15
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
OCTOBER
2014
ENVIRONMENT
“We represent a new department informed
by the National Development Plan. Govern-
ment is repositioning water and sanitation
post 20 years of democracy, owing to service
delivery challenges. We require your radical
contributions to deliver water and sanita-
tion solutions to our people. You are game
changers and help us to make a difference in
the lives of our people by delivering services
to some of our people, who have become
observers of service delivery but not benefi-
ciaries,” urged Mokonyane at the Consulting
Engineers South Africa’s (CESA) prestigious
CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards.
The Minister focused on the role that
consulting engineers can play in partnering
with Government to ensure the roll out of
the government Infrastructure programme
is effectively implemented.
In the category of Visionary Client of the
Year CESA gave recognition to the Department
of Water and Sanitation. Through its Blue and
Green Drop initiatives, a vast improvement in
the important areas of operation and mainte-
nance has been experienced.
There has been a substantial impact
through the roll out of infrastructure through
How consulting engineers can
help government
The Department of Water and
Sanitation Minister Nomvula
Mokonyane has made a
passionate plea and a clarion
call for consulting engineers to
partner with government and to
perform their duty with integrity
and improve the quality of life of
the people for a better life for all.
The Department of Water and Sanitation
Minister, Nomvula Mokonyane.
its Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant
(RBIG) programme. The Blue and Green Drop
initiatives incorporate incentive based regu-
lation whereby each water supply system
or wastewater treatment plant is assessed
on various categories that encompass all
aspects of treatment.
Municipalities are also required to
enforce bylaws; have an annual process
audit conducted on their systems; and have
an up-to-date asset register. Ultimately,
those who obtain Blue or Green Drop Certi-
fication are seen as excellent. The RBIG
programme, initiated in 2007, has allowed for
the successful roll out of large water related
projects. Great importance has been placed
on the sustainability of the infrastructure
through proper operation and maintenance
plans. The programme also requires an
additional step called the Implementation
Ready Study. This ensures that the infra-
structure can be properly implemented and
that all socio-economic and legal aspects
have been considered.
CESA President Abe Thela said that the
organisation identifies with the NDP, espe-
cially with the National Infrastructure Plan
which is meant to accelerate the growth of
the economy thereby reducing inequity,
unemployment and poverty amongst the
people of South Africa.
“Consulting engineering is not only at
the forefront of infrastructure development
but it is a critical and fundamental mecha-
nism to providing the quality of life to the
modern society. It is therefore imperative to
establish strategic partnership with Govern-
ment in order to compliment the required
technical capacity to accelerate the imple-
mentation of both social and economic
infrastructure in line with the NDP 2030
vision and goals,” reiterated Thela.
from the public, parastatal or private sectors,
and are judged inter alia on their contribu-
tion to sustainable economic job creation in
South Africa and or Africa. Creating sustain-
able development in communities through
skills and knowledge transfer is an equally
important factor. The judges also look at
the opportunities provided for the growth
and expression of professionals, including
those from formerly disadvantaged commu-
nities. Projects should also have embraced
innovative designs that highlight the ability
of South Africans in the technological field.
CESA this year gave recognition, in the cate-
gory of ‘Visionary Client of the Year’ to the
Department of Water and Sanitation’s Policy
and Regulations Directorate.
The winner in the category of ‘Young
Engineer of the Year’ is Makotsene Makgale-
mele fromHHO Africa. Dr Cobus van Dyk from
UWP Consulting received a commendation.
ILISO Consulting was announced winner
of the ‘CESA Job Shadow Initiative’ with
Royal HaskoningDHV and GIBB named as
runners-up. CESA KwaZulu-Natal was named
winner of the Branch of the Year Award.
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