For too long, excessive political involvement in administrative decisions has contributed to service delivery failures, stalled infrastructure projects, and weakened technical capacity in the public sector. A more stable, merit-based administration is essential if we are to deliver the water, sanitation, energy, transport, and other infrastructure that South Africans urgently need. 

We therefore welcome the progress that the landmark Public Service Amendment Act (PSAA) reform will bring, which also bars senior officials from holding key political party positions, helping to reduce political interference and create clearer separation between policy and implementation. 

As an industry body representing consulting engineers, our focus remains sharply on what the PSAA means for professionalisation, particularly in technical and engineering roles that directly impact project quality and public safety. While the Amendment Act advances administrative autonomy and begins to address the political-administrative interface, it stops short of fully embedding the deeper professionalisation requirements outlined in the Framework, particularly mandatory competency standards and checks and balances for senior appointments like Directors-General and HoDs.  

In engineering-specific positions within the public service, where technical decisions directly impact service delivery in water, energy, transport, and sanitation, we believe stronger provisions are needed to mandate professional registration and demonstrated competence.  

We have long advocated for a shift from voluntary professional registration to a compliance-driven approach, supported by regulations such as the Identification of Engineering Work, or IDoEW. Professional registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) is not merely a nice-to-have credential; it is a critical safeguard. It ensures that those making technical decisions possess verified competence, adhere to ethical standards, maintain quality assurance processes, and carry appropriate professional indemnity insurance. 

The National Framework towards the Professionalisation of the Public Service (2023) rightly emphasises merit-based appointments, continuous development, and ethical conduct. The PSAA takes important steps in this direction by empowering administrative leadership. However, in our view, the Act does not yet go far enough in embedding specific professionalisation requirements for engineering and other technical disciplines within the public service. 

Compliance with legislation is necessary but insufficient on its own. True professional standards also demand attention to behavioural aspects: ethics, integrity, accountability, and the ability to resist pressure when signing off on incomplete or substandard work. Young engineers in the public sector sometimes face exactly these challenges. Without stronger checks and balances, including mandatory ECSA registration for engineering positions that carry significant technical risk, gaps will remain where political or other interests could still influence outcomes. 

If implementation of the Act does not adequately address professional competence standards for engineering roles, CESA will actively submit comments and engage with the Department of Public Service and Administration. South Africans deserve, and infrastructure delivery demands, a public service where engineers in key positions are not only qualified but held to the highest professional standards. 

This conversation ties directly into the broader evolution of our profession. Historically, registration was largely voluntary, a mark of personal credibility. Abuses in the market showed the need for stronger regulation. Today, we recognise that while registration and codes of conduct provide a framework, self-policing has limitations. Mentorship, especially voluntary and well-matched mentorship based on personality and cultural fit, remains one of the most effective ways to transfer knowledge, build integrity, and prepare the next generation. Forced compliance in this area often delivers poorer results. 

We are also reminded of the Credo of an African Engineer, which calls on us to serve society with competence, honesty, and a commitment to sustainable development that uplifts communities. That ethos must guide both private consulting firms and the public sector. 

Tying into that, our recent KZN Branch Function highlighted just why South Africans do not need grander promises or more dialogue platforms, but tangible results. Infrastructure is a basic human right and the cornerstone of economic recovery and dignity. Reliable water, sanitation, energy, and transport services are non-negotiable. 

We must move beyond rhetoric and ask the hard questions: How will projects actually be delivered, and who will be held accountable for completion? Engineers who design, plan, and oversee implementation must be placed at the heart of the process, not treated as an afterthought. Positive signals, such as planned water infrastructure investments in eThekwini, are encouraging, but intention must translate into completed, functional assets. 

Systemic issues, skills shortages, inefficient procurement, delayed payments, lowball bidding, non-transparent processes and weak enforcement of professional standards at municipal level continue to push many consulting engineering firms into survival mode. This is unsustainable for a sector central to national development. 

On a practical note, I am pleased to announce that CESA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Arbitrators. This partnership will provide our members with access to valuable information sessions on alternative dispute resolution (ADR). In an environment plagued by procurement delays, payment disputes, and contractual challenges, effective ADR can help keep projects moving and reduce costly litigation. 

Finally, don’t miss our Executive Townhall. The first invitation will be issued shortly for the session on 28 May 2026. This exclusive gathering is designed for member executives to engage in focused, strategic dialogue on the challenges and opportunities facing our industry. 

CESA remains committed to advocating for fair procurement, adequate funding, proper planning, and full project execution. Through platforms like our branch functions, thought leadership, and constructive engagement with government, we will continue supporting our members and pushing for the professional, ethical, and delivery-driven public service South Africa needs. 

Together, let’s turn reform on paper into real capability on the ground. 

Chris Campbell CEO, Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA)