Harnessing the North West province’s rich mineral wealth for sustainable development
In a compelling address to the North West branch event, on 29 October, our President David Leukes, posed critical questions that resonate deeply with our current infrastructure challenges: “How do we harness our province’s rich mineral wealth for sustainable development?” and “what can we do differently to ensure effective service delivery?” This set the stage for a discussion on the urgent need for collaboration among stakeholders to address the pressing infrastructure deficiencies facing the region. Leukes emphasised that while South Africa grapples with significant infrastructure challenges, the path forward lies in uniting efforts across government and the private sector to foster innovation and efficiency. He urged all stakeholders to engage with consulting engineering firms to ensure projects are executed with integrity and accountability, and boldly added, that we seek to work with contractors who meet the rigorous standards essential for successful project execution.
CESA North West Branch Chairperson Booi Dandashe delivered the welcome address, emphasising the importance of collaboration among engineers, government, and clients to tackle regional challenges such as infrastructure deficits and sustainable development needs.
The event commenced with our CESA Young Professionals Leadership Seminar under the theme, “ECSA Road to Professional Registration.” The event featured distinguished speakers, including Godfrey Ramalisa from CESA, Nondumiso Thusi and Mbulelo Hlalukana from ECSA, as well as Mpho Molete from DPWI. Their contributions provided insights on the journey towards professional registration and the importance of leadership in the engineering sector.
Lereko Leeu, Director of Infrastructure Management at the North West Provincial Treasury, discussed “Consulting Engineers: Partners in Infrastructure and Economic Growth,” and Sifiso Diko, Chief Director at the North West Department of Public Works and Roads. Our CEO, Chris Campbell, moderated the Q&A session, providing insightful feedback on national infrastructure issues and solutions.