EAST LONDON- The Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa(IMESA) successfully hosted its 88th annual conference at the East London International Convention Centre (EL ICC) from 29 to 31 October 2025, attracting over 650 delegates from across Southern Africa and abroad.
This year’s theme, ‘Sustainable Engineering Solutions,’set the tone for three days of dynamic discussions focused on improving municipal service delivery, advancing infrastructure development and building resilient, future-ready cities across the region.
IMESA President Geoff Tooley said the conference was a vital space for knowledge sharing and collaboration.
“The IMESA Conference focuses on sustainable infrastructure and city sustainability. Discussions have covered key issues such as water infrastructure and the local government white paper. We’ve brought together exhibitors and experts to interact with 650 delegates, showcasing solutions and challenges in municipal engineering through 17 papers. The goal is to empower engineers to deliver better services to communities,” said Tooley.
The conference featured technical sessions, exhibitions and networking opportunities providing a platform for professionals to share lessons from past projects and explore emerging technologies.
Exhibitors showcased innovative products and services relevant to municipal engineering from water management tools to smart city infrastructure.
On the second day, delegates engaged in thought-provoking sessions on topics such as water management, waste disposal regionalisation and the impact of new policies on municipal procurement. Expert speakers offered valuable insights into the latest trends and best practices in the sector. Technical tours gave attendees hands-on exposure to innovative solutions and cutting-edge technologies shaping modern municipalities.
Furthmore the proud sponsors was KABE Consulting Engineers, celebrating its 20th anniversary. Marketing and Business Development Officer Mpho Mafalane said, “KABE Consulting has grown from a standard civil engineering firm into a visionary player in the industry. We value the IMESA platform as an essential space for elevating our brand, building meaningful professional networks and demonstrating our commitment to industry growth. As a silver sponsor this year, we’ve deepened our engagement by showcasing our value proposition and long-term vision for the next 20 years.”
As the conference concluded on 31st October, Tooley reflected on its success and long-standing impact. “The conference showcased a diverse range of insightful papers that shared valuable municipal engineering knowledge and real-world solutions. Gatherings like this allow engineers to learn from others challenges and successes, inspiring innovation and hope across municipalities,” he said.
He further highlighted the importance of data-driven maintenance practices, sustainable infrastructure funding and context-specific management models, stressing professional accountability to ensure only qualified individuals perform engineering work.
Now in its 88th year, the IMESA Conference remains a cornerstone event in the municipal engineering calendar uniting professionals, municipalities and industry leaders under one roof to share expertise, showcase innovation and drive sustainable engineering solutions for communities across Southern Africa.
Photograph: supplied
