CESA Voices Concerns Over Proposed Office of the Engineer-General

2 May 2025 – Chris Campbell, CEO of Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA), has expressed reservations about the proposed creation of an Office of the Engineer-General within the public sector, warning that it may introduce unnecessary bureaucracy and additional costs without tackling the core issues behind South Africa’s infrastructure challenges.

In response to reports that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) plans to proceed with establishing the Office of the Engineer-General South Africa, Campbell questioned the effectiveness of adding “yet another” oversight structure. While oversight bodies, to an extent, play an important role in promoting accountability and service delivery, their effectiveness depends heavily on factors such as independence, adequate resources and institutional capacity.

While South Africa has institutions such as the Human Rights Commission, the Public Protector and the Auditor-General, these bodies often face challenges in maintaining their independence and ensuring their recommendations are implemented effectively.

Campbell raises critical questions: “Is an Office of the Engineer-General going to be able to effect meaningful change in infrastructure delivery that ensures value for money? Will it have the capacity and authority to exercise oversight on the full span of public entities responsible for public infrastructure delivery and add value to resolving the many issues that limit their own abilities to fulfil their obligations in this respect? Will it simply do what other such oversight bodies already do?”

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