With the FIFA World Cup kicking off in Brazil, the momentum South Africa built up since it hosted the event in 2010, and back to independence, seems to have stagnated,. The leading infrastructure player PPC Ltd believes that an Infrastructure Codesa could help relieve pressures on the industry and stimulate infrastructure development levels last seen in preparation for the 2010 World Cup.
“It is clear that infrastructure bottlenecks by both the public and private sectors need to be addressed, not through agreeing to generic accords but through implementable plans with clear roles, responsibilities and deadlines,” said the company's CEO Ketso Gordhan. “The methodology is simple. Before 1994, people wanted a democratic South Africa. The National Party and the ANC both raised issues that were preventing them from moving forward in this regard. So, they put together a working group on each of those issues and came back with solutions. All the things that we see today were compromises that emerged from discussions and negotiations.”
Nationally, the country is seeing a call for collaboration, which will boost infrastructure development. During his inauguration speech in 24 May 2014, President Jacob Zuma reiterated that the National Development Plan prioritises the national infrastructure development programme.
“We will continue to build schools, railways, ports, universities, clinics, colleges, power stations, broadband, roads and more infrastructures around the country. This programme will continue to be the flagship of government,” President Zuma said.
“The willingness of the private sector to engage with government around speeding up infrastructure delivery is very clear; there are many initiatives. The Business Leadership of South Africa has created a working group that is interacting with government. Everybody is very excited, it is clear everybody needs a new way infrastructure can be delivered,” said Gordhan.
