It was a standout evening for Zutari at the 2026 CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards on 20 August, with its people and projects recognised for technical excellence, innovation, leadership and investment in the next generation of engineers.

This recognition follows Zutari’s impressive performance in the ENR Top 225 International Design Firms, where it climbed from #99 in 2025 to #68 in 2026, making a 31-place improvement driven primarily by international design-service revenue. This upward trend underscores the firm’s growing multinational presence and increasing appeal to major global clients.

Held at Vodacom World in Midrand, the awards brought together South Africa’s consulting engineering industry to celebrate excellence in the sector. For Zutari, the evening resulted in two major project wins, two individual awards, a project commendation and recognition for its Job Shadow Day programme.

“These awards are a reflection of what can happen when talented people, trusted clients, and committed partners come together around challenges that matter,” comments TC Ralebitso, Africa Chief Executive Officer of Zutari.

“We are immensely proud of our teams, not simply for the recognition they have received, but for the expertise, perseverance and sense of purpose behind these achievements. From enabling renewable energy and preserving vital community connections to modernising existing infrastructure and inspiring the next generation, these projects demonstrate the meaningful impact engineering can have,” comments Ralebitso.

Engineering that enables a changing energy landscape

The Koruson Main Transmission Substation represents the scale and complexity of the infrastructure required to support South Africa’s energy transition. The project transformed a basic 400/132 kV substation into a major renewable-energy integration hub, facilitating the connection of around 1 000 MVA of renewable power to the national grid, with potential for a further 500 MVA expansion.

Zutari led the detailed design of the substation and associated grid connections, including a 132 kV overhead line network connecting six renewable energy facilities to the transmission hub. The project is also notable as South Africa’s first privately delivered 400 kV main transmission substation.

The project required a system-wide engineering approach, bringing together multiple disciplines while navigating challenging terrain, environmental sensitivities, regulatory requirements and the technical demands of integrating several generation facilities into a single transmission network.

Connecting communities through the Senqu Bridge

Part of Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, the Senqu Bridge was named Best International Project. At 825 m, it is the longest and highest bridge in Lesotho and the first extradosed bridge in both Lesotho and South Africa. Its construction required innovative thinking in response to the challenging conditions of the Lesotho Highlands, including steep terrain, snow, ice, strong winds and extreme temperatures.

When the future Polihali Dam is filled, sections of the existing A1 road and river crossings will be submerged. The Senqu Bridge preserves vital access for communities in and around Mokhotlong and Mapholaneng, maintaining connections to schools, healthcare, employment, trade, family networks and the capital, Maseru.

The project was completed ahead of schedule and within budget. Its innovative construction methodology, including launching deck segments from both ends of the bridge, helped reduce the construction programme from 48 to 36 months. The result is infrastructure that combines engineering ingenuity with a very practical human purpose of maintaining safe and reliable connections for communities for generations to come.

Recognising people who advance the profession

The awards also highlighted the depth of expertise and leadership within Zutari. Sachin Ravjee, an Associate Bridge Engineer with eight years’ experience, was named CESA Young Engineer of the Year. His career has progressed from graduate to Associate and Professional Engineer, with experience spanning complex bridge projects in South Africa, Lesotho, Nigeria and Australia.

Sachin combines advanced structural modelling, computational engineering and structural health monitoring with research, knowledge sharing and mentorship. His work on the Senqu Bridge includes using monitoring data to verify structural performance during critical construction stages. He is also pursuing a PhD in Civil Engineering at the University of Pretoria, focusing on structural health monitoring of extradosed bridges.

The Lifetime Industry Achievement Award went to Zutari’s Louis Joubert in recognition of a career spanning almost five decades. A Professional Engineer registered with ECSA since 1983, Louis has contributed to major infrastructure projects across Southern and Sub-Saharan Africa. He has helped develop generations of engineers, technologists and construction professionals, many of whom have gone on to senior leadership positions within the industry.

Modernising existing infrastructure for the future

The Bethlehem Hydro Modernisation Project, which received a commendation in the Projects Less than R50 million category, demonstrates finding new value in existing infrastructure. Rather than approaching the Merino and Sol Plaatje hydropower plants simply as ageing assets requiring replacement, Zutari treated them as operating systems that needed to be optimised for changing future conditions.

The project used engineering-grade reality capture, including laser scanning and drone photogrammetry, to develop an accurate digital representation of the existing facilities. This provided a common basis for engineering analysis and decision-making in a complex brownfield environment.

About 70 upgrade options were assessed through four modernisation scenarios, considering hydraulic and power performance alongside constructability, operability, maintainability, safety, outage constraints and environmental considerations. The resulting interventions are designed to improve hydraulic performance, extend asset life and reduce operational risk, while preparing the plants for increased future flows associated with Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.

Investing in the engineers of tomorrow

Perhaps the most forward-looking recognition of the evening was Zutari’s win in the Job Shadow Day Poster Competition. The programme forms part of Zutari’s broader Emerging Talent Ecosystem. Learners participated in activities involving water engineering, problem-solving, innovation and digital transformation before visiting the new Netcare Akeso Polokwane project and undertaking job shadowing with Zutari professionals. The programme culminated in a collaborative poster-design workshop in which learners reflected on their experiences.

For Zutari, the value of Job Shadow Day lies in helping young people see themselves as future participants in the engineering profession. Partnerships with organisations including PROTEC, Go for Gold, SAICE and Primestars, together with school engagements, bursaries, vacation work, mentorship and graduate opportunities, form part of a pathway from initial inspiration to professional opportunity. That journey is exemplified by Zutari Managing Director for Water, Mpho Ramphao, who joined the company as a learner, received a bursary and progressed into leadership.

Ralebitso says the recognition at the 2026 CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards also reinforces Zutari’s responsibility to continue developing its people and contributing to the future of the profession. “Engineering excellence is never an individual achievement. It is built through collaboration, knowledge sharing and a commitment to learning and developing others. We are grateful to our clients, partners and communities who make this work possible, and we remain focused on using our expertise to create infrastructure and opportunities that deliver lasting value,” he concludes.