A government has a complicated task – to satisfy the needs of the masses and stay in power while at the same time allowing the economy of the country to grow.
What makes this so difficult? A factor that is often underestimated but plays a massive part in a democratic government’s success is the general education of the public. I am not referring to engineers, accountants, etc. I am talking about that section of the population that makes up most of a country’s citizens. When the general public understands the different factors that influence the health of a country’s economy, government’s decisions are positively affected. Otherwise the demand grows for the government to focus on areas that can be detrimental to the economy’s overall health. Wrong choices will impact those government entities that government prioritises and then propagate to all other areas of the economy.
Wrong choices lead to the following outcomes:
• Government institutions fail
• The economy fails
• Citizens become militant
• Lawlessness prevails.
It is terrible when a government cannot see that its policies are failing and drives its policies harder. It is like Russia trying to invade Ukraine, losing equipment, being banned from the world stage and having resources confiscated; and their decision: let’s try harder.
South Africa needs to get serious about the education of its citizens – all of them. Racial discrimination, lowering of standards, adding 5% to scores, etc., are not practices that are preparing our citizens for a new industrial revolution. When train drivers, doctors, nurses, accountants, bank tellers, and all other career choices vanish or are dramatically changed, South Africa will have to be prepared or become a welfare state.
Automation is here to stay, whether South Africa joins in or not. Automation has no consideration for government policies, union actions or business preferences. Those industries that do not automate will slowly die because they can no longer compete in the world market.
SAIMC: Johannesburg branch SAIMC
SAIMC
The Johannesburg Branch had the privilege of being hosted by Phoenix Contact for our technology event in May. Shamil Surbun, BU manager for Automation, presented a CPD-accredited session on ‘From Sensor to Cloud: How SPE and APL Are Transforming Industrial Connectivity’.
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South Africa’s automation, control, mechatronics and computer engineering community is changing fast, and the SAIMC is changing with it. I am excited to announce a new national initiative that will reshape how we deliver technical knowledge, strengthen branch identity and bring our community together like never before.
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The SAIMC Zambia executive committee met recently, and confirmed several strategic updates aimed at strengthening governance, membership engagement and professional development activities.
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SAIMC
Hendrik Spies, market application engineer at SICK Automation, presented at the SAIMC Durban branch May technology meeting.
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The SAIMC Durban Golf Day once again proved why it’s one of the highlights on the local industry calendar, bringing together good people, good golf, and just the right amount of competitive spirit under spectacular Durban skies.
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Jenine Jansen van Vuuren from Comtest delivered a presentation at the SAIMC Johannesburg technology evening, focusing on electric vehicle charging stations and the key metrics that govern their functionality.
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SAIMC
At the monthly meeting of the Durban branch of the SAIMC, Smunye Memela, project manager and switch gear specialist at Gubhuza 3 Trading presented on the subject ‘From sensors to insights: predictive maintenance in action’.
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