In a recent edition of Water&Sanitation Africa, the MD of Rheochem, Jacqui Swart, was interviewed on the occasion of the company’s 20th anniversary. Since then, Rheochem has employed two new senior technical people, the purpose being to provide wider coverage of the northern parts of South Africa, which will include an increased marketing effort and allied technical support.
Nhlamulo Hlungwani joins Rheochem with a strong background in various aspects of water treatment, encompassing potable, industrial and mining experience. A bubbly, confident young lady, Hlungwani is ideally suited to the challenge of her new position of area manager, as she holds a National Diploma in Analytical Chemistry as well as another in Marketing Management and Consumer Behaviour. She is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.
Nhlmulo Hlungwani
What would you say has changed most in the water treatment chemical market since you entered it over five years ago?
The introduction of the Blue and Green Drop certification by the Department of Water Affairs has created further focus on the need for the supply of chemicals to be service driven. More stringent SHEQ requirements also require customers to very carefully consider their choice of suppliers. Most customers are now more discerning, ensuring that they form partnerships with suppliers that have the resources and commitment to support their own quality and safety initiatives. Rheochem is large enough to have the necessary resources yet small enough to still personalise service, and is totally committed to doing things correctly so that the service provided genuinely goes ‘well beyond the sale’. What is your personal goal in terms of your new position? As an area manager for what is a virtually new area for Rheochem, I have a huge task ahead of me, which I have accepted with enthusiasm. Watch this space. Benny Nkosi You have a strong background in terms of health and safety. What do you think will add to Rheochem’s existing capabilities in the field? BN One of my first projects is a thorough review of Rheochem’s SHEQ policies and procedures. This will start with identifying the gaps and improving the existing health and safety systems at Rheochem, but, due to the nature of the business, it will fully integrate with what is happening in our field of operations, adding value to customers, for example by provision of structured training in the handling of chemicals, assigning clear SHEQ responsibilities to service technicians and area managers, and identifying risks in the workplace, which in many cases is actually on our customers’ sites. This adds further benefit to our customer service. SHEQ measuring and monitoring will be key features not only of what we do internally to the company, butto add another positive dimension to what we offer entities that deal with Rheochem. What attracted you to the water treatment industry? Besides having worked in a mining laboratory, I had experience in a chemical manufacturing plant, which was followed more recently by a position in which effluent treatment was one of my responsibilities. All of this touched on aspects of what the water treatment industry is about. Of course, my primary qualification also created an awareness and knowledge of this specific field of chemistry and engineering. Of particular interest to me is the design, building and commissioning of water treatment and processes and systems. I believe there is scope for Rheochem to expand into this area, particularly for solid/liquid separation of industrial effluents, a field in which the company has considerable practical experience. There is so much scope and this is very attractive to me in terms of expanding my career. Nhlamulo and Benny are a dynamic duo, and will undoubtedly add further diversity to Rheochem’s team. We wish them well in their new positions.
