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Charles de Kock (52), a proven industry leader with diverse experience, has been appointed as the new director of Infrastructure and Engineering at Kouga Municipality.
A seasoned leader with over 20 years of agricultural and civil engineering experience, and a proven track record in delivering robust outcomes, De Kock will take the lead to carefully maintain all existing infrastructure (water, sewage, roads and stormwater, electricity and fleet services), as well as promote growth and development throughout Kouga.
As the importance of sustainable infrastructure and engineering type projects continue to rise, De Kock will work closely with the Kouga team to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions – transforming the Department of Infrastructure and Engineering into a top government institute by ensuring top class service delivery to all.
De Kock registered professionally with the Engineering Council of South Africa in 2003, followed by a BSc Honours in Water Resources at the University of Pretoria. He is currently completing his master’s degree (MSc) in Project Management at TUKS, and has the energetic ambition of bringing his student life to an end with a PhD in the very near future. However, De Kock believes in always learning as life never stops teaching.
“As an individual I enjoy keeping myself fit for purpose by constantly pressing towards addressing new challenges … and Kouga has many such pleasant challenges. It is the challenges in life that give purpose, that create opportunities, that form character and bring about significance,” said De Kock.
Prior to his appointment at Kouga, he worked as the chief engineer: Civil and Structural within the Directorate Physical Resource and Property Management at the Department of Education – Eastern Cape for three years.
Throughout his career De Kock had always been involved in engineering – either civil, water or agricultural. Since starting his engineering career in 1997, De Kock had worked for the Department of Agriculture (12 years), followed by Wildeklawer PTY Ltd (4 years).
To become SMART
“The challenge that lies ahead is to become SMART – we need to constantly force ourselves into applying forward thinking, improvement thinking, best practices thinking, fit for purpose infrastructure thinking,” said De Kock.
De Kock believes that, “after successfulness comes significance. We don’t stop when we are successful. We can only end when we have exhausted significance.”
“As any match is either won or lost in the second half, we must get used to making bold, well-calculated, transparent, and professional decisions timeously. We must ensure that we remain professional in our conduct, competent in applying our knowledge and experienced in dealing with many multilayered and simultaneous challenges.
De Kock says that he feels most privileged to head up a directorate with experienced employees who, despite often difficult circumstances and various layers of multiple type challenges, just keep serving.
“It is these pockets of excellence found in staff that enabled the municipality to be the best municipality in the Eastern Cape.
“The goal is to transform the directorate into the best it can be. For this to take place, all residents are to be valued, called upon to assist and provide bold input. The road ahead requires a “we” approach and not an individualistic mindset,” he said. “I believe in the ”we” concept – a team approach where every role player, from bottom to top, is expected to do nothing less than their best.”
De Kock firmly believes that people are any company’s most valued resource.
“So, investing in and ensuring healthy human capacity makes any challenge achievable,” he said. “It is my conviction that Kouga’s full potential is still to be unlocked. Righteousness and justice, kindness and truth are sound foundations.”
Area of focus
To date, major projects under De Kock’s watchful eye included the intense attention to addressing the operations at the Jeffreys Bay Waste Water Treatment Works, the finalisation and commissioning of the groundwater development that is to ensure Kouga being less dependent on external water resources, the acquiring of an outstanding Blue Drop Score, the curbing of water losses to record lows and the appointment of various critical professional staff members in managerial positions.
During the next year, the team will focus in particular on creating a solid base to work from.
“Planning your work and working your plan is critical and the most important part of existence,” said De Kock. Master plans for all infrastructure (roads, water, sewage, and electricity), the funding of such and the execution thereof will be crucial to ensure Kouga’s full potential is unlocked.
“Regulations and compliance to Acts and prescripts are non-negotiable.”
