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GRIMI(ER

.\.fi .!

EAZETTE DECEMBER

t !

A Christmas message for special people rom Peggy Grinaker f

Peggy Grinaker was born in Johannesburg. Her father was the late Raymond Steyn who was

chairman Ol the Grinaker group for eight years alter the death ol the founder in 1949'and her mother was once a South African ladies tennis champion. She matriculated at St Andrews School in Bedfordview, went to Rhodes University and joined the Special Signals Service during the war, speoializing in radar. She obtained a ptivate pilot's licence, in 1946 and holds a Trinity College of London piano teacher's d iploma. ln 1948 she married the late Ola W. Grinaker who was group chairman tor nearly twenty years. She holds a unique position in Grinaker, having been the daughter-in-law of the founder, the daughter of the second chairman and the chairman's wife for many years. ln 1985 she became a director of Grinaker Holdings in her own right. It is wonderlul and rewarding for me to siill be here and involved with all you special people, especially alter the strain and sadness of watching our great group leader pass away. It makes my heart leap when I unexpectedly see that striking red Grinaker or Grinel logo, or when I pass a yellow and red Grinaker truck, especially in an out ol the way place like Grahamstown as I did recently. I had a bubbly desire to hoot and wave. I get, as Ola used to call it, that warm 'gut feeling' that we the Grinaker people and all that yellow and red plant belong to an unpretenlious and highly successlul company.

the group which contributed to this proiit, and I leel for the. directors and stafi o{ those sections which through no fault of their own but because of the economy, escalation and sanctions were unable to pick up much work. However, I really grumped inside when our results came out and the first headline I read was 'Grinaker Profits Drop'. Wouldn't it have been nice if the press had flown the flag for us instead, for being the one conslruction company noi in the red. lwant to thank the Anglovaal directors for their watchful yetencouraging participation, and lam sure thal all of us round the boardroom table enioy the able. firm yet sympathetic way Jan Robbertze chairs the meetings. Despite the depression and frustrations lstill lind such a warm, loyal spiril amongst you all. lt makes me think back. January 15 next year will be the lortieth anniversary of my attachment, byengagementto Ola, to what was then a whole new world of construction.

Bridge Numbet Four being incrementally launched with an eight degree fall

Four new bridges for Christmas Grinaker North's bridges in Pietersburg will be completed by the end of the year .by Otto Steenkamp

will make a substantial improvement to the scenic drive Jrom Houtbosdorp to l\,,1oketsi and be a boost for tourism in the area. The client is the Transvaal Provin-

cial Administration and the contract value is approximately R3,2 million. With the rearrangement of the Grinaker North and Grinaker Transvaal companies and the resignation ol

The Pietersburg Bridges contract being undertaken by Grinaker Norlh should be completed by the end of the year. The {our separate bridges G

naket Gazette Decenbet 1986

dge Number One

elegant and curved

GRMKER the baby of

Bridge Number Three, with what the site claims are the besl gabions in the world.

Bridge Number Two the f amily

Vic Allen we now have a completely

ching has gone very well with the deck steadily slipping down the

dilferent management team from the one that started this contract in June 1985. Joe de Klerk is now the director in charge with myself as the site agent. Att Bouwer and Bennie van Heerden are the concrete loremen and Donald Hlobotsl looks after the earthworks. Andrew Turnbull handles survey and measurement while Jouberl Boux looks after the gabions, restricted backlill and minor structu res. At the time of writing only lwo of the eleven segments of Bridge Four are still to be launched. So far the laun-

The Grinaker Gazette is publish-

ed as.a house journal by Grinaker

valley with an eightdegree fall. All of

Holdings Limited-

this is being supervised by Bennre van Heerden from his ski-cabin head office. Att Bouwer is stripping the soff it ol Bridge One with the rest of the team cleaning up the earth-

Viewpoints expressed are not necessarily shared by the pub-

works and Bridges Two and Four. We rent a farmhouse up in the mountains overlooking the valley as a sing le quarters. lt is here where we have the occasional braai with a fire consuming a bakkie load of hardwood per night. Add to this some meat and beer and it can be said that country jobs have nice aspects too.

6:r,

;-;

l'I

Pietersburg bridges team. Back: Donald Hlobotsi, Att Bouwer, Jan Hattingh,

Otto Steenkamp, Bennie van Heerden. Front: Piet Negondeni, Andrew

lishers or the editor. Editorial oftices, 161h Floor, Bedford Centre, Kirkby Road, Bedfoidview, Transvaal. PO Box 75102, Garden View 2047. Telephone (011) 616-2150 EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS: A.N. Saulez A.D. Sherwood E.C.W. Vels

EDITOR: Michael Sandrock PUBLISHING ASSISTANT: Allyson Armstrong AREA CORRFSPONDENTS: Peter.Bloiield, Amalgamated Reinforcing Ted Todd, Bay Stone Sales Grinaker Plant: Russell Cowdrey, Harry Mahraj, Jack Denz Schalk Vorster, Grinel Roger Dawson, Grinaker Building Company Nico Maas, Grinaker Dura Piling Gordon Forbes, Bedfordview Brian Stobbart,,Grinaker North Jorge Hayes'E'Silva, Grinaker Cape Mary Warrior, Grinaker Precast Koos Le Grange, Natal and Zululand

Frcnt covet: Part ol Bisho Civic Centre being built by Grinaker Ciskei. Picture by Jorge HayesE'Silva of Grinaker Cape. Back cover: Bridge Ane, part ol the four-bridge contract by Grinaker North near Pietersburg. Picture by the Gazette.

Turnbull, Joubert Roux, Rowan Cashel

Gtinaket Gaze e Decgnbat

1986

,d*c.,

I r!-+ l, ,'

"$i,.-! ' l'{:1xx

Reservoir at Alice with Fort Hare

by Colin Meyer

niversity in the background

stream

ol the Binfield Park Dam

spillway lrom which it will receive its water by g ravity feed.

The reservoir is twenty-five kilometres away on the outskirts of the town of Alice. The fact that the two

jobs are so lar aparl poses some interesting logistical problems, especially when it comes to'sharing' certain items. Combined contract value is R2,38 million with the reservoir portion

Binf ield Waterworks contract consists of two components, namely the construction ol a 4,5 megalitre per day water treat ment works and a 6 megalitre reinforced concrete reservoir. The

Grinaker Ciskei's

waterworks is situated just downGtinaket Gazotto Doc'nbot 1986

Control room structure coming out ol the ground

amounting to R980 000. Our client is the Department of Development Aid

and the consulting engineers

are

O'Connell Manth6 and Partners. Ben Willemsen keeps the wheels turning at Alice which is a showpiece job in terms of neatness and safety. Dan Wiggett and Luis Bernardinho are presently at the Waterworks u nder the watchfuleye ol Fran k Oliveira. Dallas van der Westhuyzen keeps track of the costs and measurement whilst Richard Nkatu makes sure

things get built where they are supposed 1o be built. Having just completed th ree months ol border

duty I took over the contract in June lrom Paul Cilliers who was on loan to us from Grinaker Natal at the time. Graham Browne is my conlract manager. The waler treatment works is a very complicated little struclure and my first encounter wrth the drawings conjured up visions of trying to break a minefield, blindfolded at night. lt consists of an inlel works and mixing race, a sedimentation tank and retention channels. a filter area with double storey f ilter gallery, clearwater reservoir, pump room and a three storey control building. The Alice reservoir is a circular tank with a radius of eiqhteen metres and is six metres high. The reinforced concrete root is supported bythirtyseven circular columns. The contract period is lorty-seven weeks. Everything is presently runn ing according to programme and is scheduled to be completed in Malch next year.

Settlement tanks being consttucted. Binfield Park Dam and spillway can be seen faintly in the background

Ben Willemsen 'persuading' Dolf Williams to fix his mixer. The man in the bank rcbber's mask on the right is presumably representing head office

:.t

'.,', ..,..

.-\

'' '.4-j

At Alice reservoir. Back: Luis Bernardinho, Frank OIiveira, Michael Neti, Mxolisi Sosi, Altred Mntwapi, Robert Lala, Thomas Mthembule, Dallas van der Westhuyzen, Colin Meyer. Front: John Raqa, Julius Femmel, Erlc Zingelwa, Thabo Ramaloti, Jackson Noholoza, Nathaniel Dumezweni, Bichard Nkatu, Dan Wiggett Gttnakot Gazefte Decenbet 1986

Going down at Douglas Grinaker Transvaal team in substantial mining contract

by Steve Bullent

A{ter three months ol calculating, discussing and sweating the Grinaker Transvaal mining division was finally awarded the Douglas Colliery, north shaft contract. Whilst finishing off sinking operations at Leeudoorn sha{t. mining Gtinaket Ga2ette Dec.nbet 1986

agent Corrie van Wyk assisted with both the tender and pre-award planning, which enabled the iob to gel olf to a flying start f rom which it has never recove red. The job itself is one of those Pleasant civil and mining mixlures; an open-cut excavation leading into a seven per cent decline down to a previously unworked area. There is coal development from the end oJ

the decline shaft, a vertical ventilation sha[t, some concrete flooring and drains and minor earthworks to complete the package. As the contract period is onlY live months, the site crew is kePt busy working around the clock on most of the construction activities. Th rs time last year the gently sloping site was a mealie field. Now it is both

Grinaker Projects in R6,5 million Bokomo contract hot and

usty with ou r famous 'lean-

ing'offices in the middle of about {our square kilometres of South

dust-bowl. Assisting Corrie and myself on site are general foreman, Alf Sale (responsible for the office construction ), banksman/shotcreter Joe Croucamp, developer Nick van Niekerk and foreman Piet Nyamane with master-blaster Zu lu Cornelius on the vertical shaft. Recently recruited on to the team Af rican

are.developers Frans Nolan, Lou as Taljaa rd and Rodney Philips. Looking after the clerical work is Fan us Mashego, overseen by l\,4arius van Vuuren. Grinaker Plant are represented on site by Johan Tiearney with Tommy Thomas as plant agent standlng in for the injured Piet Wolmarans who is fortunately now on the mend. Head ollice support is supplied by

contracts

manage

r Arnold

Klintworth.

Grinaker Projects has been contracted to design and construcl a new wheat mill for Bokomo in Oudtshoorn. The mill, which is expected to be fully operational in June 1987, will cost in the region of R6,5 million and replaces the existing mill which was erected in the late 1930s. The capacity of the original mill was present contract this will be increased to five tonnes per hour with provision in the existing buildings for a possible seven and a half tonnes per th ree ton nes per hou r and in the

hour. Future provision has

been

made for extensions to the building which cou ld increase the capacity to a possible l5lonnes per hour. Also included are improvements to the

existing silos and packaging and

storage facilities. On site for Grinaker Projects is construction manager Dave Watson and the project manager is Siggi Neuschafer. The sub-contrabtor on sile is the building division of Dura Constuction. Representing the client is van Wyk and Louw and others involved in the project are geotechnical engineers, Kantey & Templar, process engineers Brlhler Miag, and electrical consultants Drewett Hubble Pokorny lnc.

Right at bdck: Petrus Mathela, Mathai Rataba, Jim Mashabela, Piet Nhlapo, Petrus Thumbathi. Standing: Corrie van Wyk, Piet Nyamane, Joe Croucamp, James Mabunda, Johannes Mthisi, Simon Cibi, Calvin Nyathi, Fabian Sebehela, Alf Sale, Johan Tiearney. Seatedj E/son Mashabane, Reckson Mkanzi, Samuel Ndubane, John Nyathi, David Ngobeni Gnnaker Gazette Deconbet 1986

Hier kom'n nuwe platina myn

en Grinaker spanne is betrokke in verskeie kontrakte deur Renier Naudd

Die

nim mereind

igende uitbreiding

van die ontginning van Suid Afrika se ryk mineraal neerslae het weereens aan Grinaker Transvaal die ge-

leentheid qebied om 'n bydrae te maak met die pioniers werk vir die ontwikkeling van 'n nuwe Platina myn in die noord-wes Transvaal vir die Goudvelde van SA myngroep. Die eerste kontrak wat toegeken is, is vir die oprigting en bedrywing van 'n verg ru isings aan leg op d ie te rrein. vir die lewering van vergruisde klip. Die eerste jase wat ongeveer sewe maande sal duur is vir d ie p rod u ksie van plus minus 200000 kubieke G

naket Gazette Decshbet 1986

meter minus 150mm materiaal vir gebruik in opvullings en paaie. Fase Twee wat 'n aanvang neem in Januarie 1987 is vir die lewering van 340000 kubieke meter beton aggregaat en sand asook klipslag vir paaie. Hierdie kontrak is beplan om in Januarie 1988 voltooi te wees. Hierna het 'n 'vloedgolf'van verskeie kontrakte gevolg wat ondermeer die volgende inslu it: (1) Massa uitgrawings vir twee skag hystorings asook al die verwante masjienkamers en geboue. (2). Die aanvan klike sin k van albei skagte tot plus minus 40 meter dieple. (3) Die uitgrawings en bou van 'n tien kilometer hoof toegangspad asook toegangspaaie tol die dorpsgeb ied, hostelle en hoofterasse met die nod

ige dreinerings strukture.

Tot

die werk is begin onder sy leiding as kontraksbestuurder. Na die aan-

sienlike uitbreiding het

Danny word bygestaan deur twee terreinagente, naamlik Dave lmpey vir alle skagwerk en ek vir paaie en Fase Een van die vergruisings kontrak. Wanneer Fase Twee begin sal Johan van Rooyen in bevel wees met Danie Gouws om hom bY te staan.

Johnny Zaremba doen diens as veldbestuurder met Dirk Venter, Theuns Helmutt en verskeie junior

(4)

Verskeie kleiner werke om nodige inlrastruktuur vir die myn te voorsien. (5) Voorsiening van gemYnde alval rots vanaf 'n naburige mYn se a{valhope vir gebruik in opvullings vir paa ie en terasse. usver is reeds om en bY 200 000

kubieke meter aangery en die verwagting is dat hierdie hoeveelheid nog sal verd u bbel. Die oorspronklike tender werk is deur Arnold Klintworth gedoen en

Dan nY

Denyssen ook by ons aangesluit as kontrak bestu u rder terwyl Arnold steeds betrokke bly met onderhandelinge met die k litjnt.

Skietwerk in die groef

Agter: Johnson Mnyamana, Johannes Lighavha, Paulos Mokubung, Piet Rademeyer, Aaron Moganisi, Jeff Peterson, Percy Mathebula, Joseph Mabaso, Johnson Baby, Manuel Nunes, Logan Pillay. Voor: Mathews Setsetse, fhomas Manyomoratho, John Morupano, Daniel Shabangu, Josia Sekwana, Enock Mabaso, Vusi Zwane voormanne op die verskillende seksies. Die opmetingswerk word beheer deu r Charlie Wiid as senior opmeter met Sias Wagenaar en Henk van der Hoek om hand by te sit.

Die versameling en verwerking van al die kostes en trok beweging is op sigself 'n enorme taak en vir die doel is daar twee rekenaars na die terrein gebring. Die manne aan die roervan sake is Neil Archer, Herby Aucamp

en Shane Dunn met verskeie klerke om te help. Boor en skietwerk word deur Dirk Smith gedoen in die groef terwyl 'Dup' du Plooy en Zulu Cornelius die sink van die skagte waarneem. Salvalore Carta het ook 'n groot aandeel gehad met die boor en skiet van uitgrawings.

Dre groot hoeveelheid meganiese toerusting word deu r 'n span van on-

geveer twintig werktuigkundiges en assistente onderhou en staan onder

die beheer van Mike Davison en Manuel Nunes.

Die vooruitsigte om verdere kontrakte te bekom op die projek lyk rooskleurig en ons gaan 1987 met optimisme bin ne.

: t'.'.

Agter: lsrael Makolobate, Renier Naudd, Sias Wagenaar, Shane Dunn, Henk van der Hoek, Neil Archet, Dirk Smith, Paul Hugo (subkontrakteur ), Theo Ndzungu. Voor: Jerry Schalkwyk, David Skozana, Freddie Hoyl, Halton Sukwana, Sajini Matahla, Johnny Zaremba, Charlie Wiid, Sarah Fisagie Gnhak6t Gaz6tt6 December 1986

R2 million

contract for KwaZulu

Deel van die tien kilcmeter toegangspad. Aan die linkerkant is een van die nuwe skag hystorings

v'/

Klaas Maio jo, Bonakeli Koli

Verg r u isi ngstoer usti ng word op,gerig

r f ase twee

Grinaker Natal has started work on the Ntuzuma roads, stormwater and water reticulation contract for the KwaZulu Department of Development Aid in KwaMashu. The contracl value is just under R2 million and completion is scheduled for June 1987. The work includes 34000m3 of cut, half of which is rock, 95m of concrete culvert,2,2km of roads,2km of water reticulation, 1,5km of stormwater piping and 500m ol gabions. Barry Willan is contracts manager and Keith Kuhn is site agent. Trevor Greyling is the quantity surveyor and Gary Baines does survey. Rolf Breytenbach will handle earthworks layers, Dennis Kearney will do stormwater drains, kerbs and channel and gabions and Frans Anderson will handle water piPing. Rob de Vos is helping with the establishment and earthworks and Solomon Ngxitama is site clerk. The Gogokazi quarry will also be run {rom this site lor the KwaZulu government to su pply roadmaking material for various contractors working in the area.

Een van'n lang tou swaargelaaide voertuie by die weegbrug One Sunday night late in October a

Agter: Sajini Malahla, Nimrod Magadlela, Peter Tsotetsi, Mampimpi

Ngubane, Petrus Nkomo, Goodwin Masoka. Voor: Carlson Mzimba, Alfred Makoloi, John Skrithi, Zwelitsha Ntiua G

naket Gazette Decenbet 1986

light-coloured bakkie crashed through the locked glass doors of a well known construction company (not Grinaker fortunately). Within ten m inutes a h ighly organ ized gang had stripped the ground floor offices of everything of value. lncluded in their spoils were two IBM computers used lor tendering. The partially completed tenders on the stolen computers had not been backed up. Sister companies rallied round and most ol the tenders were submitted as planned, but a set of back-ups on lloppy disks in the safe would have prevented a lot of anxiety. lf you use computers, please backup your files reg u larly.

by Mark Fisher View through the R2,84 million packhouse being built for Sundays River Citrus Co-Op (SRCC) in Addo

On 4 April this year Grinaker Cape won a contrâ‚Źct to bu ild a packhouse for the Sundays River Citrus Co-Op (SRCC) in Addo for R2.84 million in

contract period

twenty-nrne

weeks. Ten days later the'Grinaker

team'set off with a guide to flnd Addo, and slart work. The work turned out to be the easy bit - Adbo was'discovered' somewhere near Port Elizabeth. Earthworks consisted ol 8 000mj of cut to fill and spoil, 7000m: of imported river-sand lill and 3 000m3 of imported'calcrete' base-course. This material was used to construct a basic earthworks platlorm which

was then overlayed with a 300mm sand and 150mm base-course sandwich, on which the packhouse stands. Also included were minor roads and a 500m section of rail lormation. This section of the works was handled by Andries Loubser with help from Kleintjie Ngcongca. Building began with construction of the first of the 150 ring-beam-lin ked base and columns ('getting out of the g rou nd' proved to be the heart of the job). Above ground the main building consists of an asbestos clad portal frame steel structure, covering 11500m2 of power floated concrete floor, bounded by 1500m: of semi-face brickwork. This main bu ilding measured 168 x 66m. Ancillary b uildings include a boiler room, pump house, a small office and a 15m diameter by 5m deep concrete reservoir. l\,4en with the task ot pouring the 2 500m3 of concrete to a tight pro-

gramme were Armando Reis, with seclion leader Raymond Dladla, and lvlick McManus (he swears he was sent from heaven, later conceded as

Zululand, to brighten our lives) aided by Livingstone Hongana. Armando. amongst other th ings, helped with below ground work and bu ilt the rese rvoir.

[/ick helped with foundations, put down the floors and organized the miscellaneous bu ild ing and brick work. I must add that none of the 300 hold-down bolts had to be moved well done chaps eat your hearts out all future factory builders. Brickwork was done by sub-contractor, Eddie Haynes. The resl of the team consisted of Doug Botha as contract manager, myself as site agent, Chris Marais as surveyor (and anything el.se that he was needed to be) and Ernest Mfeka as site c lerk. Addo 'where house?' turned out to be a job that some less lortunate conlractors will only dream about. The f riendly but professional atmosphere maintained by Roy Gillett and Johnny Steyn ol the SRCC and

Peter Erasmus and his team from consultants Hill Kaplan & Scott ensured an almost trouble-free job of which all concerned are sure to feel proud. Somewhere near PE. Ernest Mfeka, Chris Marais, Raymond Dladla, Mick McManus, Livingstone Hongana, Armando Reis, Sibongo Qolwane 10

My thanks, congratulations and hard hat off to all those concerned for a job well done. Gtinakot Gazette Decenbet t986

Zul uland

building spree

Grinaker Building (Natal) going at full steam in the area A round-up of events by Barry Steenhuisen

Private clinic and office block in Empangeni

Empangeni private clinic/ ollice block After many months of

Planning.

ing, budgeting and negotiating by Gerry Stott and architect Bill Ellens. a contract was siqned on 7 July 1986 between Grinaker Building (Natal) and lvlr l\,4ervyn Wallace

desig

of Nonduyise Hold ings. Empangeni

Zululand. What started otf as a simple office building soon grew into what is now becoming a verY

prominent R1,4 million P rivate medical

linic which will start a new

trend in building standards in Empangeni.

The building is situated on a splitlevel site in the centre of town and comprises five floors. each approximately 12m x 27m (Plus minus 330mr). The lower ground floor accommodates doctors' consulting

and examination rooms and three dental surgeries. The two middle floors make uP the private clinic, the one lloor being the ward block having {acilities to sleep twenty patients, and the other floor being the theatre block having two modern. f ully equiPPed surgeries and an X-Ray unit. The two toP lloors will be occupied bY Stannic and Santam. The building consists ol a reinforced concrete infrast ructu re with brick infill panels. The emphasis to the outside o{ the building has been one of low maintenance. Precastsunshades with an exposed aggregate finish will form a Prominent exterior feature. The interior o{ the doctors' suites and the clinic will have plastered and Painted brick walls, welded vinyl sheeting on the

Additionat warehousing was built lor Zulmet's Cash 'n Carry Grin.ket Gazote Dece b

floors and skimmed ceilings, all to the very high standard required bY the tvled ical Board. Work commenced on site in late July and the structure was completed three weeks ahead of schedule. With the building work well into the advanced stages, the d octors' suites. Stannic and Santam lloors will be handed over for occupation on 15 December 1986. The Private clinic, being far more comPlicated than the other lloors, is Programmed to be completed bY the end ot February 1987. Staff on site include Dave Price as site agent, Stollel Groenewald as oeneral foreman, Guy KaY-Hards as

iite engineer and Barry

lvlcGee as

buyer/ad min istration oflicer.

New warehouse for Zulmet A turnkey project organized be-

tween Grinaker Projects and Grinaker Building (Natal) was finallY negotiated with Zulmet in EmPangeni in May this year. The Project, worth R650000. entails an additional 1600m2 oJ warehousing to supplement the existing warehouse presently occupied bY KwaZulu Cash 'n Carry. The structure consists of a Power floated concrete f loor, structural sleel structure covered with IBR roof sheeting and side cladding The 11

19A6

external walls comprise ruled concrete brick with large window openings allowing lor a large amount ol natural lig ht. During construction it was necessary to cater for the continuous stream ol delivery trucks offloading goods for the existing KwaZulu Cash 'n Carry which remained functional throughout the contract. Despite all problems, however, the project was completed in September, a month ahead ol schedule. Staff involved with the project were Pieter van Staden as site agent, Stoffel Groenewald as general f oreman and Vasco David as assistant foreman who left half way through to complete another stint at Tech. Ephraim Ndaba was clerk and Des Leibrandt completed the contract when Stoflel moved across to the Empangeni off ice block. Congratulations to Piete r van Staden who won Grinaker Building Natal's 'Builder ol the Month'award for September tor his good management of th is project.

Trade Winds Hotel on fire. The picture was taken by a resident who managed to escape unharmed.

Trade Winds Hotel at Mtunzini, north coast ln August this year, Grinaker Build-

Trade Winds Hotel at Mtunzini rebuilt by Grinaker Building (Natal)

Winds Hotel. The hotel, which was originally built in 1952 using a type ol cement-grass block, burnt to the ground after a fire started in a gas stove in the kitchen. The new hotel, which will be complete by the time this article is published, is the local meeting place for the residents in lvltunzini. Emphasis was placed on the short programme time as the hotel has to be completely tunctional lor the December h o lidays. The structure is ol normal housetype construction, i.e. brick walls plastered and PVA painted. rhinoboard ceilings, concrete floors and a concrete tiled pitched roof. Cost to rebuild the hotel was R180000.

Kwambonambi Tea Room

ing (Natal) successfully tendered for the rebuilding ol the Trade

Staff on site include Pieter van Staden as site agent, Andrew Williamson as loreman in charge of

overall project, Frank Adonis as foreman in charge of the ceiling and roof construction. and Ephraim Ndaba as site clerk. 12

Alter Grinaker X-Blok successfu lly completed the shopping centre at Kwambonambi, virtually the same team moved across and down the road to start construction on the Kwambonambi Tea Room, only this time working for Grinaker Building (Natal).

This double storey building costing R275 000, consists ol a large shopping area (490m2) complete with kitchen lacilities for fast foods and a large store area all on ground floor level, and a three bedroomed flat above the shop which will house the shop owner and his family. The contract started in April 1986 and was completed five months later. The roof to the shop lent itself to a flat slab design and the roof of the flat was constructed using the Kwik Slab system designed by Amalgamated Reinforcing. All walls are built from Grinaker X-Bloks, with a plastered and paint finish. The re-

mainder of the roof to the shop not occupied by the llat was waterproofed with Bondglass which will allow the owner's family to utilize this lairly large area as a playground. Staff on site included Pieler van Staden as site agent, Andrew Williamson as foreman. Eph ra im Ndaba as clerk and Frank Adonis who came in at thepnd to help finish off. Grinaker moved off site ln September leaving behind a very happy and proud shop owner.

Mondi carports, Richards Bay ln June Grinaker Building

(Natal)

was awarded an 880000 contract to construct numerous carports and wash bays atthe recently completed

lvlondi housing scheme at Richards Bay.

A small team headed by toreman Frank Adonis and site agent Pieter Gtinaket Gaz6tt6 Decdmbet 19a6

van Staden completed the contract at the end of August. As contracts manager I wish to take

this opportunity ot wishing all members ol staff on all our contracts and their families a blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Mondi carports

New Kwambonambi 'Super-Shop'with owner's f lat above. The old tearoom is

on the rig ht.

Team at clinicloffice block. Back: Dave Price, Barry Mccee, Stoffel Groenewald, Barry Steenhuisen. Front: Guy Kay-Hards, Albert Matheniwa, Amos Mhlongo

Team at Trade Winds Hotel. Back: Barry Steenhuisen, Andrew Williamson, Arthur Ogram, Pieter van Staden Front: Atfred Mhlongo, Chris Nodl, Frank Adonis

Grinaker Building ComPany has commenced work on a new sixstorey head offlce lor the electronics group SA Philips in Randburg. contract value is R9,7 million. Architects are Strydom de Beer and Verynne, consulting engineers are Ellmer & van Greunen and quantity

selfert & steenkamp. The building is a concrete frame surveyors are

Signing the agreement between Grinaker and Goede & Co. Back: John Turton, Adri Goede, Wouter de Villiers, Pieter Goede Jnr. Front: Jack Saulez, Pieter Goede Snr (founder of the company). Goede & Company is a home building organization of long standing which has earned an excellent reputation, particularly on the East Rand. lt willcome under the group's engineering division with Wouter de Villiers as chairman. Pieter Goede Jnr will remain managing director.

structure with a lacade of Iefiazza precast panels, aluminium window lrames and tinted glass. Total floor area is 4500m2. Floors three, four and five will be stepped back to provide a terrace a rea. Grinaker Building Company's site agent is Tony Wilcox, general foreman is Gustav de las Heras and quantity surveyor is Rob Scorgie. '13

nak6t Gazette Decenbar 19A6

Shalt conveyor and sutge

tower

by Gerhard Pretorius

a feature ol the new Khutala Mine

reached. il is difficult to remember all the energy that was put into the various sections by the crews on site.

When people use the roads and structures, not a thought passes through their minds as to the sweat built into the works. Boads and structures are there and they merely use them. The two years' hard

labour does not appear now that

they are complete. Johnny

The dust still hangs over Khutala. The only dillerence now is that the dust is caused by the weather and not by construction machinery. The colour has also changed from red to black as coal is starting to come out of the incline shaft. A mine has been bu

ilt.

The extent of the contract undertaken by Grinaker North has been featured in three different Gazette articles, but now that the finishing up and handing over phase has been

It was a sate site too 14

Zaremba, who has a wealth of experience, rated the contract as'extremely difficult'which sums up the work in two words.

The people who were involved in the contract were under constant pressure from the consultants and the nature of the work, but they per-

severed. The clients, Rand lvlines. have been given a jewel of a mine of whlch they and we can be justifiably proud. Khutala Coal Mine when f u lly operational will be the largest single shaft coal mine in the world. lt will produce 13,7 million tonnes of coal per annum, i.e. 1,142 million tonnes per month or approximately 51 893 tonnes per day. Rand Mines expected to start rolling on time, 20 October, but the Kendal power station was not complete, so a black mountain of coal is starting to grow in tront of the Grinaker site office. Their machines outnumber ours now, so we think it is time for a tactical withdrawal. The players in this drama were

changed repeatedly, Some

left,

some faded, some ran away, some were blown away and others just gave up. The only person who was here on day one and is still here on day 730 is Nilike Brophy, who came here in the prime of his youth and is now a grey haired, rickety old man. Well played lvlichael! I wish once again to thank one and all for their etforts, and wish them the very best on the contracts that they go to. I believe that the people who are privileged to work with these guys in the luture will find that they come from a hard school and a tough proving ground. They have been there. It is always a pity to see such a great team scattered but this is a feature of our industry. We must just be thankful that for a while wewere able to be a team. Good luck guys and happy contractinq.

The 'rickety old

man of Khutala

Gtinakat Gezatte Dec.mbet 1946

by Pierre Rousseau

Since we last reported to the Gazette, much has happened at Agricentre. The concrete lrame was finished on time and with it went Gustav de las Heras who left us to take up new challenges at SA Ph ilips in Johannesburg (this was done via a very successful farewell party.) A pleasant roof-wetting was held on site, and the Agricentre'B'side won the local contractors vs consultants darts competition. The site's soccer side, the Grinaker All Stars, have been holding their own in the league

and Eddie Beckett (quantity surveyor) got his long awaited

stalion-wagon. All in all a very busy time in which Grinaker personnel have proved

that they are not only competent contractors but also very enthusiastic members of a vibrant social and economic community. Since the concrete specialists, namely Sipho lvld letshe, lvlorris Matlala, John Gutteres, Petrus lvlatube, Harry Ramokgopa and company left, the site underwent a change from a Grinaker structural intensive operation to a building and sub-contractor supervision operation. Rudi Sturm, Lucas Labuschag ne, Denzil Bosch, Johan Pretorius (our own structural steel fundi), Alec

lvlcDyer and James Phafane have taken up and equalled. the challenge. The north block has been completed, the south block is taking linishes at the moment and the east and west blocks are receiving a second fix. Lucas and Denzil are busy on the most dilficult b u ild ing operation, namely the courtyard lacade brickwork. This involves three storeys ol lace brickwork made up of two brick types, circula r, cantilever, straight joint and stretcher bond work. Apart lrom this they look after tiling, plas-

Men atthe Agricentre. Back: Bill Mackenzie, Nick Harper, Patrick Watts-Thomas, John Pretorius, Gustav de las Heras,

Nick Manchip, Lucas Labuschagne, Denzil Bosch. Front: Pierre Rousseau, Sipho Mdletshe, Rudi Sturm, Eddie Beckett, Alex McDyer, James Phafane, John Gutteres. Absent: Morris Matlala, Gandhi Keswa Gnnaker Cazette Decembet 19a6

tering and

in ish

ing sub-contract

trades.

The scenario would be lalse, however, without again mentioning the assistance we have received from the other group companies. Patrick Watts-Thomas, wjth the support of Tommy Thomas and Grinaker Plant, have kept the machines well oiled and wheels turning, while the Brakpan Yard service has reached new heights. By the end of March 1987 we will complete the R16-million contract

and present Ior occupation, on time, a top class oftice complex for Profund Property Services and Sanlam.

This client body, as well as their consulting team. must once again be congratulated on the development, design and leadership skills they wield. They are, oJ course, kept very much on their toes by ou r paper team who specialize in demanding, collecting and then d istrib uting rands and cents. Eddie Beckett, Nick Harper (quantity su rveying

team), Bill Mackenzie,

Gand hi

Keswa and Thomas Tshimile (site

accounting and administration lorm a formidable combination

)

This article, however, would not be complete without mentioning the infrastructure within which we operate. Grinaker has experienced considerable help, co-operation and enthusiasm from the many government departments, local authorities and inhabitants of the last developing l\,4olope region o{ Bophuthatswana.

rwt

*.1 \.

Section leaders at Agricentre. Back: Pierre Fousseau (site agent), Waki Saiini, Michael Mosime, Almen Nzimeni, petrus Matube, David Lekoloane, Johannes Magabe, Jeremiah Kgosing, Harry Ramokgopa, Gustav de las Heras (general foremah). Front: Lipson Malope, Rochesta Molatlhegi, Abram Mokoto, Jacob Ragwale, Jonas Matlala, Cameron Bhavuma, Joel Serolong, Norman Ndwashu. Absent: Daniel Mathebula

c* {q-

Concrete team. Back: Nick Manchip (site engineer), Peter Macheoane, Solomon Teisho, David Motlhatlhedi, Almon Ngubane, Ne/son Nkosl, Moses Malapane, Phillip Mngadi, Joseph Mphuti, Sipho Mdletshe,. Front: George Saiini, Fiank Galettotwe, Edwin Babuseng, Elphus Masinga, Jacob Mokaila, Onias Mapaila, Simon Keokame, John Bantobetse 16

Gnnakdt Ga2ett6 Decqnbet 1986

Uplift for KwaMashu

Grinaker Natal is installing the infrastructure for an up-markel residential area in Kwal\,4ashu near Durban. Private home ownership will be the order of the day in the area which

falls under Kwazulu. The client is the KwaZulu government and the contract value is just under R2 million. Work commenced late in October this year and completjon is scheduled lor June 1987. The contract includes earthworks of 17000m:, surfaced roads of Skm, PVC sewers amounting to 10,75km,

water reticulation ol 8.8km and 1,2km of stormwater piping which

includes a section ol 900mm diameter pipinq. Cable ducts and kerbs

and channelling amount to 1,5km

and 6km respectively. Contract manager is Barry Willan and Hylton Grey is the site agent.

None other than Joe Danks

Dave Monk. The engineer is lan Ferguson and site clerk is Reginald l\ilkhombe.

general foreman with Fred Mcihring as sewer foreman and Andy Anderson as water reticulation foreman.

Stormwater foreman

by the'Dave Duo' of Dave Stiles and

Alfred

Siyoko and the survey work is done

Working in KwaMashu does have its tense moments but this is an experienced team which can handle virtually anything and aims to stay on programme for completion in June.

T' Grinaker Natal township team. Back: Reginald Mkhombe, Hylton Grey, Dave

Monk, Fred MOhring, Joe Danks, lan Ferguson, Govindsammy Chetty,

Graham Maxwell, Bernard Schaler, Slmon Sikosana. Front: Andy Anderson, Dave Bre reton-Stiles, Soobramani Govender, Muthuyedwa Zuma, Victor France, Gideon Simelane, Richard Thepa, Griffith Ntshangase Ginaket cazetle Decenbet 19A6

by Geof f Charters

'4l!t[,

_tw -- ,

Grinaker Building (Natal) began building new offices lor the KwaZulu Training Trust right on the beach at Umgababa one day after ing the contract. Phase One involves a concretef ramed building with ribbedJaced external walls and high quality finishes inside. Phase Two calls lor a building shell upstairs lor future offices and Phase Three includes relurbishment of existinq offices, external works and the Parking area

sig

Total value

Early slages in the Umgababa conlract

ol the contract is

R725 oOO.

Beg Gounden is the loreman on site,

Babs Shrigopaul is site clerk and am site agent. Our thanks go to a valued clienl for co-operation vihich crealed an excellent spirit for the du ration of the contract. Being right on the beach we have been close to many a craylish hid ing in the rocks and lots ot lish swimmino in the sea. However, due to the tiqhi programme. nobodY on site has been able to make the best of a holiday atmosphere - so far as we know. I

at tJmgababa Back: Jimmy Dickens' Di Ctq Gdunden, Sipho Sindane, Felix Nontso' Centre: Siphwe

Grinaker Building Natal team

xii"iti.

io"oioo, J'ohn xhanyite, Siphwe Ndtovu, Albert Ngqulunga,

Rosemane

Shez,.Tront: Ephraim Zondi' Joe Mbuyazi .18

Gnoa|e, GazE o Ae.anbet 1986

Face-lift in the Lowveld Grinaker Building Company in substantial upgrading contract at three long-established gold mines near Barberton by Charles le Roux

ln early l\,4arch 1986, Grinaker Building Company was awarded a R2,6million contract byAnglovaal for the Eastern Transvaal Consolidated N4ining Company in the Barberton area. ln terms of the contract we have been fortunate enough to negotiate a further R2,5 million worth of work with them on the same mines.

to Barberton was made by the site team members on 2 April 1986. This team is headed by myself and supported by a team on The great trek

each mine. Contracts manager is lan Decker and the quantity surveying and accounting functions are supervised by Peter Hawkins and Chris Nutter via our Sunninghill head offige.

The work consists of upgrading existing hostel accommodation.

..:. Courtyard of the attractive liquor outlet at Agnes Mine some of which was constructed as long as thirty-five years ago and the construction of the following new buildings: two liquor outlets, eight laundry and ablution blocks, three

sportsJield change rooms, th ree school toilet blocks, a lorty-eight and a thirty-six man hostel unit, three underground locker rooms, one new residence and extensive renovations and extensions to three

existing residences lor mine management personnel. The work is sited on three mines: Agnes, Sheba

and Consort, spread over a radius of about 30km from Barberton. Work in the Lowveld has not been all sunshine, braais, fun and games as building in the mountains has proved diflicult when faced with foundation soil conditions varying from soft collapsing soil to hard rock, and o rgan izing material deliveries to various mountainside sites which are almost inaccessible. Some ol the b uild ings in the bad soil areas have almosl the same quantity ol brickwork in their loundations as

On the left is an old accommodation unit at Consort Mine and on the right one of the units upgraded by Grinaker

Building Company '19

in the superstructures. In most of the cases bulk materials have to be double handled from delivery points as far as 2km from the bu ild ing sites. Notwithstanding these d iffic u lties, and due entirely to the fine performance o.f all the team members and our su b-contraclors, we have managed to keep slightly ahead ol our lorecast revenue tigures whilst still being able to meet our tendered allowables. Now, some seven months into the contract, we are progressing well with the cleaning up and handing over of various b u ild ings which have been completed to schedule and this facet will continue on an on' going basis until completion of all the work by the end of June 1987. The prolessional team includes the Anglovaal group architects represented by L Cronje and F HoPWood and the Jan van Wyk Partnership represented by H Klopper. Quantity surveyors are Sheppard & Steenkamp represented by D SteenkamP and the civil engineering consultants are R Baker and J KemPe of Ba rker and Collins.

Grinaker teams on three Anglovaal mines

Sheba Mine. Back: Errol Brown, Lauckson Tshawane, Sampson Mthembu. Abel Moabi, Moses fshabagae' Johannes Mafemo, Nelson Witvoet, Joe Carneiro. Front: Phillip Mkhwazi, Shayinduku zondo, Robson Rihlapfu, Josh ua Radebe

-.*

lrlt

Ablution block at Agn$ Mine

Back: TonY Laranieirc, Titus Raholane, Lukas Maine' Johannes Rapitsi, Abraham Moletsane, Obed Moetsi' Johnson Mathebula, Hannes Olivier. Conrad Swart. Front: Charles van de Vel, Maggie Ngobeni, Joel Hlongwane, Molifi Noko, James Mazibuko, Bill Bevan

At Consort Mine.

rt t,

lr L tl $ * n :l l:!

Laundry at Agnes Mine

{r I

{ Schoo/ tollets at Consort Mine 20

At Aones Mine. Peter Rothkugel, Anton Lenka, Jeremiah Mahlangu, Jacob Poh6, Joseph Kgonyape, Luckq Mathebula, Fernando da Costa G nakot

Ga2etta Doconbet 1946

More gold at Barberton Grinaker team to open up new ore body at Agnes by Steve Bullent

Bennie Verster's ts-team from the mining division of Grinaker Transvaal has returned once again to disturb the tranquil atmosphere of Barberton's Agnes gold mine. On 6 December last year. following months of joint negotiations and

tender cancellations, Ang lovaal gave the green light to commence the Princeton Project, a venture that will ultimately open up a whole new gold-bearing ore body. Benn ie was immediately summoned

a brief 'holiday' building a bridge in Swaziland to start re-organizing and re-building his team whilst I departed that same day for a six week vacation (nice timing for a from

change).

No sooner had the lazy peace of Christmas passed, than Agnes gold mine vibrated to the powerful attentions of a Kato 1220-D backhoe. ripping down the ninety year old portal (all fou r square metres of it) and taking half the surrounding mountainside with it. Four weeks later. the

new portal and breakaway were complete and we were ahead of pro-

gramme in all areas except one, namely the establishment which was finally completed some four months later. (lf you're ahead of your work programme who needs somewhere to live?) For two weeks during February, plant agent Piet Wolmarans supervised'Floppie'Hans Heskes and his plant team whilst they assembled our Salzgitter bunker train (the only one in South Africa), an operation normally requiring aboul a month according to the German mechanic flown in to assist with the construction After a short learning curve and a few minor setbacks it was tlat out towards our ultimate goal almost lour kilometres away. Phase I consists ol a 3,3m x 3,3m tunnel, 3857m long with transformer cubbies. a passing

Grinaker men at Princeton tunnel. Anton van der Merwe, Bert Pretorius. Hans Heskes, George Grobler Gnnaket Gazette Decenbet 1ga6

loop and various other underqround excavations advancing at an average rate of 8,5m per day, aiming for completion in September 1987. Phase ll commencing immediately after Phase I adds another 500m to the tunnel with workshop areas, a large compressor bay, an electric sub-station excavation, a ramp up to the next level with developmenl on both levels into the ore-body and various olher cubbies and excavations. Assisting me with the administrative work for the first six months was Dave Stuart, now back at college and replaced by Anton van der lvlerwe. Contracl manager Arnold

Klintworth visits the site at least

monthly and, due to the exceptionally good relationship with mine personnel, all meetings and discussions are generally completed before lu nch. On site are general foreman George Grobler who has been with Bennie Verster since the first Agnes tunnel and foreman Pete Mavuso, also part of the team for many years. Foremen Bert Pretorius and Paul Horn joined early in the year as did developers Louis Joubert and Toby van Deventer. Jan Aucamp starting a couple of months later was the last developer required to complete the team. l/arius van Vuuren and Richmond Moliphe maintain strict control of c lerical matters. 21

Bea chfront paddling pool: Grinaker

ium ps in at the deep end

- -':i

The Grinaker Building Natal team with Alan Tucker as site agent and Tommy Lundy and Bruno Ciutto as foremen is working round the clock to have the paddling pool ready for the Christmas season

.xi

{-.

i,'

Construction team at Durban's beachfront paddting pool. Back: Muzikayise Cele, Andy Cotton, Benny van Wyk, Shoti Ngwenya, Raj Naidoo, Mabandta Dingana, Matata Matsuane, Wellington Ngubelanga, Tommy Lundy. Front: Alfred M-"nrnu, Thulani Zondi, Luthando Yazi, Phati Maci' Amon Mhlongo, John Mzelemu Gtinaker Gazette Decenbar 1946

Sun City sky train track now has concrete panels supplied by Grinaker. Three thousand ot the panels were made to order and supplied by Grinaker in only ten weeks

It's tough at the top. Arnold Olivier, of Grinaker Transvaal, who organized the ladies' trip to Fika Patso

Dam, takes a hard-earned nap Cnnaket Gazefue Decembot 1ga6

Merry Grinaker Transvaal ylsllors at Fika Patso Dam. Standing: Steve Buyskes, Arnold Olivier, Pat Murray, Pieter Wagenaar (site agent), Johan Erasmus, Rina Wentzel, Peter Brown (concrete agent), Tersia Maree, Anthony Evans, Leonie Botha, Colin Ritchie, Mike Taylor, Colin Sears. Crouching: Karin Havenga, Jenny Rough, Joan Stanley, Kleintiie Stander, Ruth Allen, Steve Bullent, Josie Douglas, Dawn King. Sitting: lrcne Roland, Debbie Meyering

Grinel exhibition an outstanding success

At the Grinelex exhibition. His Worship The Mayor ot Pretoria JJSvan der Spuy, Deputy Minister of Delence AJ Vlok, Commandant PG Matais (chairman of Armscor), Tienie Steyn (chairman of Grinaker Electronics)

K!oof Terraces site wins G rinaker Transvaal safety shield Group statistics Financ ial year end ing June 1977 1978 1979 1 980 1981

Renier Naud6, site agent at Grinaker T ransvaal's Kloof Te r races, hold i ng the Grinaker Transvaal Chairman's Satety Shield awarded to the site in

1982 1983 1984 1985

To date (June 1986) Note: Disabting iniury ltequency Gte

Disabling lnjury Freq uency Rate zz,J

Plant Accident Rate 3,02

12,4 11,9

13,.1 11 ,7

0,59 0,73

8,2

1,08 1 ,97

I,91

,62

.1,53

12,1

z,o

13,5 14,3

2,0 5,3

lor the construction industty as a whole is 14'3

October 1986 24

Gnnakor Gazette Decenbet 1986

Johnny Zaremba about twelve years. Then in 1977 'Van'van der Walt offered me a job with Grinaker as a general foreman and I was sent to the Shabani asbestos mill job in Zimbabwe." He is a man for the big contract. A unique ability to organize a large workf orce effectively has allowed him to play a key role in many of the

group's major undertakings. ln addition to Shabani these include the Mbuluzi canals, Ellis Park, Ulco,

Mondi and Khutala. Although officially retired he has been asked to stay on as field manager at the Northam platinum mine project. Like most real talents the Zaremba ability is a combination of several "Johnny Zaremba must have been

with Grlnaker lor about fifty-two

years." said group managing director Jack Saulez at Johnny's recent

retirement party, "if one calculates

his service on what a general loreman can normally be expected to do in a year. "

Since his real service is only nine years the statement rellects an im-

mense reputation for prod uctivity. There is indeed much evidence that the Zarernba presence on site can make the dilference between a contract's failure or sLrccess. He was born in Randlontein in 1926 and went to school in Potchefstroom. "That was during the war years," he says, "and I was a boarder. One night in 1943 some of us decjded to run away and join the armed forces. "We lett the dormitory and slid down a drainpipe to catch the Jo'burg train at two in the morning. lended up in the South Alrican Naval Forces where I served on minesweepers and did a lot ol convoy duty. "After the war I served my apprenticeship as a carpenter and went to work for the guy who paid the most. I worked for lots ol people although stayed with Lewis Construction for I

Gnnaket Gazette Decembet 1ga6

skills, dedication and discipline. The life expectancy of a slacker is zero when Johnny is around but hls approach also reveals a great deal of

sensitivity. "The secret of a successful, contract. he says. is to organize people and get them in the right positions. Once you have that sorted out you can motlvate them. This is a people game. You have to read guys properly and make them happy in their jobs. Then they become motivated." He married his wife Bimbo in .1954 and they have one ch ild. "Bimbo.has always been interested in construction," he says, "she likes to watch things grow and heaven help me il I

Att Bouwer qualitied as a carpenter in 1957 in Swaziland and joined Hilton Barber (which was later taken over by Grinaket) in 1958. "l've been

on. many interesting Grinaker conlracls since then, hesays. 'and now

lm foreman on Bridge'One which is part of the Grinaket North bridges contract near Pietersburg." He is married, with four daughters and

two grandchildren and says: "1 used to play rugby in Swaziland and I like fishing in freshwater or surf or deep sea or anything that a fish lives in. I used to keep a lot of pigeons at one time and I was the top pigeon racer

in Manzini. Because I

served my

time as a carpenter in a furniture shop I've done a lot of pieces. / a/so used to catch snakes and sell them to the Durban Snake Park. I still go out and catch them but they're get

ting scarce. There was a time when I kept a whole lot ol snakes at home but I had to give it up my wife just never got used to them."

job up. used to play rugby and baseball and a lot of golf. l'm a keen fishermess a

man and I read a lot, I've got a bungalow full of books at home. lalso play the stock exchange and if the gold price does what I want it to do next year I'll be OK. "When the upswing comes Grinaker will have a tremendous f utu re. As lor me, when lfinally retire l'll probably fish myself out then look around." ll he can persuade the fish in the same way that he motivates people the

'fishing out' will be reward ing process.

long

and

f Mark Fisher joined Grinaker Africa in the Transvaal in 1975 as a student c i

vi I

ng i nee ri ng tec

nic i an. "Wi th i n

fifteen minutes of my having signed on the dotted line I was'despatched' to the military base contract in Umtata," he says, "where I spent one and a half years as a'normal'student, which means doing everything that nobody else wanted to do." He was then sent to the Durban Techni2E,

kon, on transfer to Grinaker Natal, and qualilied in 1979. "My tirst iob as a technician was as soi/s technician at Creighton Road," he says, "and

her own kiln and wheel. I think l'll try

getting into that, although it's not exactly the type of wheel I've been used to."

then I went to Grinaker Ciskei on the Sandile Dam contract which was an eni oyable ch al le nge because eve ry -

thing was so big there." He

currently site agent at the Sundays River Co-Op undertaking near Port Elizabeth. "l like fiddling around

with wood," he says, "and I'm a keen fisherman when the weather allows it. As f or the rest of my s?are time, I enjoy spending it with my wife Leslie, my son Justin and my daugh'

ter Kylie."

Brian Stobbart was born in the east

end of London and came out to South Africa on the old Carnarvon Castle in 1948. "l went to school in Swaziland," he says, "and ioined Grinaker Transvaal in 1974 as a

junior site clerk under Roger Dawson." He is now man?ower

officer for Grinaker North. "l used to play rugby and soccer and 'l'm secretary of the Grinaker Football Committee. Way back lgot into motorbike racing and I was a Hell's Angel in the early days when there were only thirty Angels. As a matter

interest,

those davs

You

couldn't ioin it you had a Jaqanese bike. ln 1969 | rode a special bike at 251 kph which was the lastest a twowheeler had ever gone in this country at the time. I also did s?eedwav and I won the South African 'A'drag racing championship three times. I was doing the quarter mile in the low nines (seconds) which gives some interesting 'G' forces and a terminal speed of 220 kPh. ln 1980 I came off at 200 kph and got dented, so I gave

up, although I've still got lour motorbikes." He now enioYs doing up his home, fishing, restoting old furniture and being with the family "We have lwo sons and mY wife Annette is a potter," he sars, "with

Frank Oliveira, who once had his own home building business in Portugal, joined Grinaker in Zimbabwe in 1980 on the Hwange (Wankie) power station contract. "That was a challenge," he says, "because I had two hundred workers to supervise." He was then transferred to Grinaket Ciskei on the Zwelitsha sewage works and is currently senior concrete toreman at Binf ield Dam completing the spillway and helping out at the waterworks contract. "Bintield is also a big challenge," he says, "and it's not every foreman who has the privilege of working on a big contract where he gets extensive experience and considerable knowledge." He is married, with two children, and says, "l love woodworking, classical music and spending weekends with my family. Grinaker and its management have developed me into my present position so the company has become like a second f amily to me."

Corrie van wyk started as a learner

miner at Winkelhaak in 1972 and ioined Grinaker in 1975 on tunnelling, shaft sinking and underground construction. "l left in 1979 because there were no shafts to sink," he says, "and did some work for Gold' f

ields. Then lcame back to Grinaker 1983 at the Kloof Mine No 4 Shaft

contract as general loreman." He obtained his mine ca?tain's ticket in 1984 and has been slte agent on a number of Grinaker min-

ing contracls. He is currently site agent tor the mining division ot Grinaker Transvaal at the Douglas Colliery incline and vertical shalt

undertaking. "l start getting uptight when we tender on a contract," he says, "and I don't relax until it's going the way I want it to. I don't know where I get the Patience Irom but I enjoy building models to get my mind of f the iob. I like PoP music and I've got about a thousand stamps. Then there's fishing and golf and my canoe when I've got time." He has three children and says, "we've just bought a new home and I like working in the garden. I also play around with cameras and my lavourite photographic subiect ls. guess what. old shalts and mine headgears - they can be fascinating."

Bennie van Heerden started hls career as a carpenter in 1951 and joined Grinaker lor the tirst time in 1963. "l worked at Sasolburg and Phalaborwa," he says. "l was a carpenter but I also learned about concrete and I became a foreman within two years. I left Grinaker in '76 and I was glad to come back for keeps in 1982." He was toreman on the Komati bridge contract during the flood and is currently foreman on the incrementally launched Bridge Four which is part of Grinaker North s Pietersburg Bridges contract. He is married, with thrce children and says, "l used to play rugby but now l'm a champion beer drinker with a tank capacity ol twenty four. (He doesn't say whether these are litres or gallons or megalitres.) lalso like freshwater fishing and I play a hot boere guitar." He likes target shooting and says, "l've got everything from a 3.03 and a 3.08 to a pellet gun and a catty. MY other hobby though is being a witchdoctor. l'm serious about that. I throw the bones and I can use the skill to solve problems. lcan also use it to sort out guys who write the wrong things about me." Gtinaket Gazette Decenber 1986

At Grinel apprentices are beautiful by Schalk Vorster Since the start of Grinaker Electronics, previously known as Racal Electronics SA, apprentices have been trained as radiotricians. However, in 1968 a new course was introduced

and apprentices were then trained to qualify as radio communication service people.

Grinel is very proud ot its three woman apprentices, two of whom have qualified by passing the trade test presented by the Department of Manpower. The third lady started the apprenticeshrp at the beg in n ing of this year and has already completed N4.

The three Grinel apprentices: Katyn-Anne Robinson, Elretha Beetge, Veronica Engelbrecht

who joined the company in January 1986 and has completed N4, Elretha

who has successfully completed the trade test and N5. and Veronica Engelb rech t. working as technician in the test department who has every right to be proud of her National Technical Diploma and trade test.

service department as a technician

We are sorry to have lost the first qualif ied lady lechnician, Penny

They are Karyn-Anne Robinson,

Beetge, presently working in our

Dalton, who is now teaching al a techn ical college.

Any doubts we may have had about appointing lady apprentices have since been eliminated as their preseirce has certainly uRgraded the standard of work produced by their male cou nterparts.

Who ever said that company functions were dulland boring

This was

itely not the case at the Grinsoc Sports and Social Club function held on 25 July 1986 at the Palms Hotel in Pretoria where seventeen glamorous ladies competed for the coveted Miss Grinsoc crown. About three hundred guests were present al the glittering affair which took the form ol a dinner/dance complete with band and disco to ensure non-stop music. To a disco beat. the encouraging comments of the masler of cere-

def in

G naket Gaze06 D9cehbet 1946

At the function: Faith Moeng, Polly Kenny (Miss Grinsoc), Tania Wolthers (one ol the judges) and Yvonne Geel Faith Moeng as first princess and monies, Paul Jacobs, and the cheers Polly Kenny as the queen , l\iliss audience. the ladies dressed of the in the most beautilul fashions parGrinsoc. Prizes included hairdryers, hot brushes, perfumes and soaps. aded on the ramp. judges, great had difliThe four who Sonny Boy Phiri, chairman of Grinculty in selecting the winners, evensoc, can be proud of his club forthis well organized and entertaln ing tually managed to reach consensus on Yvonne Geel as second princess,

eve

n in

g. 27

Goodbye to Emil Gebhardt after twenty-six years with Grinaker

Johannesburg has experienced the wettest October in living memory. Given the way Johannesburg motorrsts drive in the rain it s amazing that a living rremory still exrsts. On television they have sung out rainfallligures to please the nation's mealie lovers. No one has cared about us bicycle riders who have slid and slithered through a liquid October with nothing to hang on to except fond memories of last year's d ro ug

Emil Gebhardt accepts a painting from Jack Saulez, group managing director, as afarewellgift. Emilstarted with the group in 1960 asa mechanic. At the time of his retirement he was a director of Grinaker Holdings and managing director ol Grinaker Equipment Company.

Alan Rowe (centre), winner of a new home with sauna, hi-fi, dinner service and Honda Ballade in a competition organized by the 'Mr Build' division of Derreg Construction. On the left is Mike Goosen of Derreg and Capital Radio's Stewart Lee on the right 28

ht.

Pantechnicons in the drizzle are .nore dangerous than cha rg ing rh inos, espec ially if d river attitude is taken into account. And why do we still make road paint out of soap or extract ol banana peel? Going into a zebra crossing on a bicycle in the wet is like sky-diving without a pa rach ute.

Life at the rate of a crash a minute is demanding. lt leads to strange behaviour, such as a lone figure surrounded by twisted handlebars and broken spokes challenging a Putco bus with a bicycle pump. The rigours of the past month bring lo mind another terrible October back in.1812when Napoleon started his retreat trom lvloscow. By comparison it was a picnic. Of course they had problems with marauding Cossacks on horseback. But they never had to lace an 'eyepatch' bakkie (one headlamp mrsstng) driven through the slush.by a cowboy from Potch. Nobody denies the mealie lovers their right to pray for rain and turn the country into a national sk id-pan. But soft skinned cyclists in a world of tin tiqers need protection too. What's the SPCA doing ? What about sanctions on rain? I think that government at the highest Ievel ... wait a minute, there's something going on out there. The sun has come out for, it seems, the first time tn livrng memory. Anyone who wanls to can finish this article off himself - I'm qoing out for a ride. MS Gnnaket Ga2ede Decenbet 1986

R10 crossword No 30 Please send entr es to: Crossword' PO Box 75T02 Garden View 2047

16& 27 down. Fold towards the

14 l\,4ethods producing routes (4) 15 Bully {rom South Uganda (4)

middle and go to bed (4,2) 17 Footwear among Bisho exports

Take a messaqe f rom Grinaker Rand (6) 20 Horflble Viking is actually comical (5) 22 Friend from a different team (4) 24 Japanese capital up to very little '18

(4)

19 Ribbon on the window? (4) 21

Arrived

the accountant and me

(4\

the rug to find Ground Under Repair (3) 24 Smalljaguar seen on the road (3) 25 The end of Pact produces a perf ormance (3) 26 Activity strangely, in a cot (6) 28 Come in from the garden terrace 23 Raise

(3)

27 See 16 across

Solution to Crossword No 29

3 EFORM c

(5)

a!u!a

c L E O P AT

Down

1 3 Across

Feilow o n a trip

artisan (10) No night turns into a big zero (7) Abhorrence of crimson headgea r

rrns

ut to be an

(6)

Little Sons of England (3) 12 Swell electronic oven? (9) '1

He's an expert at the numbers game (13) Roam around to find a Christian name (4) 4 Highveld money? (4) 5 The oceans where currents are controlled perhaps? (5) Lump of qold provided by a Jo hannesburg street (6) Strangely overt place to find h idde n treasure (5) 10 Small eye level oven (3) 13 Risen shakily, and it's a wash out

T lsr

,iN

tl,

T c R

D N The lucky winner of Crossword No 29 was Gina Theron of Grinel

(5)

rr.ii

Theo Heffer wins Fergusson Brothers prize

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Theo

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er,

Grinaker group

manpower consultant

iiien@: il: .llg:.

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Theo Hefler, Grinaker group manpower consultant, has been awarded the Fergusson Brothers

prize by the Wits

Business School. This prize is awarded to a person outside the Business School who makes a major contribution to the school during the year. Theo earned this award lor his work on the Certiticate Programme in lndustrial Relation s Ganaker Gazette De.enbet 1936

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