Kemtek and Brother are proud to sponsor the ECA Presidential Excellence Awards – specifically, the awards for Female Intern of the Year and Woman-Owned Business of the Year. We spoke to ECA National Director Mark Mfikoe to learn more about the role of the ECA, and how the organisation is promoting diversity and inclusion in what is still often seen as a male-dominated industry.
Introducing the ECA
The Electrical Contractors’ Association of South Africa – the ECA – was founded in 1954 as a registered employers’ association and a non-profit organisation in accordance with the terms of the Labour Relations Act. As such, it delivers a range of services to the industry, including collective bargaining, contractual and legal advice, technical training courses, and advocacy for changes to legislation.
A key figure in the industry
Mark Mfikoe has been the National Director of the ECA since May 2014. Prior to this, he served two terms as the association’s President. As such he has headed up both the political and administrative functions of the ECA.
In his current role, Mark has a broad portfolio. He is charged with aligning the activities of the association with its constitution, and ensuring that it serves the needs of its members nationwide. Mark is also responsible for policy formation, and looking for opportunities to advocate in the interests of members. By helping the ECA to positively influence electrical contractor behaviour, Mark and the ECA are building customer trust in the industry.
The ECA Presidential Excellence Awards
Mark was instrumental in establishing these awards and in growing their prestige, as well as signing up both Brother and Kemtek as major sponsors. He counts this as his proudest achievement in his time with the ECA, alongside delivering the electrical contracting industry’s first-ever 5-year collective bargaining agreement – a coup that has ensured unprecedented financial and labour relations across the industry, and laid the foundations for even longer-duration agreements.
An industry in transition
When asked about the changes he has seen in the industry, Mark described a time of fragmentation, with a number of the larger electrical contractors going out of business. This has created numerous opportunities for smaller enterprises to bid for contracts. However, this has also introduced a degree of instability, plus the challenge of cashflow management and staff turnover.
Looking ahead
Mark further highlighted the need for the industry to transform and become more inclusive – and described how the ECA is already acting as an agent of transformation. The ECA has identified the need for technical training, as well as creating opportunities for women apprentices.
This is where Brother and Kemtek have been able to assist, through sponsoring awards categories specifically focusing on women entering the industry, and female entrepreneurs. Mark explained that the significance of the awards is further strengthened by the impact on staff morale and in validating customers’ choice of contractor.
Kemtek’s role in diversification
Through sponsoring female-focused awards, Kemtek is supporting the ECA in spreading the message that there is room in the electrical contracting industry for women, and that electrical contacting and installing offers a rewarding career path for females learners studying STEM subjects. Mark acknowledged that there is still a long way to go, given that many leadership positions within the industry are still occupied by men.
Challenges still remain
At a national level, the tender process is also in need of change. While B-BBEE initiatives have seen more Black-owned companies able to participate meaningfully, the lack of transparency around tender costs and payments still effectively bars complete integration.
Only through a genuine joint venture approach can this issue be addressed, with all partners able to take part in discussions around planning, pricing and strategy. This, Mark believes, is the true path to economic empowerment.
The value of the internship programme
The ECA internship programme – with the support of Kemtek and Brother – has been creating real career opportunities since 2018 by enabling people to earn their installation electrician’s licence and gain access to roles with guaranteed salaries. They can then in turn play a part in maintaining the dignity of all citizens by completing quality installations that are safe and fully compliant with all applicable regulations.
The genuine nature of these opportunities – plus the very real pride that the interns take in their achievements – is reflected in the ECA’s insistence on using genuine Brother labelling tapes and other OEM consumables in all their training programmes.
As Mark explained, introducing the students to genuine Brother products so early in their careers helps to build a genuine affinity for the Brother brand, and teaches them the importance of always budgeting for the correct tools and products for every project.
The ECA – with the support of Kemtek and Brother – is helping to mould a generation of electrical contractors who take pride in producing credible and safe work. As Mark explains, that is true transformation on every level.
To learn more about Kemtek’s range of original Brother labelling consumables and how they are contributing to enhanced quality outcomes across the electrical contracting industry, visit https://kemtek.co.za/product-category/labelling/
