Press Article:
CONSULTING ENGINEERS REPOSITION AS CESA
Release Date: 07 Aug 2008
 The Annual Engineering Excellence Awards held on Wednesday 6th August at the Sandton Sun provided the platform to reposition consulting engineers in South Africa with the launch of their new identity Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA). The Association formerly known as the South African Association of Consulting Engineers (SAACE) now to be known as CESA aims to be the 'Proud Voice of Consulting Engineering in South Africa'.
The Association over the past year identified a need to differentiate its contribution to society Felix Fongoqa President of CESA states "Instead of talking within our industry to ourselves we need to talk to a broader audience South Africa is in a crisis the shortage of engineers is acute with more leaving every month." Fongoqa goes on to state that CESA needs to speak to government to find ways of retaining the country's intellectual capital. CESA needs to be talking to schools and universities in order to create a greater awareness of engineering and elevate public perceptions of engineering as being the career of choice. Existing services need to improve to be more environmentally conscious and actively support the fight against HIV/Aids. Through involvement in organizations such as the Green Building Council the Association needs to take the lead against the threat of global warming and engage every possible means of reducing our carbon footprint for our children and their children.
In order to secure the future CESA will further enhance its solution orientation and continue to interact with local government to facilitate greater service delivery. To this end CESA in conjunction with the Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) and the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) have established the Project Development and Facilitation Alliance (PDFA) a Section 21 company to enable CESA and its members to assist local government with their service delivery by making available desperately needed skills to ensure projects are implemented in accordance with best practices and against the highest international standards in engineering excellence. As such the PDFA has been appointed an official implementing agent for the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. The PDFA will require permanent capacity to execute its mandate and CESA's participation in the PDFA will enable the Association to build the necessary business and engineering capacity and help unlock project delivery.
Fongoqa believes that consulting engineers play a vital role in the development of any economy and in South Africa this role has never been more important than it is right now. As the country surges ahead to become globally competitive he believes that we need to ensure that vital infrastructure requirements are implemented to meet the ever-growing demands of industry business and communities.
The new CESA brand identity in Fongoqa's opinion represents an evolution of the organisation that embraces our rich and illustrious heritage while simultaneously repositioning the association to better address the challenges and opportunities of the future. CESA's focus while always local must now extend and include a global perspective.
ABOUT CESA
Established in 1952 as a voluntary Association membership over the years has grown from 30 individuals to over 450 firms in 2008 employing more than 18 000 people with a total fee income of in excess of R105-billion per annum. Consulting Engineers South Africa has 12 branches countrywide and employs a full time directorate in Johannesburg. The Association is a proud member of FIDIC the International Association of Consulting Engineers and performs the role of secretariat to GAMA the Group of Africa Member Association representing Consulting Engineers across the African continent. CESA represents for its members a body which promotes their joint interests and because of its standing provides quality assurance for clients. Its primary objective is to enhance business opportunities for member firms through promoting the strategically important role they fulfil in the delivery of high quality professional engineering services to all South Africans.
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