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Friedrich Slabbert started mowing the lawn when he was 10 years old. "It is built into my DNA," he says, explaining that it is in part why he is the person he is today. Mowing the lawn was one of many chores Friedrich was responsible for while growing up, and it was one of the ways his parents helped instil two essential values in him: the importance of service and the discipline of systematic thinking. He still mows the lawn to this day, which he considers his quiet time - "I've solved many problems while mowing the lawn over the years," he says.
Friedrich embodies the true spirit of stewardship in the civil engineering profession, championing progress, upholding high standards, and setting a positive example for future generations of infrastructure professionals. He attributes this mindset to his parents, who instilled in him the belief that true stewardship begins with asking the right questions:
What needs to be done?
Where must it be done?
When does it need to be done?
Who must do it?
Why must it be done?
How should it be done? He recounts his mom helping him to compile a weekly schedule for all his activities and responsibilities. "I've always had a scientific and orderly mind, but I learnt time planning and dedication to quality from my mom," he says. His dad, who spent 27 years volunteering for a hospital employees association he established, instilled in Friedrich the value of volunteerism. "We are not here only for ourselves. If you have the passion and capacity to add more, you should," says Friedrich.
This is part of the reason he has been a SAICE member for the past 45 years, much of which time he has spent actively participating in the institution's various structures and initiatives.
ENTERING THE PROFESSION
Growing up Friedrich spent a great deal of time building roads and bridges in the
Friedrich Slabbert, 2025 SAICE President sandpit for his toy cars. He had always possessed strong planning and logic skills, but he attests his engineering mind to his parents. "It all started with my parents teaching me to solve problems. That is what engineers do after all," he says.
Friedrich's dad thought he would do well in an engineering environment,...