UJ's Civil Engineering First Year Students' Orientation Day

Nomvula Rakolote is a seasoned executive and Adjunct Professor with over 24 years of experience across academia, government, and the private sector. She currently serves as CEO of the Association of Construction Project Managers (ACPM) and is the former CEO of SACPCMP. With 17 years in executive leadership, including 14 years in the construction sector, she is recognised for her strategic leadership, policy expertise, and governance contributions.

Nomvula has served on various boards in both the public and private sectors, bringing valuable insight in governance, risk management, and strategic oversight. She holds a Master’s in Corporate Strategy and is a graduate of the Global Executive Leadership Programme at GIBS. Her appointment as Adjunct Professor at the Central University of Technology marks a key milestone in her academic and sectoral leadership journey.

Chris began his engineering career 43 years ago. He obtained various engineering and management qualifications, has been employed in an engineering management position in Transnet, held senior positions in consulting engineering companies and was an executive in a large precast concrete manufacturing company both locally and internationally. He assumed the role as CEO of Consulting Engineers South Africa in 2015. He has been involved in engineering and built environment institutional work for 26 years. He has served as President of ECSA, Council Member of CBE, Vice President of the SAICE, but also globally, served as Vice President and Chair of the Capacity Building Committee of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations and Advisor to the FIDIC Board.

He is currently, Exco Member of Construction Sector Charter Council and serves in the MANCO of Construction Alliance South Africa. He serves as Chair to organisations such as Built Environment Professions South Africa and the South African Forum of Engineering and is a Board member of BUSA, active in various NEDLAC forums. He is recognised as being active in all media platforms on matters related to the Built Environment.

Norman has over 45 years’ experience in the construction industry with two major contracting companies, primarily involved in heavy civil engineering and earthworks projects.

He is a Fellow of the Association of Arbitrators, a past President of the South African Forum of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC), Chairman of the SAICE Contractual Affairs Committee, and leads the updating of the General Conditions of Contract (GCC 2015). He also serves as a member of the SAICE Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Panel.

Since 2021, he has held the position of Chairman of the Construction Adjudication Association of South Africa (CAASA).

He has a particular interest in understanding why projects go wrong and in identifying the initiatives needed to deliver successful project outcomes.

Jacob is a former CEO of Eskom. He holds a B.Sc. Electrical Engineering degree from Wits University. He has completed various executive development programs including the Advanced Management Program (AMP) at Harvard Business School. Jacob is a foremost expert on the South African energy industry and a seasoned analyst of international energy developments. His industry experience spans over 35 years which includes technical, managerial and executive positions in energy, petrochemical, mining and property management. Jacob has played a pivotal role in the evolution of the power sector since the dawn of democracy in South Africa, which included the roll-out of universal electrification, the power industry sector reform and the initiation of Eskom’s new build program.

Jacob Maroga has featured as a speaker in various energy seminars and conferences, including the Afrikaner Africa Initiative (AAI) Energy Indaba, the Black Business Council (BBC) Energy Indaba, the Gauteng Province Energy Expo, Sunday Times Directors Event, the African National Congress (ANC) Economic Dialogue, ABSA Beyond the Budget Event and Bank of America Summer Conference. Jacob is constantly featured as an energy expert in popular local and international media such as the ENCA, Newzroom Afrika, SABC TV and radio, the BBC and Al Jazeera. Jacob is currently a Director of Erinite Energy and serves as a non-executive director of several entities in South Africa.

Tunde has over 35 years industry experience in the built-environment.

He has a Bachelor of Environmental Studies and a Bachelor of Architecture with a Master of Science in Project Management from University of Pretoria, a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management, and a Masters in Organizational & Management Systems both from University of Kwazulu Natal.

He is a registered Professional Architect with SACAP and a Corporate Member of Royal Institute of British Architects with a PMP and a PMI-CP. He is also a Pr. CPM from SACPCMP as well as a Green Star Accredited Professional with the Green Building Council of South Africa.

He is a director of Prosite Plan Africa. Current President of the South African Chapter of PMI. And a PMI Ambassador for Construction in South Africa.

Christof Lourens’ entrepreneurial journey began long before his professional career—at just three years old, he was already helping his family run market stalls, and by the age of ten, he was independently managing full-day markets. This early exposure to business gave Christof a deep understanding of people, value creation, and the discipline of sales, laying the foundation for the leader he is today.

He formally entered the construction sector in 2011 as a trainee site agent at WBHO. In 2013, he joined Cairnmead Industrial Consultants, where his leadership potential quickly became evident. By 2015, he was appointed Managing Director, and under his guidance, Cairnmead has grown into one of South Africa’s most respected names in health and safety consulting—serving clients on complex, high-profile projects, including nine data centres where he acted as the health and safety agent.

Today, Christof is the founder and leader of three active businesses, employing nearly 100 people. His passion for operational excellence, digital innovation, and people-centric leadership continues to fuel his vision of building organizations that are both purpose-driven and performance-oriented.

Mr. Lufuno Ratsiku is the current President of the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP), a key professional regulatory body within the Built Environment established in terms of the Legislation of Parliament, Act No 48 of 2000. His role ensures compliance and enhancement of the standards of project and construction management practices across South Africa with international agreements across the Built Environment Global Landscape. Mr. Ratsiku is a Built-Environment and Governance Professional, currently holding multiple influential positions in the industry.

As the Founder and Managing Director of Genuine Tenacity Consulting, he leads a prominent company specializing in Quantity Surveying and Construction Project Management Services, where his leadership drives innovative solutions within the built environment.

Lufuno served as a Non- Executive Director of Johannesburg City Power and his term ended in August 2024 where he contributed towards the invention of a smart utility strategy. He is a former Board Member of the 2nd largest pension fund in South Africa, the Eskom Pension and Provident Funds (EPPF) where he was a Chairperson of the Human Resources and Remunerations Committee, safeguarding the interests of the fund and its members in terms of Regulations 28 of the pensions’ funds Act. Lufuno is a Tribunal Member and Employer Assessor of the Compensation Fund, appointed by the Minister of Employment and Labour in terms of the COID Act.

He currently serves as an Advisory Board Member of the Big 5 Global Leaders’ summit based in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai. Additionally, he enriches the academic community as a part-time postgraduate lecturer at the Tshwane University of Technology and a researcher at the Centre for Applied Research and Innovation in the Built Environment (CARINBE) within the University of Johannesburg.

Innocent holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Management and qualifications in construction management and civil engineering. He is a registered civil engineer (Zambia), construction manager (South Africa), member of the chartered institute of building (CIOB-UK) and the International Council for research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB).

He is currently an Associate Professor in Construction Project Management, researcher, invited speaker, founder and director of the Centre for applied research and innovation in the built environment (CARINBE) based at the University of Johannesburg. He serves as an assessor for the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the National Research Foundation (NRF). He has served as an ad-hoc reviewer for the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAF). Industry roles include being a former REGCOM member of the SACPCMP and current Eskom’s EPPEI EMSC lead at UJ. His research focus is on site-to-office digital applications and BIM.

Other projects include the strategic application of building information modelling (BIM) to construction project management, 4D BIM to improve safety and infrastructure sustainability.

In 2007 Wynand set up and now runs, Dreyer Project Dynamics advisors to industry and to the public sector on infrastructure, transportation, and facility management. A Professional Civil Engineer and Accredited Facilities Professional, Wynand provides leadership, advice, mentorship and commercial project management for developments in accommodation, tourism, tollroads, public transport and other major projects, integration of design, construction, operation and maintenance with governance, financial, and legal inputs.

As Advisor Project Dynamics has supported:
 

• The Road Development Authority of Mauritius on the Road Decongestion PPP
• Winelands Unsolicited Bid for SANRAL Concession Preferred Bidder on the N1-N2 Tollroad
• Lekki Concession (AIIM) in Lagos Nigeria
• Air Mauritius on head office relocation
• Northwest Provincial Treasury under IDIP4
• Station Management Contractor for the initial MyCiTi BRT in Cape Town
• Accommodation PPPs for Departments of Foreign Affairs (now DIRCO), Environmental Affair, Trade Industry & Competition and Agriculture & Land Affairs (DALRRD), Public Administration & Leadership Academy (PALAMA – now The National School of Government)
• World Bank Transport Working Group on the Presidential SIDS2020 project evaluation.

 
Since 2021, Wynand has been the voice of Advocacy at the SA Institution for Civil Engineering (SAICE), is teaching PPPs to Built-Environment Professionals and initiatives by SAICE aimed at promoting Public Private Partnerships, professionalising the Public Service and building sustainability into infrastructure programmes.

Wynand was previously Managing Director of the Concor Facility Management Division, which managed the Concor Group’s operations and concession holdings, and served on the board of Concor Holdings (Pty) Ltd. During this time Concor engaged in a number of pioneering projects under Wynand’s leadership including:
 

• Huguenot Toll Tunnel O&M for SANRAL (First General Manager and responsible director)
• Cape Point Funicular Railway and Tourist Facilities under a Concession Lease pre-PFMA (Project Leader and Managing Director),
• Entilini Concession Company for the Rehabilitation of Chapman’s Peak Drive as a PPP (Project Leader and Managing Director),
• Bakwena Platinum Toll Concession N1-N4 for SANRAL (Bidding, Development and Board Member),
• Winelands Unsolicited Bid for a SANRAL Concession for the N1-N2 Tollroad (Bid Initiation and Scheme Developer)
• Imbumba-Aganang PPP for the head office of DIRCO (Project Leader and CEO).

Steven Kaplan joined the SAICE team as the COO in April 2013 bringing with him more than 35 years of consulting engineering and project management experience. Steven took over as the Acting CEO from September 2018 to March 2020. Steven was appointed onto the SAICE Council for the 2022 and 2023 years and in April 2022 he was appointed as the President-Elect 2022 and then inaugurated as President in 2023.

Steven is a graduate of the University of Cape Town, holding a BSc (Hons) in civil engineering. Steven’s career spans 45 years, starting out with detailed civil infrastructure design and structural design of buildings and bridges during which time he built up extensive experience working on numerous multidiscipline and infrastructure projects, with particular focus on the construction and project management sector.

The unique focus of Steven’s service to SAICE in 2021 and 2022 was as the project leader coordinating the technical infrastructure researchers, the collation of data and the drafting of the context leading up to the publication of the fourth SAICE Infrastructure Report Card IRC in November 2022.

Prof John Smallwood is the Professor of Construction Management in the Department of Construction Management, Nelson Mandela University, and the Principal, Construction Research Education and Training Enterprises (CREATE). Both his MSc and PhD (Construction Management) addressed construction health and safety (H&S). He has conducted extensive research and published in the areas of construction H&S, ergonomics, and occupational health (OH), but also in the areas of construction management education and training, environmental management, health and well-being, primary health promotion, quality management, risk management, and the practice of construction management, and construction H&S management.

Professional registration includes registration as a Pr CM and a Pr CHSA with the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP).

He is a member of several national and international professional associations and is a founder member of the Association of Construction Health & Safety Management (ACHASM), including serving as a Director of the Section 21 Company.

International representation includes Regional Coordinator, Africa and Middle East, CIB Work Group W99 (Safety, Health, and Wellbeing in Construction), Joint-Coordinator, CIB Work Group W123 (People in Construction), and Chair, International Ergonomics Association (IEA) Building and Construction Technical Committee (TC).

Dr Andries Nel is a registered Professional Engineer, Project Management Professional and a Professional Construction Project Manager. He holds a Bachelor degree (B. Eng), Master’s degree (M. Eng) and Doctor of philosophy degree (Ph.D Eng) in Mechanical Engineering with a specialisation in thermodynamics.

He is currently a Director at Spoormaker and Partners Pty Ltd, a building services design firm within the construction sector.

He has won numerous industry awards including the coveted CESA AON 2024 young engineer of the year and been involved with national and international award-winning projects. He also serves as a member of several voluntary industry associations.

Nontobeko Mathenjwa is a professionally registered construction project manager with 17 years’ experience in the built environment, currently employed by SANRAL. During this period, she has acquired solid experience in construction engineering and management of road infrastructure projects.

She studied Civil Engineering and holds a national diploma in civil engineering), a B-Tech degree in construction management and a Masters degree in engineering management. She currently serves as a committee member at SAICE: Project Management & Construction Division (PMCD) and leads the Young Members Subcommittee.

Sithembiso Vhandezi is a registered professional quantity surveyor with the South African Council of Quantity Surveyors. He holds a BSc Honours in Quantity Surveying and a BCom in Law. Sithembiso has extensive experience working in both the public and private sectors on a variety of infrastructure projects, ranging from commercial to social infrastructure, in a consultancy capacity.

He is highly passionate about construction contract law. Currently, he is a Senior Manager responsible for Infrastructure Audit at the Auditor General South Africa.

Andile Zondi is a seasoned construction professional with over 20 years of industry experience, currently serving as Acting CEO and Regional Manager (KZN) at the South African Forum of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC). He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Science from Durban University of Technology and is a Candidate Construction Project Manager with SACPCMP.

Andile’s career spans leadership roles in both public and private sectors, including founding and managing New Revolution Trading and working as Contracts Manager at Nondaba Brothers Construction. He has also held technical roles such as Concrete Plant Manager and Site Engineer.

In addition to his executive role, Andile contributes to industry development through service on various boards and committees, including the SACPCMP Programme Accreditation Panel, the DUT Faculty of Civil Engineering Advisory Board, and the KZN Building Industry Forum.

Friedrich Slabbert is a Professional Engineer with more than 40 years of experience in the fields of transport, water services planning and the development of large infrastructure projects.

He obtained both his B Eng (Civ) and B Eng Hons (Civ) degrees from the Pretoria University with the latter in 1989. He started his career as a student employee at the former TPA Roads department in 1974. In 1990, he joined Uhlmann Witthaus & Prins Consulting Engineers (UWP), now Mariswe Consulting, where he became a director in 1997.

In 2013, he retired from UWP and established in May 2015, Sciendum Academy (Pty) Ltd. From 2020 to 2021 he was the Transport Division chairperson of The South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE), was elected to SAICE council en serves on the Executive Board and is SAICE President-Elect 2025. He is the current chair of the SAICE Sustainable Infrastructure Working Group. He has the ability to convert “What to do” into “How to Do”.

Euan Massey holds an MSc in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution from Kings College, London, and is an admitted attorney and director of MDA Attorneys, with extensive experience in commercial litigation and construction related issues. Euan’s expertise includes specialist legal counsel on capital project procurement strategies such as EPC, EPCM and agreed target cost contracts. He adds significant value to the contracting process and comes highly recommended as an acknowledged specialist in contract drafting and effective risk management strategies.

Euan represents major South African and international contractors and employers in resolving construction related disputes through all forms of dispute resolution, with a particular interest in adjudication. He regularly acts as an arbitrator, adjudicator and mediator when required.

Professor Harinarain is an Associate Professor at the School of Engineering at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The research conducted by Dr Harinarain focuses on the areas of Sustainable Development, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Construction Education, and Construction Health and Safety.

Her research is informed by a strongly interdisciplinary approach addressing critical problems for the South African construction industry and society. She has won numerous academic awards, some of which include Best Lecturer Awards, JW Nelson Fund Research Productivity Awards, and Certificate of Achievement for Excellence: Teaching and Learning from the Women in Engineering.

She has contributed significantly to various papers and journals and has presented at local and international conferences. Prof Harinarain is registered with The South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Profession (SACPCMP), a member of the Chartered Institute of Builders (CIOB) and Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS), ESR member of South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession (SACQSP) and a Fellow of the Associate of Association of Arbitrators (Southern Africa) NPC.

Malcolm Weaich is a Quantity Surveyor and lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand and is working towards a specialisation in artificial intelligence applications in the built environment, sustainable economic development, and the digitalisation of construction project management. As a practicing academic, he brings over 150 completed projects across the commercial, infrastructure, and housing sectors, with expertise in cost estimation, procurement, and green technology investments.

Being a multi-award-winning researcher, Malcolm is recognised for his contributions to sustainability and addressing youth unemployment in South Africa. His work includes developing new mathematical and economic models to evaluate the effectiveness of policies local and abroad, aimed at advancing the country’s sustainable development goals. His latest research focuses on the Cognitive Competency Theory, designed to enhance construction project management practices.

For this latest work, he was honoured with the OnSustainability Emerging Scholar award and is scheduled to present the theory at an academic conference in Miami in 2025. Committed to advancing sustainable development and innovative practices in the built environment, Malcolm continues to make significant contributions through both his professional endeavours and academic role.

Andile Mndzebele commands a strong presence in the built environment as a highly accomplished executive and entrepreneur, and highly respected professional in the built environment, with over two decades of multifaceted experience spanning energy, EPCM/EPC engineering, construction, mining, manufacturing, and the public sector. Professionally registered as a Construction Project Manager with the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) and as an Engineering Technologist with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), Andile exemplifies a rare blend of strategic leadership, technical depth, and operational excellence.

Holding an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Master’s in Engineering Management, and a Master’s in Project Management, he has continually demonstrated academic rigour aligned with practical execution across complex infrastructure delivery environments. He is a co-founder and Project Director at AvenirHoldings (Pty) Ltd, a dynamic firm specialising in EPCM and EPC services across infrastructure and the built environment value chain.

A prominent figure in professional development and industry advancement, Andile serves as the Chairperson of the Project Management and Construction Division (PMCD) within the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE), representing over 4,000 members nationally. He is a SACPCMP-accredited Assessor and Professional Interview Panellist, playing a key role in shaping and assessing the next generation of construction project management professionals, including through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) route.

Further amplifying his impact, Andile is an active member of the University of Johannesburg’s Department of Civil Engineering Technology Industrial Advisory Committee (DCETA), where he contributes strategic insight to bridge academic outputs with industry demands. Through structured mentorship and thought leadership, he continues to drive the professionalisation and transformation of the built environment sector.

Sekadi Phayane-Shakhane is a professionally registered engineer with over two decades of experience in the field of transportation planning and engineering. Chief Executive Officer of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) since 2023, Sekadi brings a wealth of knowledge and experience gained from a diverse and seasoned career in the civil engineering industry.

Her professional journey spans several eminent organisations, including Ninham Shand and SMEC South Africa. She also serves as a Non-Executive Director at Gateway Airport Authority Limited (GAAL) and a Director at Refilwe Engineering Solutions. Throughout her career, Sekadi has worked on numerous high-level projects in the transport planning and public transport space, including the City of Tshwane’s integrated rapid public transport network.

These roles provided her with invaluable opportunities to refine her leadership and project management capabilities, coordinating large teams of engineering professionals and building rapport with clients in both the public and private sectors.

Armed with a Master of Engineering in Transport Studies from the University of Cape Town, Sekadi has authored numerous national guidelines and papers, as well as presented on public transport issues at both national and international conferences.

Her remarkable contributions have garnered widespread acclaim, with accolades such as the SMEC Young Professional of the Year award in 2013, awarded in Newcastle, Australia, underscoring her transformative influence within the organisation. Furthermore, her dedication to research and transport policy was acknowledged through the prestigious “Charley V. Wootan Award” for the Best Transport Policy Paper at the 2020 Transport Research Board conference in Washington DC, with her co-authors.

Sekadi remains deeply dedicated to empowering communities, and particularly the youth, and is resolute in her commitment to making a difference in the lives of South Africans. She hopes to drive positive change, address societal challenges, and enhance the engineering profession’s impact through her work at SAICE.