Minimum qualification level for municipal technical managers advocated

20th June 2014

By: Mia Breytenbach

Creamer Media Deputy Editor: Features

  

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To improve the current relationship between municipalities and municipal engineers, there must be a renewed appreciation of the skills and experience of these engineers, professional technical and management support services provider AECOM’s SA East district business line leader for water Hennie van Staden says.

AECOM is involved in about 60 projects for South African municipalities, which include engineering and some nonengineering-related projects, such as water supply and treatment, roads and transportation, stormwater infrastructure and management, sanitation and wastewater treatment, solid waste handling facilities, electrification projects, sports and community facilities, town planning, project management and cost control.

“As with the drive to only appoint financially qualified people in financial positions, there should be a minimum qualification level for the technical manager and operations and management officials”.

Further, the position of city engineer may have to be reintroduced and it is possible to do so as there are currently many engineers being produced by the higher education institutes in South Africa, he says.

“Understanding of the complexities of water supply, roads, stormwater, wastewater treatment and associated mechanical and electrical equipment comes with education and experience.

“In many smaller municipalities, there are no municipal engineers. Where engineers are employed, they are young and inexperienced, owing to a lack of mentoring opportunities. Some of the larger municipalities, however, realised that there is a significant void between young graduates and senior engineers who will retire within the next few years and have actively created mentoring programmes engaging young and old. This ultimately paves the way for professional registration,” Van Staden says.

AECOM is currently also involved in the training and mentoring of young engineers and technicians seconded to them by public-sector clients.

Further, he points out that service delivery does not start and end with the highly qualified engineers, but requires an integrated approach consisting of artisans, plumbers, electricians and fitters.

He maintains that further education and training colleges have a critical role to play in training artisans with the basic skills required for the operation and maintenance of municipal infrastructure. Municipalities should identify deserving individuals in their communities and enrol them for training.

While municipal engineers are responsible for service delivery, Van Staden says, there are many municipalities that do not have these experienced engineers in-house, with the private sector filling many of the capacity gaps. But this fails to address the issue of asset management and care on a daily basis.

“In addition, in certain cases, there is a failure by private-sector municipal engineers in consulting practices to deliver high-quality services – as these services comprise nonrobust or outdated technology designs. It has been found that such service providers also do not deliver on time, or do not have adequately skilled personnel on construction sites during implementation.

Further, the terms of reference written by supply chain management officials within municipalities to procure the services of engineers are often vague and insufficient, resulting in incompatible bids being received, and the service providers, in tenders for professional services, being selected on price, with little acknowledgement of experience and capacity.

Nevertheless, he suggests that the relationship between consulting engineers and municipalities can be improved by creating awareness among municipal officials and councillors of the value of well-maintained infrastructure, which contributes to the wellbeing of and potential investment in a town or city.

“We believe that the private sector has much to offer in the operation and maintenance of infrastructure and that it must be given the opportunity to do so,” he says.

Edited by Megan van Wyngaardt
Creamer Media Contributing Editor Online

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