Page 4 - KZN Business Sense-Vol6 No5

A TRIBUTE TO MTHOKO MBATHA

thoko Mbatha was the Mthoko Mbatha worked business, which was very much
Group CEO of SLG (Pty) diligently, with absolute customer and people centricity,
MLtd, the second largest distinction and professionalism, Mthoko Mbatha said that the
trading company of Natural Gas creating not only the brand company’s future was contingent
in South Africa. SLG is an award of SLG his own personal on the success of its customers in
winning 100% black owned brand that was underpinned their respective sectors. He added
company, which commenced its by humility, professionalism, that it was imperative that SLG’s
operation in July 2002. compassion and absolute customers were understood in
dedication to his craft. When order for the company to create
Mthoko Mbatha was seconded the time had come and at an value for its customers.
to Spring Lights Gas in 2004 age of only 42, he was rewarded
where his long and illustrious with the appointment to Group Mthoko Mbatha was personally
career in the gas industry CEO and Executive Director vested in the company’s social
really started to blossom. It of the SLG Group, which is investment programme.
was Mthoko Mbatha who led the second largest natural gas He had a passion for the
the growth of Spring Lights trading company in South execution of projects aimed
Gas from a company with 18 Africa and also owns the largest at the development of maths
customers to the giant that the Compressed Natural Gas and science in historically
company is today in the natural facility in Southern Africa. disadvantaged schools.
gas industry. His career saw him Mthoko Mbatha always took
grow from an energy advisor Mthoko Mbatha spent 16 great pride in his staff. He said,
to sales manager in a relatively illustrious years at SLG where he “Our staff are our most valuable
short space of time. He crowned touched thousands of lives in ways assets and we continually
his career progression with being that are indelible, unforgettable bolster their knowledge by
the first of the Spring Lights Gas and absolutely profound, forming ensuring that they engage the
employees to study and graduate deep professional relationships. latest industry developments
with an MBA from Mancosa He had a gift and an ability to and trends. Hence, our “People
(with Distinction), while make everyone around him First” ethos underpins every
managing the sales department feel important, valued, heard, aspect of our operations
of a fast growing black owned appreciated and respected through especially our interaction
and managed company in a his unwavering humility and with our customers, suppliers,
very tough and legacy driven warmth, no matter the issue, place employees, regulatory bodies
industry. Something that was no or nature of the engagement. and communities within which
Mthoko Mbatha small feat to achieve. Informed by his approach to we operate.” 

COMPLIANCE: THE KEY TO PROJECT COMPLETION

n order to bring change into gas equipment will automatically
business, capital investment be suitable for use in the South
Iprojects are continuously being African gas market. This is
sort. This allows for the expansion especially true when the importer
of business, either to develop a new foresees ‘potential savings’.
product that may be sold; or in fact Currently there is a gap that needs
improve manufacturing processes to be addressed by the local gas
to reduce operational expenditure. association which will ensure
that international companies
Mankind has been involved in understand minimum South
projects since the construction of African compliance requirements.
the great pyramids. These complex The user and importer of
projects were managed without gas equipment should equip
any of the sophisticated technology themselves with the relevant
available today. However, in standards, regulations and
modern society, the nature of regulatory body requirements
projects and the environments before import considerations.
in which they exist have changed These include:
significantly. Many modern
projects involve challenges in 1. South African National Imported gas system not meeting local requirements
terms of technical complexity, cost Standards (SANS) 329 which
constraints, resource constraints, addresses the requirements procurement costs due to rework Practitioner to issue a This costly exercise could
environmental uncertainty, for industrial thermo- of the imported gas systems Certificate of Conformity (CoC) have been prevented had the
and demanding time schedules processing equipment. that did not comply with local ■ Discarding of 70% of the respective advisors been consulted
in order to ensure maximised 2. Pressure Equipment requirements. The project delays procured equipment prior to embarking on such a
production. Regulations (PER) which is due to rework also contribute ■ Over expenditure of significant project investment.
part of the Occupational SLG’s customer value proposition
Currently, organisations around Health and Safety Act. to the missed opportunity of approximately half a million goes beyond gas supply:
the world face high project 3. The Safe Gas Equipment not commissioning the plant rand as a result of rework technical feasibility studies,
implementation failure rates, Scheme (SGES) which timeously. In a recent case study, The consequences of non- regulatory licenses, installations,
resulting in millions being wasted. governs all imported natural the following was discovered: compliance, apart from criminal commissioning and post-
Despite the availability of project gas equipment. This scheme ■ Customer imported equipment charges for not adhering to installation technical and safety
management tools, techniques was established by the South from China the law, often include delays training are facilitated by SLG as
and technology, mega-projects African Gas Association ■ Gas trains and pipeline were in commissioning, negative value added services. 
are still running overdue and over (SAGA) to ensure that all designed according to Chinese reputational impact, loss
budget. Projects in the oil and equipment meets acceptable standards of potential opportunities
gas industry are at the forefront standards. ■ Burners did not have name and increased expenditure Website: www.slgas.co.za
to building economies and hence plates nor technical data emanating from rework.
organisations need to ensure due As recently as 2019, there ■ No mechanical flow diagrams
diligence in all aspects. have been various cases of ■ No data packs available
customers who have had
It is a common misconception to incur additional costs in ■ This resulted in:
in the gas industry that imported excess of 12% of their total ■ Failure of the Authorised Gas

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