Lwandle Malumbete, from the DBSA Mpumalanga Business Unit, opened the proceedings at the Mpumalanga Public Private Partnership organised by 3S Media in association with Akanya Media.
Malumbete’s presentation to delegates outlined the development challenges faced by the country – such as huge infrastructure investment backlogs and the role of DBSA in addressing them. “Unfortunately we have a weak institutional state of intermediaries and a lack of project bankability,” he pointed out. In this regard he commented that DBSA needs to create innovative funding instruments and implementation mechanisms.“The national government has adopted an Infrastructure Plan that is intended to transform the economic landscape of South Africa and this analyses areas of the country that are not served with water, electricity, roads, sanitation and communication. Seventeen Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPS) have been developed and approved and the SIP 6 initiative, the Integrated Municipal Infrastructure Project, seeks to develop national capacity to assist the 23 least resourced municipal districts to address all the maintenance backlogs and upgrades required in water, electricity and sanitation. In Mpumalanga, the primary focus is on Ehlanzeni District,” explained Malumbete.
The DBSA has been identified as the Principal Implementing Agent for SIP 6. “We have recognised and embraced the need for a new approach to development planning, funding, implementation and management which is aimed at:- Accelerating service delivery and strengthening institutional support to municipalities through integrated value offerings; and
- Initiating actions to support government priority sectors within the DBSA mandate.
