Forum on infrastructure to meet in April

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Pretoria - The Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC) will convene an inter-governmental forum on infrastructure on 13 April, Cabinet spokesperson Jimmy Manyi announced on Thursday.

The forum will be opened by President Jacob Zuma and will bring together the three spheres of government to discuss the implementation of the infrastructure plan.

"Cabinet calls on all sectors, from business and civil society to individual South Africans to 'Play Your Part' in partnering with government as investors and social partners to enhance the infrastructure legacy highlighted at the 2012 State of the Nation Address," Manyi said.

Zuma's office is expected to announce details soon on when and where the President will meet stakeholders and business in particular to discuss ways of working together to make the infrastructure roll out a success.

Cabinet also noted the President's infrastructure visit to the North West scheduled for 17 April.

"This visit will uplift the visibility of government's infrastructure plan which is driven and overseen by the PICC," added Manyi.

Infrastructure was one of the key priorities announced by Zuma during his State of the Nation Address in February.

At the time, the President announced that South Africa will spend billions of rands over the coming years on new infrastructure, with the government to focus on building rail, road, and economic links in five regions in the country and building new universities and refurbishing hospitals.

The government's massive infrastructure plan will be driven and overseen by the PICC, which was set up in September last year.

The plan brings together ministers, premiers and mayors of the country's metropolitan areas, under the leadership of Zuma and Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.