05/06/2026
ππππ
ππππππ ππππππ ππππππππ πππππππ ππ πππππππππ πππππππππ πππππ ππ
π
πππππππππ ππππππππππ
Drawing from decades of experience in the built environment sector, Walter Sisulu's Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology (FEBEIT) Executive Dean, Professor Didibhuku Thwala, highlighted the critical role of facilities management (FM) in ensuring the long-term sustainability and performance of infrastructure assets.
Addressing delegates on the second day of the inaugural Public Works Sector Facilities Management Conference at Walter Sisuluβs Potsdam Site on Wednesday, 3 June, Thwala, as part of a panel, shared valuable lessons from his tenure on the first-ever Gautrain Board, during which facilities management emerged as a cornerstone of the rail system's sustainability strategy.
Reflecting on the Gautrain project, Thwala explained that although the rail network was developed as a world-class transportation asset, its long-term success depended not only on its design and construction, but also on how effectively it would be managed throughout its operational lifecycle.
βThe Gautrain project, as part of its lifecycle and strategic imperatives, was to be eventually handed over to the government. However, this had one condition: the state would have to adequately maintain the facility to achieve long-term sustainability. Thus, a facility management strategy became the core of the Gautrain sustainability,β he said.
Thwala noted that one of the board's earliest and most significant decisions was the appointment of a competent facilities manager to oversee the operational performance, maintenance, and long-term stewardship of the train.
Simultaneously, the board commissioned targeted research into the facilities management ecosystems of comparable international rail services to develop an evidence-based strategy that would support sustainable operations.
βAfter the appropriate facilities management research was concluded, we found a number of areas and challenges that factor into effective FM, and these included poor asset management, lack of data, and low levels of technology adoption, among others,β said Thwala.
The findings reinforced the importance of adopting a strategic, research-informed approach to facilities management, particularly within large-scale public infrastructure projects where asset reliability, service delivery, and lifecycle performance are paramount.
To address these challenges, Gautrain's facilities management leadership was tasked with conducting a comprehensive benchmarking exercise aimed at identifying international best practices and determining the structure, competencies and resources required for a high-performing facilities management office.
βFollowing that process, we then invited the manager to submit a detailed office structure with all the requisite personnel and the necessary nuts and bolts, so to speak. So, at the centre of the establishment of the office was an evidence and research-based approach,β Thwala explained.
Thwala further highlighted the role of research and innovation in advancing facilities management practice, citing the Gautrain project as an example of how infrastructure assets can serve as living laboratories for postgraduate research and skills development.
The project, he noted, provided Master's and PhD students with opportunities to engage in real-world facilities management challenges, contributing to both academic knowledge production and practical industry solutions.
Addressing the future of the sector, Thwala stressed the growing importance of digital technologies in modern facilities management. He pointed to the increasing use of the Internet of Things (IoT), smart infrastructure systems, and predictive maintenance technologies as key enablers of efficient asset management.
He explained that engineers and researchers in technology play an increasingly important role in monitoring infrastructure performance, improving operational efficiency, and accurately forecasting maintenance requirements before failures occur.
These technological advancements, he argued, are transforming facilities management from a largely reactive function into a proactive, data-driven discipline capable of enhancing infrastructure resilience, extending asset life cycles, and reducing operational costs.
