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Call for urgent infrastructure reforms to combat climate change impacts

In an era marked by the escalating impacts of climate change, the importance of developing resilient infrastructure has never been more critical. As Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA), we are at the forefront of advocating for robust infrastructural strategies to combat the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Our CEO Chris Campbell, emphasises the urgent need for proactive measures to ensure the safety and sustainability of communities nationwide. Read More

Enhancing Infrastructure Resilience in South Africa

Finalists announced for the CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards 2024

With infrastructure becoming increasingly vulnerable to economic fluctuations, climate change, and natural disasters, the need for resilient infrastructure has now become imperative. Engineering excellence is therefore critical in developing systems that can withstand these challenges, ensuring safety, sustainability, and stability for communities and economies alike. Read More

Advocating for leadership to drive infrastructure development in South Africa

Our CEO Chris Campbell emphasises the crucial role of leadership in driving infrastructure development and professionalisation within the public sector in South Africa. He stressed the need for constructive and decisive leadership that focuses on national common interests rather than individual or divergent agendas. He highlighted the importance of finding common ground and maintaining a clear focus on service delivery and infrastructure development, despite the challenges posed by party politics. “In the business of politics, it’s essential for leadership within government departments to prioritise service delivery and infrastructure development,” said Campbell. “We cannot afford to let party politics overshadow the critical needs of our communities.” Read More

CESA’s Bi-Annual Economic and Capacity Survey reveals record low business confidence amidst rising project cancellations and infrastructure challenges

Business confidence remains a pressing concern in South Africa, with our Bi-Annual Economic and Capacity Survey (BECS), for the period for July – December 2023, revealing a 22% decline, reaching a low of 32, the weakest level since 2019. This drop, exacerbated by political uncertainty, corruption, and infrastructural constraints, has continued into the first quarter of 2024, falling to 30. Read More

Urgent need for collaboration in addressing KZN’s infrastructure challenges

At the recent Branch Function held in Umhlanga, in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) , on 17 July, our President  David Leukes appealed to our industry and to government, that in rebuilding the province of KZN, it is important to focus on the sustainability and quality of the infrastructure, ensuring that it can withstand future challenges, including the impacts of climate change. He called for coordinated efforts and collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that the infrastructure is built to last and meet the needs of the community. He also highlighted the greater need to foster integrated functioning between both provincial and local governments across the country, emphasising that the time for action is now!

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Dealing with Cape Town’s Traffic Congestion

The need to improve Cape Town’s public transport system is critical to addressing traffic congestion, especially in the city centre, which impacts businesses and citizens, our President David Leukes emphasised during the Western Cape Branch Visit, held in Cape Town, on 6 June 2024. He explained that innovative solutions are required to tackle these traffic issues effectively, and that, a well-functioning public transport system, subjected to a due process, can enhance accessibility, improve quality of life for residents, and make the city more attractive to tourists and investors.

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Call to action against ‘Day Zero’ for the Eastern Cape

At a recent Branch Function in Gqeberha, held on 23 July, our President David Leukes advocated for innovation, collaboration, and enabling effective technical capacity to deal with challenges related to water infrastructure, water scarcity, and water quality across South Africa and in the Eastern Cape.

He explained: “This requires critical attention – a situation that ideally should have been addressed proactively years ago.” Leukes warned against the possibility of a “Day Zero” future for any town or city in the province. Read More

Shaping the Future of Engineering

The 12th CESA Young Professionals Sustainability Imbizo is set to take place from 13-14 August 2024, in Midrand, Gauteng.

This annual conference provides a unique platform for young professionals in the engineering and built environment sectors to discuss pertinent issues related to infrastructure delivery and maintenance. 

Visit https://www.cesa.co.za/imbizo/ for more information and to register.

CESA Youth Best Practice Webinar on Leadership and Management

In celebration of Youth Month, in June, we hosted the CESA Youth Best Practice Webinar on Leadership and Management on 19 June. Facilitated by Saiuree Ramnarain, Electrical Engineer (Associate) at Bigen Group and CESA Young Engineer of the Year was very informative.

Our CEO, Christopher Campbell, shared his illustrious 40-year engineering journey, spanning from his early technical experiences to his current role leading CESA. Read More

Highlights from the YPF

Our Young Professional Forum has been actively hosting events around the country, providing valuable opportunities for professional growth and networking. For more highlights from recent events – Read More.

CESA School of Consulting Engineering joins forces with PPP Training Online

International and African countries use PPPs as an alternative procurement and financial structuring model to increase economic growth. The time has come for South Africa to re-establish itself as a significant African economy and a leader in developing innovative and productive PPP transactions. Practitioners in the PPP sphere can “be recognised internationally as a certified PPP professional,” enhancing their careers by developing the required skills.

CESA School of Consulting Engineering – SCE – has joined forces with PPP Training Online, the APMG International accredited training organisation, supporting over 700 African candidates who have successfully participated in the Certified PPP Professional Program.  Read More

SETA Skills Summit

Our CEO, Chris Campbell, participated and represented our members at the SETA Skills Summit on 23 April. This event was organised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, took place at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Center in Gauteng.  The event was important in light of Sector Education and Training Authorities playing a crucial role in closing skills gaps, correcting skills mismatches, boosting employment, and improving productivity within their sectors across South Africa.

FIDIC Africa Infrastructure Conference in the Spotlight

The FIDIC Africa Infrastructure Conference, held recently in Tanzania, from 26-28 May, saw active participation from our key representatives at CESA. Our CEO, Chris Campbell, who participated at the conference, emphasised the theme of “Innovation and Infrastructure for Sustainable Projects,” underscoring the importance of infrastructure development for Africa’s growth. This significant event highlighted CESA’s ongoing commitment to advocating for our members and promoting engineering excellence, which remains vital for the continent’s progress. Read More

WISA 2024 Biennial Conference & Exhibition

The Water Institute of Southern Africa 2024 Biennial Conference & Exhibition took place from 12-14 June at the Durban ICC in KwaZulu-Natal. Our team at CESA, including the School of Consulting Engineers, exhibited as the event, where attendees could learn more about our organisation and its initiatives. Several of our member companies, including Royal HaskoningDHV, Bosch Projects, BVi Consulting Engineers, and iX engineers, exhibited at the event alongside our affiliate, Dynamic Fluid Control Pty Ltd. Attendees had the opportunity to visit their stands and connect with representatives from these leading firms. Read More

CESA CEO Forum Tackles Critical Industry Issues

The CESA CEO Forum was held on 5 July 2024 at our national office in Gauteng. The forum brought together leaders from CESA’s member firms, who attended both in-person and online. The forum provided a platform for these industry leaders to engage in meaningful discussions on critical issues impacting the consulting engineering sector.

Reside Summit

Our team participated in the Residential Investment and Development Summit from 17 – 19 July 2024, at the Sandton Convention Centre. This event brings together key players within the residential sector, providing a valuable opportunity for networking and engagement. The summit explored innovative strategies, industry trends, and collaborative opportunities that contribute to the growth and enhancement of the residential sector.

Gauteng Branch Networking

The Gauteng Branch members held a meet and greet at the Chariots Bar at the Wanderers Club, in Johannesburg, on 18 April 2024.

It provided an opportunity to connect and network with fellow industry professionals. The event was well-attended. Attendees appreciated the atmosphere, which facilitated meaningful conversations and the exchange of valuable insights.

Networking & Knowledge Sharing

Membership with CESA offers unparalleled networking and learning opportunities through numerous local and international events, regional visits, and trade missions. Stay informed and connected with the latest industry developments through CESA’s fortnightly newsletter and quarterly magazine. Access resources and opportunities that enhance your professional journey!

Visit: https://www.cesa.co.za/membership-benefits/ to learn more about the benefits of membership.

The CESA Best Practice Webinar Series

The webinar, facilitated by our Contractual Affairs Manager Wally Mayne, was held on 21 May and was highly informative! It commenced with Francis Gibbons discussing “Early Termination Of Construction Contracts When Warranted” (Practice Note PN96). He emphasised the importance of carefully evaluating the pros and cons of dispute resolution versus contract termination when a project is underperforming. Charl Cilliers, Technical Director at Jones & Wagener, presented on “Managing Rain Events” (Practice Note PN100), stressing the necessity of adhering to South African standards and regulations to avoid unfavourable claim outcomes. Philip Booyens, Director of Private Clients at SCIP Engineering Group and CESA Gauteng Branch Chairperson, covered “Contract Price Adjustment in Construction” (Practice Note PN95). He highlighted CPA’s role in ensuring fair compensation for cost fluctuations, mitigating financial risks, maintaining contractor profitability, and promoting accurate bidding. Thank you to all our speakers and attendees for your engagement! Let’s continue striving for excellence.

Gender Mainstreaming Webinar – “How to Empower Yourself as a Graduate?”

We hosted the CESA Gender Mainstreaming Webinar, “How to empower yourself as a graduate,” on 2 July 2024. It was packed with practical advice and inspiration and facilitated by Itumeleng Sethlabane AMSAICE, a Civil Engineer at Lukhozi Consulting Engineers, who guided us through insightful sessions. Matome Mashatola from the University of the Witwatersrand shared essential tips on effective job hunting and making the most of university career resources. Following him, Nkululeko Thusini, Mechanical Engineer and Founder of Palucraft, emphasised the importance of building a professional network for career success. Read More

AI vs Humans
The Cyber Risk Paradigm Shift

In Aon’s first 2024 Client Trends Report, technology is identified as one of the four megatrends impacting businesses around the globe. The report found that 86 percent of business leaders around the globe believe generative AI (GenAI) will be transformative for their company and industry, adding the equivalent of $2.6 trillion to $4.4 trillion annually to the global economy in unleashing operational efficiencies through AI-powered chatbots, translation tools and office applications. Read More

Economic and Employment Trends in South Africa

The National Economic Development and Labour Council issued a report on the “Economic and Employment Trends in South Africa,” in May this year, and provides a snapshot of key macro-economic and employment trends based onofficial statistics and other relevant sources of data. This report has been prepared in support of the NEDLAC Social Partners’ Economic Recovery Action Plan. To access the report, click here.

Latest news on foreign nationals Constitutional Court judgment on ZEP

In a watershed decision, the Constitutional Court, on 18 June 2024, confirmed that Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders have a right to fair administrative justice, and dismissed Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s attempt to appeal the 2023 High Court judgment that found in favour of ZEP permit holders.

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Take Your Brand to the Next Level with CESA

At CESA, we don’t just strive for excellence; we embody it. As your dedicated partner in consulting engineering, we understand the importance of visibility, engagement, and growth for your brand. That’s why we’re excited to unveil a host of sponsorship and marketing opportunities tailored to take your brand to new heights! Contact us today to discuss these opportunities – email: bonolo@cesa.co.za. Click here to learn more.