High-quality and sustainable infrastructure development is an imperative for driving socioeconomic development in South Africa. Despite the whirlwind of challenges impacting South Africa’s built environment and poor economic growth, there remains resilience in the midst of calamity, explains Chris Campbell, CEO of Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA).

Speaking ahead of the 2023 CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards, being held on the 16th of August, in Gauteng, he explained that the quality of the project and individual award entries represented the innovation, skills, and engineering excellence that exists to change the infrastructure landscape of this country and improve livelihoods.

“We had a phenomenal response in terms of award entries this year, and this has showcased the pockets of excellence and work on the ground to deliver quality infrastructure across South Africa and internationally. These projects validate that, when we start appointing reputable companies with the appropriate expertise and capacity to do the upfront engineering, planning and design; sustainability, quality and innovation are never compromised,” he explained.

The finalists across the various categories for this year’s awards are:

In the category of Best International Projects:

AECOM: ABSA Zambia Head Office;

AECOM: Tema Port, for the Ports and Harbors Authority, Ghana;

ARQ Consulting Engineers: Yusufeli Dam for DSI: Artvin Province, Turkey;

Knight Piésold: Tailings Storage Facility Expansion Project for Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation, Namibia;

MPAMOT Africa:  The Beitbridge border post upgrade and modernization project for Zimborders, Zimbabwe; and

Royal HaskoningDHV: Red Sea International Airport Airside Design for Red Sea Global, Saudi Arabia.

In the category for Projects less than R50-million:

AECOM: Upgrading of the Distillery Road Bridge, River Rehabilitation, Roadways and Ancillary Works for Stellenbosch Municipality;

Infraconsult Engineering: Sky City Bulk Stormwater and Bulk Sewer for Cosmopolitan Projects;

Naidu Consulting, MSW Consulting JV:  Tongaat Water Treatment Works Emergency Remediation Works for eThekwini Municipality;

Zutari: The Johannesburg Office Fit-out for Ericsson; and

Zutari: Compilation of the 15-year Western Cape Integrated Drought and Water Response Plan for the Western Cape Government.

In the category of Projects ranging from R50 million to less than R250 million:

Bigen Africa: East London Industrial Development Zone Electrical Upgrade for the East London Industrial Development Zone;

BVi Consulting Engineers: Orchards Clinic for the Johannesburg Development Agency;

Endecon Ubuntu Consulting Engineers: Dinosaur Interpretative Centre for SANParks and the Free State Provincial Government;

Nathoo Mbenyane Engineers: Design and contract administration of the Rehabilitation of Main Road P5-4 for the KZN Department of Transport;

Zutari: The Groote Schuur Estate Refurbishment for the Coega Development Corporation; and

Zutari: Square Kilometre Array Meerkat Extension for the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory.

In the category of Projects ranging from R250 million to less than R1 billion:       

ERO Engineers: Periodic Maintenance of Main Road 27 and Main Road 201 for the Western Cape Government;

KBK Engineers: N1 Musina Ring Road for the South African National Roads Agency Limited; and

SMEC South Africa: Upgrading and rehabilitation of N4 Section 5X for Trans African Concession.

In the category for Engineering Technology and Innovation – Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Design Excellence Award:

Zutari: Groote Schuur Estate Refurbishment for the Coega Development Corporation

In the category for Engineering Technology and Innovation – HVAC Building Systems Design Excellence:

Maninga Engineering: Test and Examination Centre: Part 1 – Flower Hall for the University of Witwatersrand

In the category for Business Excellence:

BVi Consulting Engineers;      

Nyeleti Consulting; and         

Zitholele Consulting.

In the category of Small/Medium Company of the Year:

M & C Consulting Engineers; and

Koleko Solutions.       

In the category of Young Engineer of the Year:

Kerusha Ayer from Naidu Consulting;

Vusi Baleni from the Bigen Group;

Mareli Botha from Zutari;

Tevan Govender from Knight Piésold;

Lerato Kgoa from Merchelles Collective;

Nerave Moodley from Makhaotse, Narasimulu and Associates (MNA);

Darren Pillay from Knight Piésold;

Dawit Seyoum from Royal HaskoningDHV;

Sthabile Sibiya from Naidu Consulting; and

Stephen Rose from Royal HaskoningDHV.

In the category of Mentor of the Year:

Aasif Bapoo from Royal HaskoningDHV; and

Herman Cronje from SMEC South Africa.

In the category of Mentoring Company of the Year:

Naidu Consulting

No nominees were recognised this year for the Visionary Client of the Year Award.

“We wish all of the finalists for this year’s awards the very best, and we encourage all of these organisation and individuals, together with our member firms, to continue in their pursuit of engineering excellence to enable positive change for all South Africans,” concludes Campbell.