IOPSA members step out for a night of dancing, dinner and acknowledgment. The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) held their Annual Dinner and Awards, a masquerade ball, on 5 March at Stone Cradle in Pretoria.

The event, attended by IOPSA members dressed to the nines, was opened by the institute’s executive director, Gary Macnamara, who welcomed the attendees and thanked the industry for their participation in the glitzy affair. Macnamara thanked Geberit, On Tap, Cobra and Plumblink for sponsoring the event, and Lou-Ann Macnamara and her team from LimeOnline, who put the event together on IOPSA’s behalf.

IOPSA president, Lea Smith, encouraged industry members to be the managers of their own destinies. He said the future of the plumbing industry was in the hands of the plumbers and they must work together to ensure that future is bright. He said the institute has begun a journey to change the industry for the plumbers’ benefit. “What IOPSA has done for the industry, and in turn you, is enormous.”

Smith told those in attendance that exciting prospects loom on the horizon for IOPSA and the industry as a whole, and he urged South Africa’s plumbers to work together to help IOPSA uplift the industry.

The event also served as IOPSA’s annual awards evening, and three awards were given to those who have provided the industry and the institute with outstanding service.

The ‘Service to the Institute and Plumbing Industry’ award was presented to Martin Coetzee, for giving his time and dedication to the industry. Steven Brown was awarded with the ‘Service to the Institute’ award, for his dedicated service to IOPSA over the years. Plumbing Africa’s editor, Rory Macnamara, was presented with the ‘Contribution to the Plumbing Industry’ award. This award is given to an individual who is not an IOPSA member but who has contributed to plumbing industry as a whole. David Malematsa and Mbali Mabena from 0860Plumber won the award for ‘Best Dressed’.

Entertainment was provided by the Shakes Production, a glittering cover band that had everyone on their feet.