Public Works department unveils R1 billion project bid window focused on job creation, economy acceleration

Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson and the acting head of Infrastructure SA Mameetse Masemola have unveiled a project bid window that is set to create jobs and accelerate economic growth.

The two institutions have invited submissions from National and Provincial government departments, State Owned Entities, Public entities, municipalities, and private sector projects to apply for project preparation support.

This will also cater to projects valued at more than R1 billion.

In a media briefing on Tuesday, Macpherson said the project preparation support sets to extensively expand the ability of construction projects to be implemented in South Africa, as one of the major contributing factors to underinvestment in infrastructure is the lack of sufficient project preparation support.

"The launch of our project preparation bid window will help to turbo-charge infrastructure investment in South Africa as it will ensure that more Infrastructure projects are shovel-ready sooner, while increasing the trust the private sector has to invest in state infrastructure projects.

“The project preparation will accelerate the pace and quality of infrastructure delivery which will undoubtedly contribute to economic growth, with the aim that infrastructure investment contributes up to 1.5% economic growth in the medium term,” Macpherson said.

After he was appointed minister, Macpherson stated that it was his vision to turn around the department into the economic delivery unit of South Africa which would play a meaningful role in stimulating economic growth and creating thousands of new jobs the country desperately needs.

He added that this bid window for project preparation is a part of achieving that goal.

This new bid window boosts the 12 infrastructure initiatives that President Cyril Ramaphosa previously announced at the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) in March.

The sectors that will be considered for the financing include Energy, Water, and Sanitation, Transport, Human Settlements, Municipal Infrastructure, Industrial Development Zones and Special Economic Zones.

Macpherson said this bid window will make it easier for the private sector to get into state construction projects.

Supporting his statement, Masemola expressed confidence that this will expand the role of infrastructure in the country.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

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