South Africa's infrastructure projects aim for greener future as government prioritises Just Energy Transition

Banele Ginidza

The government has begun advertising for projects through the National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) aimed at greening state buildings.

This initiative aligns with the Just Energy Transition (JET) strategy and underscores a commitment to curtailing financial waste due to mismanagement and inefficiencies in execution, Deputy Minister for Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, announced on Tuesday.

Addressing attendees at the launch of the Black Business Council in the Built Environment (BBCBE) Indaba 2025, Zikalala detailed the department's push to ensure the proper execution of 62 Strategic Infrastructure Projects (SIPs) that had received gazetted status in 2020, alongside an additional seven SIPs announced in 2022.

Overall, there are about 268 individual projects under the SIP framework, predominantly in the energy sector, covering areas like the Embedded Generation Programme and the Green Hydrogen Programme.

Collectively, the value of these projects stands at R3 trillion, with 82 projects currently in construction worth approximately R437 billion.

“We will enhance project preparation by easing regulations affecting Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), and further ensure a quicker turn on PPPs implementation unit while National Treasury continues with its overall monitoring to avoid potential corrupt practices,” Zikalala said, emphasising the need for efficiency and integrity in project execution.

The upcoming Built Environment Indaba, scheduled for 10-11 April, is designed to bring together key stakeholders in the construction and infrastructure sectors to address the pressing challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

Industry leaders including the BBCBE, the South African Forum of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC), and Master Builders South Africa (MBSA) will converge to formulate strategic solutions for ongoing issues such as procurement inefficiencies, substandard project delivery, and construction mafias.

Danny Masimene, President of the BBCBE, affirmed that the indaba will focus on expanding the sector impact within underprivileged communities where basic infrastructure services are urgently needed.

"The Built Environment Indaba is a call to action. We are assembling the industry's brightest minds to tackle these challenges head-on. It’s a space for collaboration and the crafting of policies that foster a level playing field for all industry players,” Masimene said.

In a related Parliamentary response, Minister for Public Works and Infrastructure Dean MacPherson highlighted the accelerated role of the Independent Development Trust (IDT) in implementing social infrastructure projects, which include schools, clinics, and hospitals.

MacPherson noted that the department had consistently provided financial assistance to the IDT, amounting to over R700 million since the 2012/13 financial year—demonstrating a concerted effort to sustain the operational capabilities of this critical organisation.

This financial commitment underscores the government's commitment not only to support but to engage actively with the IDT for impactful project delivery.

The department has increased its support in the 2023/24 financial year, allowing for expedited payments for the IDT’s implementation programmes.

MacPherson stated that the department has allocated more than R1bn in infrastructure projects to the IDT over the last two financial years, illustrating a strategic partnership aimed at addressing the pressing infrastructure needs of the country.

BUSINESS REPORT