Gifa: Tackling hurdles together
That government alone does not have the necessary resources to address Gauteng’s infrastructure needs was the rationale behind establishing the Gauteng Infrastructure Financing Agency (Gifa), a vehicle to leverage private sector finance and expertise to address backlogs and accelerate the delivery of infrastructure.
“While the ratings affirmation by Moody’s is a demonstration of what government and the private sector can achieve when tackling economic hurdles together, it is little cause for complacency,” says Barbara Creecy, Gauteng MEC for finance. “Equitable growth, prudent fiscal management and a stable environment to build investor confidence require sus- tained and active collaboration by all government, civil society and private sector players.”
Creecy has been outspoken about the importance of infrastructure to economic growth, job creation, access to markets and services. She says: “Gifa has worked tirelessly over the past two years to unblock the obstacles that prevented the private sector from investing in the delivery of public infrastructure and manufacturing.
“The national treasury has granted permission for us to issue Requests for Qualifications for the Tshwane Innovation Hub: Enterprise Building 2 and 3, Kopanong Precinct Project, the Rooftop Solar Panel Project and the Tri-generation Plant Project, and we will do so during this year.
“The implementation of these projects will start during this financial year and will bring more than R10billion in additional infrastructure investment into the city region in the next few years. This demonstrates our commitment to explore all possible avenues that will assist us to deliver infrastructure to support the development of the province and create jobs for our people.”
PPPs are also hoped for alternative waste treatment technology projects in Tshwane and Ekurhuleni; an integrated alternative waste treatment technology project for the City of Johannesburg, West Rand and Sedibeng; Lindley Wastewater Treatment Plant; a Vaal Logistics Hub; a West Rand Logistics Hub and the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve.