General Announcement

The 2024 Lifetime Service Award winner is announced!

The Lifetime Service Award for 2024 is now on our website.

See the winners HERE for the whole list.

2024 - Johann Wilhelm Wessels (SASTT- Southern African Society for Trenchless Technology)

Johann Wilhelm Wessels has been a pivotal figure in advancing trenchless technology in South Africa. A long-standing member of the Southern African Society for Trenchless Technology (SASTT), Johann's association with the City of Tshwane covers 30 years, of which 18 were spent actively contributing to the SASTT board in various capacities, including President and Vice-President. Since retiring in 2018, he has continued to serve as an Honorary Past President of SASTT.

Starting his career in 1984 with the City of Tshwane's Water & Sanitation Department, Johann held roles ranging from Engineer to Deputy Director. His tenure is marked by significant contributions to the maintenance of the city's sewer systems. Johann pioneered a condition assessment program for grading sewer networks, introducing a proactive strategy for their maintenance and replacement. This initiative led to the cleaning, CCTV inspection, and condition assessment of over 24,000 kilometers of the city's sewers, a project notable for its scope and impact, especially in disadvantaged townships like Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, and Hammanskraal. His preference for pipe-bursting in these areas exemplifies his commitment to innovative solutions.

Johann's influence extends to water networks, pioneering a pipe-bursting replacement program for approximately 100 kilometers of water pipelines. His advocacy for trenchless technology over open-cut methods has embraced best practices like Cured-In-Place Pipe (CIPP) and pipe jacking, which are recognized for efficiency and minimal environmental disruption. His meticulous development of specifications and tender documentation has set industry standards that have been widely adopted across Southern Africa.

His prolific contributions include numerous articles and conference presentations. In 2001, his innovative sewer rehabilitation project in Tshwane earned the prestigious second place in the ISTT international no-dig project awards, emphasizing his impact on the industry. As a committed leader in the trenchless community, Johann's legacy includes major improvements in infrastructure maintenance and new installations, promoting the sustainability and efficiency of trenchless technology.