Engineers have a huge social responsibility
An interview with Bryan James Westcott, the National President of South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC)

‘Economic prospects in South Africa are very exciting. And its spin-off is that we can try and share the wealth of the country in the poor and unemployed population, which is very large’ Bryan James Westcott, National President, South Africa Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors

Bryan James Westcott is convinced construction engineers have a huge social responsibility and duty. The National President of South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC), who was in Muscat recently, feels his profession is not about just building monuments and buildings. “We need to focus on the training, development, employment and uplift aspects as well.” For this civil engineer, construction is one of the vehicles in eliminating poverty, reducing unemployment and raising the living standards of the common masses.

Westcott was invited by Society of Omani Civil Engineering Contractors to deliver a keynote address on the South African experience since 1939. “I think the Omani society is keen to share on our experiences of the past,” Westcott told OER in an exclusive chat. “We have a very similar organisation in South Africa.”

Westcott, who graduated from Johannesburg, worked first with a government department and then with one of the large construction companies of South Africa. Twenty years ago, he formed his own company. “In South Africa, since 1994, there has been a great drive to uplift the formerly poor areas located around the outskirts of the cities. My company is very much involved in such types of projects,” he informs.

Oman-South Africa correlation
Westcott sees some kind of correlation between Oman and South Africa vis-a-vis the civil construction sector. “It’s a transition phase in South Africa. We are on the verge of a big infrastructure development boom at the moment. There are lots of huge industrial projects underway, including a rapid rail system in Johannesburg. On top of it all, our economy is in great shape at the moment. The government has the funds to invest in social uplift programmes at a much faster pace now, compared to what it had 10 years ago.

“Economic prospects in South Africa are very exciting. And its spin-off is that we can try and share the wealth of the country in the poor and unemployed population, which is very large. Lots of our people are living at unacceptable standards at the moment.”

Does he have certain prescriptions in mind for the civil engineering contactors in Oman? “Yes, I do,” he says forthrightly. “It’s to showcase the services that our association provides to its members, and the benefits that the society at large derives from us. SAFCEC is not a narrow-focused society. There has been this trend in the past of exploitation of labour. We have a lot of people from the north coming into South Africa and often getting exploited by unscrupulous employers. We try to do what we can to prevent that. We also promote safety within the industry.

It’s (construction sector job) a hazardous occupation and our safety record has not been the best in the past. We are making great efforts towards improving this. We have a safety officer whose sole task is to educate, train and develop safety standards within the industry.”

Westcott says he sees — from his interaction with some of the Omani contractors — some sort of shortage of skilled workers here. “We have a similar problem in South Africa. I believe it is a similar problem here.”

He explains further: “As an association, we are very involved with training at all levels — from the lowest level to the engineers. Then we have a new aspect which wasn’t there in the industry when we started. It is something new for the construction sector — the social uplift and development of black contractors.

“As you know, the education system for the black population under the apartheid years was really pathetic. We need to try and rectify that as much as we can.”

Oman’s Brand Value
“Oman is a really beautiful country,” Westcott gushes. “I was surprised to see how lush and green it is.” And he adds: “I have been really impressed with what I have seen in Oman. The country has a stupendous infrastructure but it has not lost its uniqueness. The country has a very strong Arabic personality and character, and at the same time, has first class facilities as well.”

Elaborating the theme further, he divulges: “We too are involved in the development of infrastructure for tourism. Golf course development is much in vogue in South Africa these days. Many of SAFCEC members are involved in it. A lot of foreigners are buying our golf resorts.”

Vision of Future
In five years from now, where does he see the construction sector? Pat comes the reply: “The world is getting smaller. A lot of South African companies are operating in Dubai. There is a construction boom in South Africa now. Multinational companies are eyeing the South African market.”

Does he have similar yardsticks for these multinationals? ”We object to what they call the ‘raiders’. Those who come in, take contracts, and leave behind just the bricks, and not any
social benefits. We have a problem with this kind of approach of foreign companies.”