A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) and the National Building Institute (NBI), the Infrastructure Technical Assistance Facility (ITAF) and Zutari at the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA), currently underway in Cape Town.
The MoU is part of efforts to enhance collaboration and support infrastructure projects in South Africa.
Speaking at a media briefing on Sunday, Head of Infrastructure South Africa Mameetsi Masemola said Infrastructure South Africa was officially established by government in 2020 to provide a single point of coordination for the country’s priority infrastructure pipeline.
“Our mandate is provided in the Infrastructure Development Act. We are mandated to identify and prioritise strategic infrastructure. We are also mandated to prepare and package projects to move them from being concepts to bankability thus attracting public funding as well the mobilisation of private sector financing,” Masemola said.
Masemola also explained that as Infrastructure South Africa, they are also mandated to coordinate the national pipeline of priority projects in the form of strategic integrated projects.
“We are also mandated to monitor and report on projects as well as enabling the ease of doing business vigorous through regulatory unblockings in line with regulations of IBA,” Masemola said.
The signing of MoU is therefore a significant step towards improving infrastructure delivery and fostering investment in the country's development.
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson said SIDSSA would be bringing together government, project sponsors, investors, financiers and technical professionals to convert those commitments into viable infrastructure projects and functioning assets.
“This year, we have seven African Ministers joining the Summit from, among others, Kenya, Botswana and Zimbabwe, as well as nine African Mayors from cities such as Nairobi, Maputo, and Douala in Cameroon – the most in the conference’s six-year history,” Macpherson said.
He said in addition to the Premier of Gauteng, there are seven Members of the Executive Council from across South Africa’s nine provinces attending.
“And - for the first time ever - we will be having 13 mayors from important metropolitan and regional areas across South Africa, as well as three members of the mayoral committee joining as part of our City to City Connect conversations.
“Over 1 200 delegates will enter our doors over the upcoming days as we work to turn South Africa into a construction site.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa will also address the event.
Macpherson said the value of SIDSSA must be measured by whether projects are prepared, financed, procured and completed.
“Municipal infrastructure is essential to service delivery and economic growth. Reliable water, sanitation, electricity, roads and waste services determine whether communities and businesses can function.
“Improving these systems requires more than additional funding. Municipalities also need credible project preparation, technical capability, sustainable funding models and plans to operate and maintain assets over their full lifecycle,” he said.
Prior to signing of the memorandum of understanding, Minister Macpherson and his delegation conducted a site visit at the Cape Flats Aquifer Recharge Project.
The project was commissioned in response to the Cape Town water crisis.
The water treatment plant located in the Cape Flats recharges the aquifer through a series of four linear filtration buildings.
Zutari, a proudly South African company, has played a pivotal role in delivering infrastructure and advisory services across the Middle East for over two decades. – SAnews.gov.za
