SAIW News: SAIW Level 3 NDT courses
Candidates who may benefit These courses offer a career pathway for both private candidates and company- sponsored personnel seeking to upgrade their NDT skills and assume greater respon- sibility, as qualified Level 3 NDT personnel are highly valued by industry, authorised inspection service providers, inspection authorities, and professional bodies. This course is ideal for NDT Level 2 per- sonnel who want to advance their careers. Level 3 training elevates their expertise from mainly executing inspections to higher-level responsibilities, including interpreting stan- dards, developing procedures, and making technical decisions. It prepares them to progress into senior roles such as NDT Level 3 specialists, and Responsible Persons, or Quality Managers within inspection and integrity management systems. In addition, for engineers and manag- ers, this training will provide a clear un- derstanding of what NDT can and cannot do, as well as how inspections are used to manage risk. This will help them make bet- ter, well-informed technical and business decisions that affect safety, quality, and asset performance. Advanced PAUT and ToFD course While we are not yet ready to offer ad- vanced Phased-Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) or Time of Flight Diffraction (ToFD) this year, we are in the process of building our capacity to offer them in the near fu-
lower-level inspectors to maintain safety and asset integrity. Without highly skilled NDT personnel, the risk of undetected defects, equipment failure, or non-compliance with regulatory requirements increases, potentially com- promising safety, causing costly delays, or leading to serious accidents. The SAIW’s reputation as a centre of excellence with decades of experience in technical training, assessment, and indus- try support makes it a training provider of choice for NDT, Inspection and Welding courses. We have passionate, highly quali- fied, and experienced instructors, which makes all the difference in delivering practi- cal, hands-on learning. We have also digitised our classrooms to make training more appealing, engag- ing and accessible, and to progress our standards to those typically used in the modern world. SAIW training continues to open op- portunities for career advancement, professional recognition, and increased employability. An empowered employee with the right skills and knowledge is a real asset to any company. So, for companies, SAIW training assures quality and compliance, as our courses align with national and in- ternational standards, helping staff achieve the competence needed to deliver safe, efficient, and reliable results. https://www.saiw.co.za
ture. Possibly, start with ToFD in 2027, once we have reestablished core Level 3 NDT training programmes that ensure that the curriculum, resources, and quality systems are well aligned with industry standards. We are also planning to include the advanced Phased-Array ultrasonic tech- nique in the near future. This need is closely aligned with South Africa’s future energy infrastructure needs, particularly in light of IRP 2025, which includes plans for nuclear capacity alongside renewable and gas projects. These developments will require the construction and maintenance of high-integrity systems such as pressure vessels, piping, and structural components, all of which demand strict quality assur- ance, inspection, and safety compliance. From an NDT perspective, these projects will increase the demand for highly skilled Level 3 personnel in all techniques, who can develop inspection procedures, interpret codes, and ensure reliability. So expanding advanced NDT training locally will be essen- tial to support the country’s infrastructure goals, enhance safety, strengthen regula- tory compliance, and reduce reliance on international expertise. Large-scale projects, such as nuclear power plants, pressure systems, pipelines, and heavy fabrication, require accurate and reliable detection of defects, which depends on expert interpretation of results, development of the most appropriate inspection procedures, and supervision of
Mark Digby: his legacy lives on M ark Digby was born on 29 April 1961 in England and im- migrated to South Africa in 1969. He matriculated in 1979 from Sunward Park High School. He married Helen in 1983, and together they had four children and four grandchildren, whom he loved dearly. Mark loved sport. Whatever sport he pursued, he embraced with near-obsessive dedication. He was passionate about cycling and triathlon, and in later years, running and walking. He could join in any sport, anywhere, at any time, and was a talented and enthusiastic all-rounder. He began his career in Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) at Hall Longmore, where he also completed his Electrical Trade qualifi- cation. He worked in the NDT field at CIS, HOWDEN, ESKOM, and the SAIW (on two separate occasions), and was self-employed for a period. He firmly believed that, as a trainer, it was essential to remain active in the field to continually update and strengthen one’s practical knowledge. Mark was a dedicated lecturer at the Southern African Institute of Welding (SAIW), a true master of NDT, a mentor, and a friend. He was more than an educator – he was a custodian of knowledge. His passion for NDT was evident in every lecture he delivered, every workshop he facilitated, and every student he guided. He possessed a rare depth of technical understanding, com- bined with the practical insight that only years of industry experi-
ence can bring. As a lecturer, he had the remarkable ability to simplify complex principles – whether explaining ultrasonic wave behaviour, radiographic interpretation, or the finer details of penetrant and magnetic parti- cle testing. His classroom was not merely a place of instruction but a space of inspiration, discipline and professional growth. Mark’s contribution to the NDT community extended far beyond course material. He shaped ca- reers, strengthened industry
standards, and instilled in his students the importance of integrity, precision and ethical responsibility. To many, he was a mentor. To others, a colleague. To all who knew him, he was a man of character, humility, and unwavering commitment to excellence. Though he is no longer with us, his legacy lives on in every tech- nician he trained, every inspector he certified, and every profes- sional who carries forward the knowledge he so generously shared. On behalf of colleagues, students, and the broader NDT fraterni- ty, we extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace, Mark. Your contribution to the world of NDT will never be forgotten. He will be deeply loved and profoundly missed by his family.
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March-April 2026
AFRICAN FUSION
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