On 19 February 2026, IOPSA Gauteng kicked off it’s first Plumber’s Evening of 2026 at BUCO in Honeydew.
Meet your Gauteng committee for 2026. Supplied by Patrick Gordon
The talks of the evening started with a welcome from BUCO Honeydew’s branch manager, Gavin Vorster. Vorster explained that BUCO is a hardware store with various branches located throughout South Africa, whose customers include developers, contractors, plumbers and retailers.
Patrick Gordon, IOPSA Gauteng’s new regional chairman, then delved into the benefits of being an IOPSA member, which include:
- The P.R.I.M.E programme (click here for more information: Optimal: PRIME – Plumbing Africa Publication)
- An 80% discount on safety templates from OHSS Consulting
- Free safety training
- Dedicated WhatsApp channels per region, where plumbers connect with and support one another
- Discounts with various companies and merchants
- A free listing on IOPSA’s Find A Plumber page on their website, which gets an average of 7 000 visitors per month
- Events hosted within the regions. This year, IOPSA Gauteng will host two Plumber’s Evenings in two different locations per month – this allows for plumbers to attend the events closest to them and/or be able to be part of the evening if they are unavailable for the other
- Training programmes
Chris Coetzee, OHSS Consulting, presented a talk on IOPSA’s F.I.T initiative – a mental health support programme that has been designed to support and help people in the trades who are struggling with their mental wellbeing. He emphasised the South African culture of suppression and avoidance of problems, and how when we don’t address the struggles and stress that these problems cause for us, we often take it out on those closest to us or keep struggling in silence with depression or substance abuse. “Break the silence,” says Coetzee, “you have to name it to tame it.”
Coetzee also addressed the new Fit for F.I.T. initiative, which includes those in the F.I.T programme coming together to move – for example, by walking, cycling or hiking. The first Fit for F.I.T activity will be hosted on Saturday, 28 February 2026 at the Big Red Barn in Johannesburg. Everyone is welcome to the walk – an event aimed to de-stress, break the stigma, and build bonds within the trades.
Duncan Keil, UPP, then did a handover to Patrick as the new regional chairman of Gauteng, and announced the new members on the IOPSA regional team:
| Reconditioned geysers
All geysers must have an LOA from the National Regulator of Compulsory Standards (NRCS). Without this, failure is all but guaranteed, and the consumer and the plumber who installed the geyser are placed at risk. To anonymously report reconditioned geysers, please email recon@iopsa.org |
The evening concluded with a random-draw prize giving, networking, and a braai.
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- All images in gallery by © Plumbing Africa
