Archive for month: May, 2020

Stanley Mgutshini is a founding and managing member of ZIYANDA Consulting cc.

Born from a family of nine  siblings, fathered by a laboratory technician in a concrete (and later roads materials) laboratory it was no surprise that a degree in civil engineering was the obvious choice of study area for three siblings in the family, Stanley and two younger siblings.

After successful completion of his Advanced Level Education, Stanley Mgutshini was awarded a prestigious bursary to study civil engineering at the University of Zimbabwe..  After four years at the university, Stanley Mgutshini graduated with an honours degree in Civil Engineering; BSc (Eng) Hons, in 1987. During his tutelage, he did his practical experience training with the City of Bulawayo, where he was exposed to civil engineering from the field and trenches to the design office. This experience included survey and setting out works on site for inhouse construction teams, participating as an aide to design teams and assisting in construction supervision/management. for roads and sewer/water reticulation projects.

On completion of his university education, Stanley commenced his post-graduate career as a trainee civil engineer in the “Bridges/Structures and Storm Water Drainage” section under the City Engineer’s Department, Roads Branch, for a municipality. His responsibilities entailed the design and construction supervision of structural elements and drainage structures under the supervision of experienced engineers. After three years with the Municipality, Stanley made a conscious decision to find a placement in consulting engineering where he aspired to advance eventually to a fully-fledged civil/structural engineer. In 1990, his career in consulting thus commenced.

In 1990, Stanley joined a small consulting firm of renowned meticulous engineers whose speciality was roads and bridges, as the only junior engineer working with highly qualified and experienced engineers. This was the commencement of intense exposure to civil engineering from a consulting engineer’s perspective. In the short period with the firm, Stanley was posted to various offices/sites in the SADC region countries of Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. In that period experience gained was in roads and bridges design and the construction supervision thereof.

In 1993 Stanley joined yet another consulting firm, where he was appointed as an associate partner and office manager for branch office. During this period and in addition to his technical exposure to structural/building works, Stanley’s exposure to relationships and business side of a professiona;office began. He became the client liaison engineer for the branch office .

In 1996, Stanley moved again, to an international firm, where he transitioned from project engineer to resident engineer to project manager. He was to be appointed an Office Manager and Associate Partner in/around 1998. In 1999, he was seconded to attend an in-house Management Development Programme in the Netherlands.  In 2002, he was transferred to South Africa as an Associate Partner. In 2003, he was appointed a Sectoral Director (Water) with this international firm. During this period, he became an expert in water/sanitation delivery institutional arrangements in South Africa and assisted several authorities transitioning to water/sanitation authorities in structuring their water/sanitation delivery “business” from the technical, institutional, economic/financial, social and legal perspectives.

To further consolidate his expertise and knowledge in South Africa, Stanley attained his registration as a Professional Engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) in 2004.

In 2004, another firm leading in civil engineering and construction internationally, invited Stanley to take up another life altering position as a Director of the company. It was in this position that Stanley led inter-disciplinary expert teams in implementing water and sanitation projects, major structural works including the multi storey car parkade for the Durban International Airport.

After having acquired experience in almost all facets of the profession and in almost areas of civil/structural engineering and at all levels of responsibility, the next logical progression in Stanley’s career was to found a consulting practice. In such an environment, Stanley would direct other younger staff members to navigate their careers.

ZIYANDA Consulting was born out of a dream to create lasting relationships and partners with the stakeholders with whom the company conducted work, while at the same time responding to the transformation needs in South Africa. In his position as Director, Stanley ensured that he led ZIYANDA Consulting – a firm of consulting engineers in offering top-rate engineering solutions to all facets of civil, structural, project management, contract management and electro-mechanical engineering.

The company has steadily grown into a SME with certified ISO 9001 processes and level 1 B-BEEE certification. It now boasts of additional local offices in the South Coast, Newcastle, Nelspruit and Rustenburg serving clients like the Ugu District Municipality and improving communities in several ways.

Further details of Stanley’s experience and capabilities can be obtained from the Pietermaritzburg Office.