President’s comment

REFLECTING ON

a rewarding two years

This is a major milestone in our history, since Bhavna becomes IMESA’s first woman President. As Immediate Past President, I look forward to working with her, alongside my fellow IMESA Officer Bearers, as we prepare the groundwork for the next 12 months. This includes our annual conference, which will be held in November 2021 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre with the theme ‘Synergy through Engineering’.

Despite Covid-19, our Exco and national branch committees were still able to maintain communication and momentum to deliver on our objectives during 2020. If anything, the pandemic has reinforced the crucial role that municipal engineers play in delivering essential services. Covid-19 also highlighted where we need to focus most to add value. These areas include water demand management and sanitation.

Objectives achieved

The top two items I set out to achieve were the acceleration of IMESA training, with the introduction of free CPD accredited training for municipalities; and enhanced engagement with fellow voluntary associations and government authorities.

With reference to training, I am happy to report that the first set of technical courses, free of charge for municipal employees, has been rolled out and been well received. The ‘Capacity Building in Urban and Regional Planning’ course was presented in Durban, Kimberley, Nelspruit and Newcastle, and these were well attended. It was great to welcome The last two years in office have flashed past and the time has come for me to hand over the reins to our new incoming President. It gives me great pleasure to welcome Bhavna Soni, a professional engineer working for the City of eThekwini, as our new President for the 2020-2022 period.

technical staff from our outlying municipalities. A further series is scheduled over the coming year.

We also held our first ‘Small Coastal Storm Water Outlets’ training course in Durban at the onset of 2020. This project was initiated by Stellenbosch University and sponsored by IMESA with the objective of establishing comprehensive design guidelines and construction recommendations for small coastal stormwater outlets.

Water strategies and stakeholder engagement

An overriding priority is to focus on the measures needed to address South Africa’s water security threats. These are progressively worsening due to ageing pipeline infrastructure and compounded by a spate of severe droughts.

Guidance regarding the reuse and reclamation of water by local authorities is needed. In response, we are working with the Water Research Commission to develop a suitable training programme. Allied to this is our water conservation and water demand management initiative for water services authorities, where IMESA sponsored and supported the development of a pre-feasibility tool. The pilot was trialled during initial workshops and we look forward to rolling out the use of this tool in municipalities in 2021.

Further projects to develop guidelines and training materials for specific municipal requirements have been included in the budget for our 2020/21 financial year. In terms of engagements with external bodies, meetings have been held with ECSA, Salga, CESA, Saice, the WRC, as well as CoGTA and National Treasury representatives. These meetings will continue and IMESA expects positive outcomes from these interactions.

In closing

Last, but not least, I’d like to thank you – our members – for your continued support of IMESA. A special welcome also to our new members, many of whom are young engineers just starting out on their career paths.

A special word of thanks to the IMESA head office staff, Exco and branches. You are the critical interface with our municipalities and their communities. Together, you have all made a lasting and sustainable difference, ensuring that IMESA continues to grow from strength to strength.

It has been an honour to serve as your President and to welcome Bhavna as the new President of IMESA.

Randeer Kasserchun, president, IMESA