Pretoria: In a move to confront infrastructure challenges within Gauteng, the provincial government is deploying a ‘multi-faceted and practical strategy’ to fix failing infrastructure, root out construction mafia syndicates, and deal with project mismanagement.
According to South African Government News Agency, the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) stated that the repair of failing infrastructure and the revitalization of Central Business Districts is at the heart of a 13-point plan unveiled by Premier Panyaza Lesufi during the State of the Province Address in February. This strategy redefines infrastructure as a fundamental catalyst for sparking economic development, generating employment, and transforming society.
The province also noted that Lesufi has consistently acknowledged the severe state of disrepair in some of the province’s infrastructure, correctly identifying it as a detriment to economic growth. The causes are complex and multifaceted, including historical inadequate maintenance, rampant vandalism by sophisticated syndicates, pressure from so-called ‘business forums’ (construction mafias), and significant project management failures.
The provincial government is confronting these legacy challenges directly through a multi-faceted and practical strategy. This plan focuses on completing unfinished projects, securing existing assets, and ensuring the province’s infrastructure is sustainable for the future. Interventions already underway include the establishment of an Infrastructure War Room, aimed at managing risks and driving turnaround strategies for critical infrastructure projects, including unlocking funding with a specific focus on Public-Private Partnerships.
The Department of Infrastructure Development (DID) has also introduced the Infrastructure Delivery Platform (IDEP), a tool that will fast-track all distressed projects while significantly enhancing transparency and communication with client departments. The department has also taken decisive action by terminating the contracts of non-compliant service providers, including compiling a list of these restricted suppliers for National Treasury to initiate an official blacklisting process, ensuring these poor performers are excluded from future work.
The Gauteng Infrastructure Financing Agency (GIFA) has also been centralized within the DID, while work is underway to tackle construction mafia syndicates. GIFA has been tasked with revitalizing and commercializing the government’s property precinct in the Johannesburg CBD. This strategy aims to convert underutilized assets from liabilities into income-generating assets, stimulating economic growth, creating jobs, and generating revenue for the state.
To combat construction mafia syndicates, the matter is being escalated to the Gauteng Essential Infrastructure Task Team. Led by SAPS, this multi-agency unit targets crimes like cable theft, vandalism, and illegal connections. It comprises police, traffic officials, and experts from Eskom and Transnet who conduct intelligence-led operations to disrupt crimes and recover stolen materials.
Additionally, Heads of Department will now be held accountable for unfinished projects, and some youth employed within the Nasi Spani will be deployed to maintain infrastructure. Premier Lesufi decided that the performance contracts for all Heads of Department would include a clause to reduce and eliminate unfinished infrastructure projects within their departments. He also stated that consequence management would be implemented for those responsible for any unfinished projects.
The recently launched Nasi Ispani 2.0 initiative includes the Unemployed Youth Skills Development Initiative, which will enroll 2,810 unemployed youth for hands-on training in critical trades like plumbing, electrical installation, construction, and plastering. These young people will be deployed to finish and maintain the provincial infrastructure, reducing the government’s long-term dependence on external contractors.