Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) has officially revealed the finalists for the 2025 CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards, a prestigious platform that honours innovation, collaboration, and sustainability in the built environment.
Now in its 53rd year, the awards are a cornerstone of the consulting engineering industry, recognising outstanding projects, organisations, and individuals who are redefining South Africa’s infrastructure landscape.
Engineering for a Sustainable Future
“Engineering the future we want means reimagining infrastructure in a way that is inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready,” says Chris Campbell, CEO of CESA. “The 2025 finalists exemplify how consulting engineers are pushing boundaries through projects that not only solve today’s challenges but actively shape the South Africa we aspire to.”
This year’s finalists highlight projects across transport, water, energy, residential, industrial, and social infrastructure—all demonstrating a strong commitment to technical excellence and environmental stewardship.
Industry Leaders Championing Excellence
Dr. Nolwandle Mgoqi, CEO of Aon South Africa, platinum sponsor of the awards, emphasised the importance of the recognition:
“Aon takes immense pride in our long-standing partnership with CESA and our sponsorship of the CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards, which celebrate innovation and sustainability in South Africa’s engineering sector. Our involvement underscores our dedication to helping the industry manage complex risks, foster innovation, and deliver projects that meet the highest standards of safety and quality.”
2025 Finalist Categories
Young Engineer of the Year
Finalists include professionals from Zutari, WSP Africa, Makhaotse Narasimulu and Associates, Nyeleti Consulting, Bigen, Hatch, MSW Consulting, SMEC South Africa, and AvenirHoldings.
Mentor of the Year
Recognising leaders from Bigen, Knight Piésold, and SMEC South Africa.
Mentoring Company of the Year
Shortlisted firms include AvenirHoldings, Bigen Group, Ensync Engineers, Jones & Wagener, and Makhaotse Narasimulu and Associates.
Business Excellence Award
Finalists include Bigen Group, BVi Consulting Engineers, and ROMH Consulting.
Project Categories
Projects span multiple budget ranges—from under R50 million to mega projects exceeding R1 billion—with finalists such as:
- AECOM for flood damage repairs in Grabouw.
- Knight Piésold for structural repairs at Palabora Mining Company.
- Maninga Engineering for the WITS Roy McAlpine Adult Burns Unit.
- Zutari for N2 slope stabilisation and The Rubik project.
- WSP for Menlyn Maine Residential Phase 2 and Project Raptor for South32.
- Jones & Wagener for Scaw Metals’ Narrow Hot Strip Mill.
- MPAMOT for large-scale infrastructure projects in Lesotho.
International project finalists include entries from Namibia, Botswana, Kenya, Angola, and Lesotho, reinforcing the pan-African impact of South African engineering expertise.
Special Awards
The Engineering Technology and Innovation: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Design Excellence Award will spotlight Ingerop’s work on the Hazelmere Dam Raising Project for the Department of Water and Sanitation.
Event Details
The CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards 2025 will be held on 21 August 2025 at Vodacom World, Midrand. The event will unite engineering leaders, government stakeholders, and industry partners to celebrate excellence and chart the future of infrastructure in South Africa.
For more information and to attend, visit: https://www.cesa.co.za/awards/
