Municipal professionals organisation the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa (IMESA) will hold its yearly conference, in East London, from October 29 to 31, during which it will focus on the new White Paper on Local Government as a key discussion topic.

The new White Paper was highlighted as a national imperative by President Cyril Ramaphosa during in his 2025 State of the Nation Address. The President noted that many of the challenges in municipalities arise from the design of the local government system, IMESA says.

Ramaphosa also committed to extensive consultations to develop an updated White Paper on Local Government to outline a modern and fit-for-purpose local government system, the organisation says.

A panel discussion on October 29 will discuss the White Paper and explore what is needed to achieve the goal of a modern and fit-for-purpose local government.

“This session is expected to lead to valuable debate,” says IMESA president Geoff Tooley.

Further, the 2025 IMESA conference and exhibition's theme is 'Sustainable Engineering Solutions', and reflects the importance of balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship and social equity in the development of infrastructure.

“In South Africa, rapid urbanisation, water scarcity and energy challenges are pressing issues, and sustainable engineering solutions are critical to enhance resilience, reduce environmental impact and promote inclusive development,” he says.

The conference will, therefore, showcase practical examples of sustainable design and innovation and support collaboration across sectors to ensure engineering solutions serve both people and the planet, he adds.

The conference, which is in its eighty-eighth year, will see more than 650 engineers and municipal officials convene at the East London International Convention Centre.

Additionally, the event also includes the biennial IMESA and industry organisation Consulting Engineers South Africa Excellence Awards, which recognise outstanding achievements in municipal infrastructure.

Entries have been received in three categories, namely engineering excellence in structures and civils; community upliftment and job creation; and environment and climate change.

“The entries showcase projects that demonstrate the best of civil engineering as a science, and how engineering enhances the lives of local communities,” Tooley says.

The judges assess the projects’ planning and design; construction methods; innovation and originality; how they meet social and technical challenges; and how they contribute to the wellbeing of communities.

Factors such as environmental rehabilitation, renewable energy, drought solutions, coastal initiatives for rising sea levels, pollution control, educational and technical initiatives are also considered, he explains.

The winners of the awards will be announced at a function to open the conference on the evening of October 28, he says.