We are already into the second half of 2019 and much has happened since our last issue published in April this year. Elections are over and there are a series of new Minister’s in place. Unlike the previous Ministers under the former President, we are more certain this time around, about being able to establish the critical partnership that we have been advocating for. This optimism is borne out of the  responsiveness we have experienced recently with the new Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure. We have waited long enough for them to all settle in and it is appropriate that we now increase our efforts to meet and actively advocate for the excellence in infrastructure solutions that our member companies are capable of.

CESA CEO, Chris Campbell was interviewed on Power FM’s Power Business segment on Monday 24 June to discuss ‘South Africa’s infrastructure backlog posing a threat on any policy implemented to drive economic growth’. Before introducing Chris to listeners , the show’s presenter, Ron Derby, said “maybe we should look at the maintenance of South Africa’s infrastructure as a much larger problem than we care to admit and for so long our focus has been Eskom expansion and the bad job that was done with regard to the  build  of 2 power stations in the Limpopo province, but our overall infrastructure faces its own challenges, not least in that we can’t seem to agree in just how too fund them in the future”.

Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement during his State of the Nation address of the R100billion SEED Fund for infrastructure development.

Ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s First State of the Nation Address (SONA) post the 2019 National and Provincial General Elections, CESA President Neresh Pather and CEO Chris Campbell, were invited to NewzRoom Afrika’s Biz on Prime to discuss infrastructure’s role in growing the economy. Hosted by Business Editor, Sam Mkokeli, the interview aimed to find out CESA’s wish list and what needs to be done to boost economic development. Neresh said he was looking forward to feedback from the president in terms of the new cabinet and his plans on items that are of interest to CESA which include the policy committee he has set up in the presidency which is a positive view in terms of policies governing infrastructure.

The President of CESA, Neresh Pather participated in a series of visits to the organisation’s national branches where CESA’s theme and strategic intent for the year is presented to local media; member firms and their construction and infrastructure clients. Branches visited this quarter include North West, Mpumalanga, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.

CESA’s School of Consulting Engineering (SCE) provides a comprehensive training programme for the engineering industry with one of its aims that of developing future industry leaders. The SCE offers Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and South African Council for Project and Construction Management (SACPCMP) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accredited, change driven training courses, seminars and workshops to enhance the business, professional and entrepreneurial skills of members and their public and private sector clients.

CESA’s flagship one-year management development programme, entitled the Business of Consulting Engineering (BCE) Development Programme, develops future consulting engineers into industry leaders in the consulting engineering environment.

The Investec Head Office played host to the ‘Young Professionals Forum Gauteng North CEO Round Table Panel Discussion’ on Thursday, 23rd May. The theme of the event was ‘The renaissance of techno-utopianism as a challenge for innovation for SA: shaping the future of SA’s economic growth through science, technology and innovation’.

CESA hosted the Youth Best Practice Seminar: Leadership and Management on the 13th June and 4th July at the CESA head office in Johannesburg and Durban, respectively. This series of one-day seminars, initiated by CESA is aimed specifically at closing skills gaps in the engineering environment through empowering our youth.

On the 30th April, the CESA Young Professionals Forum hosted young professionals at the Mercure Hotel Nelspruit.

The Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme’s (ISFAP) model has not only created an avenue for the ‘missing middle’ to have a chance at free higher education but has shown that funding coupled with support goes a long way towards ensuring academic success.