SAIMC


SAIMC: Durban branch

January 2023 SAIMC

After a hiatus of two years during COVID, the Durban branch of the SAIMC held its annual year-end dinner at the Mount Edgecombe Country Club in November 2022. Even the cool, windy and rainy weather (welcome to summer in Durban) didn’t deter people from turning out in full force to celebrate the return of this well-loved event which was deemed a success by all who attended.


As always, formalities were kept short, with Mark Calvert multi-tasking as both the very efficient MC and Branch General Manager. After welcoming and thanking everybody, he then introduced SAIMC CEO Johan Maartens, who gave a brief run-down of what the SAIMC had achieved during the year. Daleen Filbey from Reed Exhibitions gave another short presentation on what’s in store for the industry with Africa Automation & Technology Fair in 2023, and that concluded the formalities.

Dinner was a delicious buffet of Durban chicken curry and roast lamb with crispy roast potatoes and sautéed vegetables, which everybody tucked into whilst enjoying some background music provided by our musicians of the evening – Angus. Angus later upped the ante, and the volume, and even managed to seduce a few people on to the dance floor, providing a backdrop of some old and well-loved tunes.


Comedian Joey Rasdien.

Joey Rasdien was undoubtedly the highlight of the evening, with his clever and whacky brand of humour. In conversation with him the next day Joey admitted to loving the audience and instead of his standard 45-minute slot, very generously spent an hour and a half weaving threads of comedic magic throughout his routine – everyone there will remember the hilarious ‘peanut’ butter moment. Joey commented that it was a pleasure interacting with an audience of such high technical calibre (and IQ!) who ‘got’ his humour more than most.

The Durban management team would like to thank all table sponsors, and the following additional sponsors of the evening:

IFM – welcome drinks.

Reed Exhibitions – table decorations.

Cabstrut – dessert.

Proconics – music.


Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

SAIMC Zambia
SAIMC SAIMC News
SAIMC Zambia marked its 21st anniversary with the annual SAIMC Banquet, held on 29 November 2025 at Mukwa Lodge in Kitwe, Zambia.

Read more...
SAIMC: From the office of the COO: Reflections on progress and ambitions for the new year
SAIMC SAIMC
As we greet the possibilities of the new year, we have the chance to reflect on our shared journey, to acknowledge our achievements and to set our sights on new horizons.

Read more...
SAIMC: Durban branch
SAIMC SAIMC
The SAIMC Durban Branch closed off its 2025 technology meetings with an exceptionally well-attended session on selecting and applying signal transducers.

Read more...
SAIMC: Durban year-end dinner
SAIMC SAIMC
The SAIMC Durban branch hosted its much-anticipated annual year-end dinner at the Mount Edgecombe Country Club on 22 November 2025. Durban’s summer weather provided the perfect backdrop for a warm, ...

Read more...
Durban branch
SAIMC
At the Durban branch of the SAIMC held in October, Mitch Naidoo took the attendees on an interesting journey on Asset Health Management: Tracking The Pulse Of Your Plant.

Read more...
From the office of the COO: Aligning people, process and technology for global competitiveness
SAIMC SAIMC
As I reflect on the recent SAIMC User Advisory Conference where we gathered to discuss the future of industrial technology, integration and the evolving role of engineering professionals in South Africa ...

Read more...
SAIMC: Durban branch
SAIMC SAIMC
At the Durban branch of the SAIMC held in October, Mitch Naidoo took the attendees on an interesting journey on Asset Health Management: Tracking The Pulse Of Your Plant.

Read more...
SAIMC: Johannesburg branch
SAIMC SAIMC
The SAIMC Johannesburg Branch technical evening was hosted by Proconics Advanced Solutions. The topic of the session was ‘Turning Big 3D Data into Actionable Engineering Insights – Challenges and Smart Solutions’.

Read more...
SAIMC User Advisory Council Annual Summit 2025
SAIMC SAIMC
October 2025 marked a pivotal moment for the South African automation and manufacturing community as the SAIMC User Advisory Council hosted its first annual summit under the SAIMC banner.

Read more...
SAIMC: Johannesburg
SAIMC
The Johannesburg Branch of the SAIMC hosted a successful Technology Evening on 10 September. The event was well attended and generously sponsored by Phoenix Contact.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved