EThekwini's Engineering Unit Wins 2023 SAICE Award

 

By Fred Felton | Sep. 19, 2023

The eThekwini Municipality’s Engineering Unit has received national recognition by winning an award at the 2023 National South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) Awards on 7 September at Monte Casino in Johannesburg.

Hard work and perseverance has paid off for eThekwini Municipality's Engineering Unit after winning the most prestigious 2023 National SAICE Award in a Community Based Project. From L-R Mr Zibuse Kweyama (Director Natia Construction), Mr Xolile Mkati (eThekwini Municipality Engineer) and Mr Mthembeni Khumalo (eThekwini Municipality Project Executive). | Photo: ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY

The Engineering Unit’s Roads Provision Department team won the Community Based Project Award for the Emansomini Pedestrian Bridge which is located in the Philani Valley of uMlazi.

This bridge was officially handed over by eThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda on 9 September 2023.

The building of the Emansomini arched soffit pedestrian bridge over the Ezimbokodweni River features a four-span semi-integral reinforced concrete bridge with a total length of 100 metres.

The construction project began in January 2023 and was concluded in June 2023. The reconstruction project created 22 jobs for locals and had a budget of around R9.3 million.

‘’The bridge aims to improve the safety and connectivity of residents from Wards 86 and 94 by providing safe passage across the river. In terms of community-based efforts including job creation, contract participation goals, and the inclusion of emerging contractors, the project exceeded the contract targets in all areas,’’ said eThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda.

Local residents have also benefited from this project.

For those involved in the project it has been very rewarding. ‘’I was working as a Civil engineering Technician for the Emansomini Bridge project,’’ noted Sbulele Dlamini, a Civil Engineering Trainee from Mangosuthu University of Technology.