South Africa must not only build more infrastructure, but must also ensure that it creates the skills, experience and opportunities needed to sustain the country’s future in the process, says industry organisation Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa) president Dr Vishal Haripersad.

“Infrastructure investment should deliberately incorporate skills transfer, local content, artisan development and mentorship so that projects build people alongside the physical assets they deliver,” he adds.

For young graduates, including engineers, the absence of opportunities, mentorship and practical experience can become a barrier between completing their studies and becoming active contributors to the economy, he points out.

“South Africa cannot afford to leave a generation of young professionals on the sidelines while the country grapples with a deepening unemployment crisis and a shortage of engineering skills,” he emphasises.

South Africa’s planned infrastructure investment presents an opportunity to tackle the challenges of unemployment and a shortage of engineering skills at once.

Government has committed more than R1-trillion to public infrastructure over the next three years, but spending this money only on projects will not automatically deliver inclusive growth, says Haripersad.

The contradiction within South Africa’s engineering landscape is that, while the country faces a significant shortage of engineering professionals, some graduates and candidates are still waiting for opportunities and professional recognition.

The profession cannot afford to sideline people who have already invested in developing the skills the country needs.

“This is a crisis in South Africa. The profession cannot afford to sideline any young professionals, as the country faces an urgent need to strengthen its engineering capacity,” he says.

Additionally, the responsibility for shaping the future of engineering also rests with the professionals entering and progressing through the sector, says Cesa Young Professionals Forum (YPF) chairperson Marizel Pienaar.

“As engineers, we are entrusted with decisions that impact communities. Our decisions also impact economies and generations to come. The role we play cannot be taken lightly,” she says.

As the future of the profession, young professionals should view themselves as active participants in shaping it.

“The future of engineering is not something that simply happens to us. It's something that we influence every day through the decisions we make, the conversations we lead and the actions that we choose to take,” she says.

Young professionals must build their technical capability and leadership, be open to mentorship and criticism, understand their professional value and take an active role in branches, committees and forums that shape the engineering profession, says Haripersad.