As South Africa grapples with significant infrastructure challenges, Sekadi Phayane-Shakhane, the CEO of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE), highlights the critical role of sustained investment in driving economic growth and improving the quality of life for citizens.
Sustained investment in South Africa’s transport infrastructure is critical for several reasons. While providing for the basic needs of communities to access work, education and healthcare, robust transportation networks enhance the movement of goods and services, making it possible for businesses to operate efficiently and access markets, ultimately facilitating trade and commerce as well as driving economic growth, essential for local and international trade.
“Improved infrastructure enhances South Africa’s competitiveness on the global stage, reduces logistics costs and also provides better access to underserved areas in the country. This is important because one of the key factors considered by potential investors, when deciding to invest in a country, is reliable infrastructure,” comments Phayane-Shakhane.
The South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) is at the forefront of discussions surrounding the country’s ambitious infrastructure investment and development plans, and the transportation sector stands out as a key area for investment.
“As an organisation, we firmly believe that the involvement of the private sector in infrastructure development is vital for South Africa’s long-term growth and prosperity. Infrastructure development is a monumental task, one that requires a collaborative effort across various sectors of society, and the private sector has both the skills and financial muscle to play a critical role in this endeavour,” adds Phayane-Shakhane.
One of the most pressing challenges in infrastructure development is the availability of skilled professionals to prepare feasibility studies and establish the viability of bankable projects. The infrastructure needs and the scale of investment required far exceeds what the government alone can provide. Private sector participation through public-private partnerships (PPPs) not only supplements public funds but can also unlock additional skilled resources. This injection of private sector capacity is critical to accelerate the implementation of key infrastructure projects.
Large-scale infrastructure projects inherently carry significant risks—financial, operational, and political. Through public-private partnerships, risk is carefully analysed and can be more effectively shared between the public and private sectors, reducing the burden on the government and spreading the risks across multiple stakeholders, making projects more viable and sustainable.
The private sector’s ability to manage risks such as design and construction prevents delays and budget overruns. Robust project preparation allows market fluctuations to be absorbed and ensures that the impact of these risks is minimised, benefiting both the project and the public.
The recently launched Construction Book 24/25 showcases 153 infrastructure projects with a total capital expenditure of R158.54bn. Half of these are for transportation infrastructure including multiple road projects, rail, ports and airports. The prominent investment in such valuable economic infrastructure is applauded by SAICE.
Wynand Dreyer, Champion of the SAICE Advocacy Pillar, explains “The infrastructure projects we see emerging in the Construction Book is economic infrastructure i.e. it supports business once it is in place. The creation of such projects generates direct and indirect work opportunities for designers, constructors, materials, equipment and plant suppliers. This, in addition, in the case of water and sanitation, provides the essentials for life and health to communities.”
Says Sekadi Phayane-Shakhane, “These initiatives will undoubtedly be a boost to the Civil Engineering Industry. We know of further plans to bring other transportation projects to market such as the upgrading of bulk rail-freight lines, ports and intra-African trade corridors that will add impetus to the project pipeline in years to come. These are the sort of projects that encourage investment.”
As projects are prepared, they need to be aligned with national development goals, integrated into the comprehensive transportation strategy and assigned a priority that addresses current and future needs. Clear governance structures and monitoring mechanisms are necessary to ensure that projects are delivered and funds used efficiently and effectively. This is how SAICE expects public trust to rebuild, and ongoing investment encouraged.
“Transport has been a fertile ground for technical innovation with the adoption of advanced technologies giving rise to a branch of industry, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). The adoption of technologies from Electronic Tolling, Weigh-in Motion, video monitoring and management of traffic, railway signalling to autonomous cars, buses and trucks has made a significant contribution to the efficiency of all modes of transport. With continuing advances, we can expect technology to play an ever-increasing role in our transport, logistics and supply chains,” adds Dreyer.
Project preparation also needs to provide for the maintenance and upgrading of existing facilities and sustainable practices applied to ensure long-term viability. Ongoing assessments of the impact of these projects on the economy, environment, and communities will inform future investment decisions and adjustments to projects as needed. Without regular maintenance, even the most advanced and costly infrastructure will deteriorate rapidly, reducing its lifespan and effectiveness.
Comments Phayane-Shakhane, “We need to ensure that the spend on new assets remains profitable in the long term rather than becoming liabilities. Maintenance is not a cost, it’s an investment in preserving the functionality and resilience of these critical systems!”
She cautions that preventive maintenance is far more cost-effective than reactive maintenance. By regularly servicing and upgrading infrastructure, higher costs associated with emergency repairs, replacement, or even reconstruction after failure can be avoided.
“A holistic view that equally prioritises investment in new developments and the ongoing care of what we already have ensures that we get the most out of each rand spent, without letting our existing assets fall into disrepair,” says Phayane-Shakhane.
Maintenance also plays a key role in managing the environmental impact of our infrastructure, reducing the carbon footprint of our transportation networks and other systems. Deteriorating roads often lead to more traffic congestion, while poorly maintained drainage systems contribute to flooding and environmental degradation.
Phayane-Shakhane concludes, “As engineers, it is our responsibility to advocate for policies and budget allocations that ensure our assets, new and old, are maintained to the highest standards.”
“Only by doing so will we ensure that South Africa’s infrastructure legacy is one that endures, supports economic growth, and enhances the quality of life for all our citizens,” she adds.
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