You are currently viewing Young engineers chart solutions for SA infrastructure challenges at Imbizo

Young engineers chart solutions for SA infrastructure challenges at Imbizo

Young engineers chart solutions for SA infrastructure challenges at Imbizo

2 September 2026 – South Africa needs to rethink how it approaches infrastructure delivery if it is to achieve better public value, stronger economic outcomes and more resilient infrastructure, according to Inba Thumbiran, Head of Supply Chain Management at the National Research Foundation of South Africa.

Speaking at the 14th Consulting Engineers South Africa’s (CESA) Young Professionals Sustainability Imbizo, recently held in Midrand, Thumbiran challenged young professionals and the wider engineering community to move beyond established ways of working.

“The objective is not to buy innovation for its own sake. It is to obtain a better solution than you might have had. We need to start talking about innovation-friendly methods and create space for different solutions,” said Thumbiran.

In her presentation, “Strengthening Engineering Governance for Infrastructure Delivery,” Thumbiran explored the role of the National Research Foundation in supporting research, development and innovation across South Africa’s science and technology system, while highlighting the potential for innovation to improve productivity, economic growth, employment, public services, sustainability and national resilience.

Click here to download the full press release in a Word document format.

Young professionals from across the country’s engineering and built environment sectors attended the 14th CESA Young Professionals Sustainability Imbizo, recently held in Midrand, where they discussed critical issues impacting South Africa’s infrastructure landscape.