Johannesburg, 8 October 2026 — Elias Monage, the newly elected President of the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA), called on the organistion to be an authoritative voice for industry, especially as a new wage agreement will need to be negotiated in 2027, when the current ones expires.
He told the SEIFSA Presidential Breakfast, held at the Destiny Exclusive Hotel & Convention Centre in Kempton Park on Thursday, that he viewed his leadership role as similar to that of a conductor leading an orchestra of skilled musicians.
The morning’s first keynote speaker, Professor Nick Binedell, founder of GIBS Business School, called on SA Inc to make the bold choice to use their voice. The country has, on paper, the raw materials and infrastructure to succeed, but “we have to make it work faster”, he said.
He posed the following choice for business: exit, loyalty or voice, but stressed that what South Africa needs most is for business and SEIFSA to be “loud in voice”.
The second keynote speaker, Silas Zimu, the Special Advisor on Energy to the Minister of Electricity and Energy, also encouraged business to take a more active role in addressing the country’s ills.
He said government is committed to the companies represented by SEIFSA and was impressed that the metals and engineering sector had sustained itself despite facing significant and persistent challenges. “Keeping those companies and jobs is very important for us in government.”
He said it has been heartening for him to see that renewable energy plants are being built in South Africa with South African components, as this is the direction the country needs to go and called on industry to take on the challenge to ensure that more locally made metal products are available to reduce the dependence on imports.
Monage welcomed the new members of the SEIFSA board and thanked the members who have stepped down, adding that change is good and in welcoming new board members with significant skills in experience means doing things differently and achieving better results.
Outgoing SEIFSA President (now first Vice-President) Mervyn Naidoo said he was leaving his role with both confidence and gratitude and paid special attention to the SEIFSA Training Centre and the crucial work it does in producing skilled artisans for South Africa and future generations.
Pam du Plessis has been elected second Vice-President. Mervyn Naidoo automatically becomes first Vice-President and Elias Monage has been elected as President. The following were elected as in-coming Board Members: Bridget Ledwaba; MD of Weir Minerals Africa; Harry Kassel, CEO of Reclamation Group; Nicolette Skjoldhammer, CEO of Betterect; Pam du Plessis, CEO of Invincible Valves ; Tumi Tsehlo, CEO of Dynamic Fluid Control who will join Ernst Volschenk, Johan Strydom, Hercu Aucamp, Lucio Trentini and Tafadzwa Chibanguza (SEIFSA CEO) on the SEIFSA Board.
