Construction World October 2024

COMMENT

projects through a renewed focus on PPPs, blended finance, and social infrastructure programmes. Economic regulation in the construction industry A more competitive and transparent construction industry must be established by strengthening the regulatory framework governing the construction industry through bodies such as the cidb and the National Home Builders Registration Council. Cancellation of tenders, social unrest, damage to infrastructure, and crime The impact of the cancellation of tenders, social unrest, damage to infrastructure, and crime must be addressed – and the Department will have a special focus on the construction mafia.

projects through a centralised system. Accelerated broader budget reforms Broader budget reforms must be accelerated by collaborating with the National Treasury to streamline the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) process and establish an Infrastructure Fund that reports directly to the National Treasury. Address regulatory bottlenecks and red-tape In an effort to remove obstacles that cause the delay in infrastructure projects, approval processes will be streamlined – especially for Independent Power Producers (IPPs). At a press briefing at the end of August, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Dean Macpherson gave an update on the progress his Department has made to ‘turn the country into a construction site’ (the minister’s words), grow the economy, and create jobs. Address municipal bulk infrastructure constraints The capacities of municipalities to prepare and package infrastructure projects must be increased while the lack of municipal infrastructure such as water, sanitation, roads, and electricity must urgently be addressed. Unlock other sources of funding The Department aims to diversify the sources to fund infrastructure

C entral to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure's strategy for increased infrastructure investment is to expand the capacitation of Infrastructure South Africa (or ISA as Macpherson refers to it). The Department wants to ensure that ISA functions as “the single point of entry for all priority infrastructure projects, streamlining processes, and reducing inefficiencies that have previously hampered project delivery”. For the department to realise this dream of increased Infrastructure investment, it has identified eight pillars in urgent need of reform. Address institutional arrangements At the moment infrastructure development has dual reporting lines to both the Presidency and the Department, and the new administration aims to establish one for Infrastructure South Africa under the Ministry of Public Works. Centralised planning and prioritisation The second pillar involves streamlining

Wilhelm du Plessis Editor

BEST PROJECTS TWENTY-THIRD

Update: Best Projects 2024 Despite what is arguably the toughest year yet for the local construction industry, Construction World’s annual Best Projects awards received 75 entries that range from infrastructure projects to smaller projects, showing the depth and excellence that exist in the construction industry. The winners will be announced on 6 November and the December issue will cover the winning projects and entrants in depth and so reflect the activity in the South African construction world over the past year. 2024

the planning, identification, and prioritisation of infrastructure

EDITOR & DEPUTY PUBLISHER Wilhelm du Plessis constr@crown.co.za ADVERTISING MANAGER Erna Oosthuizen ernao@crown.co.za LAYOUT & GRAPHIC ARTIST

PUBLISHER Karen Grant

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2 CONSTRUCTION WORLD OCTOBER 2024