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PROFILE : My journey to Professional Registration - Innocent Gininda

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Innocent Gininda shares his journey to becoming a registered Professional Engineer (PrEng), emphasizing the importance of mentorship, early preparation, and understanding ECSA requirements. He offers advice to aspiring PrEngs, highlighting the value of diverse feedback and a positive mindset. My journey to becoming a registered Professional Engineer (PrEng) culminated successfully in November 2024. I was fortunate to begin my career at a company with a Commitment and Undertaking (C&U) Agreement with ECSA and a robust mentorship program. This commitment to training engineers to the standard required for Professional Registration provided me with essential resources and a structured path to track my experience against ECSA requirements. Early exposure to these expectations instilled a positive outlook on registration and solidified my desire to achieve this milestone. My views on Professional Registration have remained consistently positive throughout this journey. Working alongside ...
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REVIEW : Infrastructure failures ‘hamper mining industry’

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The decline in recent years in mining output performance due to infrastructure constraints is a tragedy that is manifesting in undesirable employment losses.

The South African mining industry's infrastructural challenges have significant economic and societal consequences, as highlighted by Minerals Council CEO Mzila Mthenjane. To address these issues, the Minerals Council's new executive team has identified three priorities: enhancing power supply, resolving operational problems at Transnet, and combating crime and corruption.

Given that each mining employee typically supports three to four dependents, the industry's job creation has a profound ripple effect. Currently employing approximately 480,000 people, with suitable investments and infrastructural improvements, the potential for job creation could be even greater, offering many South Africans a path out of poverty.

At the core of the challenges is the state-owned logistics company Transnet, which faces significant operational and financial difficulties. Transnet's debt has ballooned to over R130 billion, compounded by declining capital expenditure, governance issues, and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Transnet's problems have had a cascading effect on the mining industry, hampering its ability to transport minerals efficiently.

Similarly, power supply challenges, primarily attributed to Eskom's underperformance, have crippled mining operations. The reliability of electricity is crucial for mining activities, and Eskom's instability has compelled many companies to invest in costly alternative energy solutions.

Crime and corruption remain pervasive issues, not only affecting Transnet and Eskom but also eroding investor confidence and disrupting daily operations within the mining sector.

The full article can be read on BUSINESS DAY,  follow our Whatsapp channel here for more hardhatREVIEWS.


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