At Plumbing Africa’s 30th birthday celebration hosted on 8 October 2025, guest speaker Chris Campbell, CEO of CESA, delivered a powerful speech on the impact of collaboration between engineers and the plumbing industry, and highlighted the importance of plumbers in society.
Chris Campbell, CEO of CESA, was Plumbing Africa’s guest speaker at their 30th birthday breakfast celebration. © Plumbing Africa
Chris Campbell’s speech
Good morning, everyone.
It is a real privilege to be here with you over a good breakfast to celebrate 30 years of Plumbing Africa – three decades of informing, connecting and inspiring an industry that literally keeps our country flowing.
To the Institute of Plumbing South Africa, and to all the professionals in the room this morning – congratulations. You are part of a profession that is often out of sight, but never out of importance. Without you, our taps don’t run, our toilets don’t flush, and our cities simply stop working.
Thirty years of Plumbing Africa is something truly special. Over that time, we’ve seen massive changes – new materials, digital tools, more stringent standards, and a growing awareness that water is not just a commodity, but a precious resource.
This publication has been there through it all – helping the industry grow, keeping everyone informed, and showcasing the excellence that South African plumbers are known for.
And of course, today is also about recognising the Legends, those who’ve dedicated their lives to raising the standards of this trade.
We learn from their workmanship, but just as importantly, from their attitude. They taught us that being a professional plumber isn’t just about installing or repairing. It’s about how you work: with integrity, respect and pride.
For the younger professionals here: learn from these legends not only the technical know-how, but the soft skills – how to build trust with clients, how to lead teams, how to listen, and how to solve problems under pressure. Because in today’s world, those soft skills are often what keep staff loyal and clients coming back.
As a civil engineer, I can tell you plumbers and engineers are family. We’re different branches of the same tree.
When it comes to water supply, sanitation and sustainability, neither of our professions can succeed without the other. Engineers might draw the plans, but plumbers make them real. You bring the systems to life and keep them alive.
Together, we carry one of society’s greatest responsibilities: to safeguard water. And in a country like South Africa, where water is scarce and ageing infrastructure is a growing concern, that responsibility has never been more urgent – or more full of opportunity.
Let’s take Johannesburg as an example. Much of the city’s water network is decades old – some of it even over sixty years. Leaks, bursts and losses are all too common. And we know there’s a serious backlog in investment for replacing and upgrading those systems.
Now, that might sound like bad news… but from where I stand, it’s also a massive opportunity. It’s work that needs doing. It’s a chance for skilled, qualified plumbers and engineers to lead the renewal of our water systems. This is where professionalism really matters – where technical excellence, compliance and accountability build trust with municipalities and communities alike.
So yes, there’s a challenge, but it’s also a pipeline of opportunity for everyone in this room.
Looking ahead, the Water Services Act and its evolving policies will create even more openings for professionals like you. The focus is shifting strongly towards optimising water use, re-use technologies and sustainability. In other words, the future plumber isn’t just fixing leaks – you’re managing water efficiency, installing re-use systems, and helping South Africa adapt to a changing climate.
This means staying on top of technology such as smart meters, leak detection systems, greywater harvesting and more. But at the same time, we’ll still need the skill to maintain the old systems, many of which are still serving communities reliably.
So the challenge – and the opportunity – is to be comfortable working in both worlds: the traditional and the innovative.
And as much as we talk about technology, let’s not forget plumbing is still a people business.
Every successful business owner or foreman in this room knows that keeping good staff is just as important as finding new clients. And both come down to how you treat people. Soft skills – communication, mentorship, patience, reliability – are what build loyalty and long-term relationships. They’re also what define leadership.
So as we celebrate the Legends, let’s also make a promise to build new ones by investing in apprentices, by teaching the next generation, and by being the kind of professionals people want to work with and learn from.
This 30-year milestone isn’t just a look back – it’s a look ahead.
The future of plumbing in South Africa is bright – not because it’s easy, but because it’s essential.
We are heading into a period where water resilience will be one of the biggest priorities for government, business and communities alike.
That means more projects, more collaboration with civil engineers, and more recognition of the professional plumber as a key player in sustainable development.
So, as we finish our coffee this morning and get back to the day’s work, I’d like to leave you with this thought: water is life. And every time you repair, install or innovate, you are contributing directly to the well-being of families, businesses and cities.
You are the unsung heroes of our water story and in the next chapter, your skills, professionalism and adaptability will matter more than ever.
Here’s to 30 years of Plumbing Africa, to all of you who make this profession proud, and to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.
Thank you, and enjoy the rest of the morning.
Source: Supplied by Chris Campbell
