Traditionally, structural engineers have used their skills and expertise to ensure that structures or structural components are serviceable and durable, in addition to possessing adequate strength and stability. However, there is now a need for this traditional role to he broadened and expanded if structural engineers are to contribute towards meeting current socio-economic needs. Definite relationships exist between employment opportunities, available skills, entrepreneurship, and the use of small-scale enterprises in the creation and maintenance of assets. The construction strategies adopted can he used to address social and economic needs and concerns and, depending upon how they are structured, to facilitate the economic empowerment of marginalised sectors of society in a focused manner.Thus, the process of constructing assets can be just as important as the provision of the assets themselves.
K.B. Watermeyer