The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) has called for professional oversight where engineering work is being conducted. In a media statement issued on 14 July 2026, and with the growing number of building collapses being reported, ECSA urged employers, clients, procuring authorities and the public to appoint persons who have proven qualifications, competence and the necessary skills to perform engineering work, and who are registered with ECSA.
The Inanda Retaining Wall Collapse
The call comes as the country received the sad news of the retaining wall collapse at a compound Church in Inanda, north of Durban, which left several people critically injured and requiring emergency medical care. The incident occurred on Monday, 13 July 2026. According to reports from ALS Paramedics Medical Services, congregants were constructing a retaining wall when it collapsed, trapping those involved in the project.
While ECSA will undertake investigations, as prescribed by the Engineering Profession Act (Act 46 of 2000), to determine whether any registered persons were involved, the Council urged unregistered engineering practitioners to refrain from undertaking engineering work that is reserved for registered engineering practitioners, as this is in contravention of the Identification of Engineering Work (IDoEW) Rules.
Why Professional Oversight of Engineering Work Matters
ECSA warned that when engineering practitioners undertake engineering work without the necessary skills, competence, qualifications, professional oversight and without being registered, they place the public at significant risk. To strengthen the Council’s regulatory framework and reinforce its responsibility to protect the public through effective oversight of the engineering profession, ECSA recently gazetted the IDoEW Rules and the Rules for the Management of Enforcement Matters.
The IDoEW Rules provide a structured framework for:
- Identified engineering work demarcated for registered engineering practitioners.
- Defining the types of work that constitute identified engineering work.
- Identifying the engineering disciplines and categories of registration responsible for performing such work.
- Specifying the competencies expected of registered persons undertaking engineering work.
- Establishing the circumstances under which engineering work may be performed across disciplines or registration categories, including transitional arrangements and special consent provisions.
The Rules for the Management of Enforcement Matters establish how ECSA will:
- Monitor compliance with the Engineering Profession Act and the IDoEW Rules.
- Investigate alleged contraventions.
- Manage enforcement matters consistently, transparently, and fairly.
- Collaborate with other regulators and law enforcement agencies where necessary.
- Take appropriate regulatory action when engineering work is undertaken unlawfully or outside the applicable registration category.
How to Verify a Registered Person
ECSA urged employers, clients, procuring authorities and members of the public to request ECSA Digital Certificates, powered by PrivySeal, as proof of current registration status and the type of work the registered person may undertake according to their category of registration.
ECSA extended its sincere sympathies to those who sustained injuries during the incident and to the families anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones. The Council said its thoughts are also with fellow workers on site, the emergency response teams who worked tirelessly during the rescue operation, and the broader community affected by this devastating event.
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.
