Cape Town: As South Africa prepares for the fourth annual Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) in Cape Town this week, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Dean Macpherson, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transforming the country into a hub of construction activity aimed at driving economic recovery, creating jobs, and enhancing service delivery.
According to South African Government News Agency, the Minister spoke at a media briefing on Sunday, ahead of the SIDSSA, which is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. The symposium closely follows Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s Budget Speech, where he announced a government investment of approximately R1 trillion in infrastructure over the medium term.
“This week, government, business, development financiers, and technical experts will come together with a singular focus: how do we use infrastructure to drive South Africa’s economic recovery, attract investment, and most importantly, create jobs? SIDSSA is not
just a conversation. It is a platform for execution,” Macpherson stated.
During the symposium, the second edition of the Construction Book, compiled by Infrastructure South Africa, will be launched. This live inventory includes construction-ready projects that are funded and scheduled for market release over the next 12 months. It highlights efforts to build roads, expand water supply systems, unlock energy capacity, and rehabilitate public infrastructure.
“This year’s Construction Book includes over 200 funded projects as part of the annual procurement plans of State-Owned Enterprises, municipalities, and provinces across the country. The goal is clear, we must accelerate delivery, stimulate growth, and turn South Africa into a construction site,” he emphasized.
The next wave of priority projects will also be announced, including eight nationally significant infrastructure projects prioritized at last year’s SIDSSA. Updates on these projects will be provided, and President Cyril Ramaphosa will outline the
ir broader significance in his keynote address.
Macpherson underscored the progress in the infrastructure sector across South Africa, stating, “These projects are no longer aspirational. They are funded, contracted, and moving through feasibility and procurement stages with urgency and transparency.”
One of the significant reforms includes prioritizing project preparation funding to ensure public sector projects do not fail due to weak planning or lack of compliance. Over R600 million has been committed to prepare strategic infrastructure projects from basic services to catalytic energy and water investments.
The symposium will also explore how state assets can be utilized for public good. “Over the past year, we have begun repurposing public buildings for public good. We are turbocharging private investment into public properties,” Macpherson highlighted.
For the first time, 31 properties nationwide are being released for investment, allowing collaboration between public and private sectors. This initiat
ive is expected to attract an additional R10 billion in investments and create approximately 165,000 job opportunities.
Additionally, vacant properties are being allocated to local and provincial authorities for use as shelters, youth centers, and service delivery points. “The era of state buildings standing idle while communities go without them must come to an end. Public properties must serve the public and the public purpose,” he asserted.
The Minister assured that the symposium aims to report back, build momentum, and demonstrate the government’s commitment to infrastructure delivery. “This week is about showing South Africa what is being built and what is coming up to be built,” he concluded.