| Women
changing the face of engineering
Liebenberg and Stander was established in 1954 and recently transformed
to Bergstan Consulting and Development Engineers operating as
Bergstan South Africa. Bergstan South Africa has resulted from
a robust transformation process, which intensified in 2003. This
process ensured that the expertise that exists within the company
over this period of time is not lost and that the transfer of
skills takes place for the benefit of the Previously Disadvantaged
Individuals, through the sharing of experience within the engineering
field.
Bergstan South Africa is constituted and operates according to
the requirements of the Engineering Professions of South Africa
Act, 2000 (Act No 46, 2000). The firm is a member of the South
African Association of Consulting Engineers (SAACE) and adheres
to the Code of Conduct as prescribed by the SAACE.
Bergstan South Africa has adopted the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management
procedures and was successfully certified in 2002 by the SABS,
which certification was renewed in September 2003. The company
has 61 full-time staff members, offering services in civil and
structural development engineering, and project management.
Over the last decade we have increased our understanding and
awareness of the issues involved in provision of engineering services
and opportunities presented by community-based construction methods
for transferring skills to recipient communities.
The South African Constitution guarantees everyone the fundamental
right to equality in the economic sphere. Bergstan South Africa
recognizes the need to remedy the imbalances created. Although
the company has a long tradition of non-discrimination and has
continually employed and advanced staff on the basis of merit
alone, we have an Affirmative Action policy which influences the
human resource development decisions. Bergstan South Africa has
advanced many technicians and engineers from the disadvantaged
groups. Currently more than 50% of the staff are from previously
disadvantaged groups.
In keeping with the King Commission on Corporate Governance,
Mr Lester Peteni one of the black shareholders, has been appointed
as Non-Executive Chairman of the company. 60% of the management
of the firm is therefore in the hands of previously disadvantaged
individuals, with 54% of the firm owned by black persons. All
persons have equal standing and voting. We also boast that 12.6%
of the firm is owned by women.
More women have recently been given an opportunity to manage
key positions within the company. Amina Soeker, who holds a Diploma
in Accounting and Finance, is an Assistant Accountant responsible
for the financial direction of the company. She is being empowered
by the financial consultants employed by the company.
Alice Alfred holds a Diploma in Human Resources and is the Human
Resource Officer responsible for all HR matters, and management
of the Staff Development plan. This ensures that skills and knowledge
in all fields are transferred from the experienced engineers to
the newly appointed technicians and engineers. The firm has recently
appointed young female technicians who specialize in civil and
structural engineering. Bergstan South Africa’s intention
is to ensure that our young technical women are provided with
sufficient support to enable them to develop into experienced
seasoned engineers, who can command respect within the profession.
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