Finding solutions to momentous social, economic and environmental challenges in South Africa today demands – more than ever – the expertise of consulting engineers, but can the sector remain up to the task?
Vis Reddy, managing director of SRK Consulting South Africa
The question is a real one, according to Vis Reddy, managing director of SRK Consulting (SA), as consulting engineering stands at a vital inflection point leading either to progress or deterioration.
“Our sector has been pivotal to the country’s development on various levels, leveraging the specialised skills of many scientific and engineering professions,” said Reddy. “The position now, though, is that the demands on us are growing at the same time that the sector’s capacity could erode.”
Years of infrastructural decline in the country, for instance, have occurred alongside slow economic growth, social instability and policy uncertainty that has deterred foreign direct investment. This depressed situation has been exacerbated by the global Covid-19 pandemic. While dealing with these challenges, South Africa is facing the impacts of climate change – and is also under pressure to adapt to a lower-carbon future.
“The current demands of our economy and society are huge, if we are to achieve the equitable and prosperous future that we have all worked towards in recent decades,” he said. “In our modern world, the solutions include highly technical interventions which call for specialised and innovative skill-sets. This is really where consulting engineers play their most significant role in facilitating the national development process.”
Read the full article in Green Economy Media
