Following the delivery of the 2025 Budget Speech by the Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana, Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) has highlighted the need for a concrete plan of action to translate the budget’s intentions into tangible infrastructure development and economic growth.

CESA CEO Chris Campbell stated: “The Minister’s speech has outlined key priorities, and now the focus must shift to implementation. While the budget includes encouraging proposals, including how ‘accelerating infrastructure investment is key to fostering faster inclusive growth’, the true test lies in how effectively these plans are executed to address our nation’s infrastructure deficit and stimulate economic activity.”

CESA acknowledges the government’s commitment of more than R1 trillion in spend over the next three years to infrastructure development; reconfiguring the budget facility for infrastructure to run multiple bid windows instead of just one annual window to mobilise significant private finance and improve allocative efficiency in fiscal support; and issuing its first infrastructure bond in 2025/26.

The Minister stated today that: “To further accelerate infrastructure delivery and effectiveness, we are continuing reforms to facilitate greater private sector participation, capital budgeting reform and alternative infrastructure financing.”

And we, as CESA, are responding: “We are waiting for our seat at the table! Consulting engineers stand ready to contribute their expertise and innovative solutions to deliver high-quality infrastructure projects. However, a supportive regulatory environment and clear lines of communication are essential to foster these partnerships effectively.”

Campbell cautioned that success will depend on collaborative partnerships between the public and private sectors; and emphasised the importance of addressing long-standing challenges in procurement processes and governance to ensure that allocated funds are efficiently utilised. “We need to see immediate steps taken to streamline procurement, reduce red tape, and improve transparency in the allocation of funds. Without these reforms, the impact of the budget on infrastructure development will be limited,” he said.

At the same time, we are mindful of the fiscal constraints facing the country, compounded by geopolitical headwinds that could impact economic stability. However, Campbell warned against restricting infrastructure spending to the point where economic growth is stifled. “We must strike a balance – while prudent financial management is necessary, cutting back on infrastructure investment too aggressively could hinder economic recovery and worsen unemployment,” he noted.

To address these challenges, we are calling for urgent consequence management measures to curb wasteful expenditure and ensure that funds intended for infrastructure development are used effectively. “It is about time that we worked harder on getting ‘the bang for our buck,’ ensuring that every rand spent delivers tangible value,” Campbell asserted.

Furthermore, CESA stressed the importance of prioritising maintenance and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure assets to maximise their lifespan and value. “Investing in maintenance is not just fiscally responsible, it is crucial for ensuring the reliability and safety of our infrastructure networks,” Campbell noted.

CESA remains committed to working with the government and other stakeholders to translate the promises of the 2025 Budget Speech into real improvements in infrastructure development, economic growth, and job creation for South Africa.