The SAISC ‘group’ now includes 10 associations. I would like to welcome all the associations on board and hope we can work together to grow STEEL in Southern Africa. It is comforting to know that we have a very experienced group of passionate steel people with whom we can face the challenges of today. Watch this space as there may be more exciting things to come.
The associations are:
SAISC – Southern African Institute of Steel Construction
SASFA – Southern African Light Steel Building Association
SAMCRA – Southern African Metal Cladding and Roofing Association
POLASA – Powerline Association of Southern Africa
ASTPM – Association of Steel Tube and Pipe Manufacturers
SWADASA – Steel Window and Door Association of South Africa
SARASA – Southern African Racking and Shelving Association
ISF – S.A. International Steel Fabricators
STEASA – Steel Tube Export Association of South Africa
ASSD – Association of Structural Steel Draughtsman
SAISC School of Draughting
As a group of associations we need to reinvigorate all that we do and restructure an organisation with sub-associations or divisions to make a real difference in growing the steel industry in Southern Africa. I ask for your support and input for us to make a real impact on the needs of the industry.
There have been a number of discussions and articles in the press regarding the industry of late. On all occasions where we have been invited to comment on the state of the industry we have emphasised the importance of releasing projects and creating confidence to encourage investment. As a collective, we should all lobby to ensure more projects come on stream.
As you are no doubt aware ITAC is currently processing import tariff amendments to various steel products which are aimed at reducing the flood of imports into South Africa and levelling the playing fields to some extent. We are currently embarking on an exercise to provide a full view of our industry to ensure that we achieve some balance with import tariff regulations. For example, on Fabricated Structural Steel we may have an import tariff on input material of 10% which is balanced by an import tariff on finished goods of 15%. Your inputs and formal comments on these amendments are very important.
Innovation and competitiveness are key. The world is constantly changing at a rapid pace and we must make sure that we are prepared with an educated and skilled workforce. On the education front, we are busy exploring the possibility of offering company specific training to accommodate the needs of some of our members.
On the designation front we would like to congratulate the hard work of POLASA as we now have a much broader range of products designated in the transmission line industry. Fabricated structural steel should now follow closely.