CESA staff getting into the spirit of the World Cup

The Challenge that the World Cup has left us with is to ensure that we continue to embody the spirit of all that is good surrounding what has turned out to be the most successful World Cup ever.  We need to transfer this success into our workplace going forward, to ensure that as a Nation we move closer towards creating a normalised society built on common goals founded on the spirit and relationships created during this highly successful event.

CESA is proud to announce that we have once again been audited by DEKRA and are pleased to report that we have retained our ISO accreditation and remain ISO 9001:2008 certified.

CESA first received its ISO 9001:2000 certification in April 2004 valid for 3 years with an annual surveillance audit carried out over that period.  After the 3 year period we had to go through the full on site audit again to remain certified.  This was successfully completed in April 2007 and once again successfully in April this year.

It is critical that our Organisation maintains a set of minimum requirements encompassing all areas of the organization in order to maintain certification. It is thanks to our staff and their input during our monthly Quality meetings that has enabled us to maintain our ISO rating.  It has changed the way in which we think and has had a beneficial effect on the manner in which we are able to satisfy the needs of our members.  In the last CESA Biannual Economic and Capacity Survey it was reported that 90,9% of Large Firms have ISO 9001:2000 certification with 42,1% of Medium Firms; 14,3% of Small Firms; and 16,7% of Micro Firms having ISO accreditation.  These figures have shown a consistent improvement year on year.

One of the requirements of being a member of CESA is that member companies must have an ISO based Quality Management System in place although at this stage CESA does not require companies to be ISO certified.  This is in response to Clients like the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) increasingly requiring their service providers to have a Quality Management System in place as a condition of tendering. In addition to this once the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Register of Professional Service Providers is in place, this will most likely be one of the criteria for registration.

CESA run a number of courses in this regard through our School of Consulting Engineering and will gladly assist companies with the process of implementing a quality management system within their organisation.

“A Significant Achievement”

It was with great pride and excitement that the PROCSA Joint Venture Agreement was signed by the Constituent Members, being:
South African Property Owners Association (“SAPOA”)
South African Black Technical and Allied Careers Organisation (“SABTACO”)
South African Institute of Architects (“SAIA”)
Consulting Engineers South Africa (“CESA”)
Association of Construction Project Managers (“ACPM”)
Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (“ASAQS”)
African Association of Quantity Surveyors (“AAQS”)

Almost ten years ago, the Property Council of South Africa was formed. The original intention was to replace “SAPOA” with a more encompassing and representative body of all the participants in the Construction Industry. However, due to the lack of cohesion at that time, it was felt that the Voluntary Associations should remain as previously constituted. During this period of contemplation, a Committee was set up to review the Standard Client Consultant Terms of Engagement in an endeavour to standardize these terms of engagement as well as harmonise and integrate the Scope of Services for all of the Professionals engaged in the Construction Industry. To this end a Committee was formed which has been perpetuated by the efforts and input of the Constituent Members above. This was a tremendous challenge and PROCSA has finally managed to publish a harmonized, common, terms of engagement for all Professionals working on construction projects. These documents deal with the relationship between the Client and the Consultant identifying both the Principal Consultant responsible for the management and administration of the efforts of the Design Consultants, and the Principal Agent, being the party responsible for the management and administration of the Contractors as appointed. This documentation then also facilitates the appointment of the other Consultants who would be seen in a support role providing specialist Consulting input and design as required for the project. This is of particular significance in Multi Disciplinary and Multi Procurement type projects, where in excess of ten or twelve Consultants may be appointed, and a Principal Contractor, with up to 100 or more specialist subcontracts are employed. The documentation facilitates both simple and complex projects and is particularly appropriate for large and major projects, however, is also useable for smaller projects as required. To date, Annexures have been devised for the following core Consultants:-
1. Project Manager (incorporating Principal Consultant and Principal Agent)
2. Architect
3. Engineers’
3.1. Civil Engineer
3.2. Structural Engineer
3.3. Electrical Engineer
3.4. Mechanical Engineer
4. Quantity Surveyor
5. Principal Agent – Stand alone.

These documents have been constituted in such a way that they are useable internationally and not only applicable to South Africa, therefore, are being utilized throughout Africa as well and could be used in any other  country in the World. The writing style and presentation has been based on the successful style and presentation utilized by the JBCC for the Principal Building Agreement, wherein the terms defined in the document have been committed to “bold print” in order to ensure no misunderstanding in the meaning and intent of the documentation. These documents have been utilized and tested since March 2006, with the first formal publication implemented in April 2008. An up to date version of the document was concluded in August 2009, and this document is available now in both “hard copy” and “soft copy” through any one of the above Constituent Organisations, or available on-line through the “PROCSA” website, using the facilities of “Contracts on Demand’s” new division of PROCSA Electronic Services (“PES”). This is a tremendous step forward in the harmonization of the roles and responsibilities that\ Professional Consultants are required to play in the process development of our new and vibrant Country. We look forward to a successful utilization of the documentation. A special recognition and thanks goes to Tom MacDonald of Du Toit MacDonald, the Legal Consultants utilised to assist in the ratification of the legal efficacy of this document.

Africa Association of Quantity Surveyors represented by Dr. C.P. de Leeuw and Mr. T.B.M. Senyolo
Association of Construction Project Managers represented by Mr. C. Israelite and Mr. N. Graham
Association of South African Quantity Surveyors represented by Dr. C.P. de Leeuw and Mr. T.B.M. Senyolo
Consulting Engineers South Africa represented by Mr. J. Pretorius, Mr. A. Taute and Mr. M. du Plooy
South African Black Technical and Allied Careers Organisation represented by Mr. P. Kgole and Mr. S.S. Semenya
South African Institute of Architects represented by Mr. S.H. Segal and Mr. I. Alexander
South African Property Owners Association represented by Mr. K. Thamburan and Mr. T. Shilubane

CESA is proud to be part of the Construction Industry Charter Council and also is represented on their Executive Committee.  The Construction Industry Charter Council comprises representation from all Built Environment Professional (BEP) industry organisations as well as representation from government and labour.

The Charter Council has been set up to monitor the implementation of the Construction Charter and scorecard and track its effectiveness as an intervention in the sustainable development of the industry.  The Charter Council is also mandated to adjust and make necessary amendments to the charter constitution and scorecard over time to ensure that it remains relevant.

CESA is represented on the Charter council by Francois Swart with Graham Pirie as alternate.  Felix Fongoqa represents CESA on the Executive Committee of the Council.

At a breakfast held at the Indaba Hotel in Johannesburg during June CESA welcomed Affiliates:

WALKING TOGETHER TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Zulch Lötter, President of CESA, is currently visiting the various CESA regions to present his theme for the year as well as address current industry issues including:
• State of our country’s infrastructure – the four burning bridges
• Government’s ability to deliver on short and long term needs of South Africa and it’s people – the four dilemmas
• The CESA partnership and advocacy approach to government as per the Dinokeng Scenarios
• International and South African industry value systems – sustainability, integrity and best practice procurement
• CESA’s strategic initiatives including advocacy, facilitation and capacity building

CESA AND ITS MEMBER FIRMS – OUR COUNTRY’S CRUCIAL, VALUABLE AND INDISPENSIBLE RESOURCE

GAUTENG NORTH AND SOUTH PRESIDENTIAL VISIT

CESA's Gauteng North and South Branches hosted a very well attended Presidential visit to their region in June. Zulch Lötter presented his Presidential address for the year and guest speaker, Neville Eve, General Manager at Transnet Capital Projects gave a fascinating presentation on "The Role out of Transnet Infrastructure for 2010-2015".

KZN PRESIDENTIAL VISIT

The Presidential also visited the KwaZulu-Natal Branch during April.

CESA was represented at the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) Conference and Exhibition held at Sun City from the 12th to 14th May.

CESA participated in the Water Institute of South Africa (WISA) Conference and Exhibition that was held at the ICC in Durban from the 18th to 21st April .

Dr. Laurraine Lotter ( Executive Director of the Chemical and Allied Industries Association); Graham Pirie(CEO, CESA); Francois van Aswegen (Independent Consultant to Johannesburg Water); and Wally Mayne (Contractual Affairs Manager, CESA)

WALKING TOGETHER TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

The Young Professional’s Forum (YPF) of Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) is in the process of galvanizing the Consulting Engineering industry into getting involved in its National Job Shadow Month taking place for the entire month of July. The aim of CESA’s Job Shadow Month is to expose learners not only to the engineering environment but to the Consulting Engineering experience in particular. The initiative complements the Department of Public Work’s National Construction Week.

With the Consulting Engineering industry earning a total fee income in excess of R15 billion per annum and employing over 20 000 people in 2010, CESA is mobilizing its member firms and Young Professional Forum (YPF) to accomplish record participation in this year’s ‘Job Shadowing’ initiative.  “Hundreds of Learners (high school juniors and seniors) from diverse backgrounds are scheduled to shadow engineering professionals for a day at their workplace during the CESA Job Shadow Month”, says Godfrey Ramalisa, Manager Client Liaison, CESA.

Firms are encouraged to choose a school from their local community and invite pupils to spend a day with the firm during the Job Shadow Month experiencing ‘A day in the life of a Consulting Engineer’. The idea of the initiative is to encourage learners to choose ‘engineering’ as a career. The experience includes job shadowing in the firm’s offices and on site. Site visits provide learners with a practical insight into engineering and the integration of the various engineering disciplines including civil, electrical, instrumentation, mechanical, mining and geology, process, transportation, construction, etc., as well as the various aspects surrounding Consulting Engineering e.g. project management. Students will shadow professionals of every level from CEOs, COOs, Divisional Directors, Technical Directors and engineers to technologists and technicians.