Pretoria - Two members of the executive committee at the SA Bureau of Standards (SABS) are believed to have left their positions after a report by Business Report about problems at the bureau and lack of testing by its paint laboratory.
It is believed the problems experienced by SABS with testing and certification are much more widespread than the paint industry and are affecting many more industries.
Business Report is in possession of an internal SABS communication e-mail that was apparently distributed by SABS’s chief executive, Boni Mehlomakulu, last week.
It disclosed that Frank Makamo, a certification executive, requested to vacate his position and take up the vacant general manager engineering certification position while Katima Temba, another certification executive, resigned.
It said Temba had indicated his willingness to assist in the vacant general manager mining and minerals position.
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“These appointments are for the duration of the current executives’ respective contracts with effect from 1 February 2017,” it said. The SABS was e-mailed a list of questions on Tuesday related to these executive committee changes but by late yesterday had not received a response.
Responding to allegations made by the SA Paint Manufacturing Association (Sapma) last week, SABS corporate executive Ian Plaatjes said “some” of Sapma’s allegations were unfounded. Deryck Spence, the executive director of Sapma, disputed any of their allegations were unfounded.
Heavy heart
The internal communication from Mehlomakulu was dated February 1, the day after the article was published in Business Report highlighting problems being experienced by the paint manufacturing industry with the SABS.
It said Mehlomakulu, with the support of other executives, would manage the certification division, while Amanda Gcabashe would continue to act in the role of executive testing.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce changes at an executive level following introspection by the affected executives and at their own request.
“I am humbled by the level of commitment to the SABS shown by these executives as they go beyond their personal preferences to focus on problem areas to assist our organisation at a time when the SABS requires all hands on deck.
“I wish to sincerely thank Frank and Katima for their loyal service to the SABS in various roles over many years. Their commitment to assist the organisation to address the challenges we are currently facing at operational level is inspiring. I am confident that the organisation will support and encourage them in the execution of their respective roles,” it said.
Spence claimed last week that the paint testing laboratories at the SABS appeared to be non-operational, which was damaging the industry.
He further claimed the paint section at the SABS had about 13 employees about two years ago but was now believed to have only one employee and was no longer testing paint.
“About 20 Sapma members submitted products to the SABS for testing and indicated the SABS had done nothing.” Spence said a SABS quality approval mark was essential for any government contract.