The delivery of infrastructure and essential services is a basic human right and a cornerstone for economic recovery, and South Africa must move to actionable outcomes that improve lives and livelihood, says industry organisation Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa) CEO Chris Campbell.

The country must determine how infrastructure will be delivered and who will be held accountable for its completion.

Local governments face rising expectations from communities. Delivery of infrastructure must be timely and accountable, which necessitates that engineers who design, plan and oversee implementation are placed at the heart of infrastructure delivery.

“Engineers must lead the way for infrastructure-led growth, with delivery grounded in technical expertise, not policy statements.

“Infrastructure projects must be properly planned, fairly procured, adequately funded and fully executed to generate meaningful, lasting services for businesses and society,” he says.

However, projects are often announced without follow-through or plans stall without producing lasting results.

Reliable access to water, sanitation, energy and transportation is essential, not only for dignity, but for economic participation and sustainable growth.

Development must be performance-driven, he says.

Planned investments in water infrastructure in eThekwini over the next few years show recognition of urgent service needs, but intention alone does not equal impact.

“We are seeing movement, but the true test will be whether these projects are completed and deliver tangible benefits locally. It is essential that we address issues that have impacted infrastructure delivery, including technical capacity and skills shortages, inefficient procurement processes and corruption,” Campbell says.

For example, persistent systemic issues continue to impede progress, including delayed payments during delivery and post-completion, procurement bottlenecks, the continuous extension of bid validity at the same bid prices, and non-transparent panel appointments.

Additionally, unreasonably low pricing often translates into increased risk to the client and the service provider, and there is also a lack of enforcement of professional standards at the municipal level across South Africa.

“These factors have created instability for many consulting engineering firms. Our members have been operating in survival mode for years. This is unsustainable for a sector vital to national development,” Campbell says.