The partial collapse of the Umbongintwini River bridge on the N2 southbound, in KwaZulu-Natal, highlights the urgent need for comprehensive infrastructure maintenance across South Africa, industry organisation Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) says.

“This incident highlights the importance of proactive measures to prevent further infrastructure failures. While we focus on new projects, we must not neglect our existing infrastructure, much of which is deteriorating and in dire need of attention,” says CESA CEO Chris Campbell.

Maintaining public confidence in infrastructure safety is important, as is reassuring South Africans that, while incidents like these are concerning, they will serve as catalysts for prioritising infrastructure development, he adds.

This incident has highlighted the urgent need for routine maintenance across all infrastructure assets - not just bridges, but roads, buildings, and water and sewerage systems - to ensure their longevity and safety.

“Proactive maintenance will provide us with a clearer picture of the health of the country’s infrastructure and allow us to protect our citizens better,” Campbell emphasises.

A critical aspect is the ownership and management of infrastructure assets across the country, as infrastructure assets are owned by various entities, he adds.

However, while the Johannesburg Roads Agency has provided “alarming” statistics of bridge conditions in the city, there is limited research on the overall state of bridges nationwide.

“We lack a comprehensive understanding of the condition of bridges across the country, which makes it more challenging to prioritise interventions effectively, but it must still be done despite this challenge,” he says.

To effectively manage and develop infrastructure, South Africa must ensure that the right people are in the right positions, and it is important that qualified individuals serve in key roles within the public sector's technical spaces.

Capable leadership and skilled professionals are vital to safeguarding South Africa’s infrastructure, Campbell emphasises.

Further, South Africa is home to some of the world’s best engineers and infrastructure, he avers.

“We have the talent and capability to maintain safe, reliable infrastructure, but this potential is not being leveraged effectively. We need to shift our focus to maximise this expertise and address existing vulnerabilities,” he advises.

Meanwhile, South Africa must take a proactive approach to construction and maintenance practices to strengthen infrastructure resilience, especially in terms of environmental and climate change resilience.

“We need to adapt our thinking and practices to build resilient infrastructure that can withstand environmental challenges,” Campbell says.