Stephen GoodburnChief Executive Officer

Previously, Stephen was appointed as the Group Senior Management Accountant of Waco in 1996 and was promoted to the position of Group Financial Director in 1997.


Prior to joining Waco, Stephen was employed by the Gentyre Group, then a subsidiary of Waco, from 1990 to 1996, where he held a number of senior positions.

Stephen had a significant role in the management of Waco during and after the leveraged buyouts in 2000 and 2012, and gained significant international experience through the management of these processes.

Otto Botha Managing Director

Otto heads up Waco Engineering Services. He has more than 23 years’ experience in Civil Engineering, covering construction, temporary works design and management. He specializes in temporary works and structural design, as well as construction methodology and value engineering.

Otto is a registered Professional Engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa and the Engineering Registration Board of Botswana. He is a registered Temporary Works Designer with the Institute for Work at Height’s Professional Body. Otto has a B Eng Degree in Civil (Structural) Engineering and is a Member of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering. He is on the Advisory Board of the University of Pretoria’s Department of Civil Engineering.

Edgar FaberChief Engineer

Edgar is the Chief Engineer at Waco Engineering Services . He has 40 years’ experience in Civil Engineering, specializing in temporary works design, construction methodology. He also mentors and coaches young engineers and technicians.

Edgar has a National Diploma for Technicians (T4), a Baccalaureus Technologiae Engineering Degree in Civil (Structural) Engineering and is registered as a Professional Engineering Technologist with the Engineering Council of South Africa. He is also a Member of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering and a registered Temporary Works Designer with the Institute for Work at Height’s Professional Body.

Vaughan BurgessSenior Engineer

Vaughan is a Senior Engineer at Waco Engineering Services. He has 45 years’ experience in Civil Engineering including surveying, reinforced concrete design, temporary works design, draughting, estimating and construction management.

He is registered as a Professional Engineering Technologist with the Engineering Council of South Africa, as well as a Member with the South African Institution of Civil Engineering. Vaughan is also a Member of the Chamber of Engineering Technology, a Member of Concrete Society of South Africa, a Member of South African Institute of Draughtspersons and is registered as a Temporary Works Designer with the Institute for Work at Height’s Professional Body.

Rikus de BeerSenior Engineer

Rikus graduated in 2012 from the University of Pretoria.

Rikus is currently employed as a Senior Engineer at Waco Engineering Services. He has more than 10 years’ experience in consulting and project management in civil and structural engineering in various industries. He is registered as a Project Management Professional with qualifications in Temporary Works Design, Inspection and Supervision.

His responsibilities include liaising directly with customers and external engineers, engineering and inspection of complex and out of the ordinary temporary structures and formwork.

Etienne SwanepoelBusiness Development Manager

Etienne, a seasoned Business Development and Sales Manager with 16+ years of experience, leads New Business Development at Waco Engineering Services.

Known for his strategic acumen, relationship-building skills, and passion for engineering, he drives growth and market expansion. Etienne's extensive senior management background in the Mining industry provides valuable insights, strategically applied to elevate our presence in the Mining and Construction sectors.

A University of the Witwatersrand (MBA) graduate, he holds various management and leadership certifications, showcasing a commitment to continuous professional development.