Smart infrastructure for a sustainable world Drawing on lessons from the development of Tshwane’s Automotive City Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) in South Africa, Chester Kan, a major project executive at the infrastructure engineering and advisory firm Zutari, argues that infrastructure is not just about solving today’s problems, it is about creating platforms for future growth, equity and resilience.
Equality in action: local empowerment Beyond engineering excellence, the project was designed as a catalyst for socio-economic development. Zutari’s work supported the creation of 1 131 local jobs, 908 training and development beneficiaries, 106 SMMEs that delivered 36% of the contract value, and R272-million worth of work packages executed by local businesses. This was not a token effort. Project conditions required that at least 70% of the labour come from neighbouring communities, with a deliberate emphasis on employing women, youth, and people with disabilities. Contractors also had to prioritise local skills centres before seeking expertise elsewhere. Training went beyond technical skills. Accredited courses included business ethics,
project management, SHE (Safety, Health and Environment) compliance, and financial literacy. This broadened the impact, creating entrepreneurs rather than just employees. Resilience through skills and systems Infrastructure resilience is not only about materials or design. It is also about ensuring that communities surrounding projects gain the skills to thrive long after construction is complete. Through a comprehensive training pro- gramme covering trades such as bricklaying, plumbing, carpentry, electrical works and concrete construction, participants gained marketable skills. Non-technical training in business management and contract admin- istration prepared SMMEs for long-term
T he conversation around infrastruc- ture is no longer just about bricks, steel, and concrete. It is about creat- ing systems that embody equality, resilience and innovation. These are the three pillars of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) theme for 2025: ‘Smart Infrastructure: Equality, Resilience and Innovation for a Sustainable World’. At Zutari, with a legacy spanning over 90 years across Africa and the Middle East, we understand that smart infrastructure is not just about building; it is about shap- ing living legacies that uplift communities, catalyse economies, and prepare nations for the future. A powerful example of this is the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ), one of the largest infrastructure programmes ever undertaken in the City of Tshwane. Engineering against the odds Appointed on the eve of South Africa’s March 2020 lockdown, Zutari partnered with the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) to provide civil and structural engineering services for TASEZ. The mammoth task was to deliver all enabling bulk infrastructure (Stages 1 to 6) and the first phases of the supplier facilities. The timing could not have been more challenging. With the global pandemic dis- rupting traditional workflows, supply chains, and stakeholder engagement, Zutari had to adopt an agile, digitally enabled approach to adapt. Virtual collaboration across offices, regions and organisations became the norm. The stakes were high, as Ford had to launch its new Ranger model on time or risk moving operations elsewhere. The project demanded speed without com- promising quality. Agile engineering practices and smart digital collaboration tools enabled Zutari and its partners to bypass conventional step-by-step project gates, instead delivering solutions iteratively. This ‘digital-first’ ap- proach was a watershed moment in how infra- structure could be delivered under pressure. Chester Kan, Major Project Executive at Zutari Chester Kan.
Aerial view of the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ).
Beyond engineering excellence, the project was designed as a catalyst for socio-economic development.
42 ¦ MechChem Africa • November-December 2025
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