Kempton park: President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a rallying call to the construction sector to “go and construct South Africa” by seizing the opportunity presented by the government’s R1 trillion infrastructure drive. The President was addressing the National Construction Summit held at Kempton Park in Gauteng, emphasizing the country’s readiness for significant growth in infrastructure.
According to South African Government News Agency, the government has committed approximately R1 trillion over the medium term solely to infrastructure development. This initiative is accompanied by reforms aimed at fostering a conducive environment for public-private partnerships (PPP). Amendments to Treasury Regulation 16, which focus on enhancing PPP investment, fiscal management, governance, and easing private sector entry, came into effect in June.
The purpose of the summit is to ensure that these investments and reforms transform the country into a bustling construction site. “We want to see cranes and construction vehicles in cities, townships, villages, and rural areas. When visitors travel by road, rail, or air, they must see a country at work,” stated President Ramaphosa.
The President issued a stern warning against any efforts to derail these initiatives, particularly from construction mafias and infrastructure vandals. “We will not negotiate with construction mafias. We will not yield to cable thieves or those who vandalize infrastructure. The law enforcement agencies will deal with those who break the law.”
To ensure accountability, the South African Construction Action Plan has been introduced. This framework demands collective and individual accountability, setting measurable targets, timelines, and enforceable consequences. It aims to prevent underperforming contractors from securing new state contracts, address cash-flow issues, and leverage technology for real-time project tracking.
Provinces are also set to establish Procurement War Rooms to identify blockages, expedite evaluations, and ensure projects transition from bid to site without unnecessary delays. The plan includes measures to enhance audit and governance outcomes and professionalize the built environment in the public sector, ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and without wastage.
President Ramaphosa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making infrastructure the central activity in advancing the country. He highlighted how infrastructure boosts productivity, reduces living costs, and attracts investment. “The roads we build, the bridges we construct, the schools and hospitals we erect are the foundations of opportunity and hope.”
Earlier this year, during the Government of National Unity’s (GNU) maiden budget speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced the R1 trillion allocation for infrastructure investment. The Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) presented in Parliament yesterday indicated ongoing reforms to mobilize private-sector finance and expertise on a large scale. It also outlined initiatives to enhance government efficiency in delivering infrastructure and improving spending outcomes.