INDUSTRY MATTERS
lines between the northern and southern side of
the country, and pipelines to export gas assets
— South Africa is ideally placed to support the
development of these projects.
To put this in context, as Medupi and
Kusile power stations have come online,
there is a substantive contingent of skilled
people who need to be mobilised. Currently,
investment into and developme nt of mega
power infrastructure projects in South Africa
— whether coal, gas or nuclear base-load
generation plans — are on hold. Without a
continuation of projects in the country, we face
a very real risk of losing these crucial skills as
these professionals seek valuable employment
opportunities in other markets.
Through improved regional collaboration between
Mozambique and South Africa, South African
skilled professionals could bring their experience
to work on the projects in Mozambique, not only
to help build the gas industry but to transfer
needed major infrastructure project skills to local
teams. If done correctly, this will enable upskilling
within the neighbouring country, developing
regional expertise to deliver on these projects as
a priority.
Additionally, looking at these projects
collectively and as part of a regionally
integrated plan — rather than looking at
each project in isolation — will support the
development of the gas-to-power industry
within South Africa, thus supporting the co-
creation of a regional industry.
FOCUS PLACED ON
SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
The national government has looked at ways
to curb spending over the next three years in
an effort to reduce the national budget deficit.
And, although there are fewer public projects
coming through the pipeline, funding has been
allocated in the 2018/19 National Budget for
facilitating social infrastructure development. This
particularly includes education and health care.
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In the short to medium term, boosting social
infrastructure can have a significant influence
on growth in the country. From immediate
development opportunities, to improving
access to services, they have a powerful
impact on quality of life for those previously
excluded from the mainstream economy. And,
the impact of these projects on society is
easily measurable and complementary to the
state’s vision for long-term, sustainable, and
inclusive growth.
Though not traditionally included under
the ‘social infrastructure’ heading,
telecommunications certainly must be
considered a social and growth enabler. And
with expansive private sector fibre and Wi-Fi
roll-out projects under way across the country,
digitalisation presents incredible opportunities
for South Africa to leapfrog some of the
traditional development trajectories.
While in its infancy in South Africa, improving
cost-effective Internet access and adopting
digital technology could drive radical
changes that can boost access to social
infrastructure in the short to medium term,
such as e-Learning and e-Health services,
for example. Furthermore, in the long
term, embracing disruptive innovation as
part of the process to deliver complex and
sustainable projects presents opportunities to
implement changes now that will transform
how we view and use infrastructure, ensuring
that it is enriched and future-proofed.
For now; there is some promise for investment
under way in primary, secondary, and tertiary
infrastructure development. Public and
private sector-driven infrastructure projects
range across transport, power, water, health
care, and education — which, although
more localised, are interchangeable with the
country’s long-term infrastructure objectives.
In relation to this, we are seeing some projects
being procured through the Development Bank of
South Africa (DBSA), which is already involved in
a number of projects to build schools, hospitals,
and clinics. The private sector, and public private
partnership (PPP), are also driving a number of
projects within these sectors. It is encouraging
to see that, despite more subdued growth in the
mainstream economy, these developments are
still coming to ground. To continue driving investments into each of
these sectors, increased engagement and
collaboration between public and private
sectors must become a priority. It is only
when government, private sector, and labour
work in unison towards common objectives
that we’ll be able to push the boundaries and
develop a truly strong network of economic
infrastructure. A future-proofed network
that will deliver long-lasting benefits for
communities, industries, and the economy
— and will ensure a future where our society
can thrive. PA
www.plumbingafrica.co.za August 2018 Volume 24 I Number 6