With reference to the Keynote address by Deputy Minister of Public Works, Mr Ntopile Kganyago, on the occasion of the second annual Conference of the National Society of Black Engineers.

 

I agree with the Deputy Minister that “Engineering as a discipline is critical to the survival of our country as it forms the basis on which all construction happens” and that the scope for growth beyond 2010 is great.

 

Unfortunately this is where concurrence ceases, and is replaced by disappointment at what I can only regard  as uninformed statements which permeate the rest of the address.

 

The Deputy Minister mentions that the critical shortage of engineers is fuelled by:

1.    The retirement of senior professionals.

2.    Emigration of professionals

3.    A legal loophole in the registration of professionals in requiring only those persons who are liable for the work of a professional to register.

4.    The declining student enrolments at tertiary institutions (due in part to the low number of school-leavers with higher grade mathematics)

5.    Unattractive working conditions (particularly in civil engineering)

6.    Comparatively low levels of remuneration

7.    Poor career and promotion prospects

8.    A lack of a vigorous marketing campaign of professions in this sector.

 

I am amazed to see item 3 above: “a legal loophole in the registration of professionals in requiring only those persons who are liable for the work of a professional to register.”

Am I missing something, or did I understand it correctly, that the purpose of registration was to ensure that competent persons are licensed to perform certain work, specifically work which affect public health and safety.

 

I am surprised, that the Deputy Minister is surprised, by the vitriol and the doomsday scenarios and wild allegations that have been painted by your fellow professionals. Perhaps a reflection on the electricity crisis, inoperative sewerage plants, collapsing buildings and the general decay of the infrastructure such as roads and rail services would lead to more realism. They are neither scenarios nor wild allegations, Mr Deputy Minister, but reality. If that is the result of what you term transformation, then there is no doubt that you will receive bitter opposition. The above problems have arisen from the appointment of incompetent persons into positions that they are not able to manage effectively.

 

The statement that: “the Built Professions Bill that has been produced by the Department of Public Works aims to remove blockages in the system for the supply of built environment professionals.” shows that the proposed Bill is emotionally motivated and not objectively.  Minister, Mr Geoff Doidge is correct in saying that this piece of legislation is too vital for our country to be abandoned. Hence the opposition Minister Doidge!!!!!!!  

In correspondence viewed at the time of the Bill’s proposal, it appeared that the (NSBE) National Society of Black Engineers was the only proponent of the Bill. It is disappointing to see that some deem it necessary to have a National Society of Black Engineers. If we are all working towards the same goals, living in the same South Africa, which I thought was democratic, why do we differentiate our organisations based on colour or race? Before I am labelled similarly, let me clarify that I have over many years dedicated personal time and effort to the cause of Engineering. These efforts include training and development of engineers and associated trades. I pride myself at what I consider a high success rate with specifically black engineers.

 

In my view, the real problem is our inferior education system that lacks at both primary and tertiary education level. This basic issue is not even addressed as a problem.

 

The minister mentions the massive expenditure that will be incurred over the next few years, but not a word as to how we are going to ensure that South African engineers are suitably qualified to manage those programs. The lack of comment on proposed solutions to overcome the other six factors contributing to the critical shortage of Engineers is my real concern.

 

Changing a registration system is not a solution to the real problem at hand.