With a shortage of skills across the board in South Africa, it is heartening to find two young candidate civil engineers, Tshimangadzo Masindi and Zandile Tshabalala, putting their skills to work in building the country’s infrastructure.
Both Masindi and Tshabalala are recipients of bursaries from the Department of Transport and studied civil engineering in the Czech Republic. They are now back in the country and have been seconded to SANRAL to gain experience and qualify as engineers. They recently started their training at the Musina Ring Road project as assistants to the resident engineer.
Tshimangadzo and Zandile are required to spend 18 months on site. They are currently busy with the construction of five bridges as well as four in-situ culverts on the project. Their responsibilities include testing the concrete according to required specifications before it is cast.
After 18 months, they will spend a further 18 months in Nelson Mandela Bay to do design training. Only upon completion can they apply for accreditation with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).
Zandile, who hails from Soweto, says she is enjoying the practical training which will help her reach her dream of becoming a qualified engineer. Tshimangadzo wants to work in civil engineering and, with experience, “would like to see myself as an executive in engineering specialising in structures,” she says.
FleetWatch wishes both of these young ladies the best of luck in achieving their dreams and also compliments SANRAL and taking on such candidates on to improve the skills levels in our country.
