Prof. Lize Theron (fourth from left) said her team and students are highly motivated by this award.

Prof. Lize Theron, Associate Professor: Civil Engineering, brought home the 2024 SANRAL SAICE National award under the Community Based Project category. The SANRAL SAICE Awards are prestigious accolades in the field of civil engineering in South Africa. The award was brought to life by an innovative initiative and a potential game-changer project that has transformed the road maintenance approach in all provinces (The Pothole Eradication Programme). The project is a collaboration between the Department of Community Safety, Roads & Transport, CivilLab@CUT, Civil Engineering Department, and CUT Research Partners.

According to Prof. Theron, a community-based project category specifically recognises projects that have made a positive contribution to communities. “A commendation validates the real-world impact and relevance of the institution's work and being ‘highly commended’ means that the academic institution's project was recognized as exemplary in its field. The SANRAL SAICE National Awards celebrate and reward outstanding individuals and projects in civil engineering and our project took the cup! Receiving a commendation provides visibility for our university among important players in the civil engineering sector. Being recognised at a national level serves as a motivation for our students and the faculty to pursue further excellence in community-oriented engineering projects.”

She added, “our recognition might open more networking opportunities with the giants of this industry, which will lead to more collaborations and partnerships in the future. The commendation also serves as a benchmark for the quality of work expected in community-based engineering projects, which can guide future initiatives.”

The awards aim to project excellence in areas such as technical innovation, community impact, and international contributions; showcase the civil engineering profession's contributions to society; encouraging high standards of practice and innovation within the industry and inspire the next generation of civil engineers by recognising young talent and student achievements.

Men at work: some of the youth who play a pivotal role in fixing the provincial roads. Since its launch in November 2023, the project has already created over 650 jobs in all five districts of the province. The project's ambitious goal is to repair 70,000 square meters of road sections. The ongoing research being conducted will ensure that the solutions implemented for long-term road maintenance are sustainable. This Pothole Repair Programme is a shining example of the positive impact of collaboration, innovation, and community empowerment. The initiative invests in infrastructure and human capital and leads to not only improved road conditions but also a more prosperous future for all Free State residents.