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which will support engineering fees and as such are not always properly experienced or educated
engineering development in the industry. Private to conduct proper procurement assessments
sector participation in this context refers to and unknowingly award contracts to these
involvement on a more technical level (and not “unscrupulous” firms. While these occurrences
as a client), to improve municipal capacity and may be limited to smaller rural areas, it remains an
efficiency. unacceptable practice.

Government must create an environment for the Lack of attention to maintain infrastructure poses
private sector so that it can play a much bigger a serious problem for the industry. Not only is
role in infrastructure delivery. Many of the projects it much more costly to build new infrastructure,
highlighted in the National Development Plan can but dilapidated infrastructure hampers economic
be carried out by the private sector through public- growth potential. The cost of resurfacing a road
private partnerships. after seven years at current prices, is estimated at
R175 000 per kilometre, compared to R3 million
Service delivery, especially at municipal level per kilometre to rebuild, less than 6% of the
remains a critical burning issue. The consulting construction price. In many cases, infrastructure is
engineering industry is threatened by incapacitated left to deteriorate to such a state, that maintenance
local and provincial governments. As major clients becomes almost impossible.
to the industry, it is important that these institutions A further challenge to the industry is to find a
become more effective, more proactive in way to standardize the procurement procedures
identifying needs and priorities and more efficient applied by the different government departments.
in project implementation and management. Procurement procedures should be standard
for the country, or at least for the specific tier of
The involvement of non-CESA members in government.
government tenders and procurement continues
to threaten the standard and performance of the To complement the Public Sector technical/
industry. Non-CESA members do not seem to engineering capacity, which cannot be built
comply with the same standards and principles as overnight, I would like to urge the Government
those firms that are members of CESA. Whether Departments and Entities to establish a Panel of
this is linked to complaints of below cost tendering Consulting Engineers for speedy mobilization and
since 2009, is not certain, but CESA members fair distribution of work amongst the profession
should be better informed about engaging in below and for competitiveness of the Public sector in
cost tendering. regards to the Infrastructure Development and
refurbishment, reiterates Makibinyane.
Firms from across South African borders are
tendering at rates that are not competitive for local He adds that this will ensure that the government
firms. Complaints have been received of some of gets on with its Infrastructure Development Plans
these firms not producing proper drawings and and boosts the needed Business confidence from
not attending site visits. Clients, unfortunately, the current index of 46 to the magic figure of 60.

CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards 2014
Category: Projects less than R50 million

Winner: AURECON for the KwaMashu Interchange Upgrade
for SANRAL

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