The Institute of Professional Engineering Technologists (IPET) is the recognised professional body for engineering technologists in South Africa. We represent and support professionals who bridge the gap between theoretical engineering and practical application. Our members work across multiple disciplines — from civil and mechanical to electrical, chemical, and beyond — playing a critical role in building, maintaining, and advancing the nation’s infrastructure and industries.
IPET is more than just a professional association — it is a community dedicated to empowering technologists.
We promote professional and ethical standards to ensure that technologists are respected within the engineering profession.
We support lifelong learning through structured Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities, events, and resources.
We create platforms for connection — linking technologists with peers, industry leaders, and academic partners.
We advocate for recognition, ensuring that the contributions of technologists are acknowledged at every level of industry and government.
In short, IPET is about equipping technologists with the tools, credibility, and network to thrive in their careers while contributing to the growth of South Africa.
Our vision is to be the recognised home and voice of engineering technologists in South Africa.
We aim to build a future where:
The expertise of technologists is highly valued.
Career development and progression are actively supported.
Contributions to industry, society, and national development are celebrated and respected.
IPET envisions a profession where technologists stand proudly alongside engineers and other professionals as equal partners in driving innovation, sustainability, and progress.
to report on the Education, Training and Status of the Engineering Technician in South Africa, published its Report in 1978.
One of its recommendations was that a definite need now existed for the introduction of another member into the engineering team of professional and certificated engineers, and engineering technicians. This person was to be known as the engineering technologist. A further recommendation was that societies should be established to look after the interests of technologists and technicians if they did not exist already.
On 5 February 1979, the convening and first meeting of the Interim Committee for Establishing Boards of Control for “Non-Professional Engineers” (ICBOC) took place in Johannesburg under the auspices of the Federation of Societies of Professional Engineers (FSPE).
The first Chairman and the first Secretary was Professor G.P.R. von Willich of the SA Institution of Civil Engineers, and D.P. du Plooy of the Aeronautical Society of South Africa. The members of this Committee were nominated mostly by the various technical societies in existence at that time.
It was instructed to investigate the feasibility of registration under a Board of Control for the above-mentioned category of engineers. It took the Committee a little more than two years to find that such a need did exist. In the process, the name of the Committee was changed to the Interim Committee for the Registration of Technologists and Engineers (ICRTE).
John Galgut was elected as the first President of the new body. The new formed SAARET replaced ICRTE, which was disbanded in November of the same year.
Apart from the recruitment of members for the association, its main function at that time was to prepare the documentation for the establishment of the Board of Control for the Registration of Professional Technologists (Engineering). This became possible after the necessary changes to the Professional Engineers’ Act of 1969 were made. SAARET completed this task in 1984 and the Board commenced its operations in 1985 by considering applications for registration as Professional Technologists (Engineering).
Guthrie Head was the Chairman of the Board of Control from its inception until dissolution in 1990.
SAARET changed its name to the South African Association of Registrable Engineering Technologists, the acronym remaining as SAARET. With the promulgation of the Engineering Profession of South Africa Act in 1990, the Board of Control was disbanded. The Act combined the Boards of Control for Technologists, Certificated Engineers and Technicians and the SA Council for Professional Engineers into one unifying body viz. – the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).
SAARET received many requests from its members to meet not only their purely vocational but other needs as well. As a result, SAARET decided that it should also become involved in activities normally associated with those of learned societies.
As a first step, in depth consideration was given to provide a name for this body more in line with the new thinking. At the Annual General Meeting held in August 1994, it was unanimously agreed that the name of SAARET be changed to Institute of Professional Engineering Technologists (IPET)
