Construction World April 2016

COMMENT

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Economic development minister Ebrahim Patel says more major projects will be announced to maintain the extraordinary spending undertaken in tough times. At a recent briefing he said that South Africa spent R290-billion on infrastructure in 2015 – more than R1-billion a day.

provision of free Wi-Fi in metropolitan areas will be another boost to infrastructure development.

Patel was speaking at a post State of the Nation Address Economic Sectors, Employment and Instructure Development cluster briefing. The fact that South Africa has spent billions on infrastructure is a major reason why the country has not gone into recession yet. It is also confronted with factors that are impacting nega- tively on growth: the volatile global economy results in lower growth, lower demand for plat- inum, iron-ore and gold and a severe drought. This is in addition to the political problems, viewed negatively by potential investors. Despite this though, 2015 saw the construc- tion of 160 new schools, 29 clinics, one hospital and 100 000 houses, while 265 000 houses were connected to electricity and accommodation for 3 100 tertiary students were provided. Some 1 700MWwere connected to the grid and 10 new renewable energy plants were built. Last year also saw the start in the construc- tion of three technical college campuses and two

new universities, while 300 km of transmission lines were erected, and 24 000 km of road reha- bilitation commenced. In Johannesburg and elsewhere, the construction of urban transport systems started. Fast tracked projects Patel indicated that 20 infrastructure projects will be fast-tracked to be in construction in 6 to 15 months. These projects include the Clanwil- liam and Mzimvubu dams, the construction of the long-awaited N2 Wild Coast highway that will connect East London and Durban, a water pipeline to Lephalale/Waterberg, the N3 De Beers pass and the construction of 28 renewable energy plants. In addition, Patel said, there is significant modernisation of South Africa’s port capacity: various projects at ports are under way to attract support manufacturing operation and are aimed at themore efficient operation of these ports. The

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Wilhelm du Plessis Editor

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD APRIL 2016