According to experts, even well-funded infrastructure development plans can be ineffective without a sufficient level of qualified specialists capable of taking responsibility for project implementation.
The Importance of Qualification in Construction
Olebogen Manhe, Group Chairman and Co-founder of Gap Infrastructure Corporation (GIC), emphasized that engineers and project managers must make decisions aimed at maintaining quality directly on site. This comes as South Africa prepares for one of the largest construction periods in decades.
The government has allocated R1.07 trillion for critical infrastructure across the country over the next three years, covering roads, energy, and water infrastructure, which holds a high position on the national agenda. Manhe noted that it is difficult to realize even generously funded infrastructure concepts without deep professional skills.
Project Implementation Challenges
He added that contractors require teams that understand the required standard of work, and artisans need proper opportunities for gaining experience and long-term prospects. Roelof Van den Berg, Co-founder and CEO of GIC, stated that social infrastructure is the intersection point of investment and social impact, as clinics, schools, and public facilities form the foundation of the country's well-being. However, many projects do not reach the construction stage due to a lack of readiness in the preparatory base.
According to Van den Berg, in South Africa, the problem is often related not to a lack of funds but to the organizational structure. Projects stall when planning, potential, or accountability systems are unclear. He concluded that strengthening these basic elements increases investor confidence in participating in projects.
Attracting Sustainable Capital
The CEO also mentioned that blended finance models allow risks to be distributed between public and private partners, thereby attracting sustainable capital. Furthermore, results-based contracts link funding to measurable achievements, such as access to healthcare, improved education, and local employment. These mechanisms ensure that investments bring long-term benefits to communities, turning capital into a tool for development.
Water Systems Need Management
Sizwe Amanzi, a representative of a water supply and wastewater treatment service provider, believes that solving water system problems lies not in installing more assets, but in assigning someone responsible for performance. He argues that many systems are salvageable because they are operating below normal levels due to deteriorating operations, maintenance, data collection, control, and accountability over time.
The company offers a 'Rehabilitation + Operation' model, which includes stabilization (stopping decline, restoring control and basic performance), targeted operation (implementing discipline, reporting, and accountability in daily management), investing only where necessary, linking capital to results, and restoring value by extending asset lifespan.
Stance Against Unnecessary Projects
The service provider stressed that they are not against infrastructure in general. If an existing system can be restored, they undertake its restoration. If targeted intervention is required to meet client goals, they carry out that intervention and remain responsible for the final outcome. The company insists that capital must justify its presence through performance, continuous compliance, and risk reduction, rather than through equipment sales, because the true value in water supply lies in what continues to function.