South Africa spends 300b rands on  infrastructure

South Africa spends 300b rands on  infrastructure
Funke Atohengbe, Pretoria

South Africa is to spend over 300 billion rands in the coming years to build new infrastructure with focus on rail construction, roads, new universities as well as refurbishing hospitals.

The infrastructure development implementation programme takes effect from this year until 2014.

Delivering his annual State of the Nation Address to Parliament in Cape Town, President Jacob Zuma said he would convene a Presidential Infrastructure Summit to discuss the implementation of government’s plan with potential investors and social partners.

Zuma said his government was committed to a globally competitive mining industry and that the sector will be promoted to achieve investment and growth.

He said his government was determined to address the inequality in the nation’s mining sector with vigor.

Zuma transformation

“The massive investment in infrastructure must leave more than just power stations, rail lines, dams and roads. It must industrialise the country, generate skills and boost much needed job creation,” Zuma said.

President Zuma said that despite the problems of unemployment and poverty, over 350,000 South Africans were employed last year, the best performance recorded since the recession began in 2008.

He said South Africa will champion the North-South Road and Rail Corridor on the African continent as part of the AU’S NEPAD Presidential Infrastructure Championing initiative.

 Williams/Cokey