MEDIA RELEASE
SANRAL boosts science and engineering through 34th SAICE Bridge-Building Competition
Caption: Durban High School learners, winners of the 34th SAICE Bridge-Building Competition with SAICE and SANRAL representatives
eThekwini, 19 July 2024 – In keeping with the spirit of the late Nelson Mandela to empower children through education, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) sponsored the 34th South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) Bridge-Building Competition held at Durban High School on Thursday, 18 July 2024.
Thirteen schools participated in the competition, which not only forms an integral part of several schools’ activity calendars recognised on the same level as academic or sports achievements, but also sees some schools incorporating it as part of their curriculum.
Durban High School won the Bridge-Building Competition for the second consecutive year for constructing the most robust timber sticks and glue bridge. Fairvale High School and Northmead Secondary School took second and third place and took these titles for the second year in a row.
In addition, Northmead Secondary School was awarded the Professor Leveritt Innovation Award. The winners from SAICE branches countrywide will compete for the
coveted shield and cash prizes for team members and schools at the national competition which will be held in Midrand, Johannesburg, on 23 August 2024.
The other competing schools included Durban Girls High School, Al Falaah College, St Henry’s Marist College, Umlazi Commercial High School, Centenary Secondary, Maris Stella School, Sastri College, Our Lady of Fatima School, Ganges Secondary School and Hillview Secondary School.
“SANRAL’s partnership with SAICE started three years ago through the common interest of giving learners practical engineering education. The annual bridge-building competition builds the learners’ confidence to forge on with engineering as a career and exposes them to the technical skills required for practicing professionals,” said Nomcebo Cebekhulu, SANRAL Eastern Region Marketing and Communications Coordinator.
Sam Pillay, Chairperson of SAICE Durban, thanked all the sponsors for their continued support of the annual Bridge-Building Competition and wished the winners good luck for the national finals.
SANRAL has planned a site visit for the top three schools to one of the N2/N3 projects ahead of the finals to further inform them about bridge-building principles and the civil engineering industry.
Seatides Secondary School, one of the worst schools affected by the tornado that hit Tongaat on 3 June 2024, was the guest of honour at the event. Ms Yeshvira Brijal, Head of the Department for Math and Science at the school, explained that the devastation caused by the tornado was traumatic to the community and schools.
“We had just bought equipment for our science and computer laboratories three days before the tornado. This was most devastating to the learners because our children would have new and modern materials in their labs for the first time in many years. Most of our kids still have not written the second term assessments due to the damage to our school and the lack of infrastructure to accommodate them at neighbouring schools. Some remain homeless and displaced,” she said.
SAICE and its industry partners collectively donated R11 000.00 to Seatides Combined School to address immediate needs, especially those related to specialist subjects. Seatides also received an award of encouragement during this difficult time. The school continues to welcome any aid available and can be contacted directly.
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