Civil Engineering January-February 2022 | Vol 30 No 1

50 January/February 2022 Civil Engineering were close to his personal desires for the consulting profession. The first was the establishment of the School of Consulting Engineering, devoted to building manage- ment and business acumen among CESA member firms and their clients. The second was his work in negotiating the Construction Industry Charter which became a legislated template guiding B-BBEE in the sector. Throughout his time within CESA he represented the organisation both locally and abroad, gaining recognition for his knowledge on wide ranging topics and his depth of knowledge therein. Graham retired from CESA in 2013. PERSONAL LIFE He was, with Patricia, a well-travelled individual who used his worldwide travels as part of his ongoing education. He never stopped seeking and enquiring with his in-built engineering intellect on matters as diverse as spirituality, wildlife, birdlife, and motorcycling, all with his sense of humour outstandingly intact, which brought an open-mindedness and a fresh- ness to life and its meaning. The meaning of life was evident to Graham – his beloved family – and he focussed on them throughout his life. They were his bedrock. He led them paternalistically, loved them passionately, and was immensely proud of all of them, from their academic suc- cesses to his daughters’ marriages and subsequently to his four grandchildren Amy, Erin, Ethan and Johnny – his precious people. He led his organisations, he led his family, he led his life and throughout it all there was never an unkind word said about him. Graham Stephen Pirie … a GENTLE man! Rest well Graham.  Prepared by Ian Symon isymon802@gmail.com T he book, authored by Hubert Thompson, is based on a course which Thompson has been presenting since 2013 under the auspices of SAICE as part of the Institution’s con- tinuing professional development (CPD) support for persons registered in terms of the Engineering Profession Act 46 of 2000. The book should familiarise and assist readers with the principles regarding the process in South African law dealing with construction disputes. The purpose of this process is to ensure that the parties to a dispute are in control of how to deal with a dispute instead of being only bystanders or spectators while others control the matter. Although there are similarities between the processes of the various standard form construction contracts commonly used in South Africa and their associated procedures and techniques, they do differ in matter, content and application, and in this book these differ- ences are explained. The relationship between the role players involved in a dispute, and the duties and responsibilities of each party to the dispute are also set out clearly in this book. The knowledge gained should assist those dealing with construction disputes to operate in an environment of trust and transparency, with a clear understanding of their respective roles and obligations. The book should therefore equip the reader with a better working knowledge and understanding of the different proce- dures, mechanisms, tools and techniques applicable to this process so that he or she can participate with confidence in avoiding and resolving construction disputes. This book thus answers the question: “Why do we need a process to deal with construction disputes and how should the process be applied?” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Hubert Thompson is registered as a professional (civil) engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa and was also admitted and authorised to practise as an Advocate of the High Court of the Republic of South Africa (but is a nonpracticing advocate). He is an Honorary Fellow of SAICE, serves on the SAICE President’s List of Arbitrators, Adjudicators and Amicable Settlement Facilitators, and is a member of the SAICE Alternative Dispute Resolution Panel and the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation. Thompson currently practises as a policy and legal advisor for his own ac- count under the trade name Thompson and Thompson, specialising in natural resources and construction matters, and has acted as a mediator/amicable settlement facilitator, adjudicator and arbitrator in various construc- tion disputes.  Order your copy Click here to order your copy of The Legal Process dealing with Construction Disputes . SAICE Academy launches dispute resolution book The SAICE Academy has announced the publication of its first book, titled The Legal Process dealing with Construction Disputes , which will be available from the SAICE bookshop in February 2022. ACADEMY The Legal Process dealing with Construction Disputes Hubert Thompson SAICEAcademyPublication The Legal Process dealing with Construction Disputes Hubert Thompson