Raft of obstacles hamper infrastructure creation
VISION 2030, developed by former finance minister Trevor Manuel’s planning commission, is dependent on a solid infrastructural foundation to develop the economy, create jobs and reduce poverty.
The government’s New Growth Path also recognises the role infrastructure will play in SA’s future development, and it outlines 17 national strategic infrastructure projects.
Creating the necessary infrastructure is a test for the whole country and facilitating the creation of this infrastructure is the challenge facing SA’s consulting engineers.
Graham Pirie, CEO of Consulting Engineers SA (Cesa), says: “The ingredients are there and we see a great future for the industry. But there are obstacles and bottlenecks as well as friction in the system that need to be addressed, mainly related to a lack of internal capacity in government, particularly at a local municipal level.
“Often key decision makers do not have the capacity to engage with us, make the best use of our services, ensure delivery and understand the process of development.
“Other challenges include ensuring integrity and eliminating corruption; making an appropriate quality weighting in all tenders so that professional skills do not become commoditised; the continuing process of transformation in our industry; and creating a separate procurement channel through legislation for built environment services,” says Pirie.
He says the industry really needs policy certainty from the government so that it is able make investments in its businesses and its people.
Another obstacle is an atmosphere of distrust that seems to exist between the government and the private sector as a whole.
“Achieving the goals we have for this country means that we have to all work harder to nurture a spirit of trust so we can develop strong relationships and partnerships.
“The industry has the skills and capacity that is often lacking at a public sector level and, by working together, we can ensure delivery.
“The government is in the position of being able to create the framework, environment and policy certainty for business to flourish.”
Cesa is acting on its desire to develop stronger ties throughout the public and private sectors and it is making greater use of the media as a vehicle to communicate with all stakeholders.
“We are seeking to create awareness within the government that our industry is one of the major infrastructure development players and that together we can help each other to develop viable infrastructure solutions and ensure delivery,” says Pirie.
He says Africa is widely recognised as the next big development opportunity. As companies move across the continent to open up its abundant resources so spinoff development takes place across a wider spectrum of activity.
Mining houses are not the only ones interested in Africa. The continent’s 1-billion consumers are proving attractive to a wide range of consumer companies interested in selling their products and services into what is a larger undertraded market.
“As South African businesses, what is good for Africa is good for us. We will all benefit if we can open up the continent through proposed development corridors, raise the standard of living and create markets.
“SA stands to gain significantly from the growth that will follow, and our industry is well positioned to play a key role in this development path,” says Pirie.
He says feedback from Cesa’s members is that while there are risks, increasingly it is easier doing business elsewhere in Africa.
“The local slowdown is serving to focus more interest across our borders,” he says.
Naren Bhojaram, president of Cesa, says that SA, along with other nations around the world, faces the challenges of increasing stress on the supply of potable water as well as ensuring both food and energy security for its citizens.
“How we deliver those services will change fundamentally. Cesa and its members need to be on the cutting edge of change so that we can thrive in this rapidly evolving market,” says Bhojaram.