The ethics imperative in cold chain infrastructure (Part 1).
Corruption in the engineering and construction sector continues to undermine infrastructure delivery and public trust. South Africa scored 41 points out of 100 on the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, reflecting a challenging national environment that impacts not only general construction but also public and private cold chain infrastructure. This underscores the urgent need for strong ethical governance, transparency, and protection for whistleblowers.
Unethical procurement practices have wide-reaching consequences. In public cold chain systems, misallocated funds can jeopardise vaccine storage, perishable food distribution, and essential medical supply chains. In the private sector, unethical behaviour distorts competition and can compromise the safety of temperature-sensitive products.
Corruption threatens the success and sustainability of cold chain infrastructure. It distorts tender processes, inflates project costs, and leads to substandard facilities that endanger public safety. Ultimately, citizens bear the cost – through unreliable storage, disrupted vaccine distribution and unsafe handling of sensitive products.
“Beyond the financial and technical implications, corruption also damages the moral fabric of our profession, discouraging ethical engineers who strive to uphold their duty to the public. At SAICE, we continue to advocate for integrity-driven leadership within both the public and private sectors to restore confidence in infrastructure delivery,” comments Sekadi Phayane-Shakhane, CEO of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE).
From a technical perspective, unethical procurement compromises quality and safety. Facilities built on favouritism or bribery rather than competence often fail to meet the rigorous standards required for cold chain systems. This not only endangers lives but also increases maintenance and rehabilitation costs.
Many professionals, particularly younger engineers and small contractors, feel powerless to challenge unethical directives due to fear of intimidation or professional isolation. According to Takalani Netshipale, SAICE’s ethics panel chairperson, “Corruption forces professionals into untenable ethical dilemmas – choosing between doing the right thing and keeping their livelihoods and creates an environment of moral fatigue and fear.”
Reference: SAICE