Delegates enjoy yet another successful SARPA Convention

Delegates who attended the SARPA Convention were thoroughly impressed by it and left highly motivated and ready to tackle the essence of the theme: “Striving towards excellence by sustaining the effort”.

SARPA president, Malesele Lelaka, opened the Convention with a welcome, followed by a welcome by the host city then it was the turn of Mr Silas Zimu, Managing Director of City Power Johannesburg to deliver the Keynote Address.

After refreshments Rens Bindeman (SARPA Technical Advisor) presented his paper on “SARPA’s Roadmap to Guiding African Utilities to Reduce Revenue Losses”.

Presentations by Du Toit Grobler (SAIEE), Chris Gower (Buffalo City Municipality) and Maboe Maphaka (Eskom) took us to lunch on the first day of the Convention.

After a scrumptious lunch Roland Hill (Landis & Gyr) presented his paper on “Service Delivery and Revenue Protection Improvement Achieved through the Development of Remote Access Terminals”. Malope Ramagaga (City Power Johannesburg) shed some light on where City Power has come from, what they have done and where they are in terms of revenue protection.

Neil Arendse (City of Cape Town) delivered a strategic assessment of the nature and extent of copper theft in a utility and the impact it has on the primary as well as secondary stakeholders. He also highlighted the importance of the effective implementation of policies and strategies.

After another short break Louis Fourie (Netgroup) and Miyelani Holeni (Ekurhuleni Metro) concluded the day with their presentations “Revenue Protection as part of Utility Financial Sustainability” and “Revenue Management and Enhancement” respectively.

Later on that evening delegates were treated to a Civic Reception at Gallagher Estate.

Friday morning started with some light refreshments before Mpumelelo Mnyani (Eskom) started his presentation on “Amnesty and Reporting Line Campaign”.

Refreshments followed presentations by other speakers, after which Deon Louw (EDI Holdings), Kobus van den Berg (Netgroup), Sonia George (Eskom), Rory van der Merwe (Expectra Audits Pty) and Rens Bindeman concluded a very successful SARPA Convention. Delegates were treated to a light lunch and made their way home.

For copies of all the presentations please click here. For an overview of the Convention, written by Rens Bindeman, please click here.