1908-1950 overview
02.12.2021
The South African Institute of Civil Engineers Geotechnical Division was formed. This South Africa National Society was founded under the auspices of SAICE and was constituted thus: The South African Institution of Civil Engineers is affiliated to the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering as the South African National Group representing the… View Article
30.11.2021
Click here to download the full 1939 South African Roads Boar Act
02.12.2021
THE Vaal Dam was constructed in 1938 and lies 77km south of the O R Tambo International Airport. The lake behind the dam wall has a surface area of about 320km² and is 47m deep. The Vaal Dam lies on the Vaal River, which is one of South Africa’s strongest-flowing rivers. It has over 800km of… View Article
1st International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, which took place at Harvard. Professor Jennings attended that conference, at which it was decided that such conferences should be held every four years. Professor Jennings then continued to work for South African Railways and Harbours (SAR&H) https://www.geoengineer.org/education/history/1936-issmfe-group-photo-in-harvard
Chapman’s Peak Drive has an interesting history. It was the brainchild of Sir Frederic de Waal, the first administrator of the Cape Province (De Waal Drive in Cape Town was named after him). Work on the route began in 1915 and the formal opening took place in 1922. Unfortunately, rock falls caused the closure… View Article
The Precast pile was one of the first piling systems to be used in Southern Africa, there being a record of the piling to the old Putt Bridge in Port Alfred (now demolished) where the precast piles were installed using a steam operated piling machine, back in 1908.
30.11.2021
1939 Just before World War II the South African National Roads Board was created, and several young South African engineers visited the USA to study soil mechanics and its application in civil engineering practice 1947 an Informal National Committee on Soil Mechanics was formed among members of the South African Institute of Civil Engineers (SAICE)… View Article