The South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) hosted its annual awards ceremony on Thursday, 1 September, celebrating individuals and organisations, as well as its members, who have demonstrated resilience and promoted sustainability in the civil engineering profession.

The SANRAL SAICE 2022 National Awards was a hybrid event held both online and in-person at Montecasino, in Fourways, Gauteng, on 1 September, and was attended by over 300 guests in person and many guests streaming online across various social media platforms.

Professor Marianne Vanderschuren, President of SAICE, advocated the importance of the civil engineering industry and its pivotal role in enhancing economic development to help drive the infrastructure of tomorrow for the benefit of all South Africans.

“Civil engineering involves conceptualising, designing, building, supervising, operating, constructing, and maintaining physical and naturally built environment infrastructure projects and systems in both the public and private sectors.

“This is why SAICE plays an integral role for civil engineering professionals in South Africa.  And the SANRAL SAICE  Awards affirms this critical role – we recognise outstanding individuals, projects, companies and our members, who go the extra mile in showcasing engineering ingenuity, innovation and excellence in our profession.

“In my visits to various regions across the South Africa, I have met incredible individuals that use their civil engineering knowledge and skills to improve the country. They continue to tirelessly improve infrastructure and the next generation of professionals through higher education, and even Saturday mathematics for high school learners.”

She explained that at a recent event, a leader in the insurance industry indicated that the sector is realising that occurrences, such as COVID-19 and regional flooding, will occur again, necessitating the rethinking of organisational approaches. “I think as engineers we need to do the same – to rethink our building standards, amongst others, and convert our precious infrastructure into more resilient facilities.”

Michael Mhlanga, chairperson of the SAICE Future Leaders Panel, highlighted the importance of the influence, and commitment, that future leaders must continue to showcase in order to grow the civil engineering profession. He stressed that for young professionals, participation in local and international infrastructure projects, is a critical step in enabling the development of well-rounded leaders.

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) was the two-time naming rights sponsor for the annual awards. Prof. Vanderschuren explained that SAICE is excited to partner with SANRAL in 2022 again. “Collaboration, co-operation and fostering relationships is at the forefront of growing the civil engineering profession tin order to enable sustainable infrastructure development for future generations.”

Keynote speaker for the evening, Edmund Nxumalo, CEO of Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), provided great insights on the value and role of the engineering industry in driving critical infrastructure development in South Africa.

“Our economic survival - the growth of this country - is in the hands of engineers. It is for this reason that the engineering status should be pushed to the next and highest level. It is remiss for most of the country's infrastructure projects not to be driven and managed by engineers,  as we have seen in some government departments, including municipalities.

“This is why ECSA has introduced the identification of engineering work, which will regulate the space to ensure that nothing about engineering is done without engineers, and critical engineering work is performed by none other than engineers. If the engineering work is not properly safeguarded, engineers will feel unprotected and will eventually leave the profession and even migrate.”

Nxumalo stressed the importance of STEM education in South Africa; and diversity and transformation in the engineering fraternity. He added that to address today's monumental challenges, such as the current electricity and water crisis, there is a significant need for as many local engineers as possible across all engineering disciplines. “Individually and together, we can make a difference, and we should because it will only make us better and stronger.”

Tom McKune, SAICE’s Head of Training, discussed the key focus areas of SAICE, which included ensuring that SAICE remains relevant, and secondly, that SAICE continues to provide a service to its members. His address highlighted the different types of members within SAICE, and how SAICE is assisting these members, in particular students, associates and members in general.

Nthabeleng Lentsoane, SAICE’s Head Marketing, paid special tribute to the many members of SAICE who have passed way, and honoured their legacy and contribution to the organisation.

She also expressed SAICE’s appreciation to its sponsors and all stakeholders, who helped to make the awards a great success. These include SANRAL, Sika, Mariswe, SKI Civil and Structural Engineers, Reinforced Earth, PPS for Professionals, Murray & Dickson Construction, MUKONA Group and Zutari.

WINNERS OF THE SANRAL SAICE 2022 NATIONAL AWARDS

The individual awards honours an individual who has rendered outstanding service to the profession or one who has made a contribution of distinction to civil engineering:

• Engineer of the Year Winner (category sponsor – Reinforced Earth):

Professor Pierre vd Spuy from Zutari

• Young Engineer of the Year Winner (category sponsor – Sika South Africa):  Shilpi Jain from Stantec Melbourne Australia

Technologist of the Year Winner: Kubendren Govender from Mariswe

• Young Technologist of the Year Winner: Tevan Govender from Knight Piesold
• Young Technologist of the Year - Highly Commended: Duard Erasmus from AECOM
• Graduate Engineer of the Year Winner (category sponsor – PPS for Professionals) : Erin Da Silva from Hatch
• Graduate Engineer of the Year Winner (category sponsor – PPS for Professionals): Takalane Netshipale from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health
• Graduate Technician of the Year Commendation: Avuyile Mayekiso from ROMH

In the project-based awards’ category, projects showcased portray innovation, pioneer-thinking engineering and how the profession finds solutions to challenging demands. 

Most Outstanding Civil Engineering Project – Technical Excellence category (category sponsor – SKI Civil & Structural Engineers):

• Winner: Royal HaskoningDHV for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport’s Sani Pass Phase 2: Roadworks – km 13,6 to km 25,0  - Project
• Highly Commended: Zutari for Rand Merchant Banks’ RMB 8 Merchant Place Project

Most Outstanding Civil Engineering Project – Community Based category

• Winner: Naidu Consulting for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport’s Construction of the Msunduze River Bridge No. 3202 on Local Road L3110 project
• Commended: Royal Haskoning DHV for the Mossel Bay Municipality’s Brandwacht Pedestrian Bridge Project

Most Outstanding Civil Project in the International category (category sponsor – SKI Civil & Structural Engineers):

• Winner:  Zutari for the Roads Authority Namibia’s  Upgrade and rehabilitation of Omaruru River Bridge, No. 435, in Henties Bay, Namibia project.

Most Outstanding Investigative or Planning Report or Study

• Commendation: SMEC for the Investigation and Design of Remedial Works for Wall No. 2 on Main Road P73           

Institutional Awards

Division of the Year

• Division with more than 500 members
• Winner - SAICE Water Division

Division with less than 500 members

• Winner: SAICE Environmental Engineering Division
• Commendation: SAICE Fire Engineering Division

Branch of the Year Category

Branch with more than 500 members

• Winner: SAICE Durban Branch

Branch with less than 500 members

• Winner: SAICE Bloemfontein Branch
• Commendation: SAICE Pietermaritzburg Branch

Student Chapter of the Year Category (category sponsor – PPS for Professionals)

• Winner: University of Johannesburg APK Civils Chapter
• Commendation: University of Johannesburg Doornfontein Chapter
• Commendation: University of Stellenbosch Chapter

The highly appraised Zutari Photo Competition recognises the creativity in which civil engineering activities or projects are portrayed. The following winners were:

• Winner: Bonisile Ndlovu
• Second place: Erin  Da Silva
• Third Place: Imraan Khalwaya                                                                                          

The award for the Most Supportive Advertisers of 2021 was presented. SAICE is grateful to every advertiser that supports the industry and there are two organisations that were awarded this year.

• Winner: Reinforced Earth
• Runner-up: Sizabantu Piping Systems

“It is our honour to recognise individuals, organisations, and our members who continue to make an impact on the development of building a South Africa for generations to come, through innovation and ingenuity. SAICE remains committed to sustaining the future of the civil engineering industry together with its members, partners and stakeholders,” concludes Lentsoane.