My Industry Sector: (Q&A) SA’s Infrastructure Maintenance Crisis – SA short of 60 000 engineers

‘Engineers need a seat at the table’, says Dr Vishal Haripersad, President of Consulting Engineers South Africa.

Cape Chamber: How serious is the national maintenance crisis? Have we moved forward over the past year? Is government being transparent about the state of infrastructure?

Dr Haripersad: The national maintenance crisis is very serious. South Africa faces a persistent backlogacross roads, water systems, schools, and public assets, which affects citizens, businesses, and government alike. For example, Minister Dean Macpherson reported in 2025 that maintenance backlog across state-owned properties stands at R30 billion, affecting more than 56,000 buildings, and Parliament was told that R400 billion is needed to rehabilitate water and sanitation systems.

While the government has committed over R1 trillion in infrastructure investment over the next three years, investment alone cannot reverse years of decline without addressing structural issues such as reactive asset management and underinvestment.  

There has been progress in planning and renewed spending pipelines, but real change on the ground remains slow. Transparency has improved in some respects through published reports and parliamentary updates, but a fully comprehensive, public view of infrastructure condition is still limited.

Cape Chamber: What does a “meaningful seat at the decision-making table” for engineers look like? Could this include inclusion in public-private forums?

Dr Haripersad: A meaningful seat means engineers are actively involved in decision-making at the earliest stages, not only after failures occur. This includes representation on government boards, statutory bodies, strategic advisory forums, and public-private platforms that shape economic growth and infrastructure priorities. Engineers should participate in strategy, budget, and project planning to ensure decisions are technically sound, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Inclusion in public-private forums would be a practical example, ensuring collaboration between government, industry, and engineers to deliver real value and long-term benefits.

Cape Chamber: Is South Africa facing an engineering skills crisis? Do we know how many engineers are leaving the country?

Dr Haripersad: South Africa has a severe engineering skills shortage. The Engineering Council of South Africa reports roughly one engineer for every 3,100 people, compared to one per 300 in developed countries, a shortage of over 60,000 engineers. Many young professionals leave the profession or go overseas due to limited opportunities, inadequate support, and unattractive career paths. While exact numbers of engineers leaving the country are not detailed in the speech, the broader trend of talent migration is well recognized and concerning.

We must take note, however, of the fact that the engineering skills that does exist in South Africa, still remains amongst the best in the world. Our engineers remain in high demand all over the world, and it is a testament to the high quality amongst our tertiary institutions.

Cape Chamber: Where is the maintenance backlog most keenly felt?

Dr Haripersad: The backlog is most acute at the municipal level, where reactive asset management is prevalent, and in key sectors such as roads, water supply and sanitation. However, it is a nationwide issue affecting local, provincial, and national infrastructure. The failure to maintain infrastructure properly leads to unsafe roads, unreliable water systems, stalled projects, and lost economic opportunities.

Cape Chamber: What more can the private sector do to address this crisis?

Dr Haripersad: The private sector can:

* Collaborate with government in planning, design, and maintenance projects.

* Advocate for procurement reforms that prioritise quality, lifecycle value, and  public safety over lowest upfront cost.

* Support STEM education, mentorship programmes, and structured career  
pathways to grow the next generation of engineers.

* Participate in public-private partnerships to accelerate infrastructure delivery and  maintenance, ensuring projects are completed sustainably and on time.

CESA encourages private-sector participation to ensure technical expertise informs every stage of infrastructure development.

Cape Chamber: What would you like to see from the Finance Minister and government regarding skills training and interventions, and how can infrastructure spending be successfully implemented?

Dr Haripersad: We would like to see all levels of government, not only the Finance Minister, commit to ensuring infrastructure spending translates into tangible results. Successful implementation requires:

* Credible multi-year project pipelines with clear timelines, budgets, and  deliverables, so policy commitments become real projects.

* Accelerated approvals and enforced timely payments, stabilising workloads and  preventing cancellations and delays.

* Procurement reforms prioritising quality, safety, and long-term value over lowest  upfront cost.

* Integration of skills development into projects, enabling young engineers,  technicians, and artisans to gain meaningful experience.

For education and skills development: Investment in STEM education is critical, but it is equally important to address the  pipeline systematically from early childhood development through to tertiary studies.  

This means:

* Reviewing early childhood education and the quality of schooling to cultivate  interest in maths, science, and engineering from a young age.

* Encouraging young girls, and all learners, to pursue careers in engineering and  technical fields, challenging traditional gender stereotypes.

* Providing mentorship, exposure, and structured opportunities to ensure students  see these careers as accessible and rewarding.

In short, allocating funds is not enough. Policy must be IMPLEMENTED and coupled with structured, accountable, and transparent implementation so that roads, water systems, and other critical infrastructure are delivered safely, sustainably, and efficiently. This aligns with CESA’s call to turn strategy into action, creating real assets, jobs, and economic growth.

Cape Chamber:  Any further comments or key points?

Dr Haripersad: Infrastructure is more than concrete and steel, it is the foundation for economic growth, social development, and public safety. Engineers must reclaim their purpose and occupy central roles in decisions affecting South Africa’s future. This requires accountability, integrity, and collaboration across government and private sectors. Without action, infrastructure decline, economic losses, and reduced public trust will continue. Our collective responsibility is to ensure expertise, planning, and execution align to deliver safe, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure for all South Africans.