Page 7 - index

itself to partner with Government and other key role “CESA has, for some time now, been bringing to the fore
players in finding lasting and practical solutions, inefficiencies in the management and implementation of
especially in relation to infrastructure development. public-sector infrastructure projects. Shortfalls such as
lack of planning, inappropriate procurement approaches,
Back to the basics will lead to the appointment lack of project management capacity and capability, lack
of the right consulting engineer for the right of other necessary technical skills in the public sector,
project rampant corruption, etc. bleed Government’s constraint
Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) supports purse and rob communities of much needed services”
the clarion call made by President Jacob Zuma at says Thela.
the SALGA National Members Assembly that the
government should do better in improving services such President Zuma said that going back to the basics means
as water infrastructure, solid waste management and reviewing tendering systems and dealing with corruption
the provision of electricity. systematically within the supply chain system in local
government. Going to the basics also means working
CESA President Abe Thela says that the organisation is harder to expand poverty alleviation programmes such
encouraged by the statement but believes that employing as the Community Work Programme, which provide
engineering skilled persons in engineering positions skills and work opportunities for the people.
as well as empowering them above other disciplines
such as finance in matters relating to infrastructure “To CESA, going back to basics means a conducive
management and implementation will go a long way in environment for the implementation and management of
addressing inefficiencies in local government. infrastructure projects which will lead to the appointment
of the right consulting engineer for the right project and
The government has responded to improve improved maintenance of existing infrastructure. The
professionalism and the management of local implementation of the same process must protect the
government by introducing amendments to local engineering profession both in Government and private
government legislation, for example the Municipal consulting engineering practice from unscrupulous
System Amendment Act. President Zuma reiterated tender opportunists,” concludes Thela.
that there should be no compromise in ensuring that CESA with the backing of our over 500 strong member
officials possess the necessary minimum skills. Chief firms recommit itself to partner with government and
financial officers should be skilled in what they are other key role players in finding lasting and practical
doing, engineers and other technical staff should also solutions to these problems, especially in relation to
be experts in what they have been employed to do: infrastructure development.
that is the key solution to the problems facing local
government.

CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards 2014
Category: Projects with a value of between R50 and R250 Million
Commendation: Jeffares & Green for the Electron Road Waste
Management Facility for the eThekwini
Municipality: Durban Solid Waste
7