Trevor Manuel urges engineers to plan for change

South Africa’s engineering community has an important role to play in the implementation of the change that is necessary to improve skills, upgrade infrastructure and enhance the nation’s innovative capacity. During the annual Hendrik van der

Bijl Memorial Lecture, Minister

Trevor Manuel, Minister in  Minister Manuel emphasises that the ownership of the implementation of change should be shared by government and the private sector. the Presidency for National

Planning and Chairperson of the The Hendrik van der Bijl Memorial Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UP, Lecture is an annual event that is Bob Pullen, Chairperson of the National Planning Commission presented jointly by the University’s SAAE, and Prof Roelf Sandenbergh, Faculty of Engineering, Built Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, (NPC), identified some of the Environment and Information Built Environment and Information Technology and the South African Technology. challenges that need to be Academy of Engineering (SAAE). addressed to eliminate poverty It is delivered by a prominent In the lecture of Minister Trevor personality under the general theme of Manuel, entitled The role of the and reduce inequality by 2030. the role of engineering in society. This National Planning Commission as lecture is of particular signifi cance to catalyst for the development of both the University of Pretoria and South Africa, he elaborated on the the SAAE as Dr Van der Bijl was the NPC’s responsibilities. These include Chancellor of UP from 1934 to 1948 developing a long-term vision and and he made a huge contribution strategic plan for South Africa. The to the industrial and scientifi c Commission also plays an advisory development of South Africa. The fi rst role in policy implementation. Hendrik van der Bijl Memorial Lecture was delivered in 1963 by Dr MS Louw The overarching goal of the National (who represented Sanlam), and ever Development Plan, which was since, these lectures have been presented to President Jacob Zuma delivered by eminent persons who on 11 November 2011, is to eliminate have made their mark in South Africa. poverty and reduce inequality by 2030. Some of the main challenges identifi ed The most recent lecture, which in the plan are poverty and inequality, was presented on 1 August 2012, division, resources and education, was attended by more than 100 social protection and community academics, students, engineers and safety. In the same way that Hendrik alumni of the Faculty of Engineering, van der Bijl faced various challenges to Built Environment and Information effect development years ago, South Technology. Other distinguished Africa has to deal with a number of guests included Prof Cheryl de la Rey, issues to facilitate development in all

NEWS 102 INNOVATE 7 2012 spheres of society in order to achieve professional, competent and developments proposed in the National the abovementioned goals. committed teaching, academic, Development Plan and mentioned by research and public service core. Minister Manuel are the upgrading The two most critical issues that Educators should update their of informal settlements on suitable should be addressed in order to skills and qualifications regularly. land, the extension of the rail network reach these goals are to increase • Build a strong and coherent set of and coal lines, the development of employment and improve the quality institutions for delivering quality new water schemes and a water of education. A capabilities approach education, science and technology conservation plan, the development of is needed, which entails enabling innovation, training and skills renewable energy and the responsible people and giving them the capability development. Schools should exploitation of natural gas for energy to fi nd employment and improve adhere to infrastructure standards. purposes, the decommissioning of coal themselves through education. This • Expand the production of highly power stations and the installation of can only be done by upgrading skilled professionals and enhance fi bre-optic networks. skills and infrastructure. Minister the nation’s innovative capacity. Manuel emphasised that these were • Create an educational and In conclusion, Minister Manuel necessities. national science system that remarked that experimentation was serves the needs of society. fundamental to fi nding solutions. South Africa has enormous skills A stronger emphasis should be Every country and situation have defi cits, and the basis of upgrading placed on the teaching of literacy, unique circumstances and textbook skills is education. The fi ve mathematics and science, and solutions cannot be simply applied to basic themes around which the increasing the numbers of African all similar situations. It is imperative improvement of education, and thus and female postgraduates. that everyone is involved in the skills, will be built are the following: development of the country, and that Infrastructure promotes inclusive public-private partnerships drive the • Lay a solid foundation for growth and is essential for process. The involvement of engineers higher education, which means development, which means that would be to plan for effecting change. prioritising early childhood the basic systems (water, electricity education. and telecommunications) must be More on Hendrik van der Bijl • Build a properly qualified, improved. More specifi c infrastructure Hendrik van der Bijl was born in Pretoria in 1887 and studied at the Victoria College (which would become the University of Stellenbosch). He continued his studies overseas, specialising in electronics. In 1920, he joined the South African government as Technical Advisor, and laid the foundations for the development of South African industry. He established and became the Chairperson of Eskom, Iscor and the Industrial Development Corporation.

The foundations for the industrial development of South Africa were laid by Hendrik  At the annual Hendrik van der Bijl Memorial Lecture were (from left): van der Bijl, the scientist, Prof Roelf Sandenbergh (Dean: Faculty of Engineering, Built Environ- industrial leader, engineer and ment and Information Technology), Prof Cheryl de la Rey (Vice- entrepreneur. His achievements Chancellor and Principal), Bob Pullen (Chairperson: South African have been recognised locally Academy of Engineering) and Minister Trevor Manuel. and internationally.

NEWS 103 INNOVATE 7 2012