Sachin Ravjee, a 33-year-old bridge engineer from Pretoria, has been named the South African Institution of Civil Engineering's (SAICE) 2026 Young Engineer of the Year. He received the award at the SAICE National Awards in Sandton on 3 September. Ravjee is an associate bridge engineer at Zutari and wants to make a difference not only through infrastructure projects but also by mentoring young professionals and developing the next generation of civil engineers.
Ravjee's interest in engineering was sparked by his father, who is also an engineer. Growing up in Secunda, Mpumalanga, he developed an appreciation for the people and opportunities that shaped his journey. Ravjee studied civil engineering at the University of Pretoria and pursued a career in bridge engineering. He finds the profession rewarding due to the connection between technical problem-solving and practical purpose.
One of Ravjee's notable projects is the Senqu Bridge in Lesotho, which has been part of his professional life since his first year as a professional engineer. His involvement has extended from design and construction support to structural health monitoring. The project is part of Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, contributing to regional water security and helping communities maintain transport connections.
Ravjee believes that engineering is ultimately a people profession. He has learned that effective leadership starts with understanding the person, not simply assigning the task. Ravjee's focus on developing people has taken on added importance as South Africa renews its focus on infrastructure. SAICE chief executive Sekadi Phayane-Shakhane said that how young engineers are developed now will have long-term consequences for the profession and the country's infrastructure.
Ravjee credits the people who have supported, challenged, and trusted him during his career. He believes that young engineers can bring curiosity, fresh perspectives, and a willingness to question familiar ways of doing things. However, one obstacle is the fear of failure, which can stop young engineers from asking important questions or accepting unfamiliar responsibility.
To overcome this obstacle, Ravjee suggests providing meaningful work, appropriate supervision, constructive feedback, and increasing responsibility as competence develops. He wants his contribution to extend beyond the structures he designs and is already helping younger engineers develop independent thinking, sound judgement, and the confidence to take responsibility and lead.
Ravjee's goal is to make a lasting impact on South Africa's infrastructure and engineering profession. He believes that South Africa and Africa have world-class engineering talent and that young engineers can achieve great things without looking outside the country for opportunities. Through his work and mentoring, Ravjee aims to help build South Africa's future and inspire the next generation of engineers.
Key points
- Sachin Ravjee, SAICE's 2026 Young Engineer of the Year, aims to shape South Africa's infrastructure future through bridge engineering and mentoring young professionals.
- Ravjee's focus on developing people has taken on added importance as South Africa renews its focus on infrastructure.
- He believes that young engineers can bring curiosity, fresh perspectives, and a willingness to question familiar ways of doing things.
