Civil Engineering November 2022 | Vol 30 No 10

From the Pres ident ’ s desk I n both disasters mentioned above, and many others, it is often members of SAICE who go and investigate, design repairs, and avoid further risks. I had the privilege of visiting some affected sites in KwaZulu-Natal, where further damage to one of the apart- ment blocks was avoided by cantilever placements in the basement, and stabilisation of the sandy slopes behind the building was ongoing (see Figure 1). Regarding the tailings dam in Jagersfontein in the Free State, SAICE members were called to the scene within 24 hours, which is a testament to their skills and commitment. A HOME FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS Networking is one of the great opportunities that SAICE provides. For me personally, it would have been much more difficult to establish myself after abandoning my career in Europe to pursue a new one in South Africa without it. A month after arriving in this country I attended the Snape Memorial Lecture where the theme was transport. I am so grateful to the late Prof. De Kock for taking me along to the lecture and introducing me to this wonderful institution. As an honorary member of the SAICE Young Members WhatsApp group, I can attest that networking and knowledge sharing is still alive and kicking. The support for the great achievements of individuals, the freedom to ask for help with problems, and the sharing of job opportunities that I witness is fantastic. And the newly named Future Leaders Panel active on the group adds various other activities while making time to con- nect at various in-person social events. Having been an active member of one of SAICE’s branches for over 20 years I know the amazing work done locally, from monthly branch meetings and local bridge building and water competitions to industry and government liaison. But visiting all the SAICE branches this year, I have been exposed to so much more. The amount of fundraising towards good causes in some branches is truly magnificent. In one current initiative, the Durban Branch and National Office are collaborating to distribute scientific calculators to grade 10 learners (going into grade 11). The branch spearheading this has also reached out to other branches to join the initiative, further expanding its reach. Furthermore, the branch has ‘adopted’ a dormant branch to make sure that the scholars in that province are not left out. To all involved, thank you! And a big thank you to the branch members and teachers involved in the initiative to provide Saturday maths lessons in the Free State – and creating a pipeline of civil engineering professionals as we speak. 2022 INFRASTRUCTURE REPORT CARD As 2022 is the year for the fourth Infrastructure Report Card (IRC), many divisions have stepped up to the plate, summarising the state of infrastructure in a country where asset management systems are scarce. The immense groundwork undertaken by many individuals and teams has made it possible for SAICE to deliver this report. As your President, I am humbled by the commitment of all individuals involved – from division members and sister organisations (some- times drafting over 100-page documents) to the IRC convenor, research leader, project manager and the steering committee members. SAICE appreciates the hundreds of hours that volunteers have invested in this important project. 2022 SANRAL SAICE NATIONAL AWARDS On 1 September SAICE celebrated excellence among its more than 15 000 members. The 2022 SANRAL SAICE National Awards attests to the excellence and commitment of the many SAICE members around the country in all forms – industry, government, branches, division, panels, student chapters, and committees. Once again, a huge congratulations to all nominees and winners in the project, individual and institutional categories. WAY FORWARD As my term slowly comes to an end, I also need to thank the dedi- cated National Office staff. A special thank you to the current leadership for keeping the organisation going while we review the SAICE structures and embark on finding a new CEO. The institu- tion is in good hands. Prof. Marianne Vanderschuren SAICE President 2022 marianne.vanderschuren@uct.ac.za Engineering excellence and commitment to civil engineering in SA The media often reports on problems with South Africa’s infrastructure. While the issues reported on vary in scale, reports of the April floods in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape as well as the recent tailings dam collapse in the Free State are ingrained in our memories. How then can we report on excellence in the industry? Figure 1 Ongoing slope stabilisation behind an apartment building in KwaZulu-Natal Civil Engineering November 2022 1