Civil Engineering in South Africa

By Mandisa Mazibuko

What got me into Engineering, specifically Civil Engineering, was the beauty of infrastructure. From a young age, I was fascinated by high-rise buildings, big dams, stadiums, bridges of all shapes, lengths and sizes and the scenic stretch of highway in some of the world’s most beautiful cities. Looking at all of I this I knew I wanted to be a part of it! I enjoyed Mathematics, Science and Technical Drawing at a high school level, and by the time I was in Matric, I aspired to be a Civil Engineer.

Currently, I work for the Municipal Services unit of Aurecon. This unit focus on the provision of basic services, i.e. water, sanitation, stormwater control, roads and sometimes housing. I’ve only been working for three months and I’m focusing on building myself as a young professional while at the same time absorbing as much information and experience as I possibly can. At the moment I am involved in the design process of sewer and water reticulation networks for a new development in Bloemfontein.

I do what I do because I love a challenge. Engineering is all about problem solving thus making it a rather a challenging field, a field that requires one to constantly think on their feet. Beyond that., I love what I do because it has the potential to changes peoples’ lives.

Most South Africans still live below the poverty line and do not have access to basic services. Some live in desperate, desolate conditions in informal settlements where inadequate water supply and poor sanitation infrastructure have a direct impact on their health and consequently, their livelihoods. Being able to design infrastructure that can directly or indirectly save people’s lives is the most rewarding part of my job. And I don’t consider this to be a job, it’s a career!  

The industry has obviously been booming as a result of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Post 2010, I can only hope that things get better.  There have been a lot of great achievements in engineering thus far. Some that were voted by the National Academy of Engineering in USA as “20 engineering achievements that changed our lives” include electrification, the automobile, the airplane, water supply, computers, radio and television, highways, petroleum, etc. The list provides clear evidence of the interdisciplinary nature of so much engineering achievement in the 20th century.

The industry also faces a lot of challenges, such as sustainable engineering which incorporates the exploitation of essential natural resources such as coal, global warming, and more importantly the adverse affect of technology on the environment on a grand scale, to name a few.

Solid engineering will be necessary to reverse the negative effects and bring forth new achievements.  I believe that engineering is a continuing process and I am excited to see and be a part of even greater achievements in the 21st century. Henry Petroski, in his book The Essential Engineer, described engineering as a journey of frequent stops, much backtracking, and many redirections, but never a final destination.

Background information on the Author

Mandisa Mazibuko is a 23 years old from Estcourt, KZN. She graduated with my BSc Civil Engineering (Honours) degree from UCT in December 2009. She now works for Aurecon, a global Civil Engineering Consulting Company. She's currently based in the Bloemfontein branch.

She enjoys gyming, hanging out with my friends and taking life as it comes.