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Born into engineering

Idah Deka
Biography: Idah Deka (Professional Structural Engineer)

From an early age, Idah Deka sometimes joined her late land surveyor father at work in the mining towns where she was born and bred. Years later, as a youth, she took the leap to form TRACT Consulting Engineers. She says the word ‘’theodolite’’ formed part of her childhood vocabulary. Idah is a specialist Structural Design Engineer who has designed a wide range of complex structures such as warehouses, car showrooms, office blocks, cullet bunkers, structural steel for glass plants and shopping centres.

Her experience in complex commercial projects forms the foundation of TRACT Consulting Engineers. Idah is also passionate about tertiary education, holding positions in various institutions as well as co-founding an education-related NPO. The highlight of Idah’s career so far is the period when she was a Structural Design Engineer responsible for large-scale commercial projects. She says it is an opportunity she will always look back and smile upon as it afforded her the chance to learn exceptional structural engineering skills.

Aspirations and success

Idah has always been interested in the operations of a company, aspiring to be an operations manager. Being the founder of TRACT Consulting Engineers allows her to be involved in the management of the company while still being involved in project delivery. Idah’s advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs is to gain knowledge in business finance, among other skills. In TRACT’s first year, Idah had weekly sessions with TRACT’s accountant, who is also a tax practitioner. This has equipped her to keep track and be involved with TRACT’s accounting and tax-related issues.

She attributes her success to four things: skills, perseverance, strong family support and a strong network. “My immediate goal is to grow the company and create employment opportunities for young graduates. While working towards achieving my goals, I am mindful to enjoy every step of the process and not be destination orientated,” she says.

TRACT Consulting Mission

    • To grow the company and provide employment opportunities for skilled professionals and young engineers
    • To identify gaps in the engineering industry and provide innovative solutions
    • To provide cost-effective solutions to clients

Company history

TRACT Consulting Engineers is an 80% black female-owned company, Level 1 B-BBEE contributor, founded in June 2019. The company undertakes engineering consultancy services in various Civil Engineering disciplines.

In the time that TRACT has been in operation, great strides have been made and a commendable client base has been built.

The company has been actively involved in development projects in South Africa in both the public and private sectors. Services have been provided to private clients such as consulting engineering firms, manufacturers of transformers, mining companies, individuals, body corporates as well as to government. 

Contact details

E: info@tractconsulting.co.za | C: 064 133 0192 | www.tractconsulting.co.za

Mpumalanga: a world-class tourism destination

Graskop Gorge, Mpumalanga

Travellers should prepare to be astounded by the natural attractions and experiences that are on offer in Mpumalanga. It is South Africa’s most easterly province, endowed with an extraordinary richness of natural beauty from canyons and waterfalls and with scope for a huge diversity of adventures and experiences ranging from encounter-rich game drives to paragliding. Mpumalanga offers a wide array of activities for the active tourist, ranging from abseiling to white-water-river rafting, with fly-fishing, paragliding, mountain biking, bungee jumping, hiking, 4×4 trails and many outdoor adventure activities in between.

Mpumalanga is undoubtedly the ultimate destination in terms of wildlife experience. The Kruger National Park, Manyeleti, Loskop Dam and numerous private game reserves dotted throughout the region offer an exhilarating experience that brings visitors closer to nature. Mpumalanga boasts a conservancy area that is rich with diverse flora and fauna.

The Panorama Route offers spectacular landscapes with attractions like the Blyde River Canyon (third-largest in the world and known as a “green canyon” because of its subtropical vegetation, pictured). The province also boasts majestic waterfalls and high-altitude scenic drives leading to attractions like God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Three Rondavels.

Blyde River Canyon, the second largest canyon in Africa

Mpumalanga’s rich heritage is still largely unexplored but more and more visitors are being exposed to fascinating history. The many heritage sites in the area include the Samora Machel monument near Mbuzini and the Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains World Heritage Site (pictured), boasting rock formations dating back more than 3.5-billion years. Other sites not to be missed are the mining village of Pilgrim’s Rest, the Highveld Heritage Route (which abounds with adventurous tales from history), the stone circles of Mpumalanga and Goliath’s footprint to name just a few. Mpumalanga is rich in culture and boasts the Swazi, Ndebele and Shangaan people with icons like Dr Esther Mahlangu who has managed to preserve, package and export the vibrant geometric art of the Ndebele globally.

The Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains World Heritage Site

Bird watchers can have a glimpse of more than 500 different birds endemic to the Kruger National Park or the town of Chrissiesmeer, the centre of South Africa’s own Lake District where four river systems start their journeys across the country.

The small tourist town of Dullstroom is referred to as South Africa’s trout-fishing mecca. Mpumalanga is an ideal sporting destination with several world-class golf courses and the Mbombela Stadium that was built for the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and has subsequently hosted international football and rugby matches. Get off the beaten track and explore the many other tourism offerings of the Mpumalanga Province.

For more information:

Mining Indaba 2023 welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa to address Global mining industry leaders and investors

Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of the Republic of South Africa.

Investing in African Mining Indaba is pleased to announce that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed his attendance at the Mining Indaba, taking place in Cape Town from 6-9 February 2023. The President will deliver a Keynote Address on Tuesday, 7 February.

The President will be accompanied by 8 ministers and 3 deputy ministers; Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, and his Deputy Dr Nobuhle Nkabane; Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana and his Deputy Dr David Masondo; Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel; Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele and his Deputy Thembi Siweya; Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza; Minister of Forestry and Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy; Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Dr Blade Nzimande and Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi.

The President’s participation in Investing in African Mining Indaba, where he will address mining industry leaders and investors from all over the world, is expected to put his investment and structural reform agenda forward as key to improving South Africa’s standing as a mining investment destination. Critical to this will be the commitment to finding lasting solutions to the power challenges crippling the South African economy and the move to green energy. President Ramaphosa recently unveiled an R1.5 trillion five-year investment plan to bolster the country’s just transition to a greener economy.

Simon Ford, Portfolio Director for Mining Indaba, praised the high-level participation of government and state officials in the highly anticipated 2023 Mining Indaba, noting that the continent was demonstrating a serious commitment to welcoming investment in mining.

For information about the event, visit https://miningindaba.com/ 

Glencore Coal hands over a library to promote literacy in local communities

Primary school children who are the recipients of the new library.

Despite literacy being marked as one of the most important steps towards development, South Africa still faces high illiteracy rates and has far too many schools and communities that do not have access to adequate library facilities. In continuing to be of service to its communities, Glencore Coal’s iMpunzi Complex officially handed over a library to the Albion community to cater to the community’s literacy needs.

Albion is a small informal settlement situated in the Nkangala District in Mpumalanga. With just around 300 community members, the community has very few facilities, and only one primary school in the area.

“As Glencore, we pride ourselves in playing our part to make a positive change in our communities. The Albion Library is one of the many ways we aim to progress together with our communities. We understand that we cannot progress as a company if our communities are being left behind. We rolled out this project because we understand the power of literature and education in the lives of communities and especially children. We hope each book helps spearhead the dreams of the young people in this community,” said General Manager at Glencore Impunzi Complex, Hlayiseka Chauke.

Members of Albion Community who are recipients of the new library.

To ensure that the library has sufficient books for young students and community members, Glencore partnered with Social Justice Activist and Author, Zulaikha Patel, to roll out the Fill Up Albion Library book drive campaign. The campaign sought donations from employees and external stakeholders to help fill the library with books that would enrich the minds of the people in the community. Through the book-drive, Glencore received over 1 500 books donated by ordinary South African citizens, members of Glencore’s workforce and leading bookstores such as Exclusive Books and Bargain Books.

“Thank you to all our guests who have come to support this incredible day for the community. I would like to also acknowledge the efforts of Glencore, without their contribution, this library would not be a success. It is also fitting to launch the library on the first month of the year as this symbolizes new beginnings for us all. I want to encourage the learners to make use of this library with respect and care so that future generations can also use it. Let us remember that literature is the door to greater opportunities, reading helps plant the seed of knowledge in preparation for the future,” Albion Community Leader, Mr. Fannie Ngwenya said.

Glencore representatives and community leaders cutting the ribbon signifying the opening of the Albion Library.

The official handover was held on Friday, 27 January 2023 attended by Glencore iMpunzi Complex management team, eMalahleni Local Municipality Youth Manager, Themba Nkosi, ward 32 councillor, Cllr Thembi Tshabalala, community leaders, Fannie Mgwenya and Bongane Malinga as well as award-winning Author, Strike Mnguni who stressed the importance of reading and encouraged parents to read with their children.

Cllr. Thembi Tshabalala, of ward 32, thanked Glencore for always heeding the call to support the community.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Glencore. From the very beginning, Glencore has always played a significant role in fostering the development of the Albion community. Thank you for not ignoring our requests and for remaining committed and resourceful to our community. You are the shining stars of this event because none of this would have been possible without you,” she added.

Through the library donation, Glencore reinforces its commitment to progressing together with its communities and ensuring that they are more resilient and able to thrive long after its operations have ceased to exist.

Glencore representatives with Primary School pupils outside the new library.

Air Products Welding – Focus on the Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding process

Air Products’ Welding Specialist, Sean Young, a respected source of knowledge and skills.

Air Products is a leader in the industrial gas market, not only with regards to the quality of their products and customer service, but also the technical expertise they provide to customers. Welding Specialist, Sean Young, provides technical guidance to existing and new customers and advises on the most suitable type of gas to use for different applications.

The welding fabrication process takes place when two or more parts of material are fused together by using pressure, heat, or both. Creating a weldment (completed weld joint) requires specialised skills, and the process can be compromised if the correct gases are not used.

Welding Specialist, Sean Young, is respected in the industry for his knowledge and expertise in terms of welding processes and is always available to assist customers and distributors to resolve technical difficulties. 

In this video, Sean Young shares insight on the Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding process by highlighting the most important uses and benefits of TIG welding as well as how to ensure the quality of this type of welding.

View the video here: 

For more information on Air Products, visit www.airproducts.co.za

A look into Afrirent’s CCBSA project

Good service delivery is good business and customer service is a key strategy for all businesses, a lesson we have leant from Afrirent Holdings CEO Senzo Tsabedze.

Afrirent Holdings’s fleet management division, Afrirent Fleet, signed a contract with Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) in May 2021, becoming a fleet management partner with key roles which are the refurbishment and repairs of side loaders, box trailers and tail lift units across depots. The contract is worth approximately R200m per year.

When the contract kick-started, Afrirent Fleet began with just 3 depots awarded to them; Pretoria, West Midrand and Devland, and today the company overseas all depots for the beverage giant inside South Africa.

Asked about the success of the contract, Senzo Tsabedze said:             

“Afrirent Fleet’s ability to deliver on time or even before schedule and under budget regardless of the challenges that came with the COVID-19 pandemic, gave CCBSA confidence and they awarded us three more depots (Phoenix, East London and Port Elizabeth) towards the end of 2021.”

Basing on performance and Service Delivery excellence, CCSBA in September 2022 awarded Afrirent Fleet the last big depots in South Africa based in Polokwane, Nigel and Bloemfontein.

For more information, visit https://www.afrirentholdings.co.za/

The Oceans Economy has enormous potential

The Coega Aquaculture Development Zone. (Credit: CDC)

The Oceans Economy is seen as a previously untapped resource where enormous progress can be made in areas such as maritime repair and maintenance (via the province’s three ports), support for oil and gas exploration and paying more attention to fishing and aquaculture. An Oceans Economy Master Plan has been created and so far, 73 co-operatives have been awarded 15-year licences by the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).

The Eastern Cape’s long coastline has great potential. The Coega Aquaculture Development Zone (ADZ) was launched in 2020. It is intended to be a catalyst for unlocking the Eastern Cape’s aquaculture value chain and is expected to be an enabler for job creation.

The 100-hectare ADZ is located in Zone 10 of the Coega Special Economic Zone (Coega SEZ) and the R206-million first phase created 500 construction jobs. The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) expects it to create a further 5 600 operational jobs.

Transnet has budgeted R1-billion to establish boat-building and ship-repair facilities at the Port of East London as well as a Maritime Training College.

Several cluster development programmes aim to develop specific industries by bringing together expertise and logistical support. Marine manufacturing is the focus of the Mandela Bay Composites Cluster (MBCC). With funding from the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) and the National Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), the MBCC targets skills development, innovation in the field of composites and improving the value chain.

Although both the Coega SEZ and the East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ) have programmes to attract companies in a wide range of sectors (Coega has 14 distinct business zones), developments in the Oceans Economy and the oil and gas sector are showing the greatest promise.

Ports are vital to the functioning of the Oceans Economy. Transnet has budgeted R1-billion to establish boat-building and ship-repair facilities at the Port of East London as well as a Maritime Training College as part of Operation Phakisa, the national programme to fast-track key projects.

Credit: ECDC / InvestSA One Stop Shop Eastern Cape

Transnet has appointed the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) as the implementing agent for the creation of a R3.4-billion manganese export terminal at the Port of Ngqura. This follows a decision by Transnet to move the fuel tanks and manganese ore away from the Port of Gqeberha, which could unlock enormous value in terms of creating a waterfront attractive to tourists. This area could potentially link with the city’s major greenbelt, otherwise known as the Baakens River Valley.

The South Africa International Maritime Institute (SAIMI) aims to develop the contribution of the maritime sector to the economy by coordinating education, training and research with partner institutions. The Ocean Sciences Campus is Nelson Mandela University’s newest campus and is a hub for transdisciplinary, post-graduate ocean sciences research, teaching, innovation and engagement.

The Ocean Sciences Campus at Nelson Mandela University in the Eastern Cape. (Credit NMU)

South African Labour Law Reports’ 39th Annual Seminar 2023

Every year the South African Labour Law Reports (SALLR) team deals with the latest developments in Labour Law, Human Resources and Employee Relations by providing delegates with insight and solutions to deal with ‘slip and trip’ issues – and 2023 will be no exception.

This is an early opportunity for delegates to:
  • Reserve their places in advance at the upcoming South African Labour Law Reports’ 39th annual seminar
  • Qualify for an amazing discount
  • Utilise the benefit of delaying payment for 6 months

Who should attend?

  • Employee relations practitioners
  • Human resources practitioners
  • CCMA and bargaining council commissioners
  • Conciliators and arbitrators
  • Advocates, attorneys and candidate attorneys
  • Government officials
  • Trade unions
  • Employers’ organisations
  • Academics
  • Students

Panel of experts

Our panel of experts, comprising Adv. Feroze Boda SC, Shamima Gaibie, Amogelang Makuwa and Prinoleen Naidoo will provide answers to your burning questions during live streaming sessions.

  • Early registration @ a discount of R600.00 per delegate + 6 months to pay
  • Offer expires on 28 February 2023

Find out more or reserve your seat here: www.sallr.co.za/sallr-2023

Opportunity knocks for South African sea cadets

Pictured in Manila from left are Pieter Coetzer (SAMTRA), Francesco Gargiulo (IMEC), Mvuyisi Dlakavu (SAIMI), Azwimbavhi Nelwamondo (SAMSA), Adam Lewis (IMEC), Chloe Esdaile (IMEC), Yvette de Klerk (SA Maritime Advocate), and Tshepo Mokoena (NSF).

The South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI) is pleased to announce that the International Maritime Employers Council (IMEC) will commence with a South African Cadet Training Programme in 2023. Following an extensive consultation process and audit of the country’s maritime capabilities and capacity, a final agreement was reached on 25 November in Manila.

It is envisaged that the recruitment of the first cohort of cadets will commence during the second half of 2023 and the first sea-going appointments are planned for the beginning of 2024. The trial group of 50 male and female cadets will join foreign trading vessels in order to complete their onboard seagoing experience. Cadets who have passed their competency examinations will have an opportunity at gainful seagoing employment with the partner shipping companies.

There is an unprecedented demand for South African officers and cadets at present, which follows years of advocacy and positioning via the South African National Seafarer Development Programme.

The parties representing the South African delegation in Manila were Mr Mvuyisi Dlakavu – South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI), Mr Azwimmbavhi Nelwamondo – South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), Mr Pieter Coetzer – South African Maritime Training Academy (SAMTRA) and Mr Tshepo Mokoena from the National Skills Fund (NSF). Ms Yvette de Klerk (SA Maritime Advocate) assisted as a facilitator throughout the process.

The initiative will be jointly funded by IMEC and the NSF via SAIMI. IMEC currently has high quality and successful cadet and rating training programmes in the Philippines.

This partnership bodes well for South African seafarers, especially after the recent SAMSA announcement that the South African IMO Whitelist accreditation status has been maintained.

One-stop shop for graduate employment: Gradlinc is helping to eradicate graduate unemployment through meaningful connections

Gradlinc's initial team members, from left to right: Pria Panu, Lizane Füzy and Lewis Mboko.

As unemployment took a hard knock in South Africa due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the pressure became worse for unemployed graduates as only approximately 30% of graduates¹ find employment. This led to the birth of Gradlinc, a bespoke career development platform, and national database that was built with the aim to connect graduates and employers.

Founded less than three years ago, Gradlinc is more than a job portal. It is a one-stop shop for graduates seeking employment, employers having these opportunities available, and universities wanting to offer their graduates a strong foothold to kick-off their careers.

According to entrepreneur and project lead, Lizane Füzy, the idea behind Gradlinc was born out of the need for a more comprehensive career development tool, that was identified at Stellenbosch University which also funded the project through the Innovus division. Having closely worked with academic institutions in the past, the team saw an opportunity to collaborate with universities in helping their students find employment.

“This is a locally developed solution that offers a variety of opportunities for students ranging from full-time employment for graduates, internships, part-time employment and holiday work for students. What’s different about us is that we remove all the noise that other recruitment platforms have by creating a career development pathway exclusively for students to sign up while they are studying or once they graduate, even as postgrads,” she says.

“Most graduates don’t know where to search for opportunities once they have completed their studies, and employers don’t have the time to select the ideal candidate, as they receive thousands of applications, costing them time and money to shortlist. Hence, we created this one-stop-shop that enables university graduates to connect to existing opportunities by bringing employers and graduates together on one national platform, and at the same time offer a sustainable solution for universities’ career offices.”

However, like any other road to success, Gradlinc’s entrepreneurial journey has been ‘an exciting roller coaster ride’. While building the tech platform, the team had to overcome many hurdles such as funding, which has taught them that success is not achieved overnight and requires a lot of hard work and resilience.

Lizane adds, “Youth unemployment is one of South Africa’s biggest challenges, and while we can’t solve the world’s problems with one platform, we can start small. The graduation space made a lot of sense because we have close relationships with the universities, we thus began with graduate unemployment. We saw the need to make an impact in these young people’s lives because many graduates lack mentorship or career guidance, don’t have a lot of opportunities or come from disadvantaged backgrounds”.

Youth unemployment is one of South Africa’s biggest challenges, and while we can’t solve the world’s problems with one platform, we can start small.

The team maintains that technology has also played a vital role in their business as it is difficult to navigate the landscape of universities. The use of technology has therefore helped them to build a database and develop and connect with the universities’ IT systems.

Advising other entrepreneurs, Lizane says: “You must learn to block out the noise from naysayers and keep believing in yourself even though others may not believe in your idea (yet). But also remember that not all ideas are great ideas! The most important people to listen to, is your customers and what they need.”

Stellenbosch University agreed to pilot the Gradlinc platform to test the functionalities, but the platform will soon be available to the rest of the country when it officially launches towards the end of this year.

For more info, visit Gradlinc: https://gradlinc.co.za/

Contact the team: info@gradlinc.co.za
+27 021 137 1744

Follow us on social media for regular updates: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram

¹ https://ddp.org.za/blog/2022/06/03/why-tackling-graduate-unemployment-in-sa-is-important-for-post-covid19-economic-recovery/

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