SSA’s 2022/23 executive committee: Back, from left: Piet Briel (Sappi), Craig Rance (Rance Timbers), Sean Hoatson (Tekwani), Duncan McKay (White River Sawmills). Front, from left: Fritz Ernest (Busby Sawmills), Deon Breytenbach (Merensky), Roy Southey (executive director) and Thabo Moloi (Safcol).
Sawmilling South Africa (SSA) is stepping up its campaign to promote wood’s invaluable role in the country’s future. It launched its new corporate colours, branding and slogan “we saw the future” at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in June.
Duncan McKay, SSA’s chairperson, and Southey presented Sawmilling South Africa’s (SSA’s) first printed Annual Report.
“An increased budget for promotion includes spending on the website, which Fevertree Media manages. Thank you, Samantha Choles and her team at Frog Communications, for their work in rebranding SSA,” Southey said.
“We are liaising closely with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), Forestry SA (FSA), Institute for Timber Construction SA (ITC-SA), the SA Wood Preservers Association (Sawpa) and other organisations to promote timber as a renewable resource.”
Resilience
McKay said below-average returns for the last five years had seen sawmillers investing in their operations and seeking greater efficiencies. The ending of lockdown and the upsurge in demand seen in 2020-21 continued last year until the July insurrection in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng.
“Members continue to be innovative and resilient against exceptional conditions. The damage to property caused by the riots, extensive flood damage to infrastructure and products, and Eskom’s ongoing inability to manage electricity output are concerning,” McKay said.
“Production costs are increasing, and the potential for rising interest rates highlights the need to be even more innovative and smart in business.”
Emissions
Southey presented a brief report on the outdrawn kiln emissions legal battle with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).
“It is a long story and is still not resolved. We have made several representations, including the Gauteng High Court and the Supreme Court of Appeals, which rejected the department’s appeal, and we won the case. However, we can’t conclude the matter until the DFFE decides what it wants to do, and the Supreme Court of Appeal shuts the case.”
Sawmilling qualifications
SSA’s qualifications development facilitator, Dianne Randall, gave a brief presentation on progress with the sawmilling qualifications. The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) has registered four qualifications and learnerships:
- Saw doctor
- Dry kiln operator
- Wood processing machine operator
- Drymill operator
The learning materials are in the final stages of development and approval by the QCTO. The scoping meeting for piloting the saw doctor qualification will be in July. Randall appealed to the industry and its training providers for support and participation.
Talking Timber webinars
SSA, the DTIC, Stellenbosch University and architects specialising in using engineered timber collaborate to inform built environment professionals about wood in construction.
A series of six Talking Timber webinars on the advantages and disadvantages of building with engineered timber like cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam are scheduled. Southey said the first two webinars were well attended.
WoodApp
Prof Brand Wessels and Stellenbosch University are working on a WoodApp to increase the knowledge base of architects, engineers, and technical salespeople and designers. Like the Talking Timber webinars, the objective is to encourage the use of wood in structures.
The three-year online project is developing four courses a year approved by the SA Institute for Architects and qualifying for continuous development programme (CPD) points. The programme is launching in August this year.
Executive committee
The AGM voted in two new executive committee members, Fritz Ernest of Busby Sawmills and Deon Breytenbach of Merensky. McKay will remain chairperson until the exco meeting.