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 L to R: Mr Stephen Pell - MD Murray & Roberts Construction, Rodney Milford - Director Boutek, Mrs Anne Jones - daughter of Douglas Roberts (one of the founders of Murray & Roberts), Maria Coetzee - Boutek and Brian Bruce - CEO Murray & Roberts
Speaking at the Award event, Mr Brian Bruce, CEO Murray and Roberts, commented, "Ms Coetzee has contributed to entrenching Integrated Development Planning as an important element of the core business process of municipalities. For many municipalities IDP has become more than a tool to achieve sustainable development, it has become 'a way of life', which enables municipalities to play a more developmental role and improve the quality of live of the people they serve. Ms Coetzee initiated the development of a uniquely South African methodology in partnership with the Department of Provincial and Local Government and the German Agency for Technical Co-operation (GTZ), which culminated in the first IDP Process Manual for Local Government in 1998. Subsequently, she has served on the National DDP Task Team in the Department of Provincial and Local Government responsible for IDP, and has been involved in assisting municipalities with implementing the methodology and assessing their progress. Her contribution in this domain continues to promote the use and implementation of IDP, by incorporating the lessons emerging from municipal processes in the revision of IDP related policies, concepts and methodologies. She has co-authored the IDP Guide Packs (consisting of 7 volumes), published by the Department of Provincial and Local Government in 2000.
Mr Bruce also applauded Ms Coetzee's leading role in the extensive training and capacity building programmes she has been involved in, "Through her drive and passion for training, the CSIR in association with its partners has offered IDP-related training to more than 800 officials and councilors, including 260 municipal managers."Through the insights gained from CSIR research and her continued involvement with all three spheres of government she has provided input to policy research and formulation in the area of inter-governmental relations. Through her efforts, she has contributed to the widespread recognition that IDP is regarded as the South African Approach to Local Agenda 21 in order to achieve local sustainable development.
Instituted in the late 1970s in remembrance of one of its founders and to encourage excellence in scientific and technological research, the Award is made annually by Murray and Roberts. It embraces the promotion of competitiveness in seeking environmentally sustainable solutions to human dilemmas. During recent years, several CSIR Building and Construction Technology top researchers have been the recipients of this Award.
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Issued by: CSIR Buiding and Construction Technology. The CSIR is the largest R&D and implementation technology agency in Africa with a track record spanning more than 50 years. Structured around 8 distinct business areas, it delivers innovation and technology solutions in support of its clients and stakeholders. See www.CSIR.co.za or contact +27 12 841 2000.
Other contact:
Murray and Roberts
Mercia Maserumule
Cellular: 082 898 5791
Tel: (011) 456 6227
Fax: (011) 455 2421
E-mail: merciam@murrob.com
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