The Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (Sappma) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (Saice) aimed at increasing cooperation between the two entities.

With Saice’s backing, owing to the MoU, Sappma would be able to participate in graduate engagement programmes at various universities in the country and spread the message about the need for engineers who are dedicated to advancing the pipes and plastics industry.

“It is important for the local pipes industry to ensure an influx of graduates with qualifications to further develop the sector.  Saice is an influential association and, with our target audience being largely civil engineering linked, greater access to them is now ensured,” Sappma CEO Jan Venter said.

The MoU also encouraged the two parties to cooperate to lobby and challenge statutory legislation and structures to facilitate the achievement of their common objectives. 

Some of the areas of cooperation agreed upon included the mobilisation of resources, with the two parties having agreed to support each other in sourcing funds for the implementation of their activities and plans that fall within the framework of the MoU.

Further, the agreement also entailed a commitment to enhance and support each party in the creation and maintaining of relations with similar international institutions, as well as raising awareness in publications and on varying media platforms about each other’s activities. 

The parties would have regular consultation sessions to advise each other on their programmes and activities. 

One of the first tasks of cooperation under the MoU would be Saice’s assistance in distributing, from their bookshop and e-sales facility, Sappma’s recently published technical manual for engineers.

The 2013/14 manual was released in October last year and provided technical information on the selection of plastic pipes for water supply and wastewater disposal projects.

“Plastic pipes are one of the priority areas of Saice through [its] water division and we are grateful to have formalised our partnership with them. 

“As an organisation, [it has] the calibre and influence we need to increase our presence and educate the engineers about the importance of ensuring high standards of manufacture and installation when it comes to plastic pipes.  Similarly, we believe that our partnership will offer Saice value by granting it access to the local plastics industry and relevant information,” Venter concluded.