25 Mar Procurement strategies in focus at the annual CESA Infrastructure Indaba
25 March 2024: The CESA Infrastructure Indaba witnessed an exchange of ideas, strategies, and insights, with the procurement of goods and services taking centre stage. Organised by the Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA), the event brought together industry leaders, professionals, and stakeholders committed to driving innovation and excellence in infrastructure development, in Cape Town, from 19-20 March.
Procurement emerged as a critical theme of discussion, underscoring the pivotal role it plays in delivering affordable and quality public infrastructure. Speakers emphasized the importance of achieving “value for money” through efficient risk transfer and pricing strategies, highlighting the need for strategic alignment between societal needs, economic imperatives, and procurement practices.
On the second day of the event, under the facilitation of Darrin Green, CESA Board member and Managing Director of AECOM Africa, the fourth session delved into the complexities of procurement strategies essential for addressing societal needs while ensuring economic sustainability.
Tintswalo Masia, Deputy Business Unit Leader-National at the Auditor-General of South Africa, emphasized the importance of value for money and efficient risk management. Joining the discussion were industry stalwarts including Tesfaye Ayele from The World Bank, Bongani Dladla of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), and Dr. Ron Watermeyer, visiting Adjunct Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Building on this theme, the fifth session of the day was facilitated by Marizel Pienaar, the national vice-chairperson of the Young Professionals Forum (YPF) and Civil Engineer (Water) at Bigen Africa, and addressed the multifaceted challenges of leadership, technology integration, and mental health in the industry. Notable speakers included Voltaire Shai from ECSA; Steffen Petter from Royal HaskoningDHV South Africa; Peta de Jager from the CSIR, and Thanisha Sewpersad from MindHarbor.
Chaired by Paul Faria, CESA’s Western Cape Branch Chairperson and Head of Urban Infrastructure at HHO Consulting Engineers, Session 6 focused on critical issues such as water and energy security. Speakers included Marcia Maraka from the Department of Water & Sanitation, Thabo Kekana from the DMRE, and Fareed Nagdi from Zutari.
Vishal Haripersad, CESA vice-president and Knight Piésold Africa’s Regional Manager, served as the Programme Director for the day, guiding the day’s proceedings with expertise and insight.
The CESA Infrastructure Indaba continues to serve as a pivotal platform for collaboration, innovation, and progress in the infrastructure sector, driving positive change and sustainable development across South Africa and beyond.
ENDS
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bonolo@cesa.co.za