Pretoria – Government says its programme to publicly roll out infrastructure programmes continues in earnest, following the launch of the infrastructure programme in 2012 by President Jacob Zuma.
President Zuma unveiled the National Infrastructure Plan in the 2012 State of the Nation Address. A key feature of the plan is the coordination of the infrastructure build programme centrally located in the Presidency, through the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission, (PICC), chaired by the President.
The President officially re-opened the Grootvlei power station last month, and this week, he opened the Polokwane-Giyani R81 road. He will also be visiting other communities to open projects that have either been completed or are nearing completion.
Some of the infrastructure projects expected to be unveiled in the next few weeks include:
- Inanda/Ntuzuma/KwaMashu KZN Bridge City infrastructure project;
- Official handover ceremony of operator permit for Saldanha IDZ Saldanha, Western Cape;
- Site visit and launch of De Hoop Dam, Sekhukhune, Limpopo;
- Unveiling of automotive wagons, Port Elizabeth;
- Launch of Spring Grove Dam, Nottingham Road, KwaZulu-Natal; and
- Opening of Ladybrand hospital, Free State.
Government held a Presidential Infrastructure Investment Conference in October last year to mobilise partnerships with the private sector.
The Presidency says intensive focus on infrastructure has yielded results and many projects have either been completed or are nearing completion.
“Government has begun a programme of officially opening those projects that have neared completion,” the Presidency said on Wednesday.
“Ministers have also been officially opening projects. The Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, assisted by other ministers and deputy ministers is leading a programme of opening one school a week in the Eastern Cape. New schools have been constructed, replacing mud schools.”
The Presidency said by investing in infrastructure, government is boosting job creation and economic growth. Government’s infrastructure investment would allow the South African economy over the longer term to increase in productivity and become more competitive. – SAnews.gov.za
