Civil Engineering March 2021 | Vol 29 No 2

56 March 2021 Civil Engineering Marke t I ns i ght Reflecting on the past year, Pillay said CESA had made progress in strengthening the relationship between government and the private sector, showcased by the as- sociation’s involvement in the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa in June last year. “However, it has become clear that South Africa still faces many of the same challenges as in prior years, with an ongoing demise of public decision-making processes, a lack of checks and balances within procurement systems, and a loss of accountability of those tasked with leading change,” he said. He mentioned President Cyril Ramaphosa’s slow and laborious efforts to curb corruption, and the poor results from the 2020 Auditor-General’s report as examples. “We also face continuously delayed infrastructure delivery, and those projects which do see progress are ham- pered by obstructions from the so-called construction mafia.” However, Pillay also noted that last year showed a greater focus on people rather than profit. “As compassion and empathy gained momentum amid a public health crisis, we are now seeing an industry of people who act with more care for others, and we hope this spirit of ubuntu continues through 2021 as we stand together. Ultimately, this spirit of ubuntu and caretaking is what CESA aims to promote to industry – to protect lives and livelihoods and consider the tangible social and economic outcomes of our work.” Rebuilding Pillay stressed that, as South Africa embarks on its massive rebuilding project, we should try to rebuild in a conscious and mindful manner, so that rebuilding does not just become about providing infrastructure, but is consciously engineered to address poverty, inequality, and unemployment. Importantly, industry must be understanding of the immediate needs of society, the most pressing of which is the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccine. CESA encourages the industry to be patient and understanding as resources are diverted to fund the vaccine initiative. This could include municipal budgets set for infra- structure. Pillay also called on industry to contribute where they can, to go beyond the call of duty, and to work together with the state to address issues around resources and governance. The CESA president went on to present various opportunities that could be leveraged in 2021 to strengthen the industry and economy: Q Q Greater community involvement in the development of infrastructure, both new and maintained, for the benefit of end-users as well as the creation of jobs. Q Q A decentralised approach to spatial planning and development, spurred by the decreased emphasis on metros due to remote work and teleconferencing. Q Q Increased attention to agriculture and surrounding services, as the agriculture sector is performing well, and surrounding areas are prime for development. Q Q Greater focus on maintenance, which is vital due to the poor performance of our infrastructure, as highlighted in the recent SAICE Infrastructure Report Card. “For rebuilding to happen effectively, we need collaboration between all spheres of government. We need coordination between all role players, and we need to partner to build state capacity and ensure the necessary skills development takes place.” He highlighted the recent em- phasis on professionalisation of the public service and said that CESA stands ready to support this initiative. Purpose “In our efforts to rebuild, let us maintain our focus and purpose on doing so with quality and integrity. If we are to truly save lives and livelihoods, we must op- erate with an unwavering focus on value, reliability, and sustainability,” said Pillay. He also mentioned the Draft Public Procurement Bill which has seen industry lobby for a more transparent procurement process with decentralised authority structures to ensure the necessary checks and balances are in place. “CESA calls on policymakers to listen to the voices of industry and ensure the bill promotes integrity, localisation, transparency, and accountability,” he said. Finally, Pillay suggested an “immune booster” in South Africa’s recovery plan: “The identified Strategic Integrated Projects will play a decisive role in economic recovery if they can break ground. Getting a few selected projects off the ground early will be valuable in giving impetus to the programme, providing reassurance to the public, and encouraging investment confidence in South Africa.” Recovery In conclusion, Pillay said that CESA is committed to contributing to effective and sustainable solutions and will continue to guide its members and the industry at large towards more transparent and prosperous infrastructure delivery processes. “Our task is not easy, as the nuances at play make for a bumpy road to recovery. Regardless, CESA will continue to actively engage through the relevant platforms and to remain your partner in enabling consulting engineering excellence.” Rebuilding with purpose Consulting Engineers South Africa’s (CESA) President Sugen Pillay recently presented his presidential message and theme for 2021, ‘Rebuilding with Purpose’, which highlights the importance of quality, integrity, and accountability in South Africa’s road to recovery. Sugen Pillay President Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA)