“Thank you very much, colleagues. Very warm welcome to you all as we end another year and prepare for a deserved Christmas break. Today marks our annual general meeting, the last meeting of the year. It is a significant moment for us all, as we reflect on our achievements, our challenges and the journey we have traveled together. Before I proceed, I would like to take a few moments to pay tribute to members and colleagues we have lost over the past year. We remember them with deep respect and frankness. In particular, I would like to honor Andre Wagner…,
Andre, we will always remember you, your contributions and your unwavering dedication to this organization, your wisdom, your knowledge and your kindness, your consistent availability made a lasting impact on everybody who worked with you. You will always be in our hearts, thank you Andre.
When I look back, I think of many great men and women who have led this organization in 77 years of its existence. That’s almost eight decades of leadership, dedication and hardwork. I often think of these early days preparing agendas and minutes on a typewriter, printing them on the mimograph machine, then folding, sealing and stamping each and every envelope by hand for those of us old enough to remember. Who forgets licking the glue at the back of those envelopes to seal them. This takes me back to my first moments as an apprentice, the youngest man in the team. Back then, the youngest in the team was given the task for preparing that stack of letters to be posted out. How far did we come today? Minutes are shared in seconds, thanks to modern technology, but those memories remain, reminding us of how much we have accomplished. I encourage all of our members to come forward and consider serving in our committees. That is where every committee member, exco member and NEC member begins learning the process, understanding how things work and eventually deciding whether to continue serving the members and the regions of this great organization.
I have good memories of my time. I started in 1988 attending my first meeting in Standerton on a cold winter night. There were more freezing nights where eager members would attend, seeking knowledge. I remember standing around the braai in July debating the wiring code standards that shaped our industry. Then came October 1993 when we saw the end of council inspectors overnight. Some of those inspectors were our dear friends, and little did we know that the industry would soon be flooded with fraudsters, counterfeit certificates and substandard equipment. In the years since, our industry has grown tremendously. Dawie Cronje, Calli Pieterse, Dean Nevay, and many others left their mark. I was fortunate to work closely with leaders like Louis, Chris Koen, Anthony Schewitz, Darryl Whittaker, Cecil Lancaster, Johnny Cunnif, just to name a few, you are a team of knowledge, integrity and passion, and you all created a lasting legacy for this industry. I salute you. You’ve gone the extra mile.
As for me, it is time for the new generation to step in and carry this industry into the future. There are many challenges ahead, with non-compliance and unqualified electricians flooding the market.
Let us be part of the solution and not part of the problem. The future will bring major technology changes, and we need to be ready. Mark Mfikoe, I will always remember you as the condensed milk in my coffee, brutally honest and full of integrity. Mark thanks for your leadership, for protecting our members and your timeless dedication to this organization. I will never forget the reassurance you gave me one evening when I called you, and your word was, “you’ve done nothing wrong, Mr. President, nothing outside the constitution of this organization. You and Madam President, have a good night. Take care”. Thank you Mark for your vision, leadership and your contribution to the industry. I would also want to express my gratitude your wife, Debora, for her unwavering support.
Looking at our financial growth, we have had our shares of difficult days but we’ve always pulled through. This year we acquired a new home in KZN. We are expanding in Bosveld. We are in the process of opening a training facility in the Eastern Cape. It’s exciting times. I’m honored to be part of this dream. Tembe Mwemba, our financial manager, we faced many challenges of the last past few years, but this year we were on track, our financial statements will be ready for adoption at the AGM. I can’t thank you enough for your dedication, your expertise, and, of course, your constant smile, though I must note, you never offered me any coffee when I was visiting you. To our auditors, CFO 360, thank you for your prompt service and the thorough work. It’s clear that we have auditors who are fully qualified to provide accurate reflection on our financial health to our members. Thank you for your continued loyalty and support.
To the NEC, your input, your long hours and your commitment to this organization is invaluable. Thank you for everything. To Eckard and Jimmy, what a team. Thank you for your teamwork and dedication and to your wives. Thank you for your understanding and support. Thank you for the early morning calls, the wake up calls and sharing your coffee with me at five o’clock in the morning. Finally, to each and every member, I wish you joy and peace. If you are traveling, please do so safely. Take time to rest, refresh and spend time with your loved ones. Thank you once again for attending the AGM and for your unwaveringly support throughout the year. God bless you all.”
