Rebuilding with purpose

The 2021 theme for Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) – rebuilding with purpose – explores how engineers can assist in implementing government’s South African Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan.

The annual CESA Presidential Message highlighted the role of engineers in addressing poverty, inequality and unemployment. Sugan Pillay, president, CESA, touched on the compassion and empathy displayed by South Africans in 2020.

“With the Covid-19 crisis, we saw an industry of people that act with more care for others. It is this spirit of ubuntu that CESA wants to promote. Our industry protects lives and livelihoods, and we need to always consider the tangible social and economic outcomes of the work we do.”

Unpacking the 2021 theme, Pillay added that CESA will continue to mold consulting engineers to ensure they continue to protect lives through quality and safe infrastructure and protect livelihoods through the creation of economic opportunities for the wider construction value chain.

Covid-19 vaccine

Pillay encouraged the industry to be patient and understanding as government resources are diverted to funding the vaccine initiative. “Without doubt, the most pressing requirement is the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine.

CESA and its members have the necessary skills and expertise like project and logistics management to assist with this undertaking,” added Pillay. He noted that municipal budgets set for infrastructure may be diverted and that CESA members should stand ready to assist in infrastructure that might be prioritised, such as hospitals and clinics.

“This may also give the country an opportunity to create legacy infrastructure rather than temporary structures and, if carefully planned, resources that are currently being utilised for short-term interventions can rather be used to develop long-term solutions.”

Reflecting on 2020

CESA placed much emphasis in 2020 on strengthening the relationship between government and the private sector. This was showcased by the association’s involvement in the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa. The strength of this relationship will be instrumental in achieving the regrowth of the economy.

Sadly, Pillay remarked that South Africa still faces many of the same challenges as in prior years, with an ongoing demise of public decision-making processes, a lack of checks and balances within procurement systems, a loss of accountability among those tasked with leading change, and government’s slow and laborious efforts to curb corruption.

This was reflected in the Auditor-General’s report, with only 7.5% of municipalities receiving a clean audit. There was delayed infrastructure delivery, and those projects that did see progress were hampered by obstructions from the so-called construction mafia.

There is ongoing communication between the SAPS and CESA in this regard and members are encouraged to report all incidents of violence and intimidation to the authorities.

A positive development in 2020 was the reopening of REI4P (Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme), which will provide opportunities for contractors in the medium term and help improve the energy landscape in the longer term.

Rebuilding with ethics

While the current pace of change is too slow and there is a need for speed in the infrastructure development plan, infrastructure roll-out must be done carefully, or it will fuel corruption. “In our efforts to rebuild, let us maintain our focus and purpose on doing so with quality and integrity. If we are to truly save lives and livelihoods, we must operate with an unwavering focus on value, reliability and sustainability,” stated Pillay. In this regard,

CESA highlighted:

• the newly mandated management systems for its members based on international standards for quality, integrity, and sustainability.

• the draft Public Procurement Bill where CESA will continue to lobby for a more transparent procurement process with decentralised authority structures to ensure the necessary checks and balances are in place.

2021 opportunities

Pillay encouraged CESA members to focus on various opportunities that could be leveraged in 2021 to strengthen the industry and economy:

• SIPs (Strategic Integrated Projects): The identified SIPs will play a great role in economic recovery, if they can break ground. Getting a few selected projects off the ground early will provide reassurance to the public and encourage investment confidence in South Africa. It will be an ‘immune booster’ to our ill economy.

• Rethink spatial planning: With the pressing need for development in more rural areas, and the loss of emphasis on metros due to remote work and teleconferencing, there is a real opportunity to decentralise the development focus away from cities.

Growing cities bring a host of social and environmental challenges. Instead of people moving to metro areas to access services, we need to take those services to where people live. Agriculture has been one of the better-performing sectors in the economy, and if services can be decentralised to those communities, it will relieve pressure on the metros and cities. Thus, smaller-scale farmers can be supported, food security can be enhanced, and local communities can be gainfully employed in construction and maintenance activities close to where they live.

• Maintenance: South Africa’s dismal performance in the recent SAICE Infrastructure Report Card means that it is vital that we undertake comprehensive infrastructure maintenance. It is essential for protecting lives. More emphasis on maintenance efforts can protect livelihoods too, as local communities benefit from such initiatives.

• Professionalisation of the public service: Government is looking at improving the skills of public servants and the role of the state in producing skilled professionals. CESA stands ready to support this initiative.

• Workforce: The mentoring of young people in the industry is vital. Furthermore, CESA has witnessed great success in industry transformation, and will continue to encourage diversity and inclusion within the consulting engineering profession.

“For rebuilding to happen effectively, we need collaboration between all spheres of government. We need coordination between all role players. And we need to partner to build state capacity and ensure the necessary skills development takes place,” added Pillay.