
Another spectacular ECA(SA) Presidential Excellence Awards took place at the Serengeti Lapa at the Birchwood Hotel on 14 November 2019. Past entrants and new contenders vied for top honours and by the end of the evening, new benchmarks for excellence had been set in the 15 categories.
The 400 guests celebrated in fine style at what turned out to be the best awards yet – due in part to comedian, Mpho Popps who doubled up as MC; and, while keeping the evening flowing seamlessly, he kept everyone amused with his forthright brand of South African humour.
One of the most prestigious events on the ECA’s calendar, the awards banquet was made possible by the sponsorship of Associate Members: Brother, Comtest, Copper Development Association Africa, HellermannTyton, Major Tech, Nestlife, Voltex, Schneider Electric, and newcomers SALT Employee Benefits and Citilec.
Industry stalwart, Gary Abrahamson of Standard Electrical was awarded a Meritorious Award for his lifelong commitment to excellence in the electrical contracting industry and his unselfish mentoring of many of today’s top people in the industry, including the ECA’s National Director, Mark Mfikoe.
There weren’t too many dry eyes when Regional Director for the East/South Cape, Lucas Bowles – who has been with the ECA since 1983 – received a long service award as he retires on 15 December. His PA for eight years, Wilmarie Smith, gave an emotional farewell speech and presented Lucas with a special clock and wished him Hakuna Matata. Lucas thanked the ECA for the ‘journey of his life’ and his wife, Victoria, for her unwavering support.
One huge cake and 400 Individual ‘70th’ birthday cakes sponsored by Citilec were given to all the guests – and HellermannTyton sponsored another two enormous cakes for dessert – to celebrate the ECA’s 70 years of existence, having been registered on 1 July 1948.
As has become customary, each guest received the September-October issue of SA Electrical Contractor magazine in a goodie bag, along with various gifts sponsored by Citiq Prepaid, Major Tech and Brother with discount vouchers from Comtest.
Apprentices from SNC Lavalin, Datalec, Edison Power, Vinnie’s Electrical, and Masedi were all finalists with Petronella Khakhu from Edison Power taking the Female Apprentice of the Year, and Vincent Masuge from Masedi Electrical taking both the Male Apprentice of the Year and Overall Apprentice of the Year. Vincent won prizes from HellermannTyton to the value of R30 000 along with the opportunity of an apprenticeship.
A Special Achiever Award was presented to Philile Mngadi, an apprentice at Edison Power, KwaZulu-Natal, who won the South African WorldSkills Competition and represented South Africa at the WorldSkills Competition in Kazan, Russia in August.
The full list of winners:

Installation of the Year – Industrial
Winner: RTC Control Systems (McCain, Delmas)
Runners up: Dan Electrical (Denver Warehouse); and JBN Power (Macbean Beier Plastics t/a Neucote)

Installation of the Year – Residential Housing
Sponsor: Voltex
Winner: Vyfster Elektries (House Cesar)
Runners up: Vyfster Elektries (House Kluge); and Vyfster Elektries (The Hills)

Installation of the Year – Residential Complexes
Sponsor: Copper Development Association Africa
Winner: MLE Electrical Contractors (Blyde Lifestyle Centre and Jade Lifestyle Centre)
Runners up: Turner Electrical (1253 on Edge Hill, Queenswood, Pretoria); and Vyfster Elektries (Heritage Hill)

Installation of the Year – Office Blocks
Sponsor: Citilec
Winner: W Edison Power (Nedport Developments – Park Square)
Runners up: MLE Electrical (Adapt IT Project); and Sensor Electrical (University of Pretoria Javett Arts Centre)

Installation of the Year – Hotels and Hospitals
Sponsor: Major Tech
Winner: Motlhakola Projects (Sparkling Tower)
Runners up: JNB Power (Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and St Paul’s Anglican Church); and PJB Electrical (Dugong Beach, Mozambique)

Installation of the Year – Retail and Shopping Centres
Sponsor: SALT Employee Benefits
Winner: Dan Electrical (Tramshed Shopping Centre)
Runners up: DuziCube (Checkers, Noordheuwel); Edison Power (KwaDukuza Mall)

Reticulation Contractor of the Year
Sponsor: Citilec
Winner: Besamandla (Cape Town Data Centres)
Runners up: Designer Lighting (Buffalo City Municipality – Fynbos, Kanana and Bisho to Stoney Drift); and Edison Power (Bidvest Tank Terminals – 132 kV Line Deviation)

National Safety Award
Joint Winner: Besamandla (Aggeneys Solar Project)
Joint Winner: Edison Power (Suncoast Casino)
Runners up: Edison Power (Nedport Park Square); and Edison Power (KwaDukuza Mall)

Best Contributor to Energy Efficiency
Sponsor: Schneider Electric
Winner: Elex Khanyisa (Green Point Stadium)

Best Contributor to Renewable Energy
Sponsor: Schneider Electric
Winner: Besamandla (Airports Company SA, Port Elizabeth)

Apprentice of the Year: Male
Sponsor: HellermannTyton
Winner: Vincent Masuge (Masedi Electrical)
Runners up: Sello Hlako (Datalec); and Samkelekile Menziwa (SNC Lavalin)

Apprentice of the Year: Female
Sponsor: Brother
Winner: Petronella Khakhu (Edison Power)
Runners up: Mamodiki Ntoi (SNC Lavalin); and Emelda Nkadimeng (Vinnies Electrical)

Woman-Owned Business of the Year
Sponsor: HellermannTyton
Winner: Andre Els Engineering
Runners up: Swatek Electrical; and Namasthethu Electrical

Special Innovative Projects Award
Sponsor: Electrical Contractors’ Association (SA)
Winner: Mantela Trading t/a Designer Lighting (BCMM Mobile Municipal App for Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality)
Runners up: Edison Power (Suncoast Casino); GPA Elite (702 Walk the Talk)

Apprentice Host Employer
Sponsor: Brother
Winner: Datalec Electrical
Runners up: DC Electrical; and JBN Power
Special Awards
Sponsor: ECA(SA)

- Meritorious Award
Gary Abrahamson

Regional Excellence Award
Winner: Highveld Region – Chris Koen, Regional Director, Highveld Region

- Achiever Special Award
Philile Mngadi

- Long Service Award
Lucas Bowles, Regional Director, East/South Cape Region