Brief Background
Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel is in the process of developing a Steel
Master Plan, and has appointed Dr Bernie Fanaroff to coordinate the efforts through
meetings with various stakeholders.
The proposed Steel Master Plan is a strategic document which is expected to provide
opportunities for local businesses in the steel value chain and the broader Metals and
Engineering industry to boost demand, reduce intermediate costs and re-ignite
commercial activity, with additional benefits to the automotive industry, mining and
construction sectors.
Minister Patel and the Steel Master Plan team led by Dr Fanaroff have emphasised the
need for the Plan to identify demand-side projects in the short and long term, and to
prioritise the implementation of those identified projects. These are typically huge
projects, with enhanced benefits for the local Metals and Engineering industry and the
wider economy, which the Government can fully support.
It is important to ensure that, after the development of the Steel Master Plan, there is
swift and effective implementation of identified projects and consistent monitoring in
order to ensure that businesses maximise the accrued benefits. However, a gap exists
in terms of the capacity to implement identified projects after the launch of the Steel
Master Plan. In order to address this challenge and close the gap, Dr Fanariff has
approached us with a request to nominate an experienced project manager who will be
seconded to the Department of Trade Industry to assist the Government in expeditiously
implementing the identified projects of the Steel Master Plan.
The cost of secondment will be covered by the company for which the seconded
employee works.
Way Forward
We request SEIFSA member companies to take advantage of the secondment
opportunity and nominate an experienced project manager with in-depth knowledge of
the relevant value chains, who will ensure timely and effective implementation and
monitoring of the various projects. Given that this is a unique opportunity for SEIFSA
members to shape the national policy discourse regarding the industry and ensure the
effective implementation of the requirements of the Steel Master Plan, member
companies are encouraged to nominate a suitable individual.
Deadline for nominations
The deadline for nominations is Tuesday, 10 March 2020.
Please send your nominations to our Chief Economist, Dr Michael Ade, on the address:
michael.ade@seifsa.co.za.
Kaizer M. Nyatsumba
Chief Executive Officer