WHEN I announced my early retirement some months ago, I had no idea how fast the time between then and now would pass, but suddenly here I am, wracking my brains on how to sum up 21 years!

The printing and packaging industries have always had more than their fair share of characters – perhaps less so now than 20 or 30 years ago, but there are still some around. I have met and worked with many excellent leaders and entrepreneurs in my time with the Federation. When I arrived in January 1989, the old National Industrial Council seemed to attract them like flies, and I have fond memories of many of them (although, truth be told, not all of them!).

Over the last 21 years we experienced the demise of the NIC, the establishment of the SATU retirement funds, the establishment of the Southern African Printing College, the establishment of the Training Board (and then its successor in title, MAPPP SETA).

We’ve seen equally numerous changes in technology. I remember the almost overnight disappearance of photolithography, and I remember the same thing happening to photo-typesetting.

I remember the tariff battles fought (and mostly won) and I remember the most successful World Print Congress ever held (in Cape Town).

I am sad to leave PIFSA and an industry that has been an integral part of my life for 29 years, but I am glad that Patrick Lacy has agreed to take over as CEO. Pat has a wealth of experience and is well known by members and suppliers alike.

I would like to thank Gill Loubser for the support given to PIFSA over the years, and particularly since she and Susi Moore took the plunge in setting up PACKAGiNG & Print Media. This is a great magazine and it’s run by true professionals.

I would also like to thank the current PIFSA president, Nampak’s Fezekile Tshiqi. He was thrown into the deep end when he took over as president in May this year, and I advised him of my departure in June. He’s an asset to the industry.

Finally, thanks to each PIFSA member. I have done my best to serve your interests in my time here, and I wish all of you the best.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity, and thanks for the memories!

Chris Sykes, CEO Read more...

He has held previous positions at the National Office and the Cape Chamber, where he was the Director for 6 years. He has worked for the Federation for the last 30 years and has a depth of experience at every level of the organisation.

Patrick will succeed Chris Sykes who will be retiring at the end of December after 21 years with the Federation.
 

The Board is confident that Patrick has the skill and experience to lead the Federation through the next period of its growth and development and congratulates him on his appointment.

Issued by:
Fezekile Tshiqi,
President,
Printing Industries Federation of South Africa

AS this is the penultimate article I will write for PrinTALK in my capacity as PIFSA’s CEO, I would like to return to a subject that has been one of my greatest concerns while I have been in this position. It’s the issue of ensuring that our industry (printing, packaging and newspapers) has suffi cient skilled people to ensure its domestic competitiveness, its international competitiveness, its survival and growth.

The two biggest areas of challenge have been competitively-priced inputs and skilled people. Since I joined the Federation in January 1989, it has successfully submitted several tariff reduction applications to ITAC and its predecessor, the Board of Tariffs & Trade. These tariff reductions saved our industry millions of rands as a result of the import parity pricing policies of certain suppliers, and, although they were strongly opposed by the Paper Manufacturing Association of South Africa, the strength of our industry standing together and the logic of our submission eventually won the day.

There are still a few battles to be fought, but someone other than me will lead these. I have absolute confi dence that the depth of leadership and commitment within the Federation and its Chambers will ensure the correct outcome. It’s just a pity that the these battles have to be fought with suppliers who sometimes appear to be protecting short-term margin rather than seeing the potential of increased volumes as our industry improves its competitiveness. In some cases, I believe this is a result of globalisation where suppliers are concentrating on the really big markets for volume, and taking as much margin as possible from smaller markets such as South Africa. This is absolutely understandable, but not acceptable to PIFSA.

The second part of the competitive ‘equation’ is that of skilled people. The tragedy of the closure of the College goes far beyond the loss of the dedicated and skilled people who selfl essly ran the College and introduced a generation of young people to an exciting and fruitful career. The tragedy is that while the loss of this resource may not be felt immediately, because of the current recession, it will be felt in years to come. We will never know how many talented young South Africans who could have contributed to the future success of our industry are now starting careers in other fi elds and other industries.

The defamation action brought by PIFSA, the College and myself against the previous CEO of MAPPP SETA, Melanie Bernard-Fryer, was settled out of court and the terms of the settlement are confi dential. However, what is not confi dential is Mrs Bernard-Fryer’s apology to each of the parties which states:

1. "I hereby apologise for all statements I made at meetings and/or in discussions with various people, including journalists, over the period July 2006 to date, which: Gave rise to the publication of untrue, injurious and defamatory matter and/or innuendo of and concerning each of you in the Press and Parliamentary Sub-Committee; Damaged and injured your reputation and personas; Insulted each of you; Prevented or inhibited the training of persons in the printing industry."
2. "I hereby unreservedly apologise for the publication of all untrue and defamatory matter concerning each of you and the damage and injury it has caused. Yours faithfully"

The Printing Industries Federation of South Africa has moved to new premises October 1st 2009.

The PIFSA Honeydew facilities have been leased for a two year period with an option to extend.
PIFSA National and Central Chamber staff will be taking up residence in Gallo Manor from the 1 October 2009

New Address
The Braids
113 - 115 Bowling Avenue
Gallo Manor
2191

P O Box 1396
Gallo Manor
2052

We are now up and running in our new premises. Our new telephone number is 011 287 1160.
Fax : Central Chamber 011 2871178 National Office 011 287 1179

Many thanks for your patience during the period.

Good News!

Import duties on paper remain the same. PAMSA's duty review application unsuccessful.

"PIFSA's ongoing efforts to keep paper prices as low as possible on behalf of our members, have paid off. PAMSA's duty review application to ITAC was unsuccessful and was dismissed with costs. A copy of the judgement is available upon request from ekuhl@pifsa.org.  Should PAMSA appeal, our attorneys will advise us, which will be communicated to all members.

In lay terms, this means that the import duties on paper will not revert to what they were prior to the ITAC report No 151 in 2005, unless an appeal reverses the current ruling."

Air Emissions - Printing as Listed Activity

PIFSA, PACSA and the PCA made a joint submission to the Department of the Environment in response to Notice1001 published in Government Gazette 32434on the 24 July 2009

We have received notification from our attorneys Garlicke & Bousfield that according to the department the envisaged date of 11 September 2009 for the balance of the National Environmental Management : Air Quality Act (NEM :AQA) to come into operation and for the repeal of APPA will not be achieved and this will now only take place at a later stage.

In summary this means that the printing emission standards have not yet commenced, nor is printing regarded as a listed activity.  Once APPA is repealed this may change (with the promulgation of s 21 of NEM:AQA) and we will have to monitor developments.  There will be increased enforcement in regard to water issues and air related issues and companies should have an EMI inspection place and know their rights and obligations. 

The National Environment Laws Amendment Act 44 of 2008 however did come into operation on the 11 September 2009.  This means the following :

1. The 72 Scheduled list of activities will continue to be applicable and there are no specific emission standards in respect of each of those listed activities (other than what is set out in the registration certificates); i.e the current position remains

2. Whether a provisional or final APPA registration certificate is valid during the transitional period stipulated in section 61 of NEM: AQA  seems to depend on the relevant facts of that certificate - (in the context of the interpretation of section 61 of NEM : AQA and the expiry date of either a provisional or final certificate)

3. In terms of the National Environment Laws Amendment Act 44 of 2008  APPA ,the NEM:AQA and the National Water Act 36 of 1998 are now regarded as 'specific environmental management acts ' in terms of NEMA which means that these acts may be enforced by environmental management inspectors (EMI's) who have various general powers including questioning persons, undertaking inspections and sampling, requiring production of documents, seizure and the issue of compliance notices, etc.

4. The National Environment Laws Amendment Act also amends section 31 H of NEMA which provides EMI's with additional powers including those assigned to peace officers as well as non-commissioned police officers.

5. Section 31N of NEMA has also been amended by the addition of subsection 3 which establishes the fine (an amount not exceeding five million Rand) and/or the term of imprisonment (a period not exceeding 120 years) for a person convicted of a failure to comply with a compliance notice.