This momentum grew after World War II, with Professor Jere Jennings playing a pivotal role in establishing the Soil Mechanics Division at the National Building Research Institute in 1946.
The Division formally took shape in 1947 as a National Committee on Soil Mechanics under SAICE. It became affiliated with the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering (ISSMFE) in 1948, emphasizing collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the global geotechnical community.
Throughout its history, the Division has been instrumental in organizing conferences, publishing research, and fostering innovation. Key milestones include hosting the first African Regional Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering in Pretoria in 1955, expanding its scope in the 1980s to include geosynthetics and rock mechanics, and launching the prestigious Jennings Lecture in 2001 to honor Professor Jennings’ legacy.
Renamed the Geotechnical Division in 1986, the organization continues to promote safe, practical, and modern geotechnical practices while nurturing future generations of engineers through educational initiatives and young professional conferences.
Today, the Division stands as a cornerstone of South Africa’s geotechnical engineering community, committed to advancing the field and addressing the challenges posed by the country’s unique geological and environmental conditions.
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SAIGE Geotechnical Division presents:
Young geotechnical professionals under 35 working in geotechnical engineering, engineering geology, mining, or civil construction will have the opportunity to showcase their work at the 11th South African Young Geotechnical Engineers Conference (SAYGEC), taking place in September 2026 in the Central Drakensberg.
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