No Skills, No Engineers: No Clean Water

Nao Yanase

Ms. Bennett

World Lit Honors Period 2

15 March 2016

No Skills, No Engineers: No Clean Water

There are approximately 100,000 miles of sanitary sewers and over 900 wastewater treatment plants in the state of California to provide clean, reliable water to the citizens every day (California).  In contrast, the nation of South Africa only has 0.4 engineers for every 100,000 people (Dlamini).  

As a direct result of the absence of engineers in South Africa, many locations, particularly the rural areas, are being threatened by the poor water quality being provided by the country.  The lack of water engineers in South Africa can prove to be a considerable hazard, especially since it poses a threat for both the present and the future of South Africa.  Manglin Pillay, the CEO of the South African Institution of Civil Engineers, warns, “If there are no engineers then nobody is doing any planning… and planning isn’t for a year or two, it’s 20, 30, or 40 years down the line” (Dlamini).  

The shortage of technical skills amongst the youth in South Africa is the primary cause of the significant damage done to the water sector of South Africa.  Because of the growing demand for high-quality engineers and skilled trade-workers, it has become increasingly difficult for people to fill job positions, mainly for those who do not possess the skills required for that role (Steyn).  According to Mail and Guardian, “In 2014 only 8 % of South Africa employers surveyed reported difficulty in filling job vacancies, but this year [in 2015], 31% of employers reported difficulty”, which demonstrates the growing concern within the many sectors of South Africa, including the water sector (Steyn).  With many employers struggling to find workers, the water sector of South Africa has been growing inefficient with their inadequate number of engineers to care for the water.  The South African Local Government Association and the Water Research Commission discovered that “the country didn’t even have 10% of the required number of engineers” needed to efficiently operate the water networks (Dlamini).

The risks of waterborne diseases serve as the chief consequence of the scarcity of engineers in South Africa.  Without the correct skills necessary to manage the water, there is no efficient way to attain sanitation and deliver the water to the homes of many people.  The water quality is a major concern especially to those living in rural areas, as it is also stated by Professor Maggy Momba of the Tshwane University of Technology, “There are places where children have diarrhea every week” (Water Skills).  Bacterial diarrhea is the most common of waterborne diseases, even accounting for 20% of under-five deaths in South Africa (Chola and Michalow).  As long as there exists an absence of skills and intelligence along with insufficient amounts of planning, the people of South Africa will continue to fall victim to the illnesses caused by the poor water quality (Tancott).

In order to direct South Africa towards a higher water quality, many organizations have surfaced with plans of helping people develop the skills essential to benefiting themselves, their future, and their country.  For example, Pamela Tshwete, the Deputy Minister of the Department of Water and Sanitation, has been working to launch the Unemployed Youth Skills Development Project all across the country, which help to offer the youth the skills that the country requires (Water and Sanitation).  By working patiently towards a final objective, it will be possible for South Africa to go from 0.4 engineers to a solid 5 engineers, then 10, then 20…

Works Cited 

Chola, Lumbwe, and Julia Michalow. "BMC Public Health." Reducing Diarrhoea Deaths in 

          South Africa: Costs and Effects of Scaling up Essential Interventions to Prevent and

          Treat Diarrhoea in Under-five Children. BioMed Central, 17 Apr. 2015. Web. 13 Mar.   

           2016.

Dlamini, Penwell. "Skills Evaporate in Water Sector." Times LIVE. Times LIVE, 7 Mar.                        2016.  Web. 08 Mar. 2016.  

Steyn, Lisa. "SA's Skills Deficit Has a Negative Effect on Employment." The M&G Online.   

            Mail & Guardian, 18 May 2015. Web. 05 Mar. 2016. 

Tancott, Glen. "Skills Shortages Affect SA Water Sector." Infrastructure News. Infrastructure 

            News, 5 May 2014. Web. 08 Mar. 2016. 

"California Wastewater." Water Education Foundation, n.d. Web. Mar.-Apr. 2016.

"South Africa : Water and Sanitation unveils Unemployed Youth Skills Development project 

              in Limpopo."  

"Water Skills Shortage Spills over to Water Quality." Research Innovation News and Events. 

              University of South Africa, 4 Mar. 2015. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.