South Africa’s infrastructure challenges are often framed in terms of deteriorating roads, failing water systems, unreliable electricity supply and growing maintenance backlogs. Yet one of the root causes receives far less attention: the shortage of engineering skills within local government.
Marking Youth Month, the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa (IMESA) has called for greater focus on attracting and developing the next generation of municipal engineers, warning that the country’s ability to deliver services, support economic growth and build climate resilience will depend heavily on the technical talent entering the profession today.
“Municipal engineering is one of the few sectors where engineers can see the direct impact of their work on people’s daily lives,” says Bhavna Soni, Operations Director: Young Professionals and Membership at IMESA.
“Every road, water treatment works, pump station, stormwater system and sanitation project contributes directly to economic development and community wellbeing. If we want to improve service delivery and infrastructure performance, we need to inspire more young people to see municipal engineering as a career of choice.”
Indeed, for South Africa’s economic bloodstream, the road freight industry, reliable roads and bridges, functional stormwater systems, water networks and municipal services are essential for efficient and safe trucking operations.
Addressing a growing skills shortage
Industry bodies have for years warned of a critical shortage of engineers, engineering technologists and technicians in South Africa. Estimates suggest the country faces a deficit of as many as 60 000 engineering professionals, while universities continue to produce fewer graduates than the economy requires in several scarce-skills disciplines.
Competition for engineering talent has intensified as sectors such as energy, information technology, manufacturing and consulting offer attractive career opportunities and remuneration packages. Municipalities, despite their central role in delivering essential services, often struggle to compete for the same pool of graduates.
To help address this challenge, IMESA is expanding its Young Professionals Portfolio, known as YP², a programme aimed at developing young engineering talent through mentorship, leadership development, technical learning and professional networking opportunities. Originally launched in KwaZulu-Natal, the initiative is now being rolled out nationally under Soni’s leadership.
Young professionals experiencing the challenge first-hand
Those already working within local government say the shortage of engineering capacity is becoming increasingly evident.
“It often results in increased workloads and the need to manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously,” says Dhiveshni Naidu, Chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal YP² Committee and Senior Civil Engineer at eThekwini Water and Sanitation.
“Developing young engineers and investing in mentorship and training is a growing imperative to improve service delivery and ensure the long-term sustainability of our municipalities.”
Lenesh Sukhlal, YP² Committee member and Area Manager in the Wastewater Planning Branch at eThekwini Municipality, describes similar experiences. “In many instances, I have had to take on responsibilities that would typically be managed by multiple engineers,” he says.
Despite these challenges, both professionals remain convinced that municipal engineering offers one of the most rewarding careers available to young engineers because of its direct impact on communities.
Infrastructure that changes lives
For many young professionals, the attraction of municipal engineering lies in the opportunity to improve people’s lives through infrastructure.
“The ability to work on infrastructure projects that have a tangible and lasting impact on people was a key motivator,” says Dhiresh Dhewki, a YP² committee member working in the water sector.
“Working in the water sector combines the technical aspects of engineering with the human element of delivering an essential service.”
Water design technologist Ntokozo Mjwara says the profession creates a direct connection between engineering and community wellbeing.
“Whether it is water, sanitation, roads or stormwater systems, these are services people rely on every single day,” she says. “Seeing communities benefit from completed projects reminds you that engineering is not only about technical designs and calculations but about improving people’s quality of life.
“Something as simple as people being able to open a tap and have access to clean running water brings such joy. Moments like that are inspiring and uplifting.”
Civil Engineering Technologist at eThekwini Municipality Zlungile Memela says municipal engineering often offers a broader range of experience than many graduates initially expect.
“It is never just laying a pipe and supplying water,” she says. “It is reservoirs, pump stations, planning, budgets and stakeholder engagement. Municipal engineering allows young graduates to tackle diverse, community-focused projects while gaining broad experience.”
YP² Committee member Nkanyezi Mdlalose says his interest in civil engineering was sparked by the infrastructure development that preceded the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
“I would advise graduates that municipal engineering is a rewarding path to choose as a civil engineer as you become a vital part of the communities you work in by providing engineering solutions that improve lives,” he says.
Strengthening the talent pipeline
Alongside mentorship and professional development, IMESA is also strengthening relationships with universities. In 2025, the organisation’s KwaZulu-Natal branch sponsored the IMESA Floating Trophy and a cash prize for the Best Design Project Award at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Undergraduate Civil Engineering Symposium.
The programme is now being expanded to additional tertiary institutions, with final-year awards being developed to encourage engineering excellence and strengthen links between academia and industry.
“We are committed to building stronger relationships with universities and creating opportunities for students to engage with the profession before they graduate,” says Soni.
South Africa’s infrastructure future will depend not only on funding and project delivery, but also on the availability of the engineers needed to design, build and maintain the systems that support communities and economic growth.
“The young engineers entering the profession today will shape the future of South Africa’s infrastructure for decades to come. That is an extraordinary responsibility, but also an extraordinary opportunity,” concludes Soni.
Editor’s Comment: The trucking industry’s conversation about roads, logistics corridors and infrastructure investment is important, but perhaps greater attention should be paid to the people who make those assets possible. Youth Month provides a timely reminder that South Africa’s infrastructure challenge is also a talent challenge. Developing a new generation of municipal engineers may not grab attention in the same way as a major road upgrade, but the long-term impact could be even greater. For trucking, logistics and the broader economy, investing in young engineering talent is ultimately an investment in the infrastructure backbone that keeps freight flowing and communities functioning.
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