Capacity bolstered ahead of R30.6bn Gauteng infrastructure revamp

In an exclusive interview with Engineering News Online, following his budget address to the legislature, Gauteng Finance MEC Mandla Nkomfe promised that the province would deal with the "twin evils" of incapacity and infrastructure underspending.

Nkomfe unveiled a R30.6-billion infrastructure roll-out for the country's economic powerhouse, as part of a R237.7-billion, three-year expenditure plan. Nkomfe said that the infrastructure budget had been ring-fenced, while structures have been created to ensure that delivery took place on time and within the allocations.

The Departments of Roads and Transport and the Department of Infrastructure have been allocated R20-million and R15-million respectively to recruit qualified and registered engineers and other technical experts. A key economic infrastructure priority would be the development of an 'Airport City', or 'Aerotropolis', around the OR Tambo International Airport. A further R1-billion will be invested in the upgrading of major roads in the Province. Also being prioritised was a new freight logistics hub in Springs, on the East Rand, set to add inland port capacity. Nkomfe told Engineering News Online that in many instances, the province would provide facilitatory investments, such as roads, to encourage the private sector to invest in the project.

Read the full article on www.engineeringnews.co.za.