The knowledge sharing Changemaker

South Africa | Monday, 05 July 2021

Tshepo has been with WSP since 2018 and, in this time, achieved his Engineering Registration. Tshepo is now registered as a Professional Engineering Technologist with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and in 2019 achieved a post-graduate certificate in Urban Engineering which allowed him to register for His Masters Degree in 2020.

Being part of a personal and professional advancement-driven setting has many advantages which I have been fortunate to benefit from. WSP’s transparent culture and open environment is an excellent environment for growth. Our information systems and way of working make professional development seamless.

Throughout his career, Tshepo has received immense support from directors and colleagues who have taken time to mentor and provide him with resources that encouraged him to further his studies and acquire the experience to attain professional excellence.

I strive to empower others, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds through sharing of information.

Growing up in a township in central South Africa, Tshepo’s passion for science and technology faced both spatial and informational constraints.

One of the prevailing negative effects of historical spatial planning and development in South Africa is the lack of immediate access of certain population groups to civilisation which consequently hinders access to higher educational institutions and information. Decentralisation of information is an effective way to reach these groups in distant areas. Tshepo believes “Knowledge is power and sharing of knowledge is sharing of power”. In light of this, Tshepo's Major Dissertation covers “Decentralisation of amenities to limit nomadism, with the focus to improve pavement life in developing cities”.

Tshepo is also undertaking numerous impressive initiatives, offering valuable career guidance to learners in high school. In 2014 and 2019, Tshepo hosted Jeff Watson, a construction company owner and business man from the USA. Tshepo paved the way by including Jeff in his plan to make a positive impact in the Free State Province, offering career guidance to disadvantaged schools in his hometown.

Tshepo continues to further his involvement in career guidance through the Local Branch of the Institute of Civil Engineering (SAICE). As a committee member, he is responsible for the career guidance program for 2021.

I am driving the SAICE career guidance program, we have reached many schools so far this year and are programmed to at least reach 2 every month throughout the year if COVID-19 regulations allow.