CIVILS OVERVIEW
Expertise and wisdom for the betterment of South Africa Public infrastructure spending has reached a low point, compared to historical levels. A succession plan for civil engineering in South Africa is imperative if the countr y is to meet its infrastructure development objectives.
The expansion and improvement of infrastructure is a very efficient way of creating jobs quickly and with little investment
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INFRASTRUCTURE INTELLIGENCE 2012
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HE SOUTH AFRICAN Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) recently inaugurated its 110th president. The event, held in Ekurhuleni, was attended by various high-profile guests, including environmental professionals, champions of the infrastructure industry, government officials,
engineering clients from both the private and public sectors, as well as SAICE members. Those in attendance showed great appreciation for Dr Martinvan Veelen’s address entitled ‘A Succession Plan for Civil Engineering in South Africa’. Van Veelen discussed issues pertaining to factors influencing a sustainable succession of relevant civil engineering skills and experience in government and other sectors. In his address he stated: “A growing economy depends on adequate and efficient infrastructure to support growth and to sustain it, and it is this growing economy that will provide the jobs and subsequent incomes to fund education, healthcare and the transformation of urban and rural spaces. The expansion and improvement of infrastructure is also a very efficient way of creating jobs quickly and with little investment, while at the same time creating the conditions that are conducive to economic development.” Civil engineering professionals are central to realising the set objectives of President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address and the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, indicated in his budget speech that billions are to be spent on infrastructure. Civil engineering is at the heart of infrastructure creation and service delivery in South Africa. Van Veelen continued by saying: “Public infrastructure spending is at a low compared to historical levels and South Africa has missed a generation of capital investment in roads, rail, ports, water supply and sanitation, electricity, public transportation and housing. In order to grow faster, South Africa needs increased capital spending in general and more public investment in particular.”