The South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) laments the resignation of Nazir Alli as CEO of SANRAL. As long-standing, valued member and Fellow of SAICE, it is indeed a privilege to salute him for the significant leadership role he has played since 1998 with the establishment of SANRAL, an implementing agency of the Department of Transport, said SAICE.

Nazir was also a recipient of the SAICE Transportation Division Chairman’s Award for excellent service to the industry.

Under Nazir’s leadership a 16 000km road network across South Africa, that can compete with the best in the world, was developed, operated and maintained. In the SAICE Infrastructure Report Card for South Africa 2011 these national roads received a B+ grading, one of a few awarded a ‘Fit for the Future’-grade.

This is of major importance to our country’s economic growth and development and could only be accomplished because Nazir was a highly competent, motivated and technically sound civil engineering and business manager – a rare combination. It could be said that he was a visionary leader who propelled the civil engineering industry into the 21st century, while working in a complex and very technical environment.

A measure of his success as a competent leader is that SANRAL has been asked to take over a number of provincial roads to ensure the network is managed properly.

SANRAL, under Nazir, has a history of excellent performance in terms of service delivery on the national road network. SAICE is indeed sad to see a dedicated leader such as Nazir leave.

Newly appointed Acting CEO of SANRAL Koos Smit, has SAICE’s assurance of support in keeping South Africa’s road-building programme on track to ensure economic growth and development in Gauteng and other provinces.