REFLECTIONS 2011 – An IMESA Journey Through Time

Contents
Foreword by Mike Chrimes MBE BA MLS MCLIP 7
Elected officials of the South African institutions 14
Message from IMESA president – Jannie Pietersen 15

INTRODUCTION 16
Distinguishing marks of the municipal engineer 16
Trends that erode the influence of municipal engineers 17
The world moves towards specialisation
The role of privatisation becomes more prominent
A spirit of managerialism steadily pervades local government

ERA1 BEFORE 1921 18
The Poor Law Act comes into effect 20

The reform of local government in England 20
The Public Health Act of 1848
Local Sanitary Authorities

The great sanitary awakening 21
The Public Health Act of 1875

Towards an association of municipal engineers 23

The Association of Municipal and Sanitary Engineers and Surveyors is formed 24
The association 10 years later
Professional examination of the municipal engineer

Growth during the first 50 years 26

Municipal progress and problems in South Africa 27

Early inter-municipal co-operation 28

Formation of the African District 28
The officers and activities of the African District: 1905-1921
Activities of the African District from its formation to 1921
Early South African membership

In summary 30

Recorded membership of the African District for selected years 32

People who made a difference 34
Thomas William Stainthorpe (1852-1948)
William Ingham (1867-1924)
Noteworthy achievements in this area 37
ERA 2 1921-1961
MUNICIPAL ENGINEERING
MATURES INTO A
RECOGNISED PROFESSION 38
The first conference – June 1921 40

The annual conference becomes a regular event 40
All municipalities become involved in hosting the conference
Conference programmes structured for optimum value
Who attended the conference?
The conference attracts speakers of stature

The technical focus of annual conferences 42
Cross-pollination of ideas and knowledge
Low-cost housing remains a prominent focus

The SAD’s technical expertise is recognised 44

Institutional matters 44
The African District offers its first testamur
The district restricts its membership

Professional status and protection for municipal engineers 45
Legal protection of municipal engineers
Specialisation perceived as a threat

Problems following World War 11 47

The SAD publishes its own journal 47
Publication cost a major concern

The Royal Charter of 1948 49

Reaching out to more engineers to become members 49
Witwatersrand branch established

Best conference papers awarded 49
Silver medal awards consultants not well received

People who made a difference 52
George Samuel Burt Andrews (about 1868-1937)
Walter Stanley Lunn (born 1890)
David Ernest Lloyd-Davies (1875-1932)
Ernest John Hamlin (1887-1956)
Solly Morris (1913-1984)
Ludovic Hersch (1910-2001)

ERA 3 THE FOUNDING OF IMESA 56

Background 58

The testamur requirement for membership 58

Debating the future form of the SAD 60
Municipal engineers are consulted
Recommendations from sub-committee members differ

The SAD is put on hold: 1959-1961 62

Matters are brought to a head: February to April 1961 62
Political developments have an effect

The founding of IMESA 63
A spirit of co-operation

The SAD redefines its role 64
A new and smaller executive committee is formed

The organisation of the 1962 and 1963 annual conferences 64

Gratitude and sadness 65

Milestone events in IMESA history 66

ERA 4 1962-1984
THE EARLY YEARS OF IMESA 68

A diminished role for the Southern African District (SAD) 70
The SAD’s membership continues to decline
The IME/ICE merger
The Southern African District closes down

The original objects of IMESA 73

IMESA battles for membership 73
Membership rules are relaxed

A self-adjusting composition of council is created 75

The annual conferences come under threat 75
The UME’s ruling gives rise to a confusing legacy
Adequate papers for technical meetings a problem
Steps taken to manage the annual conferences better

Early IMESA administration 77

IMESA becomes a member of IFME 77

A possible IMESA/SAICE merger 78

The IMIESA journal and other publications 78
1965 brings the first newsletter
1976 gives birth to IMIESA
IMIESA clashes with rival publications
Circulation grows significantly
Records of the annual meetings

In summary 80

Some noteworthy achievements during this era 81

People noteworthy achievements during this era 82
Alexander Kinmont (1902-1980)
Gert Johannes Stander (1911-1997)
Jan Brand (1952-2010)

ERA 5 1985-2010
IMESA ADAPTS TO THE
NEW SOUTH AFRICA 84

Another attempt at amalgamation with SAICE 86

IMIESA remains official mouthpiece 87
Discontent with IMIESA grows
IMIESA is turned around and wins prestigious awards

IMESA membership 92

The municipal need for civil engineering professionals 92

IMESA branches 95

Bursaries 96

IMESA positions itself for the new South Africa 96

In summary 98

Honorary Fellows 100
Eric John Hall
Donald Croft Macleod
Wesley Christoffel Fourie
Graham Bennett Keppie
Cornelis Gerhardus Blok
Frans Engelbertus Marx
Maurice Marcel Leon Pollet
Frederik Gerhardus Bosman
Hendrik Petrus Botha
John Julian Eagar
Petrus Thomas van Zyl
Arthur James Clayton
Alwyn Gideon Smit Laubscher
John Marshall
Nicolas Pretorius
Mathys Vermeulen
Tjaart Andries van der Walt
Moses Mfana Maliba
David Johannes de Beer

Gallery of achievements 106

IN CONCLUSION 114

SPONSORS 118

Major sponsors 118

Limited edition – Special sponsors 122

Limited edition – Special recipients 123

SOURCES, NOTES AND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 124

Original text/ Archival sources

Journals and magazines/ Books

Direct quotations

Sources of images

THE FUTURE OF MUNICIPAL
ENGINEERING 126

Views from the engineering class of 2011