Report back on rollout of projects

Citizen Reporter

President Jacob Zuma has convened a meeting of the President Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC), attended by various stakeholders, Cabinet members and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“The meeting received reports on construction progress across the full public infrastructure project pipeline, organised through 18 major strategic integrated projects,” the presidency said in a statement.

More than 220 000 direct jobs are being supported by the projects currently coordinated by the PICC.

This covers road build, ports, railway lines, social infrastructure, including clinics, hospitals, schools, colleges and universities, energy plants, dams and pipelines, broadband rollouts and household connections with electricity, water, sanitation and communications.

“A number of milestones were noted. One of these was the imminent completion of the 100th school built through the new national school-build programme that was introduced to address backlogs.

“The main focus of the meeting was on the long-term water and sanitation needs of the country and the steps being taken to address them. Six major dams will be expanded or built over the next decade, including a dam on the Mzimvubu River in the Eastern Cape, expansion of the Clanwilliam Dam in the Western Cape, the Nwamitwa Dam and Tzaneen Dam in Limpopo, the Hazelmere Dam in KwaZulu-Natal and the Polihali Dam in Lesotho, that will principally provide water for Gauteng.”

Progress reports were given on the building of water pipelines, treatment plants and systems to connect local households.

“Council agreed to have a more coordinated system from ‘source to tap’ to ensure that communities have access to water more expeditiously. The meeting also received its first detailed report on the challenges in sanitation and the plans to roll out adequate sanitation systems for communities,” the statement read.

A total of 39 renewable energy plants were opened with 1 897 megawatts of renewable energy coming onto the grid. These solar, wind or hydro plants have been a critical support to address the energy shortages caused by delays in the new coal power stations coming on-stream.

More than 220 000 direct jobs are being supported by the projects currently coordinated by the PICC