Blog

I’ve attended many conferences and meetings over these past few months, and while I appreciate the enthusiasm for advocacy, engagement and networking, I must reiterate: the time for mere talk is over. We need action, and we need it now. It’s quite something that President Cyril Ramaphosa seems newly aware of Johannesburg’s decay – the very city where he lives and conducts party business. Did it really take the G20 Summit to highlight the crumbling infrastructure he has presumably been driving past all along? This apparent obliviousness is deeply concerning.

Action must take many forms. We need to see real consequences for corruption and vandalism, with those responsible brought to justice. But beyond that, we need meaningful partnerships between the public and private sectors, built on transparency and mutual respect. There’s a sense that important initiatives are happening behind closed doors, without enough communication with the public or, frankly, with industry associations like CESA. We welcome the efforts by the government, but it is difficult to contribute when we don’t have enough information. How can we, as Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA), contribute to initiatives like the National Treasury Cities Support Programme, the Platform for Water Security Gauteng, and the Platform for Water Security eThekwini, if we aren’t even aware of how to get involved?

Ultimately, we need to see these discussions turn into concrete results. When will this metaphorical “construction site” finally become a reality? We, as CESA, are ready and willing to be a part of the solution, but we, like many other industry players and orgnanisations, need to be included in these vital conversations and partnerships. The intention to drive collaboration between the public and private sectors is admirable, but it needs to translate into real inclusion and a shared commitment to building a better future for South Africa.