Civil Engineering nOVEMBER 2021 | Vol 29 No 10

30 November 2021 Civil Engineering SACNASP (South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions) SACNASP is a registration and regulatory body for natural science professionals and was established in terms of the Natural Scientific Professions Act No 27 of 2003 (hereby referred to as the NSP Act) as amended by the Science and Technology Laws Amendment Act No 7 of 2014. The primary role of SACNASP is to provide protection to the public in the natural science space, and natural science professions. SACNASP’s focus is to: Q Q Proactively advise government and relevant stakeholders on the contribu- tions and role of the Natural Scientific Professions in South Africa. Q Q Register and regulate natural science professionals. Q Q Promote SACNASP and the natural science professions in South Africa. Q Q Promote the professional development and transformation of the natural sci- ence sector of South Africa. Q Q Foster a culture of good corporate governance. SACNASP Private Bag X540, Silverton, 0127 T: +27 12 748 6500, F: +27 86 206 0427 E: sacnasp@sacnasp.org.za W: www.sacnasp.org.za Management Enterprise Building, Mark Shuttleworth Street, Innovation Hub, Pretoria GOVERNMENT AND OTHER STRUCTURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT SAICE has a unique position in the sense that it represents individual members of the civil engineering profession while many other bodies represent a focused vocational or industry-specific sector and often have only company membership. This means that SAICE is seen mostly as an organisa- tion that has a broad and independent con- stituency and can operate from a particular viewpoint and/or independent basis. In order to promote the profession, create understanding and facilitate cred- ible and trustworthy relationships and support systems, SAICE has since 1994 engaged extensively with government structures on a scale that has never been seen before in the long history of the Institution. Regular meetings with Ministers and Departments have been a feature of the SAICE annual calendar since the middle 1990s. SAICE liaises mainly with the following government departments: Q Q Department of Public Works and Infrastructure Q Q Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Q Q Department of Transport Q Q Department of Water and Sanitation Q Q Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Q Q Department of Trade, Industry and Competition Q Q Department of Human Settlements Q Q Department of Basic Education Q Q Department of Higher Education and Training Q Q Department of Science and Innovation SAICE representatives have also made meaningful presentations to the Portfolio Committees of a number of these govern- ment departments, not only to explain the contribution that the civil engineering profession can make, but also to alert the various Committees to the current state of conditions within those particular government sectors, as seen from an engi- neering perspective. SAICE’s liaison with government departments is of extreme importance to the future of the profession and the country alike. NPC (National Planning Commission of South Africa) The NPC was tasked with developing a vision for South Africa in 2030, and a road map to take the country there. They produced the National Development Plan (NDP), adopted in 2012. A new Commission was appointed in 2015 with a broad mandate to promote and advance the implementation of the NDP across different sectors of society. The Commission is currently chaired by the Minister in the Presidency, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. Two SAICE Fellows – past president Trueman Goba, and Prof. Mike Muller – were appointed as com- missioners (2010–2015) to offer insight on the engineering challenges facing the country and to guide the development of solutions. NPC Union Buildings, Private Bag X1000, Pretoria, 0001 T: +27 12 312 0234/5 , F: +27 86 683 5479 E: ellen@dpme.gov.za W: www.nationalplanningcommission.org.za : @NPC_RSA : https://www.facebook.com/NDP2030 HRDC (Human Resource Development Council) The HRDC is a national, multi-stakeholder advisory body chaired by the Deputy President of South Africa and managed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Training. Membership is based on a five- year term and is constituted by a number of government ministers, senior business leaders, representatives from organised labour and academia as well as civil society who serve on the HRD Council. Vision: Partnering to innovatively develop South Africa’s human potential. Mission: Q Q Advise the government on the HRD Strategy and its priorities. Q Q Identify blockages, provide solutions to unblock them and monitor implemen- tation thereof. Q Q Coordinate the efforts of government departments and social partners in the implementation of the HRD Strategy. Q Q Monitor and report on the implemen- tation of the HRD Strategy. Q Q Evaluate the impact of the HRD Strategy against agreed indicators. Aim: The HRDC aims to develop institutional synergies for an integrated Human Resource Development Strategy towards 2030 of South Africa, which will stimulate a culture of training and lifelong learning at individual, organisational and national levels to transform South Africa into a knowledge economy. The role of the HRDC and its structure of delivery includes the following: Q Q Monitoring the implementation of the Human Resource Development Strategy towards 2030. Q Q Commissioning research in the field of human resource development. Q Q Encouraging organised business, civil society, government and organised labour to invest in education and training, and to take responsibility for human resource development issues within their areas of competency. Q Q Promoting knowledge management and benchmarking at enterprise and national levels with a view to improving the effectiveness of human resource development.