Report
of the Portfolio Committee on Public Works (National Assembly) on the study
tour to
The Portfolio Committee on Public Works (National
Assembly) having undertaken a study tour to Manila in Philippines and London
and Wales in Britain on 21-27 November 2005, reports as follows:
(i) The
structure of the Report
1.
Glossary
2.
Introduction
3.
Background
4.
Findings
5.
Social responsibilities of M&J
6.
Comparative
analysis
7.
Recommendations
8.
Conclusions
(ii) Glossary
BMSF Bevil Mabey Study Foundation
C100 Compact
100
C200 Compact
200
EPWP Expanded
Public Works Programme
M&J Mabey and Johnson
PBP Presidential
Bridging Programme
1. Introduction
The Committee concerned by the disaster caused by
floods in the country and an analysis of inhibiting factors and distances travelled by people of all
ages to visit socio and economic centres
to access services and benefits rendered to them by government, invited Eagles Ring, a South
African Partner of the Mabey Group of Companies for a
presentation. Eagles Ring, had an interaction with the now disbanded Disaster
Management Section of the Department of Defence and the Department of
Provincial and Local Government (DPLG). The briefing as requested by the
Committee was on investigation done and concepts that would address the
challenge. It must be noted that the Committee at this initial stage did not
invite other stakeholders.
1)
The Committee wanted to establish how the Mabey Bridge Programme could be integrated in the Expanded
Public Works Programme. ie:
·
Infrastructure development (cost effective)
·
Learnership and skills transfer,
·
Job creation and
·
Poverty alleviation
2)
The Committee further wanted to investigate the social
responsibilities that are imparted to benefit communities as beneficiaries.
3)
The report provides an analysis of each country and the
lessons learned in the countries visited and recommends adoption thereof by
parliament. Pursuant to the briefing, the Committee undertook a study tour on a
fact-finding quest to the
-
Mr. F Bhengu
(ANC), Chairperson of the Committee
-
Ms CMP Kotsi
(ANC)
-
Mr. L Maduma
(ANC)
-
Mr. JPI Blanche (DA) , and
-
Mr. J Leburu
- Committee Secretary
2.
Background
The
briefing to the joint Portfolio Committees on Public Works, Environmental
Affairs and Tourism as well as Provincial and Local Government took place on 26
October 2005. The presenters were Mr. Buys from the Department of Provincial
and Local Government and the Mabey Group of Companies
and South African partners. -Report attached as annexure A.
·
The briefing further encompassed the Rural Bridging
Programme in
·
The briefing also included the benefits of the Mabey bridging to the developing countries.
3. Findings
3.1 Visit
to
3.1.1 Briefing about the Presidential
Bridging Programme in
The Committee met with Mr. D Mabey,
Chairperson of the Mabey Group in
Mr.
David Watson, General Manager of the Special Project Management of the
Philippines President’s Bridge Program and Project Manager; Mr. Ben Power, an
Engineer.
The
briefing by the Chairperson of Mabey included the
Philippines Presidential Bridging Programme. The programme has been in progress
for the past eight (8) years. The Tsunami disaster occurred whilst the
programme was in its implementation stage and was therefore easy to
rehabilitate the damage infrastructure and bridges. The Presidential Bridging
Programme (PBP) was meant to improve the infrastructure of the country and
access of the rural communities to the main economic centres.
The
Mabey bridges have provided the following economic
and social benefits to communities:
·
Lowering of environmental impact when construction is
undertaken.
·
Poverty alleviation programmes.
·
Access of rural communities to economic centres.
·
Access to health and educational facilities, especially in
rural areas.
·
Short and long-term base job opportunities.
·
Skills transfer.
3.1.2 Briefing
about the Mabey and Johnson Company in
3.1.2.1
Background
The Mabey and Johnson
Company designs and manufacture a range of pre-fabricated modular steel
bridges. The steel manufactured by this company is used to build bridges in
rural areas as well as in any other area that requires emergency bridges. These
bridges have unique features unlike the usual steel bridges, for example:
·
The bridges are easy to construct or
install and this could be done within a week.
·
The bridges could be used as
permanent and versatile in most remote areas or for immediate provision of
emergency bridges.
·
Due to its galvanisation the bridges
are sustainable and need less maintenance.
·
The size of the bridge varies from
one way to multiple ways including footbridges.
·
The substructure of the bridge can
be built quickly with less expense on consultation fees.
·
The construction of the bridges is
labour intensive.
·
The special grade steel used for
building the bridges is fully galvanised and designed to carry in excess of
normal highway loading.
·
The bridge could be constructed for
up to 60 metres without a pier.
M&J Bridges evolves from the Bailey bridges in
1942 to Mabey bridges Compact 200 (C200), which was
introduced in 1986 and is continuously developed through intensive research.
The M&J put the C200 on an on-going test for fatigue, deck and anti-slid
tests. ISO 9001 certifies the bridges for quality assurance. M&J is
supplying the C200 bridges to both the developed and developing countries.
These bridges have been installed in areas that have been hit by the natural
disasters.
3.1.3 Site visits
3.1.3.1 Visit to
·
A 45,720-metre bridge has been
constructed for the past 18 months in
·
Adjacent to this bridge was another
30-metre bridge built four years ago.
·
There was also 30 metre bridge
constructed within the same locality and has been there for the past five
years.
3.1.3.2 Visit to Queson
Aliaga multi-span
·
A 65-metre bridge was in a
construction at Queson Aliaga
using labour intensive methods.
·
Women are involved in the
construction of the bridge.
·
12 people are employed to construct
the bridge using a crane to lift the piers and the other work was done
manually.
·
The cranes that are used for the
lifting piers belonged to the Department of Public Works, which is responsible
for the implementation of the PBP.
·
The bridge joins the two municipalities
and serves as a shortcut to the urban centres.
·
A community member has attested to
the fact that these bridges have not only provided them with jobs but they have
also shortened the distance and hours of travelling. It has also provided access
to main social services.
3.2 Visit to
3.2.1
Briefing at the Mabey
and Johnson Head Office in Twyford -
·
Mabey
Group of Companies was established in 1923 and has built bridges in
80 countries.
·
The company specialises in the
design and manufacturing of steel panel bridges.
·
The main factory is located in the
·
The company let out bridges for
temporary work.
·
The company supply spares to support
its building programme.
·
The Mabey
group keeps its close working relationship with its customers.
·
The company observe the
environmental impacts when doing feasibility study prior to the construction of
the bridges.
·
It specialises in shipping and
transportation of galvanised steel.
·
The company has 24 locations with
over 1000 engineering personnel.
·
The Mabey
and Johnson have received six
3.2.2 Site visit
3.2.2.1 Visit
to
·
The Fairfield Mabey
plant was established in 1849 and is based in Chepstow in
·
It produces high quality plated
steelwork for highway bridges.
·
It is plate girder specialist.
·
The Mabey
and Johnson share the technological expertise at this plant.
·
The factory is fitted with advanced
automated fabrication techniques, which includes robots operated machines.
3.2.2.2 Visit
to Lydney Factory
·
This factory is responsible for the
manufacturing of C200 steel.
·
The ISO 9001 quality assurance and
testing is done at the factory.
·
The quality system includes welding,
inspection and trace ability of personnel involved on the final inspection and
date of production.
3.2.2.3 Galvanising
factory
·
Final steel work produced is
galvanised at a factory that is separate from the M&J.
·
The galvanising assists the steel to be rust resistive and
result in low maintenance of the M&J bridges.
3.3 Social
responsibilities of Mabey and Johnson
·
As part of its social responsibility
a Bevil Mabey Study
Foundation (BMSF) was established in 2000.
·
The foundation provides books to
selected schools in the
·
The chosen schools are provided with
the books depending on their needs and proximity to Mabey
bridges.
·
The BMSF has successfully implemented a book-giving
programme and provided some of the impoverished and neglected schools in
4. Recommendations
It
is recommended that: -
Ř
That this bridging program be established as a subprogram of
infrastructure development and be located in the office of the Deputy President
in line with ASGISA, as it will: -
a)
Expedite infrastructure development
b)
Contribute to improved universal access to basic services
c)
Contribute to improved service delivery
d)
Improve local economic development, job creation and skills
development
Ř
A committee be established constituted from the Departments
of Transport, Public Works, Defence, Environmental Affairs and Tourism,
Provincial and Local Government and National Treasury, to:
·
Investigate and report on the progress made by the disbanded
Disaster Management Section of the Department of Defense
about the bridges (see annexure A attached.)
·
Investigate and report on the progress made thus far by the
Department of Provincial and Local Government, regarding the bridge
infrastructure program.
·
Conduct a feasibility study and needs and cost analysis
nationally in relation to the various incidences of floods and other disaster
related occurrences and their impact in
·
Call for inputs and written submissions from key bridge
constructors, engineers, civil society and other related professionals and
expects.
·
Ensuring that every infrastructure development programme
meet our procurement policies, transfer of skills, job creation, poverty
alleviation and social responsibilities.
5.
Conclusions
The Committee recognises all organisations,
institutions and individuals who have made an input in this report.
Report to be considered.