Transparency as the backbone of cold chain reliability (Part 2).
“Combating corruption is therefore not only about legal enforcement; it is about restoring professional dignity and creating spaces where engineers can practice their craft without compromise,” Takalani Netshipale, South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE)’s ethics panel chairperson notes.
“We believe that ethics must be embedded into the DNA of engineering practice as a lived experience. By fostering critical thinking and ethical reflection in every stage of professional development, we ensure that South African civil engineers remain globally respected and trusted custodians of public welfare,” comments Sekadi Phayane-Shakhane, CEO of SAICE.
Transparency is central to professional integrity. SAICE’s code of ethics sets clear expectations for honesty, fairness and accountability. Through workshops, campaigns and public engagement, engineers are equipped to make transparent, responsible decisions that directly impact the reliability of cold chain systems.
“At SAICE, we also play an advocacy role, working alongside regulators and industry leaders to promote open tendering systems, clear audit trails and ethical oversight mechanisms in infrastructure projects. These are vital to building a culture of trust that sustains the civil engineering profession,” says Phayane-Shakhane.
Intimidation remains a significant barrier. Engineers may face pressure to approve non-compliant cold storage facilities, threats from clients or contractors, or isolation within their organisations. Professionals who report wrongdoing risk exclusion from future projects or professional defamation.
“At SAICE, we are deeply committed to breaking this cycle of intimidation and fear of whistleblowers. We advocate for environments where ethical professionals are celebrated, not punished, for their courage. Our ethics committee ensures that members have a safe and confidential space and that they understand their rights and available reporting channels” adds Netshipale.
Fair and transparent procurement is the foundation of ethical cold chain delivery. When guided by ethics, every stage of the project lifecycle – from planning and design to implementation and maintenance – benefits.
“This Global Ethics Day, we recognise our role at SAICE is to ensure that engineers are not passive participants but active stewards of transparency and fairness. We continually emphasise that procurement decisions must be guided by the public interest, not private gain,” concludes Phayane-Shakhane.
Reference: SAICE