“We will continue to implement the successful National Infrastructure Plan, under the supervision of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission, throughout the country,” President Jacob Zuma said during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last night (17 June).

Over the past five years government has invested approximately R1 trillion in new infrastructure to provide water, energy, transport, sanitation, schools and clinics and internet connections to South Africans. Over the next three years, government plans to spend a further R847 billion on infrastructure and several projects are to be started or completed.

Zuma used the SONA to highlight several of these projects. Among them is the construction of Mzimvubu Dam in the Eastern Cape which will continue, as well as the raising of the wall of Clanwilliam Dam in the Western Cape. During the next five years the bulk of the construction work on Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project will be completed.

“We will continue with various other infrastructure projects that will change the living conditions of our people and boost economic growth.”

Action plan for municipalities

Government has evaluated all of its municipalities, inspecting their financial management, how they work within legislative processes as well as their ability to roll out projects and to address capacity constraints. The president shared government’s plan of action to revitalise local government during the SONA.

“We have listened to the complaints and proposals of South Africans over the past five years relating to the performance of municipalities,” Zuma said during his speech. “We have also looked at how they respond to service delivery protests. There have been many successes in many municipalities. However we face a number of challenges in others.”

According to Zuma, a comprehensive assessment of various municipalities has indicated where they need support. As a result, government has resolved to provide assistance to several municipalities.

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has approved funding to develop infrastructure in the Amathole District Municipality in the Eastern Cape. One hundred numerous projects, mainly in water and sanitation, will be started with the aim of completing them over the next 12 months.

In Umzinyathi District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, funding will be provided to develop infrastructure projects, covering mainly the electrification of households. In the Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape, funding will be provided for infrastructure development projects covering water provision, sanitation, and electrification. Government will assist Lukhanji Local Municipality in reorganising its administration and will help implement support plans for the provision of water and electricity.

Government will assist OR Tambo District Municipality to stabilise its administration and organisational structure and fast-track the implementation of the Presidential Intervention Plans, while in Mbashe Local Municipality government will implement waste management plans and address ground water contamination issues.

At Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality in the North West, national government will provide support and work with the DBSA to resolve financing for water and sanitation infrastructure.

Government will support the City of Joburg in Gauteng to resolve problems with its billing system, as well as assist the Moqhaka Local Municipality in the Free State with the eradication of the bucket system and open toilet challenges.

“Meanwhile work is underway to eradicate the bucket system throughout the country. This will also be the priority of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team on Service Delivery that I have established. The team is led by Minister Pravin Gordhan,” said Zuma.

Rapid urbanisation

South Africa is fast becoming an urban country. By 2011 almost 63% of the population resided in towns and cities and this trend is expected to continue over the coming decade.  “A key focus area in local government in the next five years will be how we respond to the reality of rapid urbanisation,” said Zuma.

According to the president, government’s Integrated Urban Development Framework will be finalised by 30 July 2014. Zuma describes it as providing a “new deal” for South African cities and towns. It will set out a policy framework on how the urban system in South Africa can be reorganised so that cities and towns can become inclusive, resource efficient and good places to live in over the next 20 to 30 years.

Skills development

Government will continue to invest in education and skills development as it is the key to economic growth and development. “We need engineers, electricians, plumbers, doctors, teachers and many other professionals to build our country’s economy.”

Because of this, Zuma said education remains an apex priority for government which will continue to promote universal access to education.

The number of young people in universities and colleges has increased over the years.  According to Zuma, contractors will move on site in September to build new universities in the Northern Cape and Mpumalanga and the number of Grade 12 learners who can gain entrance to university will increase from 172 000 in 2013 to 250 000 in 2019.

In addition, 12 training and vocational education colleges will be built to expand the technical skills mix in the country.

Creating jobs

“Government has since 2004 run the successful Expanded Public Works Programme which provides work opportunities and training for the unemployed.” The new phase will provide six million work opportunities by 2019.

According to Zuma, the programme created around four million work opportunities in the past five years.

The Expanded Public Works Programme environmental initiatives such as working on waste, working on wetlands, working for water, working on fire and the Environmental Youth Services programme will also be upscaled up to 2019, in support of youth development.

In addition, the local government based Community Work Programme will be expanded to provide a million work opportunities by the end of 2019.

“We will continue to implement the successful National Infrastructure Plan, under the supervision of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission, throughout the country,” President Jacob Zuma said during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last night (17 June).

Over the past five years government has invested approximately R1 trillion in new infrastructure to provide water, energy, transport, sanitation, schools and clinics and internet connections to South Africans. Over the next three years, government plans to spend a further R847 billion on infrastructure and several projects are to be started or completed.

Zuma used the SONA to highlight several of these projects. Among them is the construction of Mzimvubu Dam in the Eastern Cape which will continue, as well as the raising of the wall of Clanwilliam Dam in the Western Cape. During the next five years the bulk of the construction work on Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project will be completed.

“We will continue with various other infrastructure projects that will change the living conditions of our people and boost economic growth.”

 

Action plan for municipalities

Government has evaluated all of its municipalities, inspecting their financial management, how they work within legislative processes as well as their ability to roll out projects and to address capacity constraints. The president shared government’s plan of action to revitalise local government during the SONA.

“We have listened to the complaints and proposals of South Africans over the past five years relating to the performance of municipalities,” Zuma said during his speech. “We have also looked at how they respond to service delivery protests. There have been many successes in many municipalities. However we face a number of challenges in others.”

According to Zuma, a comprehensive assessment of various municipalities has indicated where they need support. As a result, government has resolved to provide assistance to several municipalities.

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has approved funding to develop infrastructure in the Amathole District Municipality in the Eastern Cape. One hundred numerous projects, mainly in water and sanitation, will be started with the aim of completing them over the next 12 months.

In Umzinyathi District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, funding will be provided to develop infrastructure projects, covering mainly the electrification of households. In the Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape, funding will be provided for infrastructure development projects covering water provision, sanitation, and electrification. Government will assist Lukhanji Local Municipality in reorganising its administration and will help implement support plans for the provision of water and electricity.

Government will assist OR Tambo District Municipality to stabilise its administration and organisational structure and fast-track the implementation of the Presidential Intervention Plans, while in Mbashe Local Municipality government will implement waste management plans and address ground water contamination issues.

At Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality in the North West, national government will provide support and work with the DBSA to resolve financing for water and sanitation infrastructure.

Government will support the City of Joburg in Gauteng to resolve problems with its billing system, as well as assist the Moqhaka Local Municipality in the Free State with the eradication of the bucket system and open toilet challenges.

“Meanwhile work is underway to eradicate the bucket system throughout the country. This will also be the priority of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team on Service Delivery that I have established. The team is led by Minister Pravin Gordhan,” said Zuma.

 

Rapid urbanisation

South Africa is fast becoming an urban country. By 2011 almost 63% of the population resided in towns and cities and this trend is expected to continue over the coming decade.  “A key focus area in local government in the next five years will be how we respond to the reality of rapid urbanisation,” said Zuma.

According to the president, government’s Integrated Urban Development Framework will be finalised by 30 July 2014. Zuma describes it as providing a “new deal” for South African cities and towns. It will set out a policy framework on how the urban system in South Africa can be reorganised so that cities and towns can become inclusive, resource efficient and good places to live in over the next 20 to 30 years.

 

Skills development

Government will continue to invest in education and skills development as it is the key to economic growth and development. “We need engineers, electricians, plumbers, doctors, teachers and many other professionals to build our country’s economy.”

Because of this, Zuma said education remains an apex priority for government which will continue to promote universal access to education.

The number of young people in universities and colleges has increased over the years.  According to Zuma, contractors will move on site in September to build new universities in the Northern Cape and Mpumalanga and the number of Grade 12 learners who can gain entrance to university will increase from 172 000 in 2013 to 250 000 in 2019.

In addition, 12 training and vocational education colleges will be built to expand the technical skills mix in the country.

Creating jobs

“Government has since 2004 run the successful Expanded Public Works Programme which provides work opportunities and training for the unemployed.” The new phase will provide six million work opportunities by 2019.

According to Zuma, the programme created around four million work opportunities in the past five years.

The Expanded Public Works Programme environmental initiatives such as working on waste, working on wetlands, working for water, working on fire and the Environmental Youth Services programme will also be upscaled up to 2019, in support of youth development.

In addition, the local government based Community Work Programme will be expanded to provide a million work opportunities by the end of 2019.