Branch reports

This year has proven to be a very difficult year for SARPA Branches across the country, as members have found it difficult to organize and ensure well attended meetings. The reason for this seems to be the fact that Utility members are not allowed to travel so freely as before and senior role players are not available anymore due to job changes.

The Secretariat has been assisting as much as possible by covering some of the costs, organizing presentations and canvassing the members to attend the meetings. The Executive on the other hand decided to assist in the effort by drafting a guideline on how to hold an effective branch meeting. The Technical Advisor will be advising the Chairpersons on how to implement this guideline in the future.

We encourage all branches to send us a short report after each meeting so that we can place it in the e-bulletin. The reason for this request is the fact that the minutes of the meetings sometimes take very long to be distributed. We, therefore, miss the chance to give valuable feedback to other branches and SARPA members regarding very important information that was shared at the different Branch meetings.

We would also like to ask all Branch Chairpersons to submit their year programme with regard to meeting dates and venues so that the secretariat can advertise it on the website and e-Bulletin. You can send your reports and programme dates to dion@vdw.co.za or rens@mweb.co.za.
Hereby some information and proposals that are already available: -

2010 Branch updates

Cape of Good Hope Branch (Western and Southern Cape)
The previous meeting was used to workshop certain issues that has been identified as very important at the NRS workgroup meetings and during the May meeting. Detailed feedback was given regarding the newly revised NRS 055- Revenue Protection guideline. Mr Deon Louw from EDI gave feedback regarding their revenue protection analysis report, compiled from information obtained during their ring fencing exercises in several Municipalities in South Africa.
The next meeting will be held on the 19 August 2010 in Veldrif at 14h00. If you would like to do a presentation at the next meeting please contact Mr Rens Bindeman (rens@mweb.co.za - 0828505318)

Eastern Cape branch
The last meeting was held on the 7th of May in East London and was very well organized by Buffalo City. Presentations included best practices of the Revenue Protection section in Buffalo City by Mr Chris Gower, LPU revenue recovery programmes at Eskom and HD surveillance cameras system. The next meeting is planned for the 6 August at the Katberg Hotel. If you would like to do a presentation at this meeting please contact Mr Piet Bezuidenhout, Lukhanji Municipality (045 8076001 / 045 8076001 / dirtech@awe.co.za)

Central Branch (Freestate and Northern Cape)
No meeting was held this year due to the restructuring of personnel. The Technical Advisor and the Vice Chairperson are in the process of setting up a new meeting as soon as possible. The proposed date at this stage is Thursday 26 August 2010 at 14h00 at a private venue (to be announced at a later stage) in Bloemfontein. If you would like to do a presentation at the next meeting please contact Mr Rens Bindeman (rens@mweb.co.za - 0828505318)

Gauteng branch
This branch has not held any meetings this year after the bad attendance that was experienced at the last meeting, when it was done in tandem with the AMEU meeting. It is envisaged to rather organize the next meeting at a separate venue on a separate date from the AMEU meeting. The proposal at this stage is to hold the next meeting on the 12th August 2010 at a private venue in Johannesburg. If you would like to do a presentation at the next meeting please contact Mr Maboe Maphaka (0828756302 /maboe.maphaka@eskom.co.za)

Mpumalanga Branch
This branch has been dormant for some time and the Technical Advisor has been tasked to revive the branch once again. The proposal at this stage is to hold the next meeting on the 11th August in Middleburg (venue to be announced). Anyone who would like to get directly involved by helping to organize or do a presentation at this very important meeting please contact Mr Rens Bindeman (rens@mweb.co.za - 0828505318) or Mr Malesela Lelaka (0823362046 / lelakaFM@eskom.co.za)

Kwazulu Branch meeting
The last meeting was held on the 25th March in Newcastle and presentations ranged from ways of protecting cables from non-ferrous thieves, to the successes achieved in revenue protection projects and a self funding data management system. The next meeting will be held on the 22nd July at the Karridene Hotel, Illovo beach. If you would like to do a presentation at the next meeting please contact Mrs Rani Gophichand at Ethekwini Municipality (031 3116538 / Gopichand@elec.durban.gov.za)

Bushveld Branch
The last meeting on the 6th May at the Nature Reserve was well attended and Affiliate members presented several very interesting papers. The next meeting will take place at the same venue on the 5th August 2010 at the Polokwane Game Reserve, Dries Abrahamse Lapa. If you would like to do a presentation at this meeting please contact Mr William Olivier Polokwane Municipality (0842644386 / william.olivier@polokwane.gov.za)