PROFILE: This is my story - Errol Kerst

Please give us a brief summary on your career to date

I  have spent 45 years in a consulting environment involved mainly with industrial and mining type infrastructure. From year 20 to 40 I was a director of a consulting company in Secunda where I practiced for 30 years. Since retiring in 2015 I was the President of SAICE in 2018 and am still involved with SAICE through being on the finance, membership and awards committees.

Give us details of a project you have worked on that stands out to you

A 100km 200mm diam steel potable water pipeline from Nababeep to Kleinzee on the West Coast. Was designed and constructed in 1990/91. I had the pleasure of visiting it in 2018 and it was still working as designed. There were a number of challenges such as the hostile environment, sandy conditions in places, steep slopes in the mountainous area with hard rock.

Pipe Route & Long Section.

What was your position and duties on this project?

I was a design engineer and also involved with site monitoring.

Across the Valleys.

Why does this project stand out to you?

This was one of my first projects as a young recently registered professional engineer in the mining environment. Everything was done on a fast track basis which was different from the environment I had experienced in my first few years working at a different consultant. The harshness of the terrain, the innovative methods used by the contractor and logistical problems excited me. I will also never forget how the system kept going down until we realized that baboons were climbing fences at control stations and breaking copper pipes on pressure control valves to get water. A roof over the enclosures sorted it out.

Up the Hills.

What were the important lessons you learnt from this project?

Always expect the unexpected.

What were career mistakes or regrets you experienced on this project?

I regret that I was not involved in the initial planning of this project and thus had to accept what someone else had already decided.

How did you overcome your mistakes/regrets?

In later years I always tried to make sure young engineers were involved in a new project from the beginning wherever possible.

Also read: This is my Story - Vaughan Hendry

What has been the most satisfying thing for you personally/career wise about this project?

Firstly, that water came out at the delivery end - it was for a mining population that had severe potable water issues prior to its commissioning. Secondly when I visited it 27 years later that it had been well maintained and was actually still working

Me on the pipeline 27 years later.

This industry is said to be one of the toughest industries , how did you manage to stay in for so long?

I have been through many downs over the more than 40 years. Back in 1975 when I graduated from Wits I didn't have a job to start with. However, through hard work and being prepared to do whatever I was asked to do ensured I was always employed even in tight environments when for instance there were no increases in a year. By being adaptable/flexible as an employee/employer I was generally able to make the best of tough situations

Thrust Blocks.

In your opinion what are the biggest challenges facing the industry currently and how can they be overcome?

Keeping young professionals motivated and in South Africa. Getting the economy going will go a long way to doing that. Fee cutting and Supply Chain issues also need to be dealt with.