.com Ian.VanWijk@af.aurecongroup.com kevin.barnett@bigenafrica.com siyandan@bks.co.za cask@bvigp.co.za durban@cbisa.co.za jane@drillingandblasting.co.za cma@mweb.co.za LAustin@csir.co.za dlpdbn@dlp.co.za divb@dbsa.org.za mgoodchild@dpiplastics.co.za eric@efgeng.co.za keith.bailey@za.elster.com benoitl@millenniumwaste.co.za garry@geotechnologies.co.za nicky@gls.co.za trumang@goba.co.za hstal@mweb.co.za fstammer@lantic.net john@edams.co.za louis_icon@mics.co.za monde@iliso.com fmyburgh@infraset.com dennyc@jgi.co.za rtaljaard@jwater.co.za kgatelopele@wol.co.za
Knowledge Base KV3 Engineers Lektratek Water Makhaotse Narasimulu & Associates Maragela Consulting Engineers Much Asphalt Munitech Nyeleti Consulting Odour Engineering Systems Power Construction Pragma Africa Rocla SBS Water Systems Sektor Consulting Sight Lines Pipe Survery Services SNA Inc Siza Water Company SRK Consulting SSI Stemele Bosch Africa Syntell Thm Engineers East London TPA Consulting UWP Consulting Vela VKE WSP Group Africa WSSA WRP Zebra Surfacing
info@knowbase.co.za cbrandsen@kv3.co.za general@lwt.co.za mmakhaotse@mna-sa.co.za admin@maragelaconsulting.co.za john.onraet@murrob.com munitech@iafrica.com ppienaar@nyeleti.co.za mathewc@oes.co.za nbarnard@powergrp.co.za deang@pragma.co.za karen.devos@murrob.co.za irene@sbsgroup.co.za cradock@sektor.co.za sales@sightlines.co.za snapta@icon.co.za tionette.bates@sizawater.co.za jomar@srk.co.za francisg@ssi.co.za TurnerS@sbadbn.co.za julia@syntell.co.za thmel@mweb.co.za roger@tpa.co.za zulchl@uwp.co.za capetown@velavke.co.za dirk.hattingh@mbs-wsp.co.za nbinase@wssa.co.za ronniem@wrp.co.za andrew@zebrasurfacing.co.za
IMESA
IMESA HEAD OFFICE
Looking back and new beginnings The jubilee year of 2011 will see IMESA’s head office undergoing an exciting revamp, including the hiring of more staff and a move to new premises. By Frank Stevens
A
DMINISTRATION of the Institute of Municipal Engineers of Southern Africa (IMESA) was initially handled solely by the following dedicated and long-serving members: • A Kinmont: 1961 to 1966 • Cape Town (City Council): 1967 to 1970 • A Kinmont: 1971 to 1980 • WCD Smith: 1981 to 1983 • WC Fourie: 1984 to 1996 • FG Bosman: 1997 to 2005 • FG Bosman: 2006 treasurer • MML Pollet: 2006 secretary.
Alexander Kinmont (From an article by Donald Macleod, city engineer, Durban in the IMIESA journal of December 1980/January 1981). Alexander Kinmont died in Durban on 10 December 1980 after a short illness. Born in Cape Town in 1902, he was educated at Grey High School, Port Elizabeth, and began his civil engineering career in the City Engineer’s Department, Port Elizabeth,
In 1964 the Durban City Council established a special department to undertake a high capital expenditure programme covering the freeway scheme, augmentation of the water supply from 200 to 400 ℓ/d, remodelling of the main sewerage system and the reclamation and protection of Durban beaches. As director of special works, he accomplished a R75 million programme in the five-year period. After a short spell as a consulting engineer, Kinmont was invited to join the Water Research Commission as an adviser on matters relating to local authorities, and he remained extremely active in this position up until the time of his death. Kinmont was always a staunch supporter of professional bodies related to his work and held office in the South African Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institute of Municipal Engineers of Southern Africa (IMESA), the South African branch of the Institute of Water Pollution Control and at one stage was chairman of the South
Kinmont was always a staunch supporter of professional bodies related to his work in 1925. Eight years later he was appointed assistant town engineer of Germiston and in 1936 he went overseas to specialise in the field of water and sewage purification. When he returned to South Africa in 1938, Kinmont joined the Johannesburg Municipality as an assistant engineer under Dr E J Hamlin, and early in 1939 he was appointed to the City Engineer’s Department, Durban. His stay in Durban was interrupted by a three-year spell as city engineer of Bulawayo, and in 1951 he was appointed deputy city engineer of Durban, becoming city engineer in 1954: a position that he held for 10 years.
African Advisory Committee of the (British) Institution of Civil Engineers and a member of its council for two years. He was a member of the Town Planning Institute of Great Britain and a founder member of the South African Institute of Town and Regional Planners, as well as a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and of the Royal Society of Health. Following the inaugural meeting of IMESA on 1 May 1961, Kinmont served as honorary secretary/treasurer of the institution until the time of his death, except for the period 1967 to 1970, when the secretariat
ABOVE Frank Stevens, IMESA vicepresident: Operations
was in Cape Town. He was also a very active member of the editorial board of IMIESA. In 1934 Kinmont married Ruth Mary (Molly) Lambert of Port Alfred, who survives him together with his married daughter Glenda and a son, also named Alexander, who has followed his father’s profession as a civil engineer. In his younger days, Kinmont was a keen sportsman, playing senior league cricket and soccer in the eastern provinces and subsequently going over to tennis. Dudley Smith Dudley Smith was town engineer of Boksburg and took over the IMESA secretariat from Alexander Kinmont in 1981. Wesley Fourie Wesley Fourie took over the IMESA secretariat from Dudley Smith in 1984. Fourie was director: Technical Services for Randburg and was assisted by his very able secretary Etta Potgieter. The work was done part time during office hours and after hours. This
IMIESA APRIL 2011 - 9
IMESA
resulted in no cost for office accommodation. They had to establish a new record and administration system for IMESA from scratch, and this was before the time of computers. A 200 mm-thick red ledger book contained all the members’ particulars and accounting details. Members’ accounts and receipts were handwritten and posted. Annual reports and financial statements were printed and posted together with the agenda for the AGM and minutes of the
Frik Bosman After being president of IMESA from 1994 to 1996, Frik Bosman and his wife Vida took over the IMESA secretariat from Fourie and Potgieter in 1997. This work was done from their home at no cost. Bosman was town engineer of Richards Bay and later city engineer of uMhlathuze. The manual system that was inherited was computerised with the assistance of Richard King, a local computer boffin. A computerised database was
Frik Bosman and his wife Vida took over the IMESA secretariat in 1997. This work was done from their home at no cost previous meeting to all members each year, as required by the constitution. Exco meetings were held quarterly and council meetings annually. A proper audit system was introduced and audited annual financial statements were produced. During his term of office, Fourie was also president of IMESA from 1985 to 1986 and successfully organised the IMESA Conference of 1986 in Randburg. Fourie and Potgieter retired from municipal service in 1996 and also requested retirement from their IMESA duties.
10 - IMIESA APRIL 2011
created for each member and linked to the member’s account and financial system. This ensured 100% accuracy and avoided duplication of effort. Query reports were developed and each branch could be provided with a membership data list, including accounting details in any required format. Accounts and receipts were computer generated and the old ledger book and handwritten accounts and receipts were done away with. IMESA was also the forerunner in the development of a website that was launched
ABOVE IMESA’s current premises
at the IMESA Conference in 1998 in Port Elizabeth. Bosman developed this website with the assistance of ZuluCom, a local software company. With the advent of Microsoft Access, the database and accounting system were transferred to this system with the assistance of Sianne King, a local software expert. The old system of posting agendas, minutes, reports and financial statements was done away with and all correspondence for Exco and Council meetings was done by e-mail. For the annual AGM, annual reports and financial statements and minutes were posted on the website, with only a hard copy of the agenda mailed to members, as required by the constitution. IMESA also registered for VAT at this stage. The workload increased steadily over the years and in 2005 it reached a point where additional assistance was required. Maurice Pollet, a past president and retired town engineer of Durbanville, was engaged to take over the secretarial work in 2006. The treasurer and database functions remained with the Bosmans. After 10 years of service, at the end of 2006 Frik and Vida
IMESA Exco/Council minutes, etc. Judy Stephens was appointed in April 2010 as a parttime training coordinator and is tasked with overseeing IMESA’s training activities (e.g. courses in infrastructure asset management, which are offered nationally). Additional administration assistance has been contracted on an ad hoc basis. During 2010, the Exco came to see the value of IMESA finding its own premises. Accordingly, part of a suitable building was purchased in Derby Downs, Westville. The intention is to move into IMESA House during May 2011. While the move is being planned with much anticipation and excitement, it appears that even more floor space will be required in the not-too-distant future. Two major reasons for this are: firstly, by November 2010 training had
proven so successful that other projects were negotiated, and secondly, the 2011 IMESA Conference takes place in a jubilee year. A conference coordinator, based at head office, will be appointed to support the Local Organising Committee. In January 2011, the Exco strategic planning meeting identified priorities and a direction for IMESA, affirming that the head office requires excellent administration systems and more staff, who will be appointed for the move in May 2011. The expansion of IMESA’s staff and activities therefore makes it imperative to acquire larger and more permanent premises. Furthermore, IMESA House will be configured and equipped with modern facilities, taking the institute to the next level and enabling it to service its members more effectively.
ABOVE Judy Stephens and Ingrid Botton
Bosman also requested retirement from their IMESA duties. In October 2008, IMESA leased a small suite of offices in Maryvale Road, Westville. The new head office was initially run on a part-time basis by Mike Smith and Dianne Pennells, who handled finance and administration respectively. When Smith and Pennells left the following year, Botton was appointed on a full-time basis. Since 2009, Ingrid has been responsible for general office administration, membership matters, RIGHT AND BELOW The Derby Downs premises
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Tel: 031Ͳ266 3263 Email: imesa@webstorm.co.za
IMESA proudly announces a groundbreaking initiative to support municipalities in their quest for better asset management and GRAP17 compliance …
IMESA INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (IIMS) Now municipalities can …. – standardise asset reporting and componentisation – determine and quantify asset conditions and impairment of infrastructure assets – develop asset maintenance budgets for a fiveͲyear cycle – carry out longͲterm planning relating to the cost of replacement of civil infrastructure – prioritise the maintenance of infrastructure – generate their own Asset Management Plans
How will it be available to municipalities? IIMS … Ͳ comprises free asset management software – is hosted by IMESA, so that municipalities can enjoy the leverage, the wealth of experience and the skills IMESA has to offer, particularly to those with few or no technical skills
IMESA
IMESA Infrastructure Management System (IIMS) The greatest challenge facing municipalities in South Africa is probably asset management: the effective and methodical recording of all accumulated assets with a view to managing and maintaining them cost effectively. By Nicholas Rowse
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EEPING THIS IN MIND, IMESA has developed an innovative and comprehensive asset management methodology that will not only help municipalities to ensure GRAP17 compliance by capturing the data required to generate GRAP17 registers, but also to apply this information to improving long-term municipal asset management and maintenance planning. The ultimate goal, of course, is to
infrastructure, enabling them to determine on an ongoing basis the impairment and maintenance needs of the infrastructure and providing opportunities for informed planning. Document management The system further provides for the storage and access of useful and important documentation relating to: • the calculation of asset valuations
IMESA believes that the system is very accessible to the user and uncomplicated in terms of its general implementation enable municipalities to use this new-found knowledge to provide improved service delivery to their communities. IMESA believes that the system is very accessible to the user and uncomplicated in terms of its general implementation, so it is ideal for use across all municipalities. Asset management specifics By standardising data collection, the system will provide municipalities with a means to monitor the following in terms of infrastructure assets (immovable) and movable assets and to generate a GRAP17 asset register: • location • componentisation • asset impairment (based on the condition of each asset) • remaining useful life • maintenance backlogs and maintenance costs and cash flow for the next five years • future asset replacement cash flow and replacement requirements • asset life cycle replacement costs. Municipalities will have at their fingertips standardised records of the condition of their
• policies that support asset management processes. Budgetary issues resolved by the IIMS Through the implementation of the IIMS, IMESA will prepare a simple and standard method for determining the current replacement cost (CRC) of infrastructure assets, which will assist the municipalities with the allocation of budgets and prioritisation of maintenance, and will furthermore enable them to determine immediate and long-term financial requirements. Methodical planning will also undoubtedly improve productivity and enhance cooperation between technical and financial staff, which in turn should improve service delivery. Technical and other advantages of IIMS The infrastructure data is loaded into the database and hosted on a dedicated secure server with daily data back-up. Municipalities will have access to their data 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. IMESA believes that a
centralised approach to software provision and data hosting will prove more cost effective to municipalities than similar products, because IMESA will provide the specialised server and IT staff required. Furthermore, municipalities would have access to IMESA leverage and be able to utilise the wealth of experience within IMESA, which is of particular value to municipalities with few or no technical skills. What information would municipalities have to provide? In order to implement the IIMS, the municipalities would be required to provide the following information: 1. existing infrastructure (immovable) and/or movable asset register 2. asset number in the financial system 3. type of asset 4. acquisition date of asset 5. asset location (preferably in GIS shape file format) 6. asset dimension/size (not essential if shape file is provided) 7. asset condition (if available but not essential for the initial data upload). Cost to the municipality The software is offered free of charge, with no limit to the number of individual user licences within each municipality. In order to recover the costs of support as well as hosting of the asset data, IMESA will charge a nominal monthly maintenance fee. In order to obtain more information regarding the implementation of the above IIMS, and to upload asset and infrastructure information to the asset databases for each municipality, please contact IMESA on +27 (0)31 266 3263.
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