Land surveying in South Africa has a long history that has grown and evolved in tandem with the history of the country itself. In addition to the everyday needs of the nation, conflict and political shifts have necessitated the confirmation and redrawing of land boundaries throughout South Africa’s history.
Cadastral surveying plays a vital role in accurately establishing and defining property boundaries. In South Africa, this practice is essential for supporting fair land distribution initiatives aimed at addressing historical land ownership inequities. The expertise of skilled surveyors is fundamental to this important transformation.
In addition to this, urbanisation, infrastructure development, a robust real estate market and the mining industry create significant opportunities for surveyors in South Africa. Integrating advanced technologies, such as scanning, also opens new avenues, solidifying the demand for skilled professionals in this field.
Despite the high demand for surveyors, the percentage of women in the field remains low. Women make up only about 13% of all land surveyors worldwide, reflecting the ongoing work needed to shift the surveying landscape.
Yet, the number of accredited female surveyors in South Africa was even lower when Tumeka Bikitsha, founder of ET Bikitsha Land Surveyors, started her business in 1996. Ironically, the beginnings of her company, which she continues to operate as a sole proprietor, were directly linked to her being one of the few women in the South African land surveying industry.
After completing her training, newly married and anticipating the birth of her first child, Tumeka found herself underemployed and in need of work. Taking on solo projects developed into a booming business for the young surveyor. Since then, she has expanded her business by retaining and growing clientele from various townships, leveraging new technologies and gaining new capabilities.
We sat down with Tumeka to discuss her career, how her profession has changed over the years and how being one of the few women in her professional circle has affected her work and her vision:
What made you interested in land surveying in the first place?
I like to say that I didn’t choose land surveying — land surveying chose me. I learned about surveying when I was at university. It was quite a shock to learn about everything involved in this profession, but then I fell in love with it.
When I started, there were no women involved in land surveying, but I thought, “Here I am; this is my calling.” If you asked me today if I would choose something else, I wouldn’t.
What are you working on right now?
I’m working on a few projects, including a massive 350-kilometre powerline project for South Africa’s national transmission company. I’m also conducting a topographical survey for new pump stations for our water here in Johannesburg and I just finished surveying five new schools. Additionally, I have been involved in an electrification project in the southern part of the Eastern Cape.
You do a lot of work in smaller townships. What is it like working with those communities and meeting their unique needs?
With surveying, every task is different and no job is too small or too big. You might work in a dense area or farmlands … like the current powerline project I’m working on, located on the outskirts.
The client will approach you and specify their requirements. For example, they might say, “I would like to subdivide my property.” The first step would be conducting a desktop study about that land. Sometimes, you may need to advise your client on how to approach the project. Whether you’re working on a construction site or in rural South Africa, the approach may differ, but it all boils down to surveying.
You must see a lot of the country in your line of work.
Oh yes, the best part is that I get to see the countryside. I’ve become a bit of a mountain climber (out of necessity) and I love it.
Is that dangerous?
I’ve seen many snakes, but they don’t bother me. Once, while we were surveying by the Vaal River, one of my students asked, “What kind of snake is that?”— and a cobra was standing right next to my leg.
Another time, I had a job surveying at a national park famous for its Big 5: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and Cape buffalo. Considering the park’s wildlife, two park rangers were assigned to escort us to a mountain summit.
When we arrived at the mountain, we discovered it was full of thorny trees. One ranger complained of back pain, while the other explained he had recently undergone hip surgery and couldn’t make the climb.
Although they couldn’t join us, the rangers did not leave us unprepared. They told us to stand still if we encountered a rhino. With no network and no means of communication they could only hope for our safe return.
While we did return safely, our clothes were torn to shreds by the thorns. Regardless of the minor inconveniences, I love my job because I get to work in these beautiful parts of South Africa.
One of the biggest challenges with land surveying in South Africa is the expansive areas of land, where there may be fewer natural or man-made landmarks that you might ordinarily use as property boundaries. How does that fit with your experience and how has technology helped you work with those limitations?
It depends on what the client wants. GPS is very useful for cadastral surveys in areas where there is less coverage. In instances where GPS cannot be used, it is best to revert back to conventional surveying methods. GPS is also a very useful tool because it simplifies the surveying process. In situations where you’re mapping out vast areas of land, drones can be used. We have the TrigNet system, which uses mobile data to connect to permanent benchmarks in certain areas. The only disadvantage is that it works better in more developed regions, as cell phone coverage is poor in rural areas of South Africa.
What technology are you using these days?
We use various surveying technologies, including GPS, total stations, scanners, and drones — it depends on the work being carried out.
When I was a student, we had to use a plane table to undertake surveys. Today, the Leica TS16 Robotic Total Station is my favourite total station and the best I’ve seen as a surveyor.
Did I ever think there would be an all-in-one piece of equipment that could capture directions and distances? No. But that just shows how far technological innovation has come.
It might sound farfetched right now, but one day I’d love to be able to do all my surveying from my office. I’m sure that in the future, someone will invent something that will enable that.
Have the types of projects you’re asked to work on also changed over the years?
Cadastral surveying hasn’t changed and I don’t think it ever will because you’re always going to sites and surveying boundaries. However, what has changed is the introduction of scanning technology. This technology allows us to scan various objects — from buildings to power lines and virtually anything else.
Architects have been quick to adapt to this technology because it helps with their design work. However, as many of my clients haven’t been exposed to it, they might not be familiar with handling and interpreting the data that this technology generates.
The younger generation has shown a keen interest in and quick understanding of scanning technology. They’re more willing to incorporate it into their work, while the older generation tends to stick to what they’re comfortable with.
What was it like starting a surveying business as a woman at the time that you did?
When I started, it was uncommon to see a woman in the profession and I mostly had to deal with different attitudes. But did that scare me or discourage me? I didn’t receive different education or training because I was a woman; it was the same training and education as everyone else. I just focused on doing the work to the best of my ability.
There are more women now in the profession; I take it upon myself to train as many women as possible whenever I get an opportunity and impart the knowledge I gained. Now that there are many women in the profession, attitudes have changed.
What would you say to women who are interested in pursuing surveying?
What I would say is that if they love adventure and enjoy being challenged, then surveying is a profession for them. As a surveyor, you encounter various challenges, so when you overcome them, it’s a beautiful feeling. If you love a challenge and you are adventurous, don’t let anyone stand in your way.
Tumeka Bikitsha is the owner and sole proprietor of ET Bikitsha Land Surveyors, headquartered in Bedfordview, South Africa.
