Through the GIBB and Knight Piésold Joint Venture (GKP JV) appointed for the water conveyance infrastructure component of Phase 1 of the uMkhomazi Water Project (uMWP-1), the member firms have joined forces to ensure young candidate engineers, geologists and environmental scientists gain the experience and mentorship they need to achieve professional registration within their respective professions.

The benchmark initiative forms part of the two firms’ involvement in the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority’s (TCTA) uMWP-1, a large-scale water infrastructure development in KwaZulu-Natal, which is aimed at augmenting the uMngeni Water Supply System (MWSS) by transferring water via a tunnel and pipeline from the new Smithfield Dam in the uMkhomazi River.

Skills Development Manager for the programme, Mr Phumie Mayongo, says the TCTA included in the scope of services for GKP JV to implement a skills development programme, incorporating the recruitment of candidates, with the emphasis on South African black people, the allocation of mentors and facilitation of their professional registration through to the relevant regulatory bodies such as the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP).

“Essentially, it is a compliance requirement that engineering firms need to meet when conducting project work for the Government. The initiative is aligned with South Africa’s National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) III and the Construction Industry Development Board’s Building Up Infrastructure and Leading Development (B.U.I.L.D.) Programme. The former places strong emphasis on developing intermediate technical skills and higher-level professional qualifications, especially in science and engineering, and the latter requires that infrastructure projects of over R20 million allocate funding toward skills development and enterprise growth,” he adds.

The resulting programme, which kicked off with an induction event in July 2025, will provide graduates with the mentorship and hands-on project experience that is critical for their professional registration and long-term employment and growth prospects.

GKP JV project manager, Mr Francis Gibbons, says with the project being a water tunnel and pipeline, the bulk of the work relates to civil engineering. “However, there is also a major environmental and geotechnical component, which requires geologists and environmental scientists. Wherever there was an opportunity to place candidates into these specialist areas, we have done so.”

The programme will help candidates gain the practical and mentorship experience they need to practice as professionals in their fields. “When you get your degree, you don’t register as a professional until you have at least three years practical experience and have been mentored in certain key aspects of the discipline of engineering or science,” explains Gibbons.

He says while the primary objective of the programme is to facilitate the target number of candidates through the programme and see them registered with their professional bodies, there is also a selfish motive, which is to identify strong candidates to retain in the GKP JV’s respective organisations. “I must commend leadership in both GIBB and Knight Piésold on not only recognising the need to comply but in seeing its benefit in terms of adding value to society at large.

“Key to driving the process forward was the appointment of a designated individual – Mr Mayongo – who plays an instrumental role in ensuring we meet the requirements, and that the programme runs as it should. Our client, TCTA, must also take credit for making it a requirement to appoint a Skills Development Manager,” adds Mr Gibbons.

He notes that while the GKP JV provides the mentorship and training, the candidates must apply themselves and be self-motivated in doing so. “We provide support systems to help them achieve their registration and provide whatever support we can, but they have to take responsibility for their own development.”

GIBB bridge professional engineer and mentor, Ms Raeesa Khan, who has taken a few candidate engineers under her wing, says realistically, professional registration is a four to five-year process.

“It requires three main things: patience, resilience and hard work.  Patience to deal with a long-term process and much trial and error along the way; resilience to be able to accept failure and try again; and hard work combined with the willingness to do things they may not think they can do. Of course, asking questions is key, as is conducting research and engaging in problem-solving processes.”

Knight Piésold mentor, Mr Darren Pillay, says mastering the art of professional communication is the primary knowledge-share he would pass on to the next generation of engineers. “They also need to adopt a risk-adverse mindset - whether during the design or construction phases to ensure Health and Safety measures are achieved – for both workers and the public.”