Industry body Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa) has achieved some progress as it looks to further develop and professionalise the industry and engineers; however, efforts must still be bolstered, especially in terms of collaboration.

This was noted by speakers during the organisation’s Presidential Function for Gauteng, held in Midrand, on May 18.

Cesa president Olu Soluade outlined that, in 2022, the organisation called on its members to be available and willing to sacrifice and to have vision.

This would be in the vein of achieving tangible results on national priorities set by President Cyril Ramaphosa, including tackling the energy crisis, improving service delivery and combatting crime and corruption.

Most importantly, Soluade said there was a need to professionalise the public service, with Cesa supporting this. He emphasised that both the public and private services must be professionalised, and that this began at an individual level.

He also highlighted that engineers played a key role in the economic recovery of South Africa, with all needing to contribute towards this.

In terms of Cesa’s achievements, Soluade outlined that, in its focus area of the engineering profession, the organisation had made strides in professionalising the State. Moreover, through the Cesa School of Consulting Engineering, it had trained over 100 engineering practitioners to be leaders, he acclaimed.

In the focus area of the consulting engineering environment, Soluade outlined progress in supply chain processes, a new Public Procurement Bill, contractual affairs success, and advocacy efforts bearing fruit.

He emphasised that this was a critical juncture in the country's history in terms of infrastructure development, with an urgent need to put plans into action and make a difference.

He also called for collaboration to be bolstered to engender a sustainable future.

Expanding on this, Cesa board member Vishal Haripersad said that, as a sustainable future was pursued, this would require addressing how members could continue to break through the barriers to promote engineering as a career.

Moreover, there must be efforts to collaborate and support and develop young engineering professionals to innovate and sustainably advance the built environment and lead into the future, he advocated.

Haripersad also said that Cesa member firms must find ways to collaborate to develop young engineers for the companies they represented, as well as develop African engineering excellence, rather than relying on outsourcing these skillsets.

Haripersad emphasised that efforts by member companies to support Cesa must include upskilling capacity in the engineering industry; and promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related education.

He also called for support of young professionals through in-service training, vocation and structured mentorship programmes.

Haripersad highlighted that the Cesa School of Consulting Engineering would be pivotal to driving growth and development of engineers.

He also said that client bodies and their staff played a critical role in driving the professionalism of the industry.

Haripersad emphasised that corporate social responsibility must be implemented at each member company.

He pointed out that, to compete globally, the country required engineers.

It was also mentioned at the event that corruption and irregularities in the industry will now start to be addressed, as it will become regulated from next year.