Dr I C McRae​​

The odds of my going into a career of 50 years in the electricity supply industry of South Africa were very good. I was born into a Victoria Falls Power Company (VFP) residential property at Simmerpan in Germiston on 24 September 1929. VFP had been established as a private company, primarily to transmit power from the Victoria Falls down to the Reef. The technology was not available at that time and, due to the long distances, was not viable. The VFP then proceeded to build coal-fired power stations along the gold reef – the Witwatersrand. Some of the houses in the area where I was born still stand today, even though the power station has long been replaced by ESCOM’s National Control Centre and other departments.

When I was a child, he took me with him on many occasions on callouts for some routine activities when safety was not an issue. I experienced steam-blowing, fires in the boilers, ash loading and dumping, the hum of turbines, the hum of high voltage transformers, electricity control rooms with meters and gauges, workshops and stores etc. Maybe this directed my later decision to join the VFP because I already felt at home in that environment.

For me “property life” was good. I had a balanced childhood – making many friends among the other boys and girls living there. Virtually all have remained good friends throughout my life. We had access to a football field, to tennis courts and bowling greens, other recreation facilities, and of course, the Germiston Lake where we spent many days swimming.

One of my early lessons about life was from a black grounds man, called “Dummy” (because he was both deaf and dumb). When I was old enough to realise his serious affliction, I was very concerned about this. But then I noticed that he smiled a lot and always gave everyone a joyous welcome with his broad grin, hand waving and grunts. He made me happy to meet him. He was always so willing to help us with making the tennis courts and putting up nets when we wished to play, so that we also would be happy. For years, I would think Dummy as a role model of how to deal with adversity, spread happiness and be happy oneself.

One the property, I came into contact with some of the department heads of the VFP who played a major role in shaping that well-run company, on which the coal mining and other industries relied. This was important for building our economy and the nation. In Bill Fenwick, later to become head of operations, John McKenzie and Doug Fotheringham, head of system operations, I saw dedication and integrity, and the kind of men I could follow.

On leaving school, I did not know what direction to take, even though a career in power station was enticing. For some unknown reason or maybe the influence of school friends, I applied for a BSc degree in civil engineering at the Witwatersrand University. Shortly after I enrolled, I changed to mechanical engineering, a decision I knew was right, and for which I am forever grateful, as it opened a door for the career that followed. After my first year 1946 which I passed, I realised my parents could not afford to keep me there without considerable hardship. I worried over what would happen if I failed. This led to a decision to go and serve an apprenticeship as a fitter with the VFP in their maintenance department at Rosherville. I would return to university at a later stage, if I could through obtaining a bursary or some type of funding.

I remember riding my bicycle at 6:30 am to Rosherville on my first day as an apprentice wondering what it was going to be like. On the journey I decided that I did not want to spend all my days as an artisan, but for now the task at hand was to learn the trade so that I could work as an artisan. At least I would have a fall back career with which I could make a living.

I worked with top-class artisans and supervisors and I learnt a lot. I was not the greatest artisan, but tried my best at all times. I also realised the importance of the workshop in the company’s well-being and performance. I came into contact with typical examples of power plants, both mechanical and electrical, with which I would be associated in my career. I also learnt to work and associate with various types of personalities, from other apprentices to the senior supervisors in the workshops. This was a great learning curve, and my experience would help me tremendously later in my career, right up to the time of being chief executive of Eskom. I came to understand and, most important, relate to them, and hopefully they did to me.

At one stage I worked in the locomotive section under a charge hand, Dave Parsons, a real character and an outstanding artisan, His love and care for ESCOM’s locomotives ensured that they were all running as new, until they were pensioned off. Once such loco was a Kitson, which was over 100 years old!

I was playing soccer for the Germiston Callies soccer club at the time, and was mad about the game. One Tuesday afternoon Dave wanted me to work overtime in the smoke box of the Kitson. I said it was not possible as I had soccer practice. Dave did not care much about soccer practice, and ordered me to work. I jokingly said that I would slip away at about 4 pm, not for one moment thinking that he had a plan in mind to outsmart any scheme I may have had about getting out of work.

I went into the smoke box with my tools and started my task, when suddenly the door slammed shut and I was locked in. Dave informed me he would open up when I had finished at about 6 pm, too late for practice. I cursed but then laughed when I realised that the wily old dog had outsmarted me. This was followed by some water. All of this was designed to make me very comfortable. I cursed some more and laughed some more. At six o’clock, the door opened and I was let out to the clapping of the whole loco crew. Dave loved to tell this story ad nauseam, especially later when I became chief executive of Eskom.

It was somewhat ironic that my start was in Rosherville in the Central Maintenance Department, and my last contact with ESCOM in the electricity supply industry some 57 years later was as chairman and director of Rotek, of which the Central Maintenance Department had become a major component.

During the fifth year of my apprenticeship I became quite ill. I developed a kidney problem – nephritis – and was in hospital for six weeks, and off work for three months. On my return to work, I applied for a bursary from the steel industry to continue my studies toward a BSc mechanical engineering degree at Wits. I failed to win the bursary – it went to one of their staff members. However, as part of my application, I had to obtain a reference from a senior person in ESCOM. For some reason this was passed on to Bill Fenwick, head of operations. Fortunately for me, he thought about what I was trying to do and persuaded ESCOM’s management to start a bursary scheme for apprentices and other students. I was the first recipient. I returned to Wits and started my second year in 1951. At this time, I still had six months to go to complete my apprenticeship, and no remission was ever given. I had to complete my five years during my holiday periods. This was quite tough, having to go back to the bench during university vacations.

At the end of this period, I ended up with my dreams fulfilled. I was both a qualified artisan and had a BSc degree in mechanical engineering. It had been a long and tough road, but it proved to be a useful one. I received great support from my future wife Jess, who was prepared to go out only on Saturday evenings and Sundays. When I had my degree we became engaged, but I still had to complete a two-year pupillage so we had to wait a further two years before getting married. It was a long wait but it was worthwhile. We are now looking at 60 years of marriage and wonderful experiences together!

During my two years if of pupillage, I spent time in various departments, and again learnt a lot about aspects of electricity supply. I also met other remarkable people working in ESCOM, with their different skills and experience.

Another simple lesson about life was learnt when I was working over a weekend on the turbine repair team at Vierfontein power station. Jess and I had recently been married, and I was sent to work with a team carrying out turbine overhauls under “Sonny” Jackson at Vierfontein. I was only able to come home every second weekend, and that seemed like two months – so anxious was I to be at home.

One Saturday afternoon I was sitting cleaning blades on stationary turbine diaphragms next to the “boss boy”, Big John, who had worked in this team for many years. I was feeling sorry for myself and quite glum, when I turned to him and said “John, don’t you get fed up with this job, especially when you’ve worked at it for so long? He smiled and replied.

“It is my job, and I need a job to earn enough for my family. I must try at all time to do a good job and that makes me happy. No, I don’t get fed up with this job.” I suddenly felt very humble and realised I had received a very important message, one which I came to remember many times over the years.

I now had to make decision on the direction of my career. It was clear it would be with ESCOM, but should it be in ESCOM’s engineering department or head office, or in operations, especially in generation? When I decided on the shift engineer at Wilge power station. I asked instead for a position at Taaibos undergoing commissioning, but I had spent some time at Taaibos during my pupillage, so I was already known there, and I like the working atmosphere very much. This turned out to be a good decision.

I never regretted serving a five-year period as an apprentice four years studying for a BSc degree, and a two-year pupillage. Throughout my career, I drew on this experience in various ways. I was always able, even as CE, to sit down on a toolbox in a workshop while in the field, and relate to the staff. They also knew that I had been there myself and understood the issues. It always felt as if we were part of the same team.

At the start of my career in power generation, I didn’t realise I would be involved with Eskom’s incredible generation expansion plan for the next 40 years. ​