Meeting with Agrément South Africa
Public Works and Infrastructure
14 February 2007
Meeting Summary
A summary of this committee meeting is not yet available.
Meeting report
PUBLIC WORKS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
14 February 2007
MEETING WITH AGRÉMENT SOUTH AFRICA
Chairperson: Mr F Bhengu (ANC)
Documents Handed Out:
Agrément South Africa presentation
SUMMARY
Agrément South Africa (ASA) explained that it was
an agency which functioned under the Department of Public Works, and which was
mandated to assess and certify non-standardised construction
products in South Africa. Its achievements, successes and opportunities for
innovation were outlined, and its audited financial statements were presented. Questions
from Members sought
clarify on the difference between ASA and the South African Bureau of Standards
(SABS) and its involvement with youth development schemes such as the
Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (ASGISA). The Committee
concluded that it was pleased with ASA and they understood its purpose and
mandate.
MINUTES
Introductory remarks by Chairperson
The Chairperson informed Members and media present that the agenda for the
meeting had changed. He requested Agrément South Africa
(ASA) to address the Committee and requested that they also outline their objectives, challenges faced and proposed measures to
overcome those challenges.
Agrément South Africa briefing
Mr J Odhiambo, ASA Manager, conducted the
presentation which outlined ASAs background, current
mandate and organisation structure. He explained that ASA was an independent
agency which operated under a ministerial delegation of authority from the
Minister of Public Works. Its mandate was to assess and
certify non-standardised construction products with an aim to ensuring satisfactory
innovation and technology development, and to prevent the kinds of catastrophic
failures have been experienced worldwide with the introduction of new and
untested technology. It was explained that ASA operated differently to- and
independent from- the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and
the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). The innovative systems which ASA
had certificated in 2006 were outlined. Its impact and recent achievements were
outlined, as well as its future plans. The ASA audited financial statements for
2005/6 were presented, and a net contingency sum of R 252 939 was reported.
Discussion
Ms M Ntuli (ANC) asked whether the Board was
involved with the day-to-day operations of ASA and, if not, who monitored their
functioning.
Mr R Milford (ASA Board Member) answered in the affirmative and explained that
the Board was in fact monitoring the functioning of ASA.
Ms Ntuli asked if the innovative products were being
checked for health related matters.
Mr Milford replied that the assessment of health-related issues did form part
of its operations. He explained that ASA visited all its certificate holders at
least once a year, and that each product was reviewed every three years.
Ms Ntuli expressed concern regarding import
considerations, and asked whether South Africans were in fact producing
innovations.
Mr Odhiambo responded that the majority of the
foreign products were sourced locally. He also mentioned that there were South
African products that were used overseas, such as an earthquake-related product
that was used in Nigeria.
Mr Nxumalo (ANC) sought an explanation on the
difference between ASA and SABS. He confessed that he had never before heard of
ASA, but had only seen SABS-approved products.
Mr Milford replied that SABS dealt with products that had already been
standardised, whereas ASA dealt with products prior their standardisation. ASA
was thus involved in the innovation of products, whereas SABS dealt with the
development of performance criteria and test methods for products that had
already been standardised.
Mr Nxumalo asked whether ASA had a site in KwaZulu-Natal which he could visit in order to assess its
work.
This question was not answered.
Mr Anthony (ANC) asked whether ASA had a role to play in skill development
initiatives such as the Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa
(ASGISA).
Ms N Ncapia (ASA Board Member) responded that ASA was
assisting in creating jobs, but that was an indirect function. There was a need
for collaboration between government departments to tackle the issue of
unemployment. However, she acknowledged that ASA was not doing very much in
this regard, but indicated that it did currently have three student internships
in operation.
Mr J Blanche (DA) asked if there was a link between ASA and construction
companies. He also asked if ASA were sending building inspectors to local
governments building projects.
Mr Odhiambo replied that ASA did in fact work with
municipalities, as well as with building inspectors.
Mr N Gogotya (ANC) asked if there were any measures in
place to protect consumers from the building companies they dealt with.
Mr C Noyana (ASA Board Member) responded that ASA certificates
stipulated that as long as the product does what it was certified to do, it
could be marketed. However the moment something was at fault with the product,
or if it endangered the consumer, the certificate would be there is something wrong, or it dangers the consumer the
certificate would be withdrawn. There were thus measures in place to protect
consumers.
Ms Ngcengwane (ANC) asked if ASA was advertising itself
to the youth and, if so, what kind of activities these were. Furthermore, she
asked whether ASA offered bursaries to students.
Mr Odhiambo replied that ASA was allied to the Human
Science Research Council (HSRC), and the HSRC granted bursaries to number of
students. In a couple of weeks ASA would be hosting a stall at the Grahamstown science festival, where they will be marketing
themselves to the youth. The ASA did visit universities to advertise themselves
to students.
The meeting was adjourned.
Audio
No related
Documents
No related documents
Present
- We don't have attendance info for this committee meeting
Download as PDF
You can download this page as a PDF using your browser's print functionality. Click on the "Print" button below and select the "PDF" option under destinations/printers.
See detailed instructions for your browser here.