City business awarded for novel project - The Witness , 2004/08/17
A Pietermaritzburg based engineering company has garnered a prestigious accolade at the annual South African Association of Consulting Engineers (SAACE) Excellence Awards.
The awards are sponsored by Glenrand MIB and recognise the outstanding achievements of its 425 member companies. They were announced at a glittering gala banquet in Sandton last week.
Jeffares & Green earned a commendation for engineering excellence for projects with a value less than R5 million for an innovative school play pump programme. At the heart of this project is an adapted merry-go-round, which turns around when the children play on it and drives a pump fitted to a borehole, extracting water to elevated tanks for commercial use.
An estimated 51 000 people benefit from the pumps, which were installed at a cost of less than R3 million.
The initiative is a simple, sustainable development project undertaken by the Water Affairs and Forestry Department at primary schools in rural KwaZulu-Natal.
The pump has gained wide exposure. In May, it was shown to delegates at the World Economic Forum in Maputo who attended the launch of the Africa Water Project Exchange.
Umgeni Water CEO Gugu Moloi and Mozambique president Joaquim Chisano demonstrated the pump’s simple workings. It was hailed as a project that unites engineering technology, rural communities and corporate marketers.
Jeffares & Green was one of four firms that received a commendation at the SAACE awards, contested in seven categories.
The business excellence award went to Bigen Africa for the second consecutive time, while Vela VKE walked off with the engineering excellence award for the rehabilitation of Chapman’s Peak Drive in Cape Town.
Commendations in this category went to BKS, PD Naidoo & Associates and ARQ for the cable-stayed Nelson Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg and Stewart Scott for the Mohale Dam, part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
Iliso Consulting was named young company of the year, while Ingerop Consulting claimed the international business developer of the year award.
The East Rand Water Care Company that renders a waste water treatment services to local authorities was named as the top visionary client.
Clint Koopman (33) of Iliso Consulting was named the young engineer of the year, while Gerald Garner of Civil Engineering Contractor scooped the journalist of the year award
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