Johannesburg, 12 Nov 2020. In an annual celebration of innovation, quality, outstanding workmanship and professionalism in the engineering industry, Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) and the engineering community enjoyed the prestigious CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards which took place virtually last night. “On an annual basis, these awards showcase and celebrate excellence in South African engineering. This year, the key difference is the use of a live virtual platform to communicate the results in response to Covid-19,” said CESA CEO, Chris Campbell. “The advantage of this is that we can share the excitement of the event with a much broader audience.” Now in its 49th year, this event with platinum sponsorship from Aon South Africa for over 20 years, is one of the highlights in the engineering and construction industry calendar.
With 2020 having been an unprecedented year of uncertainty, trauma and market complexity, the awards showcased the resilience and commitment of the consulting engineering industry. With infrastructure development being promoted as key in developing South Africa’s economy, leveraging this commitment would see success for government’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. “I applaud the companies that have entered our awards this year for their commitment to the promotion and development of the industry, and their focus on providing engineering excellence,” stated Campbell.
“All the challenges and conditions that existed prior to the pandemic still prevail, with many amplified, demanding new strategies in order to cope with these changing complexities in our ‘new normal’,” said Terence Williams, CEO of Aon South Africa. “As we celebrate the CESA Awards, it is an opportunity to reflect on the rising resilience that the engineering sector has demonstrated in the face of a global pandemic. Through all of this, you have maintained the high standards of excellence and innovation in your tremendous contribution to our economy and society.”
Awards were handed out in the following categories: Lifetime Industry Achievement Award; Visionary Client of the Year; Mega Projects with a Value Greater Than R1 Billion; Projects with a Value Between R250 Million and R1 Billion; Projects with a Value of Between R50 Million and R250 Million; Projects with a Value Less Than R50 Million; Best International Project; HVAC in Building Design Award; Engineering Technology and Innovation; Business Excellence; Small/Medium Company of the Year; Mentor of the Year; Mentoring Company of the Year; Young Engineer of the Year; and Publisher of the Year.
Winners:
Llewellyn Pike was recognised for his 40-year career in consulting engineering with the Lifetime Industry Achievement Award. He has been a true and persistent force for change and legitimate transformation.
The Western Cape Department of Health was recognised as Visionary Client of the Year for their Facility and Infrastructure Covid-19 response programme which demonstrates the province’s readiness to deal with health needs and provide effective service delivery.
In the category of Mega Projects with a Value Greater than R1 Billion, SMEC South Africa was the winner for their provision of Water and Sanitation Services to Informal Settlements and Schools in eThekwini Municipality.
Zutari was named the winner for Projects with a Value Between R250 Million and R1 Billion, with their Upgrade and Extension of Stellenbosch Wastewater Treatment Plant. They also received commendation for their work on 144 Oxford Road, an office building in Rosebank.
Tirisano Consulting Engineers was named winner for Projects with a Value of Between R50 Million and R250 Million. The award was for the additional shopping area they worked on for Wonderpark Spar, Middelburg. Commendation was given to Hatch for the Midmar Water Treatment Works Upgrade, Howick. Naidu Consulting was also commended for their work on the Mabhobhane River Bridge over the Tugela River.
In the category of Projects with a Value Less Than R50 Million, Naidu Consulting was the winner for their work on eZimbokodweni Pipe and Pedestrian Bridge for eThekwini Municipality.
The winner of Best International Project was MPAMOT Ruben Reddy Architects JV for Cote D’Or National Sports Complex, Mauritius. The complex provides legacy sporting facilities for Mauritius and the wider Indian Ocean region and is delivering multiple social benefits for the island’s population.
For Engineering Technology and Innovation, the HVAC in Building Design Award commendation went to AOS Consulting Engineers for the New Orange Data Centre and Office, Botswana.
Naidu Consulting won the Business Excellence Award for their “smart responses for a sustainable future”. Despite the current pandemic, sound business practice has seen all staff proactively prepare to work remotely. This commitment has resulted in no employee salary cuts, no retrenchments, and no intention of dependence on external funding.
ROMH Consulting was named Small/Medium Company of the Year. ROMH is a proudly South African- and management-owned organisation founded in 2013 that has shown to have strategic leadership, strong professionalism and a sensitivity towards the social impacts and implications of their engineering designs
Pierre Cronje of Naidu Consulting was recognised as Mentor of the Year. With a track record spanning more than 54 years, he has looked to share his valuable experience with as many people as possible. He has capacitated himself through training courses and registering as a mentor to be able guide the future leaders of our country.
Naidu Consulting was named Mentoring Company of the Year. This company realises the importance of raising leaders, decision-makers and contributors rather than mere followers. Training and mentorship is a building block of empowerment, which has become an integral part of the culture within Naidu Consulting.
Each year CESA recognises the contribution young engineers make to the profession, and aims to promote the Consulting Engineering profession by naming Young Engineer of the Year. Entries were strong this year, and Yolan Pillay from SMEC South Africa and Lloyd Fisher-Jeffes from Zutari were jointly named Young Engineer of the Year.
Publishing Excellence in the Trade Publications category went to Creamer Media, while the Daily Newspaper category was awarded to Independent Online (IOL).