South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a billion-dollar infrastructure programme cutting across several sectors as part of efforts to revive the economy and improve livelihoods.
In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered on Thursday night, Ramaphosa said infrastructure development was central to the country’s economic reconstruction and recovery plan following the devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
He revealed that the government has allocated US$7.14 billion to the Infrastructure Fund.
“The Infrastructure Fund is now working with State entities to prepare pipelined projects with an investment value of approximately US$6.9 billion in student accommodation, student housing, telecommunications, water and sanitation and transport,” Ramaphosa said.
He said government had prioritised infrastructure projects to support economic growth and better livelihoods, especially in energy, roads and water management systems.
“Several catalytic projects to the value of US$1.5 billion are expected to start construction this year. Out of this, US$186 million is contributed by government, with the balance being financed by the private sector and development finance institutions,” he said.
He added: “The South African government will make an initial investment of US$129 million in bulk infrastructure, which will unlock private sector projects to the value of US$9.5 billion.”
Ramaphosa said roads and bridges provided access to markets, to employment opportunities, to families, and social services for millions of South Africans in rural areas,.
“We are, therefore, upscaling the Welisizwe Rural Bridges Programme to deliver 95 bridges a year from the current 14 bridges,” he said, adding that the South African National Defence Force is the implementing agent of the programme.
NM/jn/APA