Civil Engineering nOVEMBER 2021 | Vol 29 No 10

Civil Engineering November 2021 31 Q Q Leading an effective programme of advocacy and communication to build support and gain buy-in for the Human Resource Development Strategy towards 2030 of South Africa objectives, and to ensure effective feedback from and consultation with stakeholders. Five strategic goals that the HRDC has adopted to be achieved by 2030: Q Q Strengthened basic education and foundation programmes in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths (STEM), Languages and Life Skills Q Q Expanded access to quality post- schooling education and training Q Q Improved research and technological innovation outcome Q Q Production of appropriately skilled people for the economy Q Q A developmental/capable state with effective and efficient planning and implementation capabilities. The HRDC has the following five programmes to achieve its strategic goals: Q Q Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths, Languages and Life skills Q Q TVET and the rest of the college system Q Q Higher education and training, research and innovation Q Q Skills for the transformed society and the economy Q Q Developmental/capable state. HRDC Private Bag X174, Pretoria, 0001 T: +27 12 943 3188 E: ramataboe.l@dhet.gov.za W: www.hrdcsa.org.za 6th Floor, 178 Francis Baard Street, Pretoria, 0001 CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) The CSIR regards infrastructure and the entire built environment as crucial to the development of South Africa, which will help with poverty alleviation. SAICE re- ported in its 2011 and 2017 Infrastructure Report Cards that serious problems are experienced with certain aspects of South African infrastructure. These problems are due to a number of factors, including constrained funding to manage, plan, design, construct and maintain the infrastructure assets; a shortage of skilled resources; and a lack of appropriate technological solutions for the problems experienced. The importance of infrastructure is recognised by govern- ment, as is evident in the investment of billions of rands (government only) into infrastructure such as roads, energy gen- eration, water infrastructure and public buildings over the next few years. The CSIR reports under the Department of Science and Innovation, through which a parliamentary grant is provided to the CSIR. This comprises about 30% of its income, with the rest earned in collaborative R&D efforts with other appropriate government depart- ments and the private sector, as well as work with international partners. The CSIR has a strong focus on and experts in the built environment field, collaborating with multidisciplinary colleagues within and outside the organisation. The broad areas that are addressed by built environment experts at the CSIR are: Q Q Building science and technology (building materials, construction industry innovation, and architectural engineering including public facilities such as schools and health facilities) Q Q Hydraulic infrastructure engineering (coastal engineering and port infra- structure, water supply and waste- water treatment infrastructure) Q Q Spatial planning and systems (urban dynamics modelling and integrated planning, housing options and urban development, land and housing market analysis, environmental criminology, and statistical and systems modelling) Q Q Transport infrastructure engineering (pavement design and construction, accelerated pavement testing, and advanced materials development and testing) Q Q Transport systems and operations (transport economics, transport infrastructure management systems, public transport system design, logis- tics system analysis and supply chain engineering). Given South Africa’s unique built environment, the country cannot simply import technologies from abroad and expect them to solve our problems. The CSIR views the character of the built environment (such as urban, peri-urban and rural areas) as distinct on account of, for instance, the apartheid legacy, our specific conditions in terms of climate, geographical location and geology, avail- ability and nature of materials, and our African heritage. CSIR PO Box 395, Pretoria, 0001 T: +27 12 841 2911 E: enquiries@csir.co.za , W: www.csir.co.za Meiring Naudé Road, Brummeria, Pretoria East Agrément South Africa Agrément South Africa is an independent and internationally recognised technical assessment organisation. It was established in 1969 and operates under a ministerial delegation of authority from the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure. The organisation is managed by and located at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria. The organisa- tion establishes performance criteria and assesses the fitness-for-purpose of innovative and non-standard construc- tion products and systems. Agrément certification, which lists uses and condi- tions where necessary, offers assurance to specifiers including engineers, regulators, financial institutions and end users of fitness-for-purpose and quality assurance, thereby facilitating the introduction of new products into the market. Certification is also deemed to satisfy the requirements of the National Building Regulations. The organisation is a founding member of the World Federation of Technical Assessment Organisations. Agrément South Africa PO Box 72381, Lynnwood Ridge, 0040 T: +27 12 841 3708 E: agrement@agrement.co.za, W: www.agrement.co.za Building 17B 2nd Floor CSIR Campus, Meiring Naudé Road, Brummeria, Pretoria IDT (Independent Development Trust) As one of the country’s leading develop- ment agencies, the primary function of the IDT is to add value to the national development agenda of government. It does this through its business model that is grounded in the delivery of innovative and sustainable development programmes that will make a measurable difference to the levels of poverty and underdevelop- ment. The IDT works and interfaces with government and communities to alleviate and eradicate inter-generational poverty, provide social infrastructure,