On 1 September 2022, Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) President Refilwe Buthelezi Pr Eng delivered a presentation on municipal infrastructure at the South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) National Conference. The conference set out to deliberate on local government accountability, service delivery and human rights amid the many challenges local government faces in providing basic services.
Municipal infrastructure and human rights in focus
The conference, convened over two days from 31 August to 1 September 2022, was attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who delivered a keynote address reflecting on the role of government, the challenges faced by local government, and how the District Model can foster close collaboration between the three spheres of government.
Addressing delegates, Engineer Buthelezi emphasised the importance and role of competent and qualified engineering practitioners in creating and maintaining infrastructure and, ultimately, delivering basic services to communities. She said, “Municipal infrastructure cannot exist or operate without engineering practitioners in all its forms”.
The role of engineers in delivering services
Expanding on her argument, she added that “Engineers have an outsize role to play in supporting human rights through infrastructure provision, in myriad ways: as policymakers; as designers and builders of infrastructure; as maintainers of that infrastructure; and as thought leaders within and outside government around the importance of infrastructure to our country and all its people”.
Engineer Buthelezi noted that while challenges at local government exist, “government should embrace the essential contributions that engineering practitioners make not only to physical infrastructural matters such as clean water and functional roads, and to growing our economy, but to the promotion and preservation of our citizens’ human rights as well”.
Original Press Release
About ECSA
The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) is the statutory body established under the Engineering Profession Act, 46 of 2000, mandated to regulate the engineering profession in South Africa. ECSA is responsible for the accreditation of engineering programmes, the registration of engineering practitioners, and upholding professional and ethical standards across the profession.
Issued by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).
ECSA Media Contact
Sybil Dlamini, Manager: Marketing and Communication
Email: sybil@ecsa.co.za | Tel: 073 623 8275
Website: www.ecsa.co.za
This article is based on an official ECSA press release. Read the original statement.
