Inside the IOPSA Plumbing Industry Awards 2026
6 November 2026
On 30 October 2026, the industry gathered at Killarney Country Club for the annual IOPSA Plumbing Industry Awards. Manufacturers sat beside merchants, contractors beside regulators, and longstanding members beside newer faces. The evening recognised achievement across the whole value chain, from the factory floor to the plumbing van.
Why an IOPSA award carries weight
Plumbers established IOPSA in 1989, and the institute has grown into the recognised voice of the South African plumbing industry. Its stated vision is plain: better plumbing for all.
That vision matters because plumbing is a compliance trade. A badly installed geyser, a missing pressure valve or a poorly graded drain puts property, health and water supply at risk. IOPSA works alongside the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB), which registers individual plumbers, and the two bodies have formalised recognition for licensed plumbers who complete accredited heat pump and solar water heating courses. IOPSA has also pushed for better quality solar water heater installation, maintenance and repair across the country.
So when IOPSA hands out an award, it reflects the judgement of an industry that knows what good work looks like and what bad work costs.
Manufacturer of the Year went to two winners in 2026: Ariston and Advanced Valves.
For Advanced Valves, the title marks a fourth consecutive year as IOPSA Manufacturer of the Year. A run like that is hard to come by in a category where plumbers judge products less by the brochure and more by how they behave years after the job is signed off.
IOPSA KZN took Region of the Year, with IOPSA Gauteng receiving an honourable mention. Regional branches carry much of the institute’s day to day work with members, so the award speaks to the energy of the people running them.
IOPSA KZN Team
IOPSA Gauteng Team
The Plumbing Company of the Year finalists were Vinmah Plumbing, Ganga Plumbers and Steyns Plumbing. Ganga Plumbers took the 2026 award. For a contracting business, this is the category closest to the customer: the company that turns up, does the job properly and stands behind it.
People who shaped the industry
Courtné Coetzee of OHSS Consulting was named Industry Lady of the Year for 2026. IOPSA has publicly committed to transforming the plumbing industry so that it better reflects the country’s demographics, and this award gives that commitment a visible face each year.
The evening’s most personal moment came with the IOPSA Legend Award. Three more industry stalwarts joined the ranks of IOPSA Legends: Sello Mokawane, Malcolm Harris and Patrick Gordon. Each received his belt and signed his name into the IOPSA Legends Book, a record that now holds a growing share of the trade’s institutional memory.
The 2026 winners at a glance
|
Award |
Winner |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer of the Year | Ariston and Advanced Valves (joint) |
| Merchant of the Year | Plumblink |
| Importer of the Year | Splashworks |
| Region of the Year | IOPSA KZN |
| Plumbing Company of the Year | Ganga Plumbers |
| Industry Lady of the Year | Courtné Coetzee, OHSS Consulting |
| IOPSA Legends | Sello Mokawane, Malcolm Harris, Patrick Gordon |
The sponsors behind the evening
IOPSA thanked the sponsors who made the night possible: Advanced Valves, Supahot, Kwikot, PIRB, Plumblink, Apollo Solar Technology and Ariston South Africa.
Congratulations to every winner and finalist, and thank you to IOPSA for a memorable evening.
Captured Moments
