South Africa’s Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, alongside Mameetse Masemola, acting head of Infrastructure SA, launched a project bid window designed to accelerate economic growth and create jobs through infrastructure development. This initiative invites submissions from National and Provincial government departments, State-Owned Entities, municipalities, and the private sector for project preparation support, particularly for construction projects valued at over R1 billion.

The project bid window addresses one of the key obstacles to infrastructure investment: insufficient project preparation support. By increasing the readiness of construction projects, it aims to attract greater private sector investment in state infrastructure, thereby accelerating the pace and quality of infrastructure delivery. Minister Macpherson emphasised that this move will boost economic growth, targeting infrastructure investment to contribute up to 1.5% GDP growth in the medium term. He also reiterated his vision of transforming the Department of Public Works into an economic delivery unit capable of significantly boosting job creation.

This new initiative aligns with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 12 infrastructure initiatives announced at the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) in March. The sectors prioritised for financing include Energy, Water and Sanitation, Transport, Human Settlements, Municipal Infrastructure, and Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

By making it easier for the private sector to engage in state construction projects, the bid window aims to expand infrastructure’s role in South Africa’s economy, fostering trust and collaboration between the government and private investors. Acting head Masemola expressed confidence that this will further enhance the role of infrastructure in driving economic recovery.