24 July 2025: Consulting Engineers South Africa’s (CESA) CEO Chris Campbell has welcomed growing recognition among state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that direct engagement with suppliers or original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) yields greater value than relying on third-party agents. He argues this approach should also extend to the appointment of professional service providers to ensure value, improved delivery, accountability, and return on investment.

Campbell points out that procurement processes in South Africa have long been stalled and inefficient, frustrating consulting engineers despite the available skills and capacity in the sector. Legacy relationships and outdated procurement practices dominate, often blocking fair and quality-driven selection of service providers. “These procurement woes are a major bottleneck impacting progress in infrastructure delivery,” he says.

He believes the shift toward dealing directly with OEMs, where “there are no guarantees when working through intermediaries,” should be mirrored in the way professional service providers are engaged. “Appointing consulting engineers or other professionals should never be a tick-box exercise. We must demand the same quality and service standards as we do from OEMs,” Campbell emphasises.

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